Who is your favorite guru?

There is no question who my favorite guru is. It’s my Dad, of course. But I was glad to see that I am not at all alone in my admiration. Advertising Age reported this week on a survey done among top marketing executives that selected Al Ries as a top 10 favorite business guru.

Who else was in the top 10? Here they are:

That’s according to an elite group of marketing executives, members of the Marketing Executives Networking Group, recently surveyed by Anderson Analytics. Membership in the group is by invitation only, with a screening process that requires a salary of at least $150,000. More than 80% of members are senior executives, C-level executives or owners of companies involved in strategic planning, marketing, advertising and sales. More than 600 of the group’s 1,657 members responded to the survey.

When marketers were asked what one business book they would recommend to fellow marketers, the top answers was “Good to Great” by Jim Collins followed by “Positioning” by Al Ries and Jack Trout and “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey.

Why is it that some people are mere mortals and others are gods? It all comes down to the brand. To stand out you can’t just be great, you need to be different. You need to make a mark on the world that gets noticed. And what gets noticed are the differences.

Powerful brands and powerful ideas are typically based on doing the opposite of convention. The other gurus in the top 10 have all gone against the status quo.

So whether you mark your difference with an idea, visual, color, category, attribute make sure you do something. The next new guru could be you.

Comments

[Laura Ries]

The essence of the Ries brand is focus. The reason Al is a guru and has been for decades is that he has evolved his ideas from Positioning to Marketing Warfare to Focus to Immutable Laws to the Fall of Advertising to the Origin of Brands. His ideas are different from conventional thinking, controversial and deliver real results for marketers. Al's legacy is one I hope I can contribute to and build on in the future.

[Kevin Delaney]

So Laura, what do you think are the defining differences which have set your Dad apart from other marketing gurus? What in your opinion is the essence of the Al Ries brand?

[Jay]

My vote goes to Laura Ries. The few blog postings she does strike the best balance between being plausible, practical, and instructive.

[Morgan Cloward]

I would replace Seth Godin with Laura Ries in a heartbeat!

[Alan 'Brand' Williamson]

Laura, your Dad would top my list - everytime!

But did you notice that Brand America has dominated this list with Brand Canada sneaking in at No.9?

My next question: Rest of the World - where are you?

Brand the Marketect

[Sunil S Chiplunkar]

I agree marketing gurus are out-of-the-box and very liberal with their sharing of insights and ideas. This empowering attitude makes the 'gurus' even more influential and immortal. When there is genuine concern in their thoughts and a dedication to know the truth, it gets reflected in their writings and talks...their words seem very practical and useful to the listener or reader, and that makes them real gurus. For instance, Seths blog or Mr. Al Ries's books are very useful, it comes from their dedication to know the truth and their concern for the world is reflected in their communication. What sets marketing and communication experts apart from other societal leaders is that their words are very palatable and constructive.

[Bill Gammell]

Laura,

I do hope you make it in the future. I mean, where are the women in this list??

[Daves Davoli]

My vote goes to Al Ries!!!! Go Ries GO!

[Geoff Livingston]

Why aren't you in the list? That'd be my vote.

I'll have to take Seth in the interim.

[Steve Liberati]

Seth Godin, hands down.

[Allan]

Seth for the win.