Recently, the daughter of Frank Biondi, wrote the book her father debated whether to write, his memoirs.
Frank is unknown to those not in the entertainment industry, but he was the senior executive at Children’s Television Workshop, President and CEO of Home Box Office, CEO of Columbia Pictures Television, Embassy Communications, and Merv Griffin Enterprises. He then went on to be President and CEO of Viacom and then chairman and CEO of Universal Pictures. He later formed an investment firm and an avid tennis player, he co-founded The Tennis Channel and served on the boards of Cablevision, Caesar’s entertainment, Hasbro, Yahoo, and Seagate Technologies.
Quite a career, but get this; he was a nice guy. No. He was a great guy.
I first met him in 1981 when I headed up PR at USA Networks and then four years later at MTV Networks when one day, the halls were abuzz with the news that Frank was coming up to the offices. He was CEO of Viacom, and everyone was on their best behavior. He spotted me in the crowd, came up, and said: “Kluger: still causing trouble?” with a wide smile and a firm and very warm handshake and back pat.
In a world of cutthroat office politics, maneuvering, and some frankly, not-very-human executives, Frank stood out. Six years, later having left NY and the entertainment industry, I got an email shortly after Erica died. From Frank, sending his heartfelt condolences. Frank died in 2019 and he was the highest example of leadership, coming from the heart.
So, where am I going with this? Nice guys do NOT finish last, contrary to Leo Durocher’s famous line. We all have had bosses or been bosses ourselves and I think we excelled when we led from the heart; creating pathways for success for our staff and understanding that while knowledge is power, power means different things to different people. It is strength, sure, but strength to hold certain values dear and knowing that on our deathbed, a truly ‘nice’ guy does not say: “I wish I spent more time at the office.”
I will insert two quotes here: The first is from The Tin Man who said: “Remember, my sentimental friend, that a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.” The second is from..yes..Richard Nixon! He said: “Only if you have been in the deepest valley, can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain.”
It pays to be nice. Often, ‘nice’ is not rewarded in ways one would characterize as being successful, but it does to me. And it did to Frank. And to so many others in my life who have been there in good times and bad times. My Starbucks friend Mike sarcastically and lovingly, says:” Is everyone your friend??!!!” Well, on one hand, a stranger is a friend you haven’t met yet and he was a stranger at one time, not too long ago. And now, he is a friend.
I sometimes bristle at people who mourn big time, the death of a celebrity. They are often a soundtrack of our lives, hearkening back to a simpler time or evocative of a moment in our lives but they are not my friends. I save that for the mix of acquaintances, Facebook ‘friends,’ and true friends who though I may not speak to often, have shown their ’niceness’ at pivotal times and they hold a special place with their own level in my life.
I hope I emulated the best of the executives I met during my career and the people I met along the way. I also met some who didn’t pass the litmus test. Maybe I’m a cock-eyed optimist and maybe Will Rogers was right.
As for me, I hope I finish….loved.
So nicely said! There are some out there in high places that are good people and they relish in helping others be acknowledged and succeed. I'm happy for you that you've had that experience with a boss. Additionally, you stand out as that type of person too. You have a good heart and great insights! Thanks for sharing.
thanks for your likes! Hey Stephanie.