I woke up this morning to the headline BBC news that veteran supermodel Naomi Campbell was to appear before a war crimes tribuneral for accepting gifted blood diamonds from disgraced former dictator Charles Taylor. Leaving aside the questionable editorial policy from the twenty somethings in Auntie’s newsroom, thoughts of carbon based gems were floating around when I read the obituary of Tom Mankiewicz, screenwriter on my favourite Bond film, Diamonds are Forever.
It was the first Bond film that I watched at the cinema, transfixed by the moon buggy and frustrated that I never owned the Corgi, or was it Dinky, version. I think too that it was the first screen violence I can remember witnessing, particularly the scene where Bond sends diamond smuggler Peter Franks to his death with the aid of a fire extinguisher. Brutal in the extreme, but I emerged suitably shaken, not stirred.
Childhood memories aside, I did not realise it at the time that this was Connery’s comeback to Bond, after the Lazenby interlude [not as wooden as given credit for], lured back with a $1 million fee and $10,000 a week wages. Quite a sum at the time, but infinitely more value than your average SPL or Premier League showman.
While not wishing to venture into ‘best Bond’ territory, it struck me that those of us in business in Scotland could take a page or two out of the book of Connery to guide us going forward.
First lesson, he started local, but built a global phenomenon. Starting from his milk delivery days in Fountainbridge, Connery pursued and ultimately realised his vision. It took him six years from his first film part to his breakthough in 1962’s Dr No. He accepted the small parts, dealt with the inevitable crap, but kept his eye on the prize. A lesson for all budding entrepreneurs!
Secondly, he grabbed the opportunity and ran with it. Bond might not have made him. He might not have been in the right place at the right time. We might have hated his interpretation. He played the legendary spy his way and it worked. That combination of clarity, sophistication, looks and ruthlessness won the fights, the girls and the audiences. While there may be something here for the entrepreneur to emulate, its more about the strength of character to move away from home turf and mix it with an alien culture, in this case Hollywood, and not be cowed or manipulated. Surely this must be a fantastic example of internationalisation.
Having made it to the big time and secured his cash cow, Connery then realised that there must be more to life. More product with which to grow his personal brand. He was not afraid to step off the Bond bandwagon and negotiate the maze of undoubted crazy offers and ridiculous roles. As David Thompson has put it, he has made strange film choices but he retained and retains public affection. Something brands aspire too. The lesson here being the need to accept failures as part of the baggage of ambitious business. Just keep the faith and the successes will come.
We then return to Diamonds are Forever. Our hero was not afraid to change his mind and take the money, and while this may have been death to brand Connery, in fact turned out a cracking performance in a cracking film. Opportunism is an oft underated trait. Although, the less said about Never Say Never Again, the better.
After 54 years in the film business, Connery has globalised and has reaped the rewards thereof. The Bond brand or franchise continues without him, but he helped to make it what it is. He remains the best Bond in my book and an icon in his home country and has helped others from Scotland to commercialise and promote themselves, particularly in the USA and used his influence to help those less fortunate. He made the most of his talent, pursued his vision, globalised, made mistakes, worked extremely hard and earned his place in the A-list.
Diamonds can be forever for those of us struggling to make our mark in business, with the right ambition, staying power and hard work. Just beware strange men bearing free gemstones – there is no such thing - they always come with responsibilities and consequences attached.
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