What happens when the largest bank in the Netherlands is diagnosed as having

a “closed corporate culture” …

… and they hire an actor to tour the country as the American Communications Guru,

Bradford Michaels …

… and 22,000 employees think he is real.

“Don’t worry about the thinking – leave that to me.”

Bradford MichaelsABN AMRO Netherlands Tour

“Let’s open Pandora’s Box, shall we?”

“Communication is any connectedness between any life forms.

Simple.”

“The biggest single act of human communication was

the 911 attacks.”

“There’s as many definitions to the business cliché as there are

people in this room.”

“We’ve conducted correlation analyses on the communication

patterns found in banking departments and those found in

pygmy tribes...”

“I want you to think dark, negative thoughts for me.”

“They pay me lots of money to fly over here and tell you something

you already know.”

“Let’s be honest: In two weeks I’m on a plane

back to the States.

You are still working here.”

“We have Eskimos in America.

They’re like Smurfs.”

“What’s the lost value of one unspoken great idea?”

“We’re studying correlation factors between the lack of Open Communication and

Bush’s war in Iraq.”

“Talking about havingOpen Communication is as effective as talking about

quitting smoking.”

“Open communication means a good night’s sleep.”

“You’ve been a wonderful, wonderful audience.

I truly mean that.”

“But I am a rock star.

And so are you.”

Bradford Michaels toured ABN AMRO corporate and branch

offices for three weeks.

During that time there were more than 7000 written and web

responses to his message of hope.

Bradford Michaels was inspired, conceived, constructed, sold, performed, and argued-over by…

AnneliesBas

George BushThe Daniels

EduardThe EllensEskimos

FiekeGerda

Adolph HitlerIneke

Jan PeterJeroenLucas

Louis PrimaThe Management Team

Rhesus MonkeysMichielNajibNASANikePaul

Pygmy TribesRoman Civilization

RobrechtThe Smurfs

Thelonius MonkTerroristsViruses

And

Dr. Richard Troll1883 - 1957

Organizational PsychologistStanford University