Rainmaker (business): Difference between revisions
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The origin of the business sense of ''rainmaker'' may be an allusion to the [[Native American]] practice of dancing to encourage deities to bring forth the rain necessary for crops. In summertime during a drought, for instance, the rainmaker would dance and sing songs on the plains, and the activity was believed by others in the tribe to magically cause clouds to come and bring the life-giving rain.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rain Dance|url=http://www.indians.org/articles/rain-dance.html|work=Indians.org|publisher=American Indian Heritage Foundation|accessdate=4 September 2011}}</ref> By analogy, a business rainmaker would magically bring new business and clients to a firm or generate more revenue from existing customers and donors, and ''rain'' is a [[metaphor]] for money.<ref>Jeffrey J. Fox. How to Become a Rainmaker. Hyperion (May 17, 2000) ISBN 0-7868-6595-4</ref> An example was the late advertising agency executive [[Frederick D. Sulcer]] who was described as a ''rainmaker'' after bringing the agency numerous new accounts to the agency. According to one view, the role of the rainmaker is to find a dormant business problem and then create a vision of what life could be like if that problem were solved. |
The origin of the business sense of ''rainmaker'' may be an allusion to the [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] practice of dancing to encourage deities to bring forth the rain necessary for crops. In summertime during a drought, for instance, the rainmaker would dance and sing songs on the plains, and the activity was believed by others in the tribe to magically cause clouds to come and bring the life-giving rain.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rain Dance|url=http://www.indians.org/articles/rain-dance.html|work=Indians.org|publisher=American Indian Heritage Foundation|accessdate=4 September 2011}}</ref> By analogy, a business rainmaker would magically bring new business and clients to a firm or generate more revenue from existing customers and donors, and ''rain'' is a [[metaphor]] for money.<ref>Jeffrey J. Fox. How to Become a Rainmaker. Hyperion (May 17, 2000) ISBN 0-7868-6595-4</ref> An example was the late advertising agency executive [[Frederick D. Sulcer]] who was described as a ''rainmaker'' after bringing the agency numerous new accounts to the agency. According to one view, the role of the rainmaker is to find a dormant business problem and then create a vision of what life could be like if that problem were solved. |
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The term ''rainmaking'' is also applied to political fund-raising;<ref name=twsJunB514>{{cite news |
The term ''rainmaking'' is also applied to political fund-raising;<ref name=twsJunB514>{{cite news |
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Revision as of 10:05, 7 June 2012
In business, a rainmaker is a person who brings in new business and wins new accounts almost by magic, since it is often not readily apparent how this new business activity is caused. Business rainmaking means generating substantial new business or additional cash flow[1] from sources sometimes outside established business channels, sometimes by connecting with people in non-traditional or hidden markets, and sometimes by prompting current clients to spend more money. A rainmaker is usually a key figure in the business or organization,[2] not merely a salesperson, but a principal or executive who is usually highly regarded within the enterprise.[3]
The origin of the business sense of rainmaker may be an allusion to the Native American practice of dancing to encourage deities to bring forth the rain necessary for crops. In summertime during a drought, for instance, the rainmaker would dance and sing songs on the plains, and the activity was believed by others in the tribe to magically cause clouds to come and bring the life-giving rain.[4] By analogy, a business rainmaker would magically bring new business and clients to a firm or generate more revenue from existing customers and donors, and rain is a metaphor for money.[5] An example was the late advertising agency executive Frederick D. Sulcer who was described as a rainmaker after bringing the agency numerous new accounts to the agency. According to one view, the role of the rainmaker is to find a dormant business problem and then create a vision of what life could be like if that problem were solved.
The term rainmaking is also applied to political fund-raising;[6] for example, United States president Barack Obama was described as a rainmaker in his effort to raise money for other politicians.[7]
The term rainmaking can also refer to mechanically seeding clouds to induce additional rain, especially on agricultural land during a drought.
References
- ^ Shana Lynch (March 1, 2011). "Cinequest's rainmaker is one to know". Silicon Valley BizBlog. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
...In 2010, the film festival brought in an estimated 85,000 people and $4 million to the downtown's businesses. Le said Gorden Biersch, which wasn't involved last year, told her that business was up 30 percent during those weeks.
- ^ David Benoit (March 22, 2012). "UBS's New Co-Head of Investment Banking A Big Rainmaker". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
Why is Orcel so highly valued? Because he is a rainmaker who has made big deals, and a lot of fees.
- ^ Lucia Moses (April 25 2012). "Meredith Loses Rainmaker, Axes 80: Martin Reidy led integrated marketing unit". Adweek. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
Martin Reidy, who led the hot B-to-B unit Meredith Integrated Marketing (recently renamed Meredith Xcelerated Marketing), ....
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Rain Dance". Indians.org. American Indian Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ^ Jeffrey J. Fox. How to Become a Rainmaker. Hyperion (May 17, 2000) ISBN 0-7868-6595-4
- ^ LESLIE WAYNE (November 29, 2007). "A Fund-Raising Rainmaker Arises Online". The New York Times. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
They may not inhabit the traditional world of high-dollar campaign fund-raising, but two youthful computer whizzes are quietly and behind the scenes trying to change how campaigns raise money, netting millions of dollars for Democrats in the process.
- ^ BERNIE BECKER (September 3, 2010). "The Presidential Rainmaker, Cont". The New York Times. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
While he has seen his popularity flag somewhat of late, the president has still been a moneymaker for Democrats as the midterm elections approach – see, for example, his three-day, five-state swing around the country last month.