What’s Poetry Got to Do With Business?
By Stephen Heins, The Word Merchant
(Ted Kooser, Poet Laurate)
What’s Poetry Got to Do With Business?
By Stephen Heins, The Word Merchant
Wallace Stevens and Ted Kooser were two influential American poets who were also highly successful businessmen. Their lives were marked by remarkable achievements in both of their fields, making them two of the most celebrated figures of American literature and business.
Wallace Stevens was an American modernist poet, essayist, and award-winning executive in Hartford, Connecticut. He was born in 1879 to a businessman father, and studied at Harvard and New York Law School. His career began at the Equitable Surety Company, where he rose to the position of Executive Vice President. At the same time, his work as a poet began to gain recognition and he was soon awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.
Ted Kooser was born in 1939 in Iowa and grew up on a farm. He earned an MA in English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and held various positions as a professor and creative writing director. As a poet, he has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize. In addition to his poetry, Kooser has also found success in the insurance industry. He founded Lincoln Benefit Life Company and grew it into a major national insurance company. Additionally, he was America’s Poet Laureate, 2004-2006.
Both Stevens and Kooser demonstrate that it is possible to excel in both business and literature. They were two pioneers in their respective fields and made immense contributions to American life. While their work in business and literature may have been different, both men demonstrated a commitment to quality, innovation, and excellence
The use of poetics in the business world is becoming increasingly important as organizations look for innovative ways to communicate their values, vision and mission. Poetics can provide a powerful tool for expressing ideas and influencing customers or other stakeholders in a creative way.
Finally, poetic language can be used to communicate complex information in a simpler and more engaging way, facilitating better understanding and making it easier for stakeholders to make informed decisions. Ultimately, by leveraging poetics in business communications, organizations can create a unique and meaningful identity that resonates with their audience.
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