The saying goes that if you keep doing the same things and expecting a different outcome it is a definition of insanity. I recently received an email from a friend with hopeful tidings from Obama’s camp about entreprenerus and small business policies. Remember, the “pro-business” Bush administration was pro for large, not small, business. […]
Current Affairs
I Had to Fire Someone Today
It’s not much fun knowing all weekend that, odds on, you are going to have to let someone go first thing Monday morning. Especially in this economy. Still, there are times when it is absolutely necessary. And I’ve never been as certain that it was necessary as I was today. Here’s the sad thing. […]
Rodney Johnson’s Future and Mad Men’s Past
When Rodney Johnson, President of HS Dent, a company that provides economic research, spoke in Dallas last Friday, I was there. I’d not seen Rodney, a long-time client of mine, present since several years ago when I was invited to speak at the annual HS Dent conference myself. It’s always provocative to […]
The Nose Knows Wine and Wine Glasses
I guess being the 11th generation of exceptional wine glass makers, one’s nose is simply bred to distinguish the flavors in a wine bouquets. Viennese bred Maximilian Reidel of the legendary Reidel crystal glassware did not disappoint when I recently attended a wine and fine chocolate tasting hosted by Noka Chocolates. Looking around guiltily, […]
The Blog Ghost Shakes Hands
Okay, I admit it. I don’t always “get” it when it comes to technology. Here’s what I’d like to know: How is it that after months and months of writing this blog, all of a sudden, my monthly newsletter, all about handshakes this month, and which is completelyindependent of this blog and uses a completely […]
Meg Whitman: California’s Next Governor?
Speaking to the Women Presidents Organization last Thursday near San Diego, eBay‘s former CEO discussed her past, present, and future to a crowd of about 600. As interesting as her past is, Meg Whitman’s future is bound to be a wild roller coaster ride. She hopes to be California’s next Governor, a state whose […]
Susan Boyle Gobsmacks the World
Worry lines telegraphed the internal concerns about the economy at a round table meeting of women company presidents today. Heated discussion ricocheted from one side of the table to another around intense topics such as Goldman Sachs, TARP money, and the bailout. Then one executive mentioned Susan Boyle, the unlikely sensation from last weekend’s Britian’s […]
Rodney Johnson, President of HS Dent, Answers Your Questions
Hello to everyone who participated in the You Can’t Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought teleconference call in March with the President of HS Dent, Rodney Johnson. Took me a while to post ’cause I came down with a big case of the flu. Just now getting back in the swing and catching up. […]
Executive Recruiter Nancy Keene: Becoming Indispensable Part III
I’ve been writing a lot recently on how to become indispensable. This is one idea, directly or indirectly, I talk about with my clients all the time. It’s really another take on the idea of creating value. In today’s new economic reality, where people are scared out of their wits and freaked out about jobs, […]
Former Goldman Sachs Leader: Becoming Indispensable
Every body is freaking out about job security. Understandable. Still, some people manage to hold a job or quickly find one, no matter what. I thought it would be a good idea to discuss this topic. Of course, no one is indispensable. The idea is to become that. To become so valued in the workforce […]