I got a cold this weekend that the rest of my family has had. I thought I had fought through it and then it hite last night. This sucks…memorial day weekend and all. I’ve got too much to do to be sick. Doesn’t it aleta work that way?
Interesting solution for Green Energy in the existing infrastructure
I stumbled across this article today and found it very interesting. The idea of wind energy is appealing to me from it’s clean nature as well as the prevalence of wind. Check out this design. Should be a no brainer, shouldn’t it?
This is insane…
Why does the Federal government continue to make stupid choices with taxpayer funds…my money??? If companies don’t run themselves properly, if investors don’t make good investments, why do my tax dollars go to bail them out and put properly run and capitalized companies at a disadvantage? Check out the article here.
This is quite a bike
I have wanted to get a motorcycle for a while now, and though I’m looking more for a cruiser type, this BMW racing bike is pretty incredible. 193 horsepower and a mere 455 pounds. zero to 62 in 2.9 seconds, and they want to offer it mainstream, competing with other bikes in the $13,000 range. That is very cool. Check it out the article as well as the video below.
You’re going to teach me what? You?
Yesterday I started the last class of my MBA course work. Yes, I know, its about time. The class is global strategy. Seemingly an interesting and applicable topic. However, here is the challenge. The professor teaching the class has had his PhD since 1975 and has been, essentially, in academia since. Yesterday he gave us his bio and stated that he had two short stints in the professional world early on in his life but found that the accountability for decisions wasn’t what he was looking for so he returned to academia. What?!?! So you feel that because you’ve written, studied, and investigated global strategy, yet have never actually needed to make, implement, and live with strategic decisions you are qualified to teach this class of business executives (it is an executive MBA program) how to make appropriate strategic decisions? It boggles my mind, and is incredibly frustrating.
My frustration has led me to think about the rest of the business world and how many people, in effect, state “do as I say not as I do or never have done.” I’ve read a number of business books in the last few months and have been inspired in many ways to make changes in what I do. However, I do research on the authors of these books, and look at their credentials and touch with reality. I’m not naive or arrogant enough to think that people can’t teach me if they don’t have more experience than I do. The are pieces of knowledge and wisdom out there for the taking. I also recognize there are areas of knowledge that require research and investigation, i.e. economic modeling, chemistry, biology, etc. However, I do expect that when I seek knowledge I expect to be taught by someone with valuable and applicable knowledge. The material for this class is primarily made up of books and articles that were written before 1995. Again, it is a global strategy class. Please raise your hand if you actually think that global strategy hasn’t changed in the last 10 to 15 years.
Anyway, the point of this rant is be careful where you search for knowledge. Be sure you have some background. Just because some knowledge makes you feel good doesn’t mean it is true or valuable. Buzzwords are far too often taken as knowledge in business. It’s like fad diets to lose weight quickly, when everyone knows you need to cut calories, eat healthier, and exercise regularly. There is no substitute for hard work, team cohesion, clear communication, and passion for success.
A few great leadership and business books
I’ve recently been on a business/leadership book binge. It helps that I listen to audiobooks to and from work. Check out audible.com, I love their service. However, I thought I would quickly blog about a few that I have recently completed, some for the second, third, or even fifth time.
First, Leadership and Self-deception by The Arbinger Institute. This book is one of the most impacting leadership book I’ve ever read. It speaks to not what you do but why you do it. The focus of the book is changing your motives and way of being toward people…recognizing how we are driven and how to improve. It is an easy read, as the book is written in the story/parable format. I highly recommend the book to anyone looking to improve in their professional or personal life.
The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive by Patrick Lencioni. I really enjoy Lencioni’s work and have read almost everything he has written. This book, however, is one of his most impactful. Again, the book is written in the story/parable format, but the latter fourth of the text is actually instructions on implementing the four obsessions, which are:
- Build and maintain a cohesive leadership team
- Create organizational clarity
- Over-communicate organizational clarity
- Reinforce organizational clarity through human systems
This book is a “must read”, in my humble opinion, for anyone in an executive position or striving to be an executive. The first time I read this book I was a project manager for a large financial institution with no direct reports. Many of the principles didn’t really hit home at the time, but it started the foundation. I’m now a Vice President of an organization with a reasonably sized team and I see the obsessions in a bit of a different light.
Pick up these books and check them out. It won’t be a waste of your time.
Well isn’t this interesting
I didn’t vote for the current president. I don’t like his policies, or economic mentality. With that said, however, I do hope and pray for him and his administration that they can help this country out of the economic mess that we are in. However, I don’t think he is going in the right direction. Articles like this confirm that. Why would Larry Summers still be in such an influential role when his loyalties obviously lie elsewhere, or at least he is conflicted. Check this out…
Stop the insanity…bailout central
This article states pretty clearly the insanity that these bailouts with the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Why do we keep companies and their incompetent managers in business. This crap about systemic risk and that we can’t afford to let business fail is ridiculous. I’m not saying that a failure of a company like Citi or B of A wouldn’t cause issues, however aren’t we just pushing out the inevitable. If the CEOs and board of directors can’t run the company now why will they be able to in the future. This circumvention of capitalism drives me nuts. Liquidate the assets to people who can manage them and let’s move on. Click here to read the article.
Now this is really cool…
I’ve always wanted to be a pilot and fly my own plane. This really sparks my interest…
A better option for GM – Chapter 11
I just came across this article in the NYT. Great thoughts about what the Government should do with GM. Sorkin does a great job summarizing the situation with GM and why Chapter 11 is a better job. Check it out.
