Thursday, May 27, 2010
I’ve always wanted to build a business that could make money without me – undoubtedly an aspiration of many. My ideal is the type where engagement takes the form of strategic oversight and occasional interesting deep dives.
But as many others have learned before me, growth requires giving up quite a bit of control. And stepping back doesn’t come naturally, especially to those whose “control” has helped shape the business. Continue Reading
Friday, May 7, 2010
On Tuesday I wrote a post “Leader as Loving Parent” where I championed the premise that change is necessary even though it’s really tough.
If I would have known what I was going to hear today, I would have saved the ink and just summarized Chip Heath’s talk “Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard.” It was fantastic.
I want to share my takeaways…I’ve tried to compile them so they will be relevant regardless of whether or not you saw the presentation:
Continue Reading
Friday, May 7, 2010
“Most people start life as originals and end as carbon copies.” I’ve heard this quote a few times but have no idea who said it. Regardless, it’s completely true.
Each time I’m at a conference – and I’ve attended a hundred or so at this point – I’m always tempted to copy certain aspects of the presenters themselves. To try to become a bit of him. Why not? He’s usually one of the best leaders in his field. Resist the urge.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Outside the presidential mansion… Sampsanis Loannis, a 49-year old doctor in a state hospital, said Greeks had had enough.
“I have 5 children, I work all day and I make 1,020 euros net a month. The measures [cuts in wages and pensions] are cruel and inhuman, people cannot stand it any more, they will revolt,” he said.
Several hundred rubbish collectors marched through central Athens behind a dozen garbage trucks, holding banners reading “hands off our salaries” and chanting “parliament is where the rubbish is.”
I read the above excerpt yesterday in a Reuters article that discussed the Greek unions’ resistance to the EU’s and International Monetary Funds conditions for aid. The EU and IMF are trying to save the country… by giving 110 billion Euros in funding and insisting on government budget cuts. The country, however, doesn’t want to endure the pain necessary to be saved.
