Your Information In A Stranger's Hand (Pt. 2)

The last posting dealt with your information and how safe it is when you send it to someone for processing. Who are these someones?

They are your accountant, your office supply store, the UPS store, the print shop that makes your business cards, blueprint copy shop, the guy who you hired to do you website. That's a lot of people. True by the nature of their business you expect a reasonable level of security when it comes to your information: A doctor's office, the confessional at church, the psychiatrist chair, and of course, your lawyer's office. That's about it.

If you really think that you can expect any level of security anyplace else, then you are sadly mistaken. I am sorry to put it so bluntly but it had to be said. What assurances do you have from the people you so gladly hand your data over to that they won't spill your corporate beans in someone else's salad?

DO THEY HAVE A PLAN?
Do they have a plan in place that SPECIFICALLY addresses how they will handle your data? Do they download it off the net and then burn it on a CD, label it, then toss it on a desk, until they get around to it? Trust me that is no plan. That is inviting trouble. Imagine YOUR #1 COMPETITOR coming in and asking to see the inner workings of the print shop (as an example), as he is getting the grand tour he spots a CD with your company name on it, hmmmm. A quick reach of the hand and *POOF*, your data...the data you thought you were entrusting to your printer has now fallen into enemy hands.

DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK!!!
Whatever, you do DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK. It is your information and if you do not like what they had to say or hesitate to say something (BIG INDICATOR THAT THEY HAVE NO PLAN), then find someone else to do your work. It may cost a little more, but it may end up saving you a whole lot more when it comes to losing data to a competitor.

IT IS YOUR BUSINESS
If they start giving you the run around or asking you what business is their business practices of yours...TELL THEM THAT IT IS YOUR BUSINESS you are bringing them. If they can't respect you enough to protect your business then they certainly don't need your patronage and they certainly don't need YOUR MONEY.

IN SUMMATION

• You have a right to have your information protected
• You have a right to known how your information is protected
• You have a right to find someone else (especially if they pull that old 'I thought we were friends' routine), that's why it is called BUSINESS (and not friendship)
  
• You have a right not to be fooled by the fish. Those who proudly wear the fish like a badge of honor are set to a higher standard because "they expect it" also they are expected to give that HIGHER STANDARD back to everyone they deal with (more about the fish later).
  
• You have a right to spend your money wherever you want.
• YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE RESPECTED

FLIGHT 93: the movie

Even with some arguing that it may be too soon for any major motion picture about 9-11-2001. I feel the opposite.

The time was right on 9-12-2001. I mean that as citizens of the United States we should be reminded about the morning hell was unleashed on us over our first cup of coffee, everyday. If only to reinforce the fact that there are people in the world that will stop at nothing to see the end of the greatest democracy this planet has ever had.

So is the time right? You better damn well believe it the time is right. This motion picture will be ranked up there with the emotions stirred up by 'SAVING PRIVATE RYAN'! Although, SPR is in a league of its own, it stirred the emotions of everyone who saw it. Especially, those first 20 minutes. I never got a chance to truly thank my grandfather for his service to this country, but I am so proud of him for answering his nation's call. But I digress...

Flight 93, we know what happens, yet we will watch if for nothing else, but for the opportunity to get to know those Patriots who so willingly sacrificed themselves so that a couple of idiots would never see their delusional vision of heaven be realized.

It's time....Go See FLIGHT 93.

How Secure Is Your Data? Are You Willing To Bet Your Life On It?

By now I am sure most of you have heard about the Hard Drives, Thumb Drives, and other data storage devices stolen from US bases in Afghanistan and sold at the local bazaars. There have been reports that there were maps of Fire Control Radar locations, images of troop movements and operations, names of Taliban double agents, cover agents and other sensitive data were on the drives.

How did they obtain this information? Its real simple...According to an FBI/CSI Computer Security Survey for 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005, "Insiders are the greatest threat to computer security". Consultants, technicians, outside vendors and contractors are allowed access to the area where such equipment is stored. It doesn't take a genius to go in and copy a harddrive (especially with external USB drives) or palm a flash drive and *POOF* it is gone.

What are you doing to protect your data? Encrypting it? off-site storage? or hope that you can trust the people you allow behind the counter? We all live in a world where we would like to trust your fellow man. While it is not certain how much information has already fallen into enemy hands, what it is certain it will be used against us whether in the form of Propoganda (recovered images) or to plan counter-operations against Coalition forces.

While this might not happen in your business, people might not die if a blue print goes missing but should a client find out that their private business information has been compromised rest assured your business will suffer a direct economic hit because you are not doing anything to protect their interest.

So if you think you can live through a direct economic hit to your business, then you are one of two things: so rich that you don't need their business or you are the biggest IDIOT thatever was.

Do something now about protecting not just your data but that of your clients, and let them know you care enough about them that you are taking steps to protect their most important assets entrusted to you.

If you don't know how to get started, let me know I am willing to help you.

Which crowd do you belong to?

It's Lent, for those of you who practice Christianity, you know the deal. For those that don't, well then as good citizens of the world you should at least know what Lent is all about. This blog isn't much about religion as it is about a crowd of people.

When Jesus was on Earth performing miracles...you know turning water to wine, making the blind see, curing the ill...all that stuff, word got out that this guy was making miracles happen people started to follow. They followed him everywhere. They called him "Rabbi" (Teacher), everyone that followed him loved him. This went on for quite a while.

Then the prophesized day came, there he stood before the big wigs of the Jewish religion. The crowds followed him to see how matters were going to be handled. The Chief Men and Elders took the matter to the Roman Government. This is where Pontius Pilate comes in. The crowds followed the Jewish Leaders and Jesus to the Roman magistrate's office to see how this was going to play out.

It was here that some in the crowd yell, "KILL HIM!!!" The crowd turned on Jesus of Nazareth. Ultimately, Jesus was put to death via crucifiction. The crowds of followers hid, turned against him, denied him, and even encourage his death. These were the people who followed him from Miracle to Miracle. They followed him to his great sermon. These were now the same people who no longer wanted to be associated with him.

This crowd was the worst kind...today we call them HOMERS....Johnny come latelys...

Something to think about...Would you have the guts to go against the crowd and stand up for what you believed no matter what, no matter how unpopular?

How To Get A $17 Million Dollar Contract With The Dallas Cowboys

Long time Mentor and Uber-Disruptive Age Guru Tom Peters wrote in Re-Imagine that the average US employee has approximately 26 days a year of training. That's 208 hours a year. Sounds like a lot? It does but it isn't. There are 2080 working hours in a typical 5 day a week, 52 week business year and according to my friend Tom, only 1/10th of that time is spent on training.

Not bad you say? I say its real bad. I say Tom is on to something. In the book he continues to say that in order to be best in the world, the best train every day...365 days a year...if they train for at least one hour a day, well that's a minimum of 365 hours a year. What are you doing to be best in the world? or at least best in your organization?

Take for instance, the new Dallas Cowboy Linebacker Akin Ayodele. Talk about starting from the ground up. This kid was once their ball boy, now he is the highest paid ball boy in the NFL ($17 Million Five Year, $5 Million signing bonus). He saw his objective, worked and trained hard until he realized his dream of playing in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys.

I can rest assured in saying that this kid did not practice when he felt like it and got this multi-million dollar contract handed to him. He earned it. The Dallas Cowboys did not get the name of "America's Team" for no reason...the EARNED IT, as well.

Akin Ayodele, just like every other Professional Athlete, CEO, accomplished Author, Doctor, PhD., M.Div, noted Scholar, acclaimed Guru of the Disruptive Age, and even your local Computer Tech achieved their place in the world by being the best in the world at what they do.
As with Mr. Ayodele it was not handed to them, they earned it. They trained, trained, trained ,and when they thought they couldn't go on they trained some more.

So what is this post all about? Simple, if you aren't training then you ain't learning. If you ain't learning then you ain't living. If you ain't living then what's the point?

¿Donde Estas?

¿Donde Estas? Wo Bist Du? uh Where are you?

Do you where you are? Do you know where your customers are? Do you know?

There seems to be a popular misconception as to where people are? The truth dear reader is rather simple. As you read this blog, I am no more than a few feet from you. This happy medium known as the Internet has made the miles disappear. Think about it, I sit here in Deep South Texas and with a few clicks of the mouse, I know what the temperature is in Tahlequah, Oklahoma is. A couple of other clicks and I can see out my friend's apartment in Berlin, Germany through his web-cam.

The transfer of information has quickly become such an "old-hand" that I can read the weekly bulletin of the Church my In-Laws attend in Memphis, Tennessee. With blogs, emotions are now shared worldwide, in an instant. I can feel your pain, I can share in your happiness.

So what does this have to do with business matters? Issues in your neighborhood affect me as do the issues in my neighborhood affect you. This means that for as much as we have to think globally we also have to start thinking locally, think about the customer's location in terms of "that you have to know what is going on in that community."

As an example, few months ago I received a call from a non-profit organization in Connecticut. It seems that they were looking for a custom database designer. It got me thinking "why are they calling Texas for a database designer?" Simple, either they were burned by someone locally or no one advertised on the Internet that they offered those services. Needless to say I did the work. To this day, I continue to read their local paper, online of course. I also subscribe to the organization's newsletter. I am now part of their community...Passively Observing but sharing thoughts and ideas with the customer whenever we talk, "Hey, how is that Highway expansion going?" or "Did that School Bond pass at the last vote?" and so on.

As the Internet continues to evolve, it is up to you to spread your wings across the Internet and get in touch with not only your customer and their individual needs but establish a solid foundation and know what is going on in their neck of the woods.

Super Bowl Commercials for Super Bowl XL

Let's Have Some Fun...It's Super Bowl Sunday for Pete's Sake

So Let's Blog The Commercials:
Budweiser Beer Hunt: Good Idea but not quite finished with this Story

Burger King: whopperettes...looks like the King should start playing football with a helmet, all those hits to the head over the season have really taken their toll....What the heck was that???

Sierra Mist: Whoever came up with this idea, well they need a cavity search...for a clue!

Bud Lite: Magic Fridge...ROCKS!!!!

FedEx: Just goes to prove either be distinct or be extinct. In this case, FedEx is distinct.

Bud Lite: Bear...Beer...huh?

Diet Pepsi: P.Diddy, while funny it is just difficult to think that P.Diddy needs the money. Come on P. make some more great music. You are too good to partner up with a can of Diet Pepsi.

Aleve: Live Long and Prosper Mr. Spock. Thanks for keeping the faith. Aleve, what can you do about upset stomachs?

AMERIQUEST: We have a WINNER!!!

Bud Lite: Rooftop Repairs...Well, we have a WINNER!!!

Diet Pepsi: Jackie Chan...They can only get better. Diet Pepsi Can, you can move up and work with Jet Li. Jackie Chan..while you are a living legend you better watch out cuz Diet Pepsi Can is gonna take you down like Bruce took down Kareem.

Budweiser: Streaker...did we really need another brokeback mountain reminder? Did we really need to see that?

Mobile ESPN: Cool, but can you blog from it?

Careerbuilder.com: We all have monkeys in the workplace...Tell us something new.

DOVE: CAN IT GET ANY BETTER? NO...THIS IS IT!!! THIS ONE WINS! Thanks

Toyota: Kermit...you still kick it after all these years

Bud Amber beer: The beer better be as good as those hits were.

GoDaddy: Wardrobe malfunctions are so last year...Then again I was waiting Aretha to do it during the Star Spangled Banner.

Gillette: QUICK!!! SOMEONE call QUIZNO's someone stole their logo.

Overstock.com: OMG, I am in love with that German Beauty...She is German look it up.

Disney: Seen it...no comment

Sprint: Crime Deterrent ROCKS!!!! We have another WINNER!!!

Ameriquest: Airplane...gawd I am never that lucky

MOTOPEBL: Cool

Sharpie: u mean a Pirate can write? or wants to?

Budweiser: Lil' Clydesdale: Why are kids so eager to grow up?

Nationwide: Fabio finally women get to see what we men have seen for so many years.

NFL Mobile: Air? We had no air and we liked it.

H3 (Hummer): If all cars were born this way, we would all live in a very happy world.

PS Cleaner: Ewww kissing plastic...

Careerbuilder.com: we all got Jackasses at work too.

Taco Bell: Even Geek Chicks don't like Geek Guys

Toyota Tacoma: Now that's a cool video

Sprint: Downloads...I MISS BENNY HILL...please someone give him a Knighthood

Degree: We all need to be like Jackie Chan and do our own stunts.

Emerald Nuts: uh ok..whatever you say DRUID LOVERS

Budweiser: Now that's some good beer..cool commercial. Best one Bud commercial of the night.

MasterCard: dang its Shamus McGyver...where has he been hiding.

Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Steelers

A FIRST FOR DAVE

If you had read the 13 days of posting over the holidays you know that I had a condition that would have gotten worse if I did not get off my duff and do something about it. Well, today was a beginning for a new chapter in my life.

This morning I ran in the All-America City 10K and 2 Mile Run/Walk. I did the 2 Mile Run in a little under 19 minutes. Not bad for a guy who is a lot older and a lot heavier the last time he ran a timed 2 miler. It was was when I ran my last PT in the Army. Back then the minimum time for age group was around 14 minutes. I did that no problem. Almost 20 years later and I added 5 minutes to my time, not bad for a not too fat, not too old geezer.

What is the moral of this shameless self-promotion? All it takes is one step. One step even if someone has to put a boot up your backside, GET UP & TAKE THAT FIRST STEP.

JUNE 4, 2005 was the day my doctor put that boot up my ass. Don't let your Doc be the one to do it, because it might just be too late. I am so lucky it was not too late for me.

Consider this your wake-up call. Consider your ass kicked by my boot. While I do not expect you to go out and run two miler, next week but if in 8 months you can beat my time today (18minutes 44seconds) I will give you a Steak OR Lobster Dinner delivered to your door. This offer has to be verified by race officials as well as a doctor's certification that a condition existed that would be prevented through diet and exercise. How is that for an incentive to get off your ass and start living BIG!!

TALENT & BRAND YOU!!!

Now that The Big Moo is over, I am heading over to my next book: Tom Peters Essentials: TALENT (develop it, sell it, be it) by Tom Peters.

It is one in series of four books that are a direct derivative of the 2003 book RE-IMAGINE! by Management/Leadership Guru Tom Peters.

Though I am not done, it isn't a hard read, however so far it is extremely informative and extremely thought provoking. There is one section that I am thoroughly enthralled with that I had to write about it.

I am going to post it here. This comes directly from the TALENT book by Tom Peters pages 46-47.

A "Brand You" Start
In the Brand You training offered by Tom Peters Company, we provide concrete ways for clients to renew their Brand You portfolio. They have found one exercise in particular to be of value. We call it the Personal Brand Equity Evaluation. Each participant is asked to complete the following statements:

I am known for...

Next year at this time I will also be known for...

My current project is challenging me in these ways...

New things I've learned in the last 90 days include...

My public "recognition program" consists of...

Additions to my Rolodex in the last 90 days include...

My resume today is Discernibly Different from my resume last year at this time in these ways...

There's no magic here. But applying the "brand equity" idea to your career is a clear winner, or so clients keep telling us.
==============

So I challenge my dear readers to fill out this questionaire and see what you learn about yourself.

A reminder in 90 days will be posted so that you can redo this and hopefully it will be "discenibly different"

The Big Moo: A Review (Finally)

Today, I finished reading The Big Moo:Stop Trying to Be Perfect and Start Being Remarkable edited by Marketing Guru Seth Godin and written by 33 of the top business and leadership minds on the planet.

This book has been thoroughly reviewed so I will not make this a rehash of what they already said. Well maybe a little.

The 33 individual one or two page vignettes were short enough to keep me wanting to read the next one but not too short that made the vignettes lacking information. I was really impressed that one of the authors mentioned the grocery store that I shop at by name. I was completely blown away about what made H.E.B. part of this awesome book. It also re-affirmed my resolve as a customer of H.E.B. Sorry folks you are going to have to get the book for yourself to find out what the heck I am talking about.

Overall this book will definitely change your attitude as well as your latitude.

MY VISION OF 2005 AND LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2006 #12

AS THE NEW FINE
2005: In 2005, when asked how I was professionally, my response 99.999% of the time was "busy". I was busy. I was important therefore I was busy. I have been busy for the last couple of years. I have talked to other people who have told me they were busy as well. It got to the point that at time its was a competition as to who was the busiest. It was like "my busy is bigger than your busy...here look." Then it hit me...and it hit me like a ton of bricks. We all have the same 24 hours, everyday.

The breakdown goes a little something like this:
7-8 hours of sleep=16-17 left
8 hours at work = 9-8 hours left
1 hour exercising = 8-7 hours left...That's right 1/3 of day left to eat, drink, and be merry.

So what's the big freaking deal? Our bosses expect 100% commitment during those 8 hours at work. If you are self-employed, then guess what you have a boss...the customer or better yet, your stakeholders. They not only expect but they demand 100% commitment from you. So you are busy...boo freaking hoo...guess what your busy is just as long as my busy.

Without a doubt, work can be hard, very hard. I fully buy-in to the idea that the harder you work the better the reward (provided that someone watching you work hard is someone who also bought-in).

Therefore...

2006: in 2006, I will stop saying "BUSY" and instead will say "FINE". If you read this blog and catch me saying "BUSY" when you ask me how I am, then you just won yourself a free lunch at Schlotzsky's. GUARANTEED!!! As for you, in 2006, when I ask how you are doing and you answer "BUSY", then I will tell you goodbye as you are too busy to go to lunch with me.

Remember folks, change your attitude and the rest will take care of itself.

MY VISION OF 2005 AND LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2006 #11

Someone Else’s Average
2005: I have seen a lot of things happen in 2005 that have decidedly made me quite upset. However, as I have been putting this work together I have noticed one consistent factor. Those that make me upset all have one thing in common: They follow others and most definitely are not the trailblazers in their private lives and most definitely NOT in their organization. They are the ones that also bring an organization to its knees. They are the AVERAGE that makes the organization's bell curve what it is.

You remember the bell curve. That thing in school that made the bad grades look better. Then again, there was always someone who would come along and score higher than everyone else and there goes the bell curve and the crappy grades are back.

The sad and pathetic thing is that there were NO people that I saw that scored better than anyone else in their organization. So the pitiful grade curve stuck. Just one thing to remember: Doing C(minus) work is still C(minus) work, whether one person is doing it or everyone in the organization is doing it. The trick is that when everyone is doing it, then the low grade becomes the high grade for the organization.

2006: In 2006, I still believe that there will be people who are doomed to be average and others that are doomed to make others average. I also believe that there will be a few that will ruin the grading curve for their organization. Hopefully, in the process they may bring a few that will rise to the top with them. Time will tell.

In the meantime, I firmly believe that those average followers will stay the same, just average and just a follower...what a shame.

MY VISION OF 2005 AND LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2006 #10

PASSION
2005: In 2005, I was witness to not a lot of PASSION. No, not the BEDROOM kind of passion, there was plenty of that, but who is bragging. I am talking about the kind of Passion that people used to have in their job. The kind of passion that they had when they were hired. Now I see empty eyes, eyes that no longer have sparks, now it is just blank stares. What went wrong? What made things so sad? Where did the passion go?

Good Questions...NO..These are EXCELLENT QUESTIONS.

Do the people I saw think that the passion is a farce? a simple, silly pipe dream. Yet, you put up with it, we stand for it. We wouldn’t stand for inferior food in a restaurant, or mediocre service in a hotel. No way. We value our time and experiences too highly. Yet many of us feel forced to accept an ordinary career — a career unworthy of loving — when we deserve so much more. It’s learned helplessness. We send cold soup back to the kitchen, but choke down the lukewarm career. This is where the passion ends.

2006: In 2006, I will continue to be witness to the lack of PASSION, I will witness people choke down their mediocre careers, the careers that they once felt so passionate about. In 2006, I firmly believe that there will be people who will get it but for the most part most won't have a clue.

Who will re-ignite the passion first?
I pray that it is not too late for you or me.

MY VISION OF 2005 AND LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2006 #9

PERMANENCE, or the lack thereof
2005: Tom Peters writes about PERMANENCE, "Put your all into surviving today’s tsunamis of change…and let the day after tomorrow take care of itself." The year is 2005 and there are people that still believe that permanence is the ONLY way things get done. HA HA HA nothing could be further from the truth. Permanence is yesterday. Today, if you hang around too long people will start to forget to dust you off.

2006: In 2006, I can assure you that there will be change, the only permanence will be that I will be changing and I will expect change and you will expect change from me. I will be dusting myself off and dusting off those relationships that have become an expected permenance.

Don't you think it is time for a change?

MY VISION OF 2005 AND LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2006 #8

CHANGE
2005: When was the last time you bought a new computer? Last week? Last month? Last year? I can assure you it was out of date the moment you took possesion of it. No need to be upset,
one thing to remember is that technology, as we know it today, is still in in its infancy.

This means, rather simply, that we ain't seen nothinʼ yet! Those of you that are reading this already know that the Internet has already lived up to its hype and will soon exceed it. Wildly. What does this mean for you? I will tell you what it means.

It means that you need to keep your eye on where technology is going. Remember the dot-com boom in the late 90s? Do you equally remember the dot-com BUST at the turn of this century?
Guess what, we are on the verge of 2006 and the start of another Internet BOOM is underway.

Don't think so?

I say you are wrong, I say that you are not looking ahead. Granted that this Internet Boom will NOT be as wild and crazy as the first boom, but I can assure you that when the bust happens, this time, it won't be as bad as the first. Additionally, this new BOOM will not just be about the web, it will be about what you can do on the web. Additionally, new technologies will be a part of the BOOM. The bio-technology sector will become the new GOLD RUSH sector. People will flock to it, especially with its promise of protection from the evil microbes of the world; H5N1 is no exception.

Are you listening now? Probably not. Well you better before its too late because this genie is out of the bottle!

2006: In 2006, I believe technology will be on the fast track to change, no, to REDEFINE our lives. Every aspect of our lives (love, war, commerce, what it takes to live) are not immune. I also will continue to looking forward, looking two, no THREE steps ahead when it comes to Tech development. It may just save my life, NO. IT MAY JUST SAVE OUR LIVES.

MY VISION OF 2005 AND LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2006 #7

CALENDAR KNOWS BEST

2005: In 2005, I gave up wearing a watch. Totally?, well maybe not, let's say I gave up it 99.998% of the time. At first it was difficult getting used to not looking at my wrist to tell me what time it was and reminding me that I was a slave to time. No matter what we are all slaves to time. We talk about how fast time flies. Look 2005 is just about over, where did the year go? To look at my calendar, I know exactly where it went.

So what does this mean? It means that if you or I wanted to know where I am or where I was,

my calendar was the place to check. My calendar became an extension of who I was in 2005. It was not only the center of my existence it became the center of my victories and of my FAILURES. There they were in a date square, in black and white with a time written next to it.

Someone once wrote that "we are what we eat" if that's the case then by all sense we are our calendar. Good or bad??? It doesn't matter, what matters is that this is who we are. When properly used you/your calendar will reveal everything about who you are: What is important, as well as what habits you continue to feed (manicure anyone?). Ultimately, it reveals to everyone and anyone that reads your calendar, what matters most to you.

2006: In 2006, I will continue to keep me/my calendar up-to-date. I will also hope to start looking at other people's calendars. Not to see what matters most to them but to see when they will be available to do lunch. I will also start adding more dates on my calendar that center on what matters most.

MY VISION OF 2005 AND LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2006 #6

Re-imagine NOW!!!
2005: Tom Peters once wrote, "It is the foremost task—and responsibility—of this generation to re-imagine all of our institutions, private and public” and I add "OURSELVES." In 2005, I saw none of this. I lead the pack. Halfway through 2005, I stood alone, then one by one I started seeing others failing themselves and their organizations. I saw that I lost my edge. I saw that I lost the thirst for change. Things were becoming static. I was becoming stale and not going anywhere. Then it happened. June 4, 2005 things changed.

As usual, things changed because they had to change. I was on the fast track to becoming a diabetic. I was overweight, lazy, and just not in good shape both physically and mentally. So I had to act fast. I started exercising and life started to get more focused. I started seeing the way I do business start to change. I not only re-imagined the future with a better me, I re-imagined me.

2006: In 2006, I will start to expand the "Re-Imagine" mantra. I will let people know that these are not times for the faint of heart. In 2006 there will be a call for the maximum from each and every one of us. For the sake of ourselves, our communities, our children, our world. No right answers or certain rules are on the horizon. We must make it up as we go along. As for a Blessed Hiatus…forget about it (I ALREADY HAD MINE).

MY VISION OF 2005 AND LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2006 #5

CHANGE
2005: In 2005, like any other year there is change everywhere. I was witness to global changes, political changes, personal changes, however very little business change. Then again, there is that old saying that goes something like this: No matter how much things change they stay the same.

2005 was no exception. There were promises that 2005 will be the best year ever. There were
mission statements that reflected this "pipe dream". Why do I call it a pipe dream? I call it that because the change may look fantastic on paper, but when it comes to implement one important thing was forgotten: THE BUY IN.

Seems that the writers of the mission statement went all out on the changes but forgot to get the people to buy in to the change. They gave their change a name but forgot to get the buy in from the ones that matter the most...the employees. They give trinkets and t-shirts in the futile efforts of the shirt magically conveying the new change.

NO SHOES, NO SHIRT, NO SERVICE, and, most of all, NO CLUE!!!

So what is the magic pill to change? The is no magic pill. Change has to happen...it has to happen NOW. No Shoes, No Shirts, No lame-ass bracelet (that worked for LANCE (everyone else is just riding a tired and well worn out coat tail)) will do it. Change happens the moment EVERYONE buys in completely and not a second sooner.


2006: In 2006, I firmly believe that change will permeate everything and everyone. However, I will do all that I can to ensure that the management gets their employees to buy-in to the changes. Failing to do that, the organization that makes changes without the buy-in is like that guy who gives himself his own nickname. If you don't understand that last sentence, well walk up to your co-workers and tell them that your nickname is <<> self-defined goofy-ass nickname here>> and see what kind of reaction you get.

MY VISION OF 2005 AND LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2006 #4

Ignore the critic and EMBRACE the criticism

2005: In 2005, I was witness to some audacious criticism. Maybe audacious is too nice of a word. It would be better served to be criticism from a cowardly critic. Please don't get me wrong, I like criticism, it serves to keep me on top of my game. It motivates me, it makes me want to do better, some of my best ideas come from criticism. However, what I detest more than anything else is people who would rather take cheap shots at the person. To me, that is a cry for help.

The passive aggressive ones are the worst. They just reinforce that they really need help and as I am not a licensed therapist, I cannot help them. I just as soon shoot myself in the face with a flamethrower than to deal with people like that. Then again, there are people worse than them...The Boss. If a boss, tolerates that kind of behaviour from their staff well that is just not good.

What causes this? Any number of reasons, to me it is that the passive aggressive person was once the boss' strong arm that now the person has gotten so out of control that even the boss can no longer effectively control that person. What is a boss to do???

I cannot speak for that boss, I can only speak for myself...I WOULD FIRE THAT INDIVIDUAL AS SOON AS IT IS HUMANLY AND HUMANELY AS POSSIBLE. I would do it to not only remind the passive aggressive who the true boss is, but as an attempt to regain control of the other staff members before they become out of control.

2006: In 2006, I vow to make a hasty exit when an organization not only allows their staff to behave in that manner but encourages it. To me, this is an organization that lacks focus, control, and most of all it lacks integrity, at ALL LEVELS. I promise you dear readers, you do not want to be anywhere near any organization that does business that way. When the bottom falls out of the company (as it always does), the sucking sound you will hear is the sound of that company trying to take you down with them. All I can say is RUN and RUN FAST AND FAR.

Also in 2006, I will continue to embrace criticism and IGNORE the critics.

MY VISION OF 2005 AND LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2006 #3

2005: In 2005, I took two vacations; one for personal reasons and one for a family function. The one for personal reasons was not fun. The one for a family function (which I dread) turned out to be one of the best times I had doing it. At one point, I turned to my wife and told her that this was the best trip to see her family that I have ever had. That's right it was a trip to my wife's cousin's wedding. We packed the kids and got onto an big orange and red big and then we were free to roam about the country (HINT, HINT)

In 2005, I know of one individual who took a vacation by himself, his wife took a vacation by herself, and their kids took their own vacation. Wow must be nice to get away from the kids and I bet it is. Come on, how much fun can you have without the kids?

Well if you are shallow you can have a pretty decent time, maybe close to fun, however, I assure you that there will be NO JOY in what you are doing and where you are doing it. As a matter of fact I would call it INSANE. Where is the fun in being insane? Truly I believe that it is actually a lot of work to be insane, convincing everyone you are insane.

But I digress, Mr. Vacation Example, owns his own business. He has quite a large staff who get paid at various levels, depending on the position within his organization. It would be safe to say that over 98% of his staff could not afford to own a Mazda Miata or two or three for that matter. Well, I was shocked when I saw that he openly flaunted his "single man" vacation to his staff. Most of which are single parents or sole providers for their family unit would never even dream about taking a vacation let alone a vacation without the family.

I fully understand that it is good to be the boss, but to openly rub it in the faces of the people who look to you for a job and most of all, a paycheck, is not a good thing for morale. When bad things happen to company morale, well that just isn't a fun place to work at.

2006: In 2006, I will do what I can to advocate that fun be brought back into the workplace. If you are not prepared to have some fun, then you are not really prepared to have productive employees.

Please do not get me wrong. I am all for getting to work and making things happen in the workplace. However, if there isn't some laughter in the workplace, then that is a place that is waiting to implode because I guarantee all you will find there is dissent. Do something before you find yourself with a high turnover rate that leave you with an "old timer" in your organization as having an average of 18 months time with your organization is definitely not my definition of fun.