In the CEO Afterlife

DECEMBER 18, 2014

'Complexity is in the eye of the beholder. To me, astrophysics is a complex discipline; to Stephen Hawking it is not. People engaged in complex situations fall into two categories: those who accept complexity as a fact of life and work with it, and those who fight it every inch of the way. I’m in that later camp. In today’s business, complexity is prolific.

ROE 249

ROE Human Resources Marketing Strategy Competitive Advantage 249

In the CEO Afterlife

JUNE 16, 2014

'When it comes to workplace morale, there is no shortage of articles suggesting the ways and means to build and/or enhance cultures that motivate employees to deliver the goods. Beyond their intent to boost morale, the commentaries have one thing in common – the counsel is generic. In other words, the pundits inherently assume that their morale-lifting tactics and strategies apply to any organization, no matter the product or service in which they are engaged.

Morale 215

Morale Human Resources Crisis Management Crisis 215

In the CEO Afterlife

MAY 20, 2014

'Negotiating for a lower price or something extra is the modus operandi of every antique retailer, real estate broker, flea market merchant and automobile dealer. Everyone is looking for a good deal, a real bargain. I’m not taking issue with that. Bargaining is a terrific way to create and stimulate economies. Everyone has heard the saying, “the best things in life are free.

Real Estate 215

Real Estate Human Resources Bureaucracy Constraint 215

In the CEO Afterlife

DECEMBER 27, 2014

'The approaching New Year invites the contemplation of resolutions. Before setting them, I’d like to suggest that you consider a fundamental question before setting goals and objectives for your personal life and your professional life. The question is this: What’s holding you back? Now, its fair to say that I know nothing of your personal life, but I do know a thing or two about business life, having lived there more years than I care to remember.

Constraint 200

Constraint Human Resources Marketing Strategy Short-term 200

In the CEO Afterlife

JANUARY 20, 2014

'“What is holding you back?” is the fundamental question everyone should answer BEFORE setting goals, objectives and resolutions for the New Year. This applies to your personal life and your professional life. I know nothing of your personal life, but I do know a thing or two about business life, having lived there more years than I care to remember.

Constraint 185

Constraint Human Resources Crisis Management Short-term 185

In the CEO Afterlife

DECEMBER 7, 2014

'There are plenty of generic strategic choices to drive a business forward. Risk-averse CEOs find comfort in the ‘ doing more of the same’ strategic mode. Yet, when things get tough, they quickly knee-jerk into ‘ doing more of the same, with less.’ Some leaders strive for scale by ‘ doing more with less ,’ usually meaning fewer employees.

Human Resources 183

Human Resources Restructuring Competitive Advantage Marketing Strategy 183

In the CEO Afterlife

APRIL 21, 2014

'Every company wants TALENT. But not every company is bestowed with the LEADERSHIP that unleashes talent’s power. Talent without leadership is as good as spitting into a gale-force wind. . I learned that lesson growing up in a working-class district of Toronto in the 1950s. Back then, every public primary school fed into one large junior high school after the sixth grade.

Leadership 253

Leadership Class Human Resources Crisis Management 253