Last Friday, I traveled to Washington, DC and the Inc. 500 Forum, to host a discussion--more of a heated argument in fact--between Seth Godin and Tom Peters. I'm rushing to a meeting how, but take a look at some of the insights of two of the top thought leaders in business today.
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Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Welcome, let's talk.
As the Stones said a startling 35 years ago, "Please allow me to introduce myself." I'm ----- ---------, President of ---------------------------. As you may or may not know, the folks and the services of ------------------------------------ are dedicated to the needs of small business owners. But this is not an ad. This blog, starting today and continuing every day of the work week is, I hope, the start of a conversation between you and me and, again I hope, millions of small business owners across the country. The conversation will be pulled right from the headlines; topical and heated, with no punches pulled.
OK. Enough introduction. Let's get down to business.
We are, as anyone who's not living under a rock knows, living through a period of extraordinary economic tumult. Couple that with a presidential election and the rancor that usually accompanies such elections and there are probably times you feel like you want to "duck and cover." Or at least turn the volume on your iPod up to the max.
Opening the paper doesn't help either. This morning reading The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (the start of my 14-hour days--how do you start yours?) I counted SIX separate ads with headlines like these:
"The End is Near...Isn't It?"
"How to Handle MARKET VOLATILITY."
"Confidence."
"Rise Above the Risk."
"In an increasingly risky world choosing the right _________is more important than ever."
"An open letter to America's Investors."
Often, when I'm faced with a dilemma, a crisis of confidence or I just want a good, provocative read, I turn to Peter Drucker. This morning, after reading those headlines I opened my copy of "The Daily Drucker--365 Days of Insight and Motivation." (pick it up from Amazon for under $14! http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=the+daily+drucker&x=0&y=0
Here's what hit me this morning from a passage titled: "Turbulence: Threat or Opportunity?"
"'The manager will have to look at her task and ask,"What must I do to be prepared for danger, for opportunities, and above all for change?'"
Now I'm paraphrasing Peter:
1. Make sure your organization is lean and can move fast.
2. Ensure that vital tasks are adequately supported.
3. Work to optimize your most expensive resource--TIME. So set goals for productivity improvements.
4. Good times or rough times--the development of people is crucial.
Back to work for me now. Please pass this blog around and send in your comments. More tomorrow, so as they used to say in days of yore--stay tuned.
OK. Enough introduction. Let's get down to business.
We are, as anyone who's not living under a rock knows, living through a period of extraordinary economic tumult. Couple that with a presidential election and the rancor that usually accompanies such elections and there are probably times you feel like you want to "duck and cover." Or at least turn the volume on your iPod up to the max.
Opening the paper doesn't help either. This morning reading The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (the start of my 14-hour days--how do you start yours?) I counted SIX separate ads with headlines like these:
"The End is Near...Isn't It?"
"How to Handle MARKET VOLATILITY."
"Confidence."
"Rise Above the Risk."
"In an increasingly risky world choosing the right _________is more important than ever."
"An open letter to America's Investors."
Often, when I'm faced with a dilemma, a crisis of confidence or I just want a good, provocative read, I turn to Peter Drucker. This morning, after reading those headlines I opened my copy of "The Daily Drucker--365 Days of Insight and Motivation." (pick it up from Amazon for under $14! http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=the+daily+drucker&x=0&y=0
Here's what hit me this morning from a passage titled: "Turbulence: Threat or Opportunity?"
"'The manager will have to look at her task and ask,"What must I do to be prepared for danger, for opportunities, and above all for change?'"
Now I'm paraphrasing Peter:
1. Make sure your organization is lean and can move fast.
2. Ensure that vital tasks are adequately supported.
3. Work to optimize your most expensive resource--TIME. So set goals for productivity improvements.
4. Good times or rough times--the development of people is crucial.
Back to work for me now. Please pass this blog around and send in your comments. More tomorrow, so as they used to say in days of yore--stay tuned.
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