Beware of people with MCD!

Hello Everyone, I know I should write an uplifting, holiday-oriented greeting….or…. suggest a list of New Year’s Resolutions to motivate all of you! But I just can’t. The problem is, I am still suffering from exposure to people I have encountered this month who are afflicted with MCD. And I feel compelled, just like the…

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What can you learn in elementry school?

What Lessons can a Business Person Learn from Henry Tyson and the St. Marcus Lutheran School in Milwaukee? I had an AMAZING tour of St. Marcus Lutheran School on Palmer Street in Milwaukee in early November. It was the opening of my TEC 6 meeting and a fantastic way to start the day. St. Marcus…

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Is it People or Process?

Better Processes or better people? I am sitting in a board room watching Jim Purtell facilitate a planning session. Jim is one of THE BEST strategic and operational planning facilitators on the planet. We often have a friendly argument about whether process or people is the main cause of success or failure in organizations. Being…

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Hierarchy of Business Management

Ok, I admit it. I’m a psychology wonk. I never thought my Psychology degree in 1980 was good for anything, BUT in looking back on my business career, I realize it has helped me a lot. In my work with business people, I have noticed that often their view of managing their own company is…

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Great Plug for TEC (Vistage) and an excellent Newsletter too

Where has the summer gone and where is my “V-Shaped” recovery? My friend Stuart Banghart, CEO of The Grover Corporation sent me this excellent newsletter from John Mauldin. His website is www.frontlinethoughts.com It’s great information and has a plug for TEC (Vistage) as well. Thanks Stuart! My unscientific, informal survey of TEC members tells me…

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Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Hello TEC Members and Business Friends, I, like many TEC Chairs have two business lives. The happiest part of my day is working with TEC members. We often discuss strategy, growth options, dealing with success and other optimistic issues. Of course, in TEC we also deal with difficult issues—business and personal. But on average, TEC…

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Marketing

We had a great discussion this month in my TEC groups about strategic marketing. It’s a sure sign that business is improving. One of the BEST TEC speakers on the subject is Mitch Gooze, who runs a business called “Customer Manufacturing Group”. http://www.customermanufacturing.com Mitch has spoken to one of my groups and he says that…

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Cloud Links–Forbes Online

Hi All, My last blog on The Cloud has received a great response. So far, I have gotten 3 invitations to lunch, and a bunch of phone calls from old friends. Here’s a link to a good article from Forbes that you might like. http://www.forbes.com/2010/06/02/internet-software-zeus-technology-cloud-computing-10-garrett.html?partner=technology_newsletter

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My Head is in the Clouds

If you follow technology at all, you will have heard the term “Cloud Computing”. What is it? The “Cloud” is really a metaphor for the Servers you access via the Internet. What I find really interesting is how we are being pulled into The Cloud without even realizing it. Since I am writing this on…

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Outsource Everything, Part 2

It’s pretty clear to me that most businesses should focus on their core business, and move non-core functions to experts outside the organization. One over-looked opportunity for many companies is to consider a PEO. PEO stands for “Professional Employer Organization”. A PEO’s is a legally recognized entity that allows business to co-employ their associates with…

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