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October 31, 2003
Sales and Marketing
What Retailers Expect This Holiday
Posted by Carole Matthews at 12:20 PM
With a surging economy, and an increase in mortgate refinancing and the Bush tax cuts, both of which put money into consumers' pockets this year, the retail industry is expecting a pretty rosy holiday season. But, according to a What's Hot article on Knowledge@Wharton, the season could be dampened by rising energy costs, impending news of corporate layoffs, news from Iraq, bad weather, and more.
October 30, 2003
Today's news
How do you solve a problem like Ramirez?
Posted by Mike Hofman at 1:50 PM
Prima donnas -- can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em.
Or can you?
The Boston Red Sox have placed star outfielder Manny Ramirez on Major League Baseball's irrevocable waivers, according to reports. That means that any team (including the Sox's archrival, the New York Yankees) can pick Ramirez up if they are willing to pay his nine-digit salary -- the second highest in the MLB. The Sox made this unusual move in spite of the fact that Manny is consistently one of the best hitters in the league. Problem is, he's a big time prima donna. And the Sox, who are in the process of hiring a new manager , would rather have a goofy, good-natured player on the roster than a superstar with a bad work ethic.
If you were Manny's boss, would you fire him? Are stars with bad attitudes truly dangerous to an organization's well-being? And how common is the problem -- is it one every boss wished he or she had? Those of you who are indeed (un-?)lucky enough to have a Manny in your life should check out "Fire Me, I Dare You!" a 1997 cover story by Peter Carbonara, which looks at how managers can try to get control over self-satisfied star performers.
Technology
ID Theft: One-Stop Reporting
Posted by at 8:02 AM
Victims of identity theft will soon have streamlined service for beginning to rebuild their credit, according to an association representing 100 of the nation's largest financial institutions.
The Financial Services Roundtable, whose members include Wells Fargo, MBNA, and other banking giants, expects to launch the Identity Theft Assistance Center (ITAC) next year.
ITAC will provide a "single point of contact" -- typically the victim's primary financial institution -- for reporting identity theft. After obtaining an affidavit from the victim, ITAC will alert law-enforcement agencies, other financial institutions, and companies where the victim has accounts. "This means victims only have to tell their story once," rather than dealing with multiple forms and phone calls, the association says.
ITAC will be free to victims. Roundtable member Wells Fargo & Co. will launch a pilot project testing the concept by March 2004.
October 29, 2003
Can Large Companies be Entrepreneurial?
Posted by Carole Matthews at 1:16 PM
Many would argue no way. Smaller companies are more nimble and can react faster and easier to changing business climates than large companies. But a recent Knowledge@Emory article reveals that some large companies are "bucking the trend."
In an interview with Dr. Erich Reinhardt, CEO and president of Siemens Medical Solutions, the article outlines the steps Siemens is taking to act more entrepreneurially, including:
-- Breaking down the organization by creating individual divisions with clear goals and objectives.
-- Establishing a "stimulating atmosphere" where employees have access to and can readily share cutting-edge technologies and ideas.
-- Pointing out that part of being an entpreneur is a "matter of attitude," and employees can actively shape their areas of responsibility to meet the company's overall goals.
-- Providing the tools necessary to sustain an entrepreneurial spirit -- giving "them the resources, the freedom, and coaching to do it."
It all sounds nice, and in fact, might work for Siemens, but is it really that easy to make a large company "entrepreneurial"? One piece that seems to be missing is the maniacal commitment to the bottom line that many large companies have. Blinded by numbers, they seldom see opportunity in true innovation, unless, of course, it can happen in such and such time, produce X results, and come in at or under budget. Many large companies don't have the patience, or the backbone, to risk money and time to pursue being creative. After all, they do have shareholders to answer to. Many stay ahead of the curve by making acquisitions of smaller, innovative companies. At any rate, though Siemens might be making a go of it, I don't think it is the norm or will become the norm. Big business just isn't equipped to act entrepreneurially. What's your two cents?
October 28, 2003
Employing Gen-X'ers
Posted by Carole Matthews at 2:57 PM
The old school of business, where job security was guaranteed and employees were sure to be rewarded for loyalty and commitment, is all but nonexistent today. Gen X'ers, the group of 20 to 34 year olds who make up roughly a third of the working population, are on to this, and have developed more complicated expectations of where they work than the generation before them.
In "Youthful Attitudes, Sobering Realities" today in the NY Times, writer Julie Connelly cites that the group, generally perceived as self-absorbed, are really a set of independent free thinkers who strive to have more control over their work lives and to have job stability and a comfortable work environment. Gen X'ers are an attractive lot to employ -- they're generally fearless and will take on anything; however, you need to be prepared handle their eccentricities, like their belief that everything is up for negotiation and their penchant for cell phones, IM, etc.
What has been your experience with Gen X'ers been?
Sales and Marketing
Sales Motivation
Posted by Carole Matthews at 10:22 AM
Looking for sales advice 24/7? Check out Sales Talk, a discussion board on justsell.com. Discussions range from prospecting to ethics to sales by industry, and they hold some lively and informative discussions kept up to date by a pretty active group of sales enthusiasts. Folders with new posts in them are highlighted by intuitive icons, but you'll have to dig for the newest posts -- comments are listed in chronological order.
October 27, 2003
Starting a Business
Entrepreneurs Starting Up Despite Weak Economy
Posted by Carole Matthews at 4:12 PM
Entrepreneurs aren't letting a slow economy keep them from finding professional and emotional fulfillment through business ownership. In "Economy Fails to Hinder Enthusiasm for Start-Ups," entrepreneurs cited personal and business reasons as motivators, with nary a mention of the weak economy being a deterrent.
As a matter of fact, William Dunkelberg, chief economist with the National Federation of Independent Business, an advocacy group based in Washington, said in the piece that a weak economy is a good time to start a company. "Everything you need to start a business is cheap: Money is cheap, space is cheap, equipment is cheap, labor is cheap."
VC Investment Holding Steady
Posted by Carole Matthews at 9:02 AM
It's not the go-go nineties, but venture capital investment is showing some sign of recovery according to the Ernst & Young/VentureOne U.S. Venture Capital Survey (As of this writing, the press release was not publicly available on the VentureOne site). Though transactions decreased slightly, from 464 in 2Q'03 to 443 in 3Q, more money was poured into healthcare and products & services, sustaining the overall dollar amount invested in companies.
A continuing sign of recovery, as noted by the survey, were positive indicators related to liquidity, including an increase in completed IPOs and IPO registrations. Six venture firms completed IPOs this quarter, raising $429 million, while 19 firms registered for IPOs. M&A transactions also remained steady as 74 start-ups were acquired.
As Mark Sinclair, Ernst & Young's Southwest Area Venture Capital Advisory Group Leader noted, "The increased number of IPOs coupled with higher value M&A activity could be the start of a clearer path to successful exits, resulting in an increased willingness to provide capital to early stage companies."
So is now the time to search for venture capital? VC financing is not for the faint of heart. Entrepreneurs need to be prepared to give up significant ownership, in some cases 40% to 60% of the company if they go with a larger VC firm ($1 billion under management), as an Oct. 22 press release from VentureOne, What Kind of Deals are Start-ups Getting from VC's" noted. Going with a smaller firm, you're less likely to give up as much, but beware, smaller firms require stiff protective provisions, such as liquidation preferences.
As Russ Garland, the report's editor put it, "Entrepreneurs and VCs alike need to be aware that venture money -- especially in this environment -- comes with a price."
October 23, 2003
Starting a Business
The Call of the Entrepreneur
Posted by Bobbie Gossage at 4:48 PM
I really enjoyed this story (registration required) about Robert Serros and his Orlando-based company, Amber Diagnostics, in today's New York Times. It captures that magical moment for an entrepreneur when he realizes that his plan might just actually work out:
...in 1997, he made $1 million in revenue.
Even so, he still doubted his good fortune would continue and, just in case, he tried his hand at fixing and reselling old cars and even looked into real estate. "That's when my wife kind of dragged me by the ears and said: 'Stop coming down on yourself. You've got a good business going here,' '' he said. "And that's when it hit me - Amber Diagnostics is a real business."
Technology
The Great Urban Wi-Fi Crash of '04?
Posted by at 7:22 AM
Aberdeen Group, the Boston-based technology market-research firm, boldly predicts "a massive wireless traffic jam in urban and suburban areas by 2004, rendering the unwired experience with more aggravation than reward."
The problem, Aberdeen's Peter Kastner says: " Just as the mobility benefits of wireless computing are becoming appreciated by the early mass market, the inherent limitations of Wi-Fi, the dominant standard, are becoming apparent." Most new laptops come equipped with Wi-Fi capability; many existing laptops can easily be made compatible for wireless networking. Now, Kastner points out, anyone can set up a wireless access point for about $100. (Free registration required to read the full report.)
As more and more businesses and home users in densely populated areas do so, Kastner says, they're more and more likely to get bumped offline by all that competing interference. Kastner says current workarounds don't work; he suggests a replacement technology and predicts that a slew of "fixes" will appear next year. But he also says the real solution is political, requiring federal regulators to allocate more bandwidth for wireless networking.
Over the top? Maybe, Kastner admits in his conclusion. But he also notes that many urban areas are already experiencing wireless congestion, and he's already switched back to a wired Ethernet network at home.
October 22, 2003
The SBA Goes Hollywood
Posted by Carole Matthews at 9:49 AM
The SBA is gaining a higher profile through some interesting partnerships lately. First, they've partnered with Disney to create the Disney/SBA National Entrepreneur Center in Orlando, and now, they've financed a movie and have launched a pilot program in Hollywood to help minority and women filmmakers find financing.
Geno Taylor and Mychal Wilson tapped the SBA to help fund their a low-budget film, "The Gristle." The movie, about LA medical assistants who get caught up in drug deals and black-market kidneys, will debut on HBO next month. The pair received two loans totalling $350,000 for the project.
Perhaps we'll see the SBA at Sundance next...
Note: To read the full story, you must register with Labusinessjournal.com. This story is free; others require a payment.
October 21, 2003
Norwegian Witch Gets Small Biz Grant
Posted by Carole Matthews at 7:13 PM
I ran across this little AP tidbit on Salon.com while surfing this evening. A 33-year-old witch secured a $7,453 grant from the Norwegian Industrial and Regional Development Fund for her business, which would produce and sell elixirs to clients door to door. A spokesman from the fund said Lena Skarninga was awarded the grant in part because her plan was very well thought out and reasonable.
Well thought out? Resonable? My first thought when I read this piece was, what are they thinking? Selling elixirs door to door? But then I got into the entrepreneurial spirit. Entrepreneurship is really how diversity and innovation are born in the business world. Crazy new ideas spawn important inventions, lead to technological breakthroughs, and even add color to a frequently bland business world. Those crazy ideas even give hope to others who dare to embark on building their own businesses. So good for you Lena. I hope to hear more stories like yours.
Science and Medicine
Health Care Costs on the Rise -- Again
Posted by Carole Matthews at 9:38 AM
A Businessweek.com article, Get Used to the Pain, notes that the average cost of health insurance for employees is expected to rise 16% this year. In 2004, employers should expect a slightly less painful increase of 12%, according the Towers Perrin’s 2004 Health Care Cost Survey released on September 29. And there doesn't seem to be any relief in sight -- employers should brace themselves for more double digit increases over the next decade.
What's causing costs to skyrocket? High HMO rates, increases in prescription drug use, increases in the cost of hospital services, and the "graying boomers," who generally use more health care than their younger counterparts, are just a few reasons.
Employers are taking action to combat the hike. They're becoming better consumers of health care -- negotiating and shopping for better plans. They're also educating employees to become better purchasers of health services. But unfortunately, for many smaller businesses, the hikes have become too much to bear and some companies are scrapping plans all together.
What are your plans for combatting the rising cost of health care? Do you have any advice for reducing the bill that other business owners might benefit from?
October 20, 2003
Leadership
Motivating Employees
Posted by Carole Matthews at 1:09 PM
How do you keep employees motivated and engaged? The answer just might lie in a concept developed some 30 years ago by a Sloan Fellows Professor of Management at MIT. Anne Field writes in "Getting a Handle on Employee Motivation," on HBS' Working Knowledge today that Edgar Schein's career anchor concept, which states that people are motivated primarily by priorities that define how they see themselves and their work, is especially relevant in today's uncertain business climate.
According to Schein, employees are motivated by one of eight anchors, including:
Technical/functional competence People interested in consistently honing their crafts.
General managerial competence People interested in gaining the skills and opportunities to "climb the ladder."
Entrepreneurial creativity People eager to create something of their own and run it. (Frequently, they also leave to start their own businesses or run one on the side.)
Field's article goes on to explain more anchors and how to employ them in assessing your employees' motivations and how to formally recognize them in the workplace.
Have you ever used these anchors to help motivate your employees? What are your secrets to motivating your workforce in uncertain economic times?
Innovation and Growth Conference
Posted by Carole Matthews at 9:36 AM
Ernst & Young and VentureOne will host a the Growth & Innovation Conferene West on Nov. 4 and 5 in Burlingame, Calif. The purpose of the conference it to connect start-ups with leading technology companies To exchange ideas and explore partnership opportunities.
During the two-day event, attendees will hear from corporate development officers from Motorola, Siebel, Electronic Arts and others about the partnerships they are seeking, and from executives from leading firms, such as Google, Symantec, and Cadence, who will discuss the challenges they faced as start-ups and how they overcame them. Other sessions will include discussions of technology trends and venture capital investing.
October 16, 2003
A reason to root for the Marlins?
Posted by Mike Hofman at 1:55 PM
What's a baseball fan to think of the Florida Marlins ? The 11-year-old team is at the doorstep of a second World Series (in Chicago, this fact has people howling at the moon) and yet, most serious sports fans are still somewhat disgusted by the way the team bought up and then dropped talent when it won back in 1997. But is that really a terrible way to run a business? Inc. explored the mindset behind the Marlins in this 1998 essay.
Is Bush's Tax Cut Working?
Posted by Carole Matthews at 9:50 AM
For all of the crticism they taken, it looks like George W.'s tax cuts, particularly the second round, might be helping boost the economy. In today's WSJ.com "Review and Outlook" the writer notes that invesment has indeed accelerated, temporary employment numbers are up, and small businesses have a "greater appetite for hiring." Once thought as a "one-time boost," the cuts, much to the Democrats' chagrin, just might be having a lasting effect.
October 15, 2003
Today's news
The strike in Calif.
Posted by Mike Hofman at 11:32 AM
Interesting story in the LA Times on the sentiment among some Californians -- including some small business owners -- who are siding with the striking grocery store workers, and boycotting supermarkets like Albertsons.
October 14, 2003
Technology
Spam Soars -- But So Does Awareness
Posted by at 7:40 AM
After leveling off over the summer, the volume of spam rose again in September, according to research by Brightmail Inc. 's Probe Network.
The percentage of Internet e-mails identified as spam, which had hovered between 48 and 50 % since May, jumped to 54 % in September, according to Brightmail, a San Francisco-based maker of anti-spam technology.
Unsolicited bulk e-mails for general goods and services -- such as printer cartridges and flat-rate long-distance plans -- accounted for 19 % of last month's spam total, Brightmail's research showed.
Other categories included financial services (15 %), "adult" Web sites (12 %), Internet- related services (11 %), and scams (10 %), followed by health (8 %) leisure (7 %), political (3 %), and religious or spiritual (1 %). The remaining 15 % of unsolicited bulk e-mails promoted products or services that fell outside the other categories.
At the same time, individual users are becoming more savvy about dealing with spam, according to the fourth annual DoubleClick Consumer E-mail Survey, conducted by Beyond Interactive Inc. for DoubleClick Inc. of New York, which sells online marketing tools and services.
Of the 1,000 consumers surveyed, more than 90 % identified spam as "e-mails intended to trick me into opening them" or "e-mails from senders that are unknown to me." Fully 65 % simply delete spam without reading it, typically by reading the subject line, up from 60 % last year.
Asked about spam-fighting technologies, nearly 53 % of those surveyed said they use bulk e-mail folders, up from just under 49 % in 2002. Other options included reporting spammers to Internet service providers (36%), downloading spam-filtering software (nearly 16 %), and establishing a second e-mail address for making online purchases (13.7%).
Just 4 % read spams, down from 5 % last year and 18 % in 2001, DoubleClick reported.
However, the survey emphasized, consumers acknowledged that not all commercial e-mail qualifies as spam. More than 90 % said they receive permission-based e-mail marketing from online merchants, traditional retailers, and catalog companies.
October 13, 2003
Frustrated Invention
Posted by Carole Matthews at 9:16 AM
Ever get frustrated by a product's shortcomings? Maybe you should find a way to make it better. Boston Globe writer Peter Howe profiles several Bay State inventors who took their frustrations, created improvements, and patented their ideas to help overcome their frustrations with various products.
October 12, 2003
Sales and Marketing
Marketing/Pricing Myths
Posted by at 11:51 AM
Marcia Yudkin, an author and marketing consultant, surveyed 335 entrepreneurs about their perceived barriers to increasing their revenues. Responses ranged from "My clients can't afford to pay that much" (29 %) to "No one in my field makes much money" (8 %).
In response, Yudkin crafted a six-page report rebutting "the five most common self-sabatoging beliefs standing in the way of higher earnings." In addition to the two myths listed above, she addresses these self-defeating assumptions:
-- "I wouldn't pay more than I charge now."
-- "What I do is mainly common sense."
-- "I'm just starting out."
While Yudkin's free report is primarily aimed at SOHO businesses and freelancers, entrepreneurs of all levels may find it useful for taking a hard look at attitudes that may be holding them back.
October 10, 2003
Technology
Managing Techies
Posted by Carole Matthews at 11:41 AM
They're not your normal group of employees. Leading an IT group often calls for being able to facilitate work often in a chaotic environment that is "rife with ambiguities," Megan Santosus suggests in "Secrets to Managing Techies," on CIO.com today.
Though Santosus is specifically addressing the challenges a CIO faces when managing a tech group, her advice is well worth heeding even if you're not a CIO but still have IT employees. That makes a business owner's job even trickier, if he or she is the frontline manager of a tech group. A couple of pieces of advice Santosus offers:
Embrace the traits that make IT people tick, for instance, their enthusiasm for all things technical and their creativity.
Have a bit of knowledge about your IT staff does. IT people can occasionally seem to have little patience for those who are clueless about technology and what they're doing. Establishing some baseline knowledge can boost your credibility with your staff.
Motivate techies by giving them some space. IT employees thrive on being given the room to be creative. As Santous suggests, plant the seed and stand back.
Robert X. Cringely approached the same topic in "Talking to the Tech Department" in the December 2002 issue of Inc. magazine. He suggests the first rule of having a good IT department is being able to communicate effectively with them, and Cringely suggests:
Making sure everyone understands the business and how IT fits in.
If you have foreign-born help, have a liaison in the IT department who is fluent in English and can help bridge any language or cultural gaps.
Think in terms of solving a problem, not putting another product in place. Cringely's example: "What's the difference between an E-mail-upgrade project and a Microsoft Exchange project? The E-mail-upgrade project is about finding a way to give the company what it needs, whereas the Exchange project is about getting another Microsoft program in place and teaching the company to live with it."
In Cringely's opinion, the key to having a great IT department is good communication and clarity of purpose.
Putting France Back to Work
Posted by Carole Matthews at 9:27 AM
France's 35-hour workweek establised back in 1998 by the Socialists might be coming to an end. Labor Minister Martine Aubry introduced the reduced workweek in an effort to boost employment by forcing companies to hire more workers to make up for the lost time. Unemployment was reduced, but as this column asks, was it the policy or the U.S. economic boom that produced the jobs?
October 9, 2003
Sales and Marketing
Thinking Big
Posted by Carole Matthews at 2:59 PM
When you're small and working on a shoestring, as Carol Skonberg was in 2000 when she launched her wineglass jewelry business, she wasn't thinking "big." She didn't think about sales beyond her home state of Texas, or even consider that her idea would easily be duplicated or ripped off by larger rivals, which eventually put her out of business.
On the other hand, a similar business, That Wine is Mine launched in 1999 became a big success, and its owners eventually sold to a larger company in 2002. The difference between the two businesses was that the owners of That Wine is Mine set up a national sales network, consulted a lawyer about trademark protection of the company's name and logo, and even hired assemblers to keep up with demand, while Skonberg depended on the perceived "uniqueness" of the concept and first-to-market advantage to sustain her business.
The moral: If you want to succeed, you need to think like a big business. Get to market fast, have a great sales strategy, and have a strategy for protecting your brand.
Suing Your Customers
Posted by Carole Matthews at 9:48 AM
The recording industry is doing just that by launching hundreds of lawsuits against consumers who download music for free, as Wharton Legal Studies professor G. Richard Snell suggests in his recent Knowledge@Wharton article.
The industry is shooting itself in the foot here. Snell contends that the recording industry's attack against online distributors like Napster was legitimate -- sue the online distribution company, not the downloader. But to sue the individuals downloading the music, the same consumers who purchase its products, is more likely to hurt business than send consumers in droves to purchase CDs.
It could, perhaps, drive more consumers to use paid-for services like iTunes and the recently revived Napster.
Napster is back
Posted by Mike Hofman at 9:10 AM
So now the folks who own the rights to Napster are are bringing it back as a pay service akin to iTunes. Fromt he perspective of branding however, I think this may be problematic. With the recording industry suing individual file sharers, I wonder if first-time online music buyers won't stay away from Napster, simply because, at one time, it was deemed to be operating illegally.
October 7, 2003
Conferences
Considering Employee Ownership?
Posted by Carole Matthews at 10:24 AM
The Beyster Institute will host an eLearning seminar on October 29. The online event, Critical Issues in Establishing Employee Ownership, will address a number of issues that might impact the effectiveness of an employee ownership program and is designed for owners preparing to share equity with their employees.
October 6, 2003
Lessons From the NFL -- Week Two
Posted by at 4:13 PM
So, a solid weekend of football (and baseball, especially for the young men and the sea down in Florida) topped off by an Eagles victory. I was thinking during the game that the ultimate reason CEO's ape NFL coaches is that every Sunday, regardless of all the week's headaches, injuries, and media firestorms there is a clear winner and loser. Discipline and clarity leads to knowing exactly where you stand -- and that idea is essentially appealing. Or is it? Think it over while you enjoy Bucs/Colts or Red Sox/A's or even quality time with the family.
October 3, 2003
NFL - Part Four
Posted by at 1:23 PM
Good games this weekend -- Dolphins/Giants, Pack/Seahawks, Broncos/Chiefs Indy/Tampa and of course, Eagles/Skins -- with the bright, shining hope for the future Donovan McNabb. I am of course blinded by my "social concern" and thus can't realize he's not as good as Craig Pederson, Rodney Peete, Bobby Hoying, Ty Detmer -- all Iggles QB's of recent memory. Perhaps it should be noted that some of us in the "liberal media" are big fans of McNabb because we are still reliving the Bubby Brister years in our nightmares – at least the ones who root for Philadelphia. I said I wasn't wading into this fray, but since one of Rush's peeps told me I shouldn't be allowed to breed (see the first posting)…well, c'mon dittoheads, can't we just disagree without declaring that one of us shouldn't be allowed to bear children -- they are the future after all Whitney Houston said so. And doesn't my wife get a say in the matter? The only thing I would add is that there is a slate.com posting from a very good sportswriter, Allan Barra, that postulates Rush was right because McNabb isn't even as good as Brad Johnson. Now I think Brad Johnson is a perfect fit for the Buccaneers, whom I know at this point are better than the Eagles. However, Allen Barra misses one key point – Johnson has cement feet. He is absolutely a more accurate passer than McNabb (it's his biggest weakness), but he can't move whereas Donovan has nearly 2,000 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns coming into this season. It's also Johnson’s 10th season and McNabb's 5th, and What had Johnson accomplished at the 5-year mark? Perhaps McNabb gets the benefit of the doubt because of his All-American boy persona, his Chunky soup ads and his Schuylkill River wide smile, but enough with the social agenda nonsense. Is he the best in the league? No. Is he up there? You bet, with lots of room to fly like an Eagle. (And yes, that's a Steve Miller Band shout out).
Sorry, I said I wouldn't and I did. Moving on: -- my question for the weekend is this: How do you CEO-types find time to watch the NFL? Do you always set aside three hours on Sunday? Do you work with the games on, just catch highlights, or do you get out of the house and fire up the hibachi with fellow tailgaters? Everyone seems to have time for football, but with 70-hour workweeks and families …how do you squeeze in the pigskin?
October 2, 2003
Lessons From the NFL -- Part Three
Posted by at 10:12 AM
Point taken, Mike Shanahan is the Broncos head coach/executive VP, so it can be done, but the track record of the head coach/GM is still suspect. And I'm not quite sure why that is -- Anyone?
Another question: are you watching the baseball playoffs, or is MLB rapidly becoming as regionalized as the NHL or the NBA? (Garnering decent ratings in the team’s hometowns, apathy everywhere else). The ratings for last years Giants/Angels World Series were abysmal and it featured a scrappy team of upstarts and Barry "possibly the best player ever" Bonds in his first World Series. Is baseball twisting in the brisk October wind? And more importantly, why don't business owners ever reference baseball skippers? Other than the occasional Joe Torre mention, they are managers non grata when I talk to CEO’s. Not Baker, not Cox, not Alou... Is it because they have to wear polyester uniforms to the office? Is it because they're called "skippers"?
Both Jeff Fisher and Brian Billick mentioned Joe Torre and how they picked his brain and want to emulate his consistency, so why not you? Has time passed by America's past time?
P.S. Next Sunday Donovan McNabb has a job to do, and Rush doesn’t…and all is right in footballville.
Designing a Website?
Posted by Carole Matthews at 10:11 AM
If you're considering designing your own website, redesigning your website, or working with an outside firm to do it, you should check out Chuck Green's Color Strategy tip sheet. It discusses how designers should use color to simplify, to organize, and to direct focus on a website.
October 1, 2003
Lessons From the NFL --- Part Two
Posted by at 11:08 AM
If I learned one thing from the Packers sound defeat of the Bears Monday night it was this: As a team, the Bears are the laughingstock of the league (if only because the Cardinals actually beat the Packers) but eventually they will get better. The renovated Soldier Field however, will not, and in 50-years or so unborn Chicagoans will join their grandfathers in heartily cheering its implosion. On the bright side: Cubs Win! Cubs Win! Cubs Win!
The Packers, while still a solid team, don't look like the world-beaters of a few seasons back. Favre may be getting up there, but he's still Brett Favre and they still play half their games in the community ice chest of Lambeau Field. They had a dynasty in the making until Mike Holmgren left. And he left because he wanted more control, which he got as general manager...until this season. Holmgren wasn't having much success with the Seahawks, so they took away the GM duties, and now as strictly a head coach the former Seachickens are undefeated and appear to be one of the teams to beat in the NFC.
My question then is this: How much control is too much control? Why is it that the coach/GM experiment doesn't work? (Correct me if I'm wrong but there are zero Super Bowl wins). CEO's reference coaches all the time but how come no business owner ever says, "What great personnel moves I want to manage my insurance company like Terry Bradway, GM of the NY Jets?" OK, bad example at the moment, but you get the point: From a business owner standpoint, how much power should coaches have?
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