Al Dunlap, also known as ‘Chainsaw Al and Rambo in Pinstripes,’ recently authored Mean Business. Dunlap slashed 11,200 jobs at Scott Paper and reduced half of the workforce at Sunbeam. He believes the marketplace is brutal and the proper response is triage. He advises for example that if a turnaround is necessary then the company …
Be a teacher and a coach Zigzag in a career to find new challenges Innovate and innovate again Welcome change Work for social justice Commit to lifelong learning Cope and find balance in work and life[i] [i] “What’s Fast,” Fast Company, December, 1998, p. 16.
The 1980s decade was the decade of conspicuous consumption. Madison Avenue’s messages over the last ten-year’s stressed the virtue of accumulating stuff. How many flashy clothes do we need and fast cars can we afford? How many gadgets do we need? The ‘less is more’ ethic is becoming more prevalent. Experiences, travel, creativity, free time, …
What are companies doing to keep their Brand U workers happy and loyal? Companies in this acutely difficult job market don’t want to lose key people because of ‘burnout.’ Companies are experimenting on how to alleviate workaholic burnout. They are limiting work to 40 hours a week, providing ‘get a life’ counselors, and discouraging employees …
People lately have been taking a backseat to profits. Blue chip companies, such as Sunbeam, AT&T, and Caterpillar, radically downsized when they made record profits and corporate management grabbed huge bonuses. What do you think these messages conveyed? Design the Brand U. If our employer is profitable and we’re adding value, what’s our employer’s responsibility …
This broader idea behind corporate responsibility is that senior management has a commitment to the welfare of their stakeholders beyond creditors and shareholders, specifically to employees, suppliers, and to the community. We all want to work for great and fair organizations. As more power shifts to employees and to contractors, we have more options for …
The smartest company wins To be the smartest company, hire the smartest people To have the smartest people, keep learning[i] [i] “Importance of Learning,” Fast Company, Greatest Hits: Volume 1, 1997, p. 1.
There are not enough jobs for people. This started about 20 years ago and is now a global phenomenon. Well, those days are gone as Japan’s worst recession since World War II continues. Japanese unemployment rate in June 1999 hit a record high as the US unemployment rate hit historic lows. The world’s second largest …
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Can you homestead your job? What’s the explicit or implicit contract between your employer and you? Do you manage your career? Do you know your organization’s/customer’s work requirements? Are you positioning yourself to satisfy these requirements? Again after reading this book ‘what’s your value proposition’? Do you work in a learning organization? Are you a …