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The Morality Test for Business Leaders

A Simple Morality Test

American business leaders need a basic morality test, and I happen to have one handy (it also works for hourly employees, priests, husbands, moms and high school kids). At the end of the day, ask yourself these two simple questions:

1. Today, did I lie, steal or kill anybody?
2. Today, did I get drunk or fool around with anyone I wasn't supposed to?

The answer to both questions should be a resounding, NO!

If, in answering the first question, you have to say to yourself, "Well, you couldn't exactly call it lying since our prospectus does say buying these stocks might be risky," or "It's not exactly steeeeeeling to take a $10,000,000.00 bonus while I'm laying off thousands and taking a huge government bailout," or, "Hey, it's not MY fault some guy killed himself when we raised the mortgage payment on his overpriced McMansion," then you have a problem. It's probably a BIG problem. It could be a $700-billion dollar problem!

If, as you ask yourself the second question, and you have to admit, "Well, I WAS drunk, but I was with a bunch of U. S. senators and congressmen so that's just part of my job," or "No, she wasn't my wife, but for $5,000.00 a night, she doesn't HAVE to be!" then you also have a problem: a tough one, a sneaky one, one you might be able to hide from for awhile, but a problem with great big teeth. Frankly, people managing huge companies with tens of thousands of jobs on the line don't need to be coming to work hung over or taking time off work to fight with their divorce lawyer about who gets the yacht and who gets the house in the Hamptons. America doesn't need business leaders that can't stop after a couple of drinks, or be trusted to pick-up a friend's wife at the airport!

In business, as in life, morality matters. It can be hard, but it doesn't have to be complicated. Don't lie, steal or kill (unless you really, really have to). Don't get drunk or screw around (unless you are willing to pay a potentially harsh penalty that affects you and everyone around you).

PS A Great Business Gift Idea

Do you know a truly great business leader, one worthy of a fun Christmas present? Check out the collector prints at my Lively Art Gallery. They make great gifts for small business owners, managers, top customers and other business associates. You can buy-in for a basic print on nice paper, or a deluxe collector edition with a great frame and glass. Click the images and see for yourself.

Super Tip--Do the Most Important Things First

This may be the super tip of all time: To get more done--way, way more--do the most important things first. In fact, maybe you should JUST do the most important things for awhile.

Yes, you should floss your teeth, but not all your teeth need to be flossed to protect your gums. According to my dentist, I have trouble with my front, center, bottom teeth, and I have a two teeth on the upper right that tend to collect food. So, I'm trying to get ready for work, do I--

A) Skip flossing all together?
B) Floss them all and to heck with being late?
C) Floss the two areas I KNOW I have a problem?

The answer is C--you betcha!

I'm a busy, working dad at the gym. Do I--

A) Spend 45 minutes on cardio plus do a full-body, weight training workout and get out by midnight?
B) Pick either weights or cardio but not both?
C) Work on my weekest area, triceps; then do some heavy dead lifts and be done in 25 minutes?

Yes, yes, the answer is C!

So, my question to you is: How do YOU apply this principle at YOUR job and in YOUR life? Use the "Comments" link below to share your answer.

Be a Hero at Work for FREE!

Ever been at a meeting and needed a certain fact to make a point? Ever find yourself roaming the halls mumbling about some obscure fact or missing information? Now you can get the information you need fast and free with ChaCha.

ChaCha.com is a free mobile phone messaging service. You can call and leave a voice mail, or send a quick text message with a question, and they will look up the answer on-line and text you a reply. It is free. No kidding! I've used it. It works. It's great when you are out and about, or need some obscure piece of information NOW. Here's how it works:

• Using your mobile phone, call 8002ChaCha or send a text message to ChaCha (242242)
• Ask your question
• Hang up

In about a minute, you'll get a reply saying (to paraphrase), "Don't get your knickers in a snit we're working on it." In 2-5 minutes, you'll get a text back with your answer. Don't expect a novel. Quick, factual questions please. I just used it last night to get the part number for an "O" ring I needed to make a poor man's cruise control for my Burgman Scooter. I don't have a text message plan (hate texting), but was willing to pay my mobile phone company 20 cents to get this information. Try it now. Call 8002ChaCha and ask:

"What is the average yearly pay for (say your occupation) living in (say your city and state)."

Or, try this one, "What's the best way to ask my boss for a raise?"

Share your responses using the comment tools below.

Financial Crisis--Who's Fault is It?

Major U. S. financial companies are dropping like flies--but who's fault is it? Well, judging from the way too many managers think, it must be the EMPLOYEES fault. After all, every other screw-up is caused by "those stupid, low paid, lazy, ignorant, wage slaves!" Right? Don't you believe it!

Imagine this scenario:  "Hi, my name is Rodney Robbins, and I'd like to invest a million dollars with your company. What do you recommend?" "Well, we have these complicated derivatives that are the latest rage, but honestly Mr. Robbins, I can't make heads or tails of them, so I recommend you invest in a nice apartment complex or our S&P 500 fund." A month ago, this poor broker's boss would have eaten him for breakfast.

Imagine this scenario: "Hi, my name is Rodney Robbins, and I'd like to buy a million dollar McMansion." "Well, looking at your financial report Mr. Robbins, I don't see how you could afford to make payments on a million dollar McMansion. It looks to me like the most you could afford is ... maybe ... a $250,000.00 home." A month ago and this poor loan officer might have lost his job for offering such common sense advice. 

Who is at fault for steering companies onto the rocks? The captains!

As a long time quality manager, I can assure you that 90% of the time, the problem is NOT the operator. It is almost ALWAYS a poorly designed work process that doesn't make a bit of sense, barely works on paper and will NEVER work for long in the real world.

So, if things at your company won't pass the smell test--get back there in the kitchen and fix them!

Sometimes Life is About Showing Up

Sometimes a lack of excellence can be made up for with a surfeit of attendance.

There is a Difference

There is a difference between doing the paperwork and doing the job.
There is a difference between doing the job and doing it well.

There is a difference between signing a contract and reading a contract.
There is a difference between reading a contract and understanding what it says.

There is a difference between going through the motions and actually training someone.
There is a difference between training them and following up daily, weekly and monthly to make sure they are still doing the job the way you want it done.

There is a difference between asking someone how they do their work, and watching them do it.
There is a difference between watching someone do their work and being willing to tell them they are doing it wrong, or being willing to tell them to move on if they can't get it right.

These differences aren't BIG differences.
These differences are so subtle as to be hard to see.
These differences completely separate the winners from the losers, the haves from the have nots, and the effective from the ineffective.
These differences make a difference.

The Purpose of This Blog

I started this blog as a way to share business success tips and sell tip booklets. Thanks to all the readers who have visited to far. I just wonder if what I need is a website that focuses on selling my booklets by helping sales people use booklets to promote their products. Any comments? Use the "Comment" link below. I'll be sure to read your message.

Underwear Models Need Not Apply

Ladies, ladies--I love to see a good looking fashion model in frilly undies as much as the next guy, but not at work! Showing your bra straps or the T-top on your thong may get you a job as a presidential aid, but it won't help your career. My Lord! How hard is it to put on a darned shirt? I can watch "Dancing With the Stars" and see more skin and more eye candy than at the nearest nude beach, but I STILL won't see a single bra strap or panty line. Even if you work in entertainment or the restaurant field, nobody wants to work with a woman who dresses like a plumbing school reject.

I'm not saying women shouldn't be sexual beings, or aren't entitled to have a sex life, or aren't allowed to be glamorous, I'm just reminding my female readers (especially the young ones who don't seem to get it yet), that you need to dress to impress. What impression are you giving when you show everyone your underwear? "Look, I'm sloppy!" or maybe, "Hey, my momma lets me dress myself!" or possibly, "I'm not a prostitute, I just dress like one at work!" Showing your underwear (girl or guy) is sloppy, unprofessional and inappropriate at ANY job classier than a strip club. You ain't in college any more, girl! Get a mirror and use it, or learn to get along on minimum wage.

How To Solve Any Problem--Part 1

Do you have a problem? Here are the Seven Key Questions you need to ask yourself to solve any problem. Did I say "ANY PROBLEM?" Yes I did. Try it yourself and see.

1. Is there really a problem? If the answer is no; no worries. If you are sure the answer is yes, then keep going.
2. Whose problem is it? If it ain't your problem, delegate it or forget about it and move on.
3. How bad is it, really? The size of the problem often determines the size of the hammer you need to fix it.
4. What is the root cause of the problem? It's probably management, methods, materials, mother nature, measuring system or mankind.
5. Now you can ask, How do I fix it? But you must also ask ...
6. How will I know when it's fixed? and
7. How will I keep it fixed?

That's it. Print this out. Put it up on your wall. Try it for yourself. Post your results using the comment link below.

Let Your Boss Catch You Working

For a lot of people, the image of a "supervisor" is some guy standing around, holding a cup of coffee, watching other people work. That's why it is good to let your boss catch you working. Get out of your office, watch your people--but skip the coffee, lend a hand, have a quick stand up meeting, but do something that looks like work. You know, if you pretend to work long enough, you may actually get some work done by accident.