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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.

Are Customer Complaints Your Key to Success?

I screwed up! I made several major mistakes. Nobody else made me do it, but some of you showed me the error of my ways. You see, I've been "selling" my tip booklets here for about 2 months now and sales have been slow. Since my booklet is such a hoot and really can put money in my customer's pockets, I just couldn't  understand why more people weren't buying. Then things began to turn around. Why? I started getting complaints! Those complaints were the best thing that's happened to me in ages.

When you have a complaint, you automatically have a plan. You automatically see the problem clearly, maybe for the first time. Usually, hidden in the problem is the solution. In my case, it turns out, my customers were trying to buy, but my shopping cart was literally kicking them out! I feel like such a slug to have abused their trust by offering something for sale, then dropping the ball when they were ready to pay.

It turns out my blogging software was re-writing my computer code (just moving a few  lines of code around to make everything look pretty on the screen). I didn't really understand what was happening, and didn't comprehend that it would kill my BUY NOW buttons! So, I fixed that problem. Next, I learned, the software that sends people to my website using the easy to remember name Rodneys52Ways.com was actually "hiding" my website from the shopping cart. The end result was that dozens of customers left the store because they couldn't pay for their purchase!

I might never have figured out I HAD a problem unless customers complained.

Far from being angry, short tempered or snippy with these whiners, er, customers; I did my best to help them buy. Finally, we figured it out, and I am SO grateful for their help.

Is this the attitude you take toward customer complaints?

Do you accept customer complaints with gratitude? If you do, your valued customers will gladly tell you how to improve your business, and educate you on how they want to be sold.

Or, do you blame the messenger? If you do, you will miss golden opportunities to make your customers happier while putting more money in your own pocket.

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TO ORDER "Rodney's 52 Ways to Impress Your Boss--Without Sucking Up!" click the BUY NOW button located in the left sidebar. Sample booklets are $5.50 each. Order in bundles of 52 and get 50% off! Shipping Included.

What Do Employers CRAVE?

What do you think bosses and employers crave? I've been watching employees come and go for years, and I have my own ideas. For now, I'd like to know what you think employers desire most in a good employee. Use the Comment Link below, and tell the world what you think. Check back in a few days, and I'll share my own ideas.

The 100% Job Interview

If you want to ace that next job interview, I suggest you do it the easy way--by being 100% committed. Whether it is a job interview, or a marriage, being 100% committed is easier, much easier, than being half-in and half-out. If you are married, being "100% In" means you are not wasting time and energy thinking about other people because you will not be having a fling, a hook up or an affair. It's just not an option. For a job interview, it means giving 100% of your attention to the job at hand--making a good impression and learning about the new job.

To be 100% committed to an interview means you will, without a doubt, be there early. Using MapQuest.com, and spending $10 on a real map, and listening for traffic reports on the radio as you drive, and even getting there a full hour early (if you have any doubt about the travel time) is perfectly normal behavior for someone who is 100% committed to being at the interview early.

Being All In for your job interview means focusing on the people you meet. It includes, turning your cell phone off, not just the ringer, but the whole darned thing. If there is someone you love who is so ill that you feel you must keep your mobile phone on, you should probably ask to reschedule the interview. There is no other acceptable excuse for taking, or making, a personal call during a job interview. I know that if someone really wants to talk to me, they won't be taking phone calls, answering pages, text messaging or checking their e-mail.

If you are 100% committed to making a good impression, you will do your homework. It is perfectly normal for someone who is All In to look up the company they are visiting by name on ThomasNet.com. You might then search by product, and see if you can figure out who would be the company's closest competitors.  Being committed means dressing appropriately. Wear sneakers only if you will be working in shorts. Wear a three piece suit if you will be working in a profession like banking, insurance or education. Smart, 100% committed, job hunters don't just wear whatever is clean, they think about the impression they want to give and dress to impress.

Someone who is 100% committed to a job interview has the right attitude. I've seen the "I'm too good for this job" attitude in factory workers and vice presidents. Blue collar or white collar, that type of attitude looks boorish on anyone. When an interviewer is delayed by pressing business, someone who is committed to the interview will wait for them. Your time is not so valuable that you can't wait an extra hour while the personnel director or CEO handles a crisis.

Someone who is all-the-way committed to doing a job interview doesn't have any reason to beg or worry. As one of my work friends likes to say, "I needed a job when I started here, and I'll need a job when I leave." It's good to remember that most of the people interviewed will not be hired, so you might as well relax and have a good time. Take a chance and smile--it makes people wonder what you've been doing. Switch things up a little and ask the interviewer a couple of tough questions. Based on your skills and their needs, maybe you are interviewing for the wrong job. Your prospective employer will never know what you can do for them if you are so tense you can't make friends, smile and show them who you really are.

After all, a job interview is kind of like a blind date: if you aren't 100% committed to making a good impression while still being you, you might as well stay home. So I say, if you want to ace your next job interview, go All In, do it with 100% gusto, put every piece you've got into the game, lay your cards on the table, and see what the other player has in his hand. Life's a lot more interesting that way, and your odds of being hired are better too.

Get a New Job (or Impress Your Boss) with Acronyms

In looking for a new job, have you ever read  a want ad and found it loaded with acronyms, you know, the secret coded language or geek speak that shuts non-believes out of the race? Here is a typical example from my field:  "Manufacturing Co. seeks CQM for ISO 9000 company. Must be a familiar with TS-16949 and able to lead major QS effort. $75,000.000." Oh that salary looks great, but what the heck is a CQM? Of course, if you were a Certified Quality Manager, you would already know, but just in case you want to bluff you way into a job interview, or see if you can tag along on a local company's next "major effort," here is good news: There are website devoted to acronyms! Here are some you might try before writing off an interesting job posting or calling about that next promotion.

AcronymFinder.com

The Free Acronym Dictionary

Abbreviations.com

The Acronym Database

The Special Acronym Dictionary

Human Genome Acronym List

Business Acronyms  and most important,

Funny Acronyms, including MBA = Mediocre But Arrogant, PNP = Plug 'n' Pray, MCSE = Minesweeper Consultant and Solitaire Expert.

So, before you call about that job, or say something stupid in a meeting, find out what the heck everyone is talking about.

Is it Good to Make People Feel Special?

One of my advisors recently told me that making people feel special is a great way to get ahead. I'm not sure he's right and need your feedback.

Here is my problem--I hate suck ups. Me saying, “You did a great job on that project!” especially to a boss, can sound an awful lot like, “I think you are wonderful. Don't you think I’m wonderful too? Wouldn't you like to give me a raise?” And I know from past experience that when I say, “You look nice today,” some people hear, “Hey baby, let's duck out early and get a room!” So, where do I draw the line between being kind, generous and big-hearted, and being silly, fake and insincere?

I know that you are a very special person, with deep insight and great personal integrity (pretty smooth, huh?), so please use the comment link below and answer these two questions:

• Is it dishonest for me to try to make people feel special when, basically, I try to treat everyone the same?
• How can I make people feel special without me feeling like I'm sucking up, or them feeling like I'm leading them on?

Have something personal to say and don't want to post it as a public comment? Click this link to pop open your e-mail program and send your response to me privately. I might refer to your story on-line, but I won't use your name or other identifying information.

Thanks so much for your feedback on making people feel special.

Is It Okay to Just-be-Happy at Work?

Would you like to just be happy at work? If you are like me, when you are on the job, you are hard working, diligent, focused and committed. But are we on our way to being committed when we work too hard? Is it ever okay to just relax, show up and do your job? Yes!

In college, I was a recreation leadership student. Our class motto was, “Let’s park and recreate!” Surprisingly, we were a very hard working lot. We worked hard to plan trips and activities that met the needs of our clients. We worked hard to make sure all the equipment was ready, the first aid kits were full, and that we had Plan B ready in case it rained (or, for some New England activities, for when it didn’t snow). As recreation leaders, when we “played,” we couldn’t relax because we were working. With a few more years on me, I don’t think life has to be that difficult.