Is Madoff the Tip of the Iceberg?

I'm Speechless, at least for a few minutes…

The Madoff case reminds us that:
1.) Our financial service industry is riddled with corruption.
2.) The SEC is likely beyond repair.
3.) Our Accounting System is failing.

How can we rely on the balance sheets and P&L's of publicly held companies? Are the Big 4 accountants asleep at the switch? Is there any real oversight provided by the SEC other than deadlines and requirements?

We must react to these piercing alarms of the insane world we are living in. We need the good guys to take control and rewrite the rules to restore credibility and confidence.

Kind of like a superheroes movie with "Superaccountants", perhaps an Underdog Character shaped like a pencil.

All kidding aside, let's go President Obama...

A Gem of a Concept

Got an email from a terrific lady who says "I take great pride in working hard every day."

If every employee worked hard every day-

• we wouldn’t have as severe an economic crisis and
• we’d be getting out of it much sooner.

Thanks for the great input, Mary Ann!

Create Energy, Even in a Stagnant Workplace

Too often, professionals describe to me their monotonous work environment, where business is anything but exciting...

You have the ability to change this environment. In this economy, we need to be nimble, carefree, loosey goosey and risk tolerant (especially when so many are risk averse).

Some of my favorite ways workplace energy is produced…

Sales and Revenues create energy. create Energy.
Client Care creates energy.
Creative Ideas create energy.
Relationships create energy.
Women create energy.
Teams and Collaberation create energy.
Receptionists (no kidding!) create energy.
Good Leaders create energy.
But most of all, YOU create energy.

What’s does the energymeter say about you and your co-workers today?

More Guidance Required for Internet Marketing

10 Years Ago we were introduced to the Power of Internet Marketing.

So why aren't more Technology Companies... or perhaps PR Companies really challenging and working with their clients to better position their Web Site, Web Presence, Search Optimization, Blog, Social Networking, etc, etc, etc.

Seems to me like Internet Marketing is more important, opportunistic and powerful than ever before. Are their enough savvy technology consultants out there who can deliver value in a concise, impacting and responsive manner?

The Power of Positive Thinking

Entrepreneurial opportunities abound today if YOU are

1.) Financially Savvy (Cash is once again king and costs controls are a necessity)
and
2.) In the Right Mind Frame of Mind (positive thinking, focused, minimize pessimism).

Economic and business experts are faltering in their efforts to correlate our short US history to the current complex economic environment.

Step back, talk to peers, come up with your own observations and remember brighter days are ahead and long as you believe that they are!

Getting Cold Out There

The colder temperatures don't compare to the "frigidity" and indecisiveness displayed currently by many middle market CEO' s.

Business success is about action, not inaction. Inaction leads to complacency, rumors and decreased everything.

Companies who study, create, adjust and ultimately "buy" based upon a well thought out action plan for the coming year; ... will truly differentiate themselves.

A Bit About Baseball

As a certified "Yankee Hater", nothing better than watching top quality baseball from the Rays and Red Sox. The Yankees won't make the playoffs the next two years, they just don't compare in energy, young talent and team chemistry.

Yankees will offer Joe Torre the manager job end of next year and he'll turn them down, or maybe he won't...

I've Had Enough!!!!

Enough that i'm blogging for the 1st time in 2 months.

Enough that I'm writing this at 10:30 at night.

Enough that my self-induced withdrawal yesterday ... caused me to come home in a crappy mood and take it out on my wife.

What have I had enough of?

CNBC on the Internet, CNBC on TV, sweating the difficult economy and digesting the seemingly incomprehensible day to day news.

But you know something? I don't follow the daily sagas and I'll filled in anyway during social and business discussions.

Most of us are better off not focusing on the day to day and minute to minute updates.

...Somehow, I feel much better today. My 2nd day of withdrawal, I am once again 100% focused on my clients, my business, my family.

I developed a cool new business concept this evening and I'm being nice again to my wife.

Anyone know what's on CBS?

Translating Marketing into Every Day Life

Just interviewed a solid executive and we were chatting about the importance of marketing in any size company.

The normal "buzzwords" came up...intellect, presence, attire, knowhow, likeability... all emanate directly into your organizational positioning and market presence.

Oh yeah, then he brought up (unsolicited) Social Networking- the omnipotent, the unknown, the vast potential- everyone is racing to harness the power of this burgeoning area.

Impact Shareholder Value thru Differentiation

Differentiate your Marketing Approach… through high quality, “crisp” communication and presentation materials. Ensure consistent “image”, branding and name recognition as the foremost goals of your e-mail and letter writing campaigns, marketing handouts and Website.

Differentiate your Sales Goals… by stressing performance and measurement tools in advancing relationships, not just closing deals. Mandate all salespeople to spend a minimum of 25% effort in cold calling or more affectionately, “hunting” initiatives.

Differentiate Customer Perspectives… by accepting only the highest levels of quality and responsiveness from every employee. Seek customer feedback to understand the “differentiators” of doing business with you vs. the competition. Ensure customer service escalates in personalization and satisfaction in the hand-off from sales to production/distribution/project management.

Differentiate your Accounting Function… by requiring timely, accurate, concise management information to impact executive decision making. Ensure finance team leaders and staff work cohesively with other departmental functions.

Set goals for all Department Managers to differentiate themselves… by successfully balancing the accountability for departmental excellence with the ongoing necessities of staff development, training and communication.

Differentiate your Internal Communication… with credibility, mutual respect and consistency. Recognize the immense power of your words –both negative and positive.

Clarify your strategic focus and align your organizational structure, your advisors and your capital with the means to get there. Differentiate Personal Relationships… with employees and advisors to remain objective regarding the required skill sets and personalities necessary to successfully execute and grow.