A Consultant's Chronicles

High Tech High: Helping Business Tomorrow By Planting Seeds Today

One of the by-products of a change in health care policy will be the need for more doctors because there will be a significantly larger number of people seeking care. However,in this country we are experiencing a doctor shortage. How can this be when receiving  medical treatment in this country is highly desired throughout the world? One of the real culprits aside from the lack of interest in becoming a doctor is our declining education system especially when it comes to math & science. In disciplines other than healthcare, as the American workforce has moved away from manufacturing, the emphasis of jobs today & especially tomorrow are in the areas of research & development because innovation is what America has always done best. As a result, business also has a vested interested in seeing its children return to math & science. Increasingly blue chip companies are putting their time & money into the problem with mixed success.

Tomorrow's Jobs Require Math & Science Today n

Why are businesses having only modest success?  Generally, it's hard to fire up American children when it comes to math & science...or so we've been told.  Pursuing a career in medicine also means spending a minimum of 10 extra years training before reaping the monetary benefits which today amounts to less earning power than lawyers, stock brokers, & a host of other jobs that don't require anywhere near the same of amount of work & dedication.

High Tech High: A Solution To The Math/Science Deficit

However, the first real sign I have seen in a long time that someone has a clue about how to turn things around was while watching a brief news clip a few days ago about a relatively new public [charter] school in San Diego, Ca called High Tech High. It's a school full of math & science that challenges kids through the use of technology to dream & create. Children get in through the lottery system & can enter as early as grade school.  Although there are no tests, they are evaluated on an ongoing basis; every child who attends graduates & most attend college. A public school where kids willingly focus their energy on math & science most of the day & thrive? What a concept! Apparently it's one successful enough to spawn 4 more schools just like it. I can hear the health & business community now: "bring it on!"

Line of the Week 10-25-09

This week's line of the week belongs to Rebecca Mead of the New Yorker. She's written a brief article that explores the age old question "what do women want" except this time it's from a business perspective.  Apparently companies are so perplexed by this issue that they have engaged the services of a consulting group that examines retail behavior. They assigned consultant & author Micheal Silverstein to the task [am I the only one who thinks this is just a wee bit ironic?]. Clearly, understanding this demographic is essential in an era when it is smart business to cater to women. Silverstein noted that according to his findings, women want to be Swedish. Why? Apparently the Swedes not only have an egalitarian workforce in terms of money & treatment but they also value having ample vacation time in addition to truly sharing childrearing duties & household chores. There is of course a glitch. Quoting Silverstein, Mead writes:

" Swedish social policy might be a hard sell in America- much of the Midwest barely has IKEA..."

On its face, the line seems a tad flippant but I'd have to agree with its underlying meaning. However, you'd think these companies might consider looking for their solutions a little closer to home. Hiring a woman to help them discern what women want might be a good place to start. Just thinkin'  

Apps: How Can They Be Used By Small Business

Reading the November 2, issue of BusinessWeek where the cover story is about the business of "apps" triggered an interesting discussion with a friend who is novice app designer. According to their cover article, apps are no longer just about games & will soon explode as an integral business tool. The question I put to my friend is what are some ways small business can  leverage this new tool aside from writing documents & retrieving email. According to BusinessWeek the most obvious untapped use for small business is as a payment tool. My friend demurred because while he has some thoughts on how small business can benefit/profit from apps, they are not quite ready for "prime time." As a result, I thought I'd throw the question out there to you: if you own a small business, what would you like to be able to do straight from your smartphone that cannot be done today. Let your imagination run wild.

Apps As a Business: It's The Real Thing 

As you ponder the question consider Zynga's runaway success in their app "Farmville" on Facebook where people manage a plot of land, buying animals, crops, & other "necessities" for their virtual homestead. The cost of these items are seemingly "small potatoes:" under a dollar, maybe slightly over but that's all. So how much money has the parent company made in their short time in business? How about 100 million dollars which just goes to show that as a business, "apps" can be a very big deal.

Update: Strengthening Teams At Peets

Quick Update:

In my last post, I talked about a pending event here in the Bay Area at Peets Coffee that has had the effect of boosting morale & strengthening their teams. I have two updates to report in the service of clarity.

1- The contest in Alameda, CA is NOT open to the public. Peets has a dedicated following & well, they are just not prepared for the potential number of visitors  interested in attendng nor is it appropriate for the  contest [all the contestants deserve a fair shot].

2- At the time I published the post, the winner wasn't going to receive any kind of tangible reward but that has changed. Now the finalists will receive a two-day intensive & specialized paid training on coffee & have lunch with the CEO.

Very cool & very consistent with the overall driving force behind the event.

Strengthening Team Morale In the Workplace

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a die-hard caffeine addict & my "drug" of choice is Peets Coffee founded in Berkeley,CA where its flagship store is located a "stone's throw" from another bay area institution known to "foodies" all over: Chez Panisse [a note to all of the Starbucks fans out there: Howard Schultz of Starbucks learned everything he knows about coffee from Alfred Peet]. What business significance does my favorite blend of coffee hold other than my daily contribution to their coffers?  Currently Peets is in the midst of a corporate wide barista contest to see who is the premier barista, the best of the best. These baristas are bringing their "'A' game" too, adding special touches in design & presentation. As the contest has progressed, the buzz around our local shop has built involving the staff & the customers because a barista at my local Peets is now in the finals. 

A Boost For Team Morale

What will the winner get? Nothing aside from bragging rights  [at least as far as they know now]! However it has been sensational for team morale & business "buzz." For Peets this has been a clever way to do team-building AND encourage their employees to improve their skills in ways that are self-driven as opposed to mandated by the company.  These "little" things make the net effect far more powerful. In business as in life, "it's always the little things!" This event has created a kind of workplace bonding that would be the envy of most any business. Clearly not every business lends itself to events like this but the point is that it really doesn't take much to create a cohesive unit whether it's on the golf course, behind the coffee bar, contributing to a community event,  or a Friday afternoon Frisbee toss. What counts is getting people out of their ordinary milieu while still required to work together. When I lead team-building events, I make sure they are interesting, challenging, fun & instructive [although not necessarily in obvious ways at first blush]. These events develop skills [like communication], foster trust enabling everyone to grow both as individuals and as a group while working together to achieve something greater than themselves.

In the interest of full disclosure, I clearly have a rooting interest in the barrista at my local Peets so I figured I would use this opportunity to show his stuff! The finals will be held at the roasting plant in Alameda, CA on Monday 10/12/09.

 Sean's own special design

The Workforce Divide: What We Can Learn Across Generations

My friend & colleague Shannon Pedder whose company Brand: Creative makes her the "queen of marketing swag" wrote this piece recently as a quickie post on Facebook. I liked it so much that I asked her if I could reprint it here because I think there's serious value in it for all of us.

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ACROSS THE GENERATIONS,,, SHARING STRENGTHS AND STRATEGIES

There are currently 4 generations that make up most of the workforce:

 •The Silent Generation, born before 1945
 •The Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964
 •The Gen Xers, born between 1965 and 1981
 •The Gen Yers, born between 1982 and 1995

No matter what industry you are in, you can learn a tremendous amount from the different generations in the workplace.  Let’s start with the Silent Generation.  They finds their strength in being disciplined and trust worthy, they understand the basics and follow through.  They place high value on relationships and believe that their word is their bond.  They respect authority and take satisfaction in a job well done.  Conversely, they may feel challenged to keep up with technology and stay enthusiastic about the rapidly changing workplace culture. 

The Baby Boomers are phenomenal multi-taskers, they are naturals at peer to peer relationships and make excellent mentors.  They typically believe in playing by the rules and earning one’s dues.  One of their greatest strengths is showing the younger generations how to do the same.  Similar to the Silent Generation, they may need help with the technology that is necessary to get results. 

Gen Xers are extremely self-reliant yet also make great team players.  They are typically very techno-savvy.  They have made Facebook and LinkedIn their business tools of choice, using those platforms as a softer way to stay in touch with their network.  Gen Xers have also helped to create many recent time-saving methods.  They may need to take note from the Silent Generation and the Baby Boomers on how to engage clients one on one and follow through with personal connections like phone calls rather than relying completely on technology.  Business is about one to one relationships and technology is simply a tool to enhance the process.

Gen Yers have the same challenge as the Xers and tend to rely heavily on technology for their primary mode of communication and way of doing business.  This is a positive in that have demonstrated new ways to get results with technology as well as how to use social aspects of the internet to market.  Their challenge is to stay engaged on all levels, especially one on one relationships.  As far as style, they are innovative, resourceful, energetic and great social networkers.

Overall, these are simply generalizations and at the end of the day it’s all about people.  It’s important to learn from your peers and your mentors.  Don’t be afraid to ask the generations younger than you for advice- often they are closer to your target demographic and can turn you on to current trends.  Everyone has something to offer and it’s important to cross pollinate to create a collaborative and successful workplace environment.

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Ellen Gunty,M.A. does organizational development, training & mediation in the San Francisco Bay Area.. Her company is Means to an End www.meanstoanendca.com

Shannon Pedder is the owner of BRAND: CREATIVE, a promotional products company based in Oakland.  She has been in the industry for over 13 years and works with people of ALL generations.  You can reach her at 510.547.9400 or shannon@brandcreative.biz.  Check the BRAND: CREATIVE blog for daily updates on product ideas, trends and specials:  http.brandcreative.blogpot.com.

Reprinted with permission from Shannon Pedder, Oct. 2009

 

 

Driving Your Marketing Strategy: Are You In A Prius Or An Edsel

Regardless of the size of your business, these days it's hardly news to hear that social media is all the rage & an essential tool for inbound marketing. If you are a marketing professional, this is hardly earth-shattering information unless you've had your head in the sand for the last few years. Be that as it may, the other day it occurred to me to do an unofficial survey of some of my clients to see "who was riding the new marketing wave in a Prius vs who was still driving their marketing in an Edsel-metaphorically speaking that isl!" The results were somewhat frustrating especially in challenging economic times. Now more than ever companies have to find ways to generate new market streams and do so ahead of the competition. Understanding this, why are many of my clients still resistant to embracing these new concepts?

Is Your Business Losing Cash with Your Marketing 'Clunker'

Far too many of my clients claim that the new methods of marketing are not for them. They either maintain that they don't need it or that allegedly such a seemingly radical change [hey, I'm just the messenger here!] eitherdoesn't suit them or their clients [sometimes both]. Ironically, these are the very same people who shop online & whip out their iphone or Blackberry whenever any little factoid is needed. Somehow they can't possibly imagine that potential clients may be shopping for their services in much the same way. The bottom line here is while I understand that change is never easy & often scary, not being afraid to change is essential in a society moving as rapidly as ours. Therefore, if you are among those driving your marketing plan "in an Edsel" [a notable car in the 1950's], remember this: your business may be losing cash with that 'clunker'; at least consider trading it in for a more modern [marketing] vehicle.

 

The Problem with Healthcare When You Have Insurance

The healthcare debate facing us this year is a very complex issue; one that is political, moral, & very much related to business in terms of our ability to remain competitive with other countries who are not shouldering such expensive healthcare burdens. Why else would president Obama be all over television map yesterday trying to sell change? Most people would agree that while our research & development is peerless, our delivery system is an expensive mess. One way to get a grip on some of the problems we are faced with is to read a recently discovered article written a few months ago by veteran Time magazine reporter & PBS commentator, Karen Tumulty.

The Problems Faced By People Who Have Health Insurance

Regardless of your employment status everyone needs to read this piece. She wrote the piece from a personal perspective since it uses her brother's fight with the current healthcare system as a "jumping off point." What is particularly notable is that very much like Michael Moore's movie Sicko, it is an article that focuses on people like her brother who are insured [or think they are anyway]; it is not about the much more obvious discussion concerning the legions of uninsured who are [financially] strapped & stressing the system. Therefore it is a more powerful statement about how our current model is not only [fiscally] unsustainable but simply does not work in terms of providing adequate coverage, not even for those who pay into the [current] system. When Moore's movie came out making essentially the same statement, it was far easier to dismiss because he is [understandably] a polarizing figure. Tumulty is a well- respected & sober journalist who has a detailed & sophisticated understanding about healthcare policy; she's an actual "player" in the debate. The cold reality is if someone like her has trouble navigating the system to get the appropriate care for her family, what hope do the rest of us have if things stay as they are?

Facebook & Today's Workforce

In earlier posts I have written about the fact that while social media sites like Facebook & Twitter represent fabulous marketing venues for individuals & [small] business, they are also not without business peril. There have been some notable examples of how people err on these sites because they blur the lines between professional & personal life. This merging of the public & private spheres of life is like a giant pothole on these sites, which is to say the problem is easily seen yet people stumble anyway. Until recently, I have only been involved with professionally oriented sites where everyone's guard is up. However, now that I am on Facebook, I see just how easily those lines can be crossed in a way that could be harmful to a career. A picture posted of someone smoking a bong is probably not their ticket to the corner office.  Should that be the case?

The Facebook Faux Pas: A Dealmaker Or A Deal-breaker

There is a school of thought representing the belief that as people become more at home with social media, the "Facebook online faux pas" will become a mere "blip on the radar screen;'' others maintain that if online indiscretions don't interfere with their work performance, it shouldn't matter.  I believe this view to be naive & self-serving. Allow me to explain. Part of what employers & [potential] colleagues  look for is how you handle yourself in every setting especially personal ones. Why? It's a window into what you will be like to work with as well as providing a feel for your ethics & moral compass. For example, how do you treat the wait staff when dining out with the boss, do you cheat at golf, do you drink too much at business mixers? These are all "real life" examples of where professional & personal boundaries cross & as a consequence, fairly or not, we are judged accordingly. Social media just provides another venue for more information. Is your input responsive, communicative, and a reflection of good judgment or is it immature and unprofessional? Does it matter? In my view, absolutely. Can a Facebook or Twitter post be a dealmaker or deal-breaker; without a doubt-just ask "Cisco Fatty!" She lost her job as the result of "140 characters or less!" 

Swimming With 'The Sharks': Are You Up To the Task

Quite recently I wrote a post about the TV show Shark Tank, which I now use as a target rich source when discussing what NOT to do as an entrepreneur. I have seen a few shows now & there is one very predictable thread that runs through many  of these business men & women [not the "sharks"]: they can't manage to get out of their own way which frequently is what is really preventing them from climbing to the next rung on the ladder of success even when their product says "smash hit!" As an executive coach, I see this a lot. Although tempting, it's too simplistic to conclude that this is why they are on the show in the first place because that's not the whole story.  They pretty accurately reflect a mixture of the business population at large: those who can see, seize & capitalize on a good opportunity vs. those that can't seem to do it when it comes "gift wrapped & hand-delivered;"  plus all that fall in between.  A couple of weeks ago there was a breathtaking example of such a problem.

You Can 'Do Good & Make Good'

A man introduced a fantastic product that would be built into every car so that the car could not start unless the passengers had their seatbelts on. Two of the sharks instantly saw the value in this product making him offers to buy it [& its patent].  One offer doubled the next but he turned both down & walked away with nothing. Why? He was afraid that they would bury the product because they may not be committed enough to see the whole project through. He on the other hand had made this his mission in life due to personal tragedy. These men & women loved the product; saw its importance as well as its business potential. Bottom line: they wanted to bring it to market but he wanted control so he walked away with nothing instead of pocketing $1,000,000! Did I forget to say this was business? He could do a lot of effective public advocacy towards advancing his goal with that money if it was more than just business for him. What was he thinking?

Don't Let Your Issues Cloud Business Decisions

It's clear what this man was doing; I see it every day. He let his personal issues [sadly including tragedy] cloud better business judgment when talking to potential investors interested in one thing: making money. I own my business so I know what it means to have the power to make all the decisions. However, while being the "decider" is nice, there are benefits to having other voices in the mix, especially when those voices have "deep pockets," experience, & a large network of connections. One of the sharks put it best when he said that it's a mistake to get emotional about money because 'it has no feelings'. Please don't misunderstand me; clearly there are aspects to business that are personal &/or passionate. The problem is that too often people focus on their passions at the expense of their interests as in this man’s case. It's worthwhile remembering that the person who said" a bird in the hand, is better than one in the bush" knew what he was talking about!