Thoughts on people, teams, organizations, communities, effectiveness and success
It’s your last day on the job. How do you handle it?
Here are some thoughts.
Unless you’re embezzling and folks don’t know it, make it easy to be found. While some people prefer a blast email to folks on the broader team, I’m a fan of sending individual notes (it can be the same template – just remember to change names) to thank people who have helped you along the way.… Read the rest
It’s a time of year when even the most distant observer notes that winners are separated from something referred to as losers. Who you are can be confused with what you’ve won (lately).
College bowl games, Super Bowl, Golden Globe, Writers Guild of America, Grammys, Oscars – all proclaiming who is/was hot, and maybe by inference, who is not.
Barack Obama got into the act with his January State of Union address noting that his campaigning days were over – eliciting cheers from Republicans – followed by a telling tally – “I should know because I’ve won both of them.… Read the rest
Glenn Murphy resigned his CEO role with Gap, Inc. effective February 1, 2015.
While I don’t know Murphy, I do know one thing about his 8-year stint at the Gap: Murphy left “fingerprints.”
Murphy was brought at a time when Gap was generally described as “adrift” and “without focus.” While financial results were mixed during his tenure – retail is a tough place for anyone to perform well – the stock price doubled during his time holding the stick.… Read the rest
I heard Tim Wise speak yesterday regarding race, gender, and the bagful of what gets summarized as diversity and inclusion.
Wise was forceful, funny and spot-on. Sample lines: “If race is a card (e.g. “race card”) it’s a two of diamonds” and “Some execs like to colorize their organizations the ways Ted Turner colorized old movies.… Read the rest
Mentoring is hot, both on college campuses and in the private sector.
“The right mentor can help you get ahead” according to the Boston Globe.
An article in Forbes headlines “To build a great company, start with great mentors.“
And the wrong or no mentor? A recipe for more career detours or a life in the slower lane.… Read the rest
We might sell our Dolores Park area home, a house we’ve lived in for 20 years.
But then again, if the price isn’t right, we might not.
We might pare down early – accelerating a plan 10 years out – and buy a place in Stanley Saitowitz’ minimalistic 8 Octavia in Hayes Valley.
But then again, if we don’t sell our home in Dolores Park at the right price, we might not.… Read the rest