The Web Marketing Association has voted SummitConsulting.com as Outstanding Website. We scored 60 out of a perfect 70, with the industry average 49 and the winning awards average 52.9. We scored 9s in Design, Technology, Copywriting, and Ease of Use, and 8.5 for Content; we were 8 on Innovation and 7.5 for Interactivity.
Congratulations to Chad and CB Software. We are ordering trophies and will now enter the Beach Volleyball competition.
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September 13, 2010—Issue #52
This week’s focus point: The ongoing, incredibly inept actions of the Hewlett-Packard board are completely out of context in terms of the value system that Bill Hewlett and David Packard established for their firm. The board decisions demonstrate, however, that there are human beings in executive suites and on such boards, not gods. They are subject to the same emotionalism, politics, confusion, peer pressures, and poor interpretations as the people on the sales force, in R&D, doing the accounting, or working in call centers. They are simply playing with a lot more money. They need good consultants more than anyone.
Monday Morning Perspective: A doctor can bury his mistakes. An architect can only advise his clients to plant vines. — Frank Lloyd Wright
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© Alan Weiss 2010. All rights reserved
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The title of this piece was the ironic “fight song” of my alma mater. Rutgers is the state university of New Jersey, fortunately a great school because it was one of the very few places I could afford to attend. Even with a scholarship, I had to take government loans to pay the $350 per semester tuition.
The Wall Street Journal ranked the 25 best schools in the country yesterday in terms of business finding top recruiting talent. Rutgers finished 21st (3rd in business) and was one of only 7 state schools in the listing, finishing ahead of Notre Dame, MIT, USC, et. al.
Tuition today is $12,000, still a bargain. I paid off my loans at about $60 a month for four years, as I recall, interest free.
And so far, this year, the football team is 2-0.
© Alan Weiss 2010. All rights reserved.
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Our granddaughters had their second birthday party yesterday in a clever place with a huge water activity center, giant slide, and cave. It’s hard to believe that two years ago we were racing home from Capri to face grandchildren born three months prematurely. We are eternally thankful that we have been granted these miracles, who are healthy and ever-active.
Once we got the girls home, Maria and I took off for Saturday Vigil Mass, and I chose the Church of the Transfiguration in Chinatown, on Mott Street. It’s a gorgeous place, with a predominantly Chinese congregation and an Indian priest the evening we visited.
We hang out in Tribeca quite a bit when we visit the kids, and one of our favorite places is the corner suite in the Greenwich Hotel. The place is great—you can have breakfast in a courtyard—and the entire area is thick with trendy, busy restaurants of every persuasion.
I had told the concierge that I wanted to try something that was great even for this area, and we were sent to the Greenwich Grill, a few blocks away. We were greeted cordially, escorted to one of the prime, corner tables, and then the restaurant bought us cocktails because the hotel had sent us!
We opted for the 8-course Chef’s Seasonal Tasting Menu (I cheated, and also ordered some uni—the place has a sushi restaurant downstairs) and the entire meal was outrageously good. The fare is billed as “Italian/Asian fusion” and somehow it works wonderfully (more than half the packed house was Asian). On some nights they have both Japanese uni and California uni!
If you love high-end food and trendy places, don’t miss this excellent restaurant. The ambiance, service, and food are standouts, even in New York and even in Tribeca.
New York, New York, it’s a wonderful town….
© Alan Weiss 2010. All rights reserved.
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(The Dog Star is a symbol of power, will, and steadfastness of purpose, and exemplifies the One who has succeeded in bridging the lower and higher consciousness. – Astrological Definition)
When I head toward the master bedroom upstairs, the dogs arrive from wherever they are in the house. I hear their claws tapping out their direction on the wood floors as their speed picks up. Buddy Beagle will run ahead of me, trying to lead to the master bathroom, where the dog treat drawer is, and Koufax will actually engage is some herding maneuvers, which must represent distant racial memory. (If he came face-to-face with an actual sheep today, I’m sure his first move would be to fire up the grill.)
The dogs have mastered a process, just as they have for getting me into the truck to go for coffee and biscuits when I’m not working out. They recognize key signs and act in a prescribed fashion. They are successful more than not. In fact, A Rod would envy their batting averages.
Consultants need to tune in to similar indicators in the environment. For example, there’s the transference that takes place when people critique the boss because they’re really upset with themselves. There’s the turf battles that arise not because of personal animosity but because two senior people are setting the example (“us against them”). There is the projection that ensues when an employee doesn’t want to grant that someone else will be able to do something they haven’t.
Don’t reinvent the wheel. As your consulting career progresses, you should be quicker, more accurate, and more confident. There is actually a finite range of issues that confront an OD consultant (I maintain there are 11, but you know I just love to provoke people) and you should identify what evidence you’re immediately seeing in the environment of which ones.
The faster you help the client, the more valuable you are. A German Shepherd can herd a lot of sheep all my himself. Just don’t drool on the carpets.
© Alan Weiss 2010. All rights reserved.
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We came down to New York on the Acela yesterday, checked in at The Greenwich Hotel, and Maria went to see the grandchildren (we’re here for their second birthday party today) while I met long-time buddy Bill Howe for lunch at noon at the Four Seasons Restaurant.
We sat in the famous pool room—alone, for 45 minutes! When we finally left (after a wonderful Far Niente) at about 2:30, there were about 20 people dining. It was a Friday and a Jewish holiday, but nonetheless, things aren’t what they used to be!
I walked over to the Grand Havana room for a post-lunch Arturo Fuente and lychee martini, then met Maria at the Loews Regency’s Feinstein’s to see Michael Feinstein and Barbara Cook in one of the few intimate showrooms left.
And this was a glorious night. Ms. Cook, who is in her early eighties, is someone we were determined to see in person, as we have Elaine Stritch and the late Bobbie Short. She was in fine voice with immaculate phrasing. Mr. Feinstein ought to be given the keys to the Great American Songbook, since he chooses material with reverence and complete understanding of every nuance, never failing to acknowledge composer and lyricist. His ability to hold a note is mesmerizing, and we were sitting three feet away from the performers.
Inexplicably, at one point they chose to do a duet of “Shine On Harvest Moon” (which is from 1908) which I have never liked. They converted me in the first few bars and created an amazing rendition. Mr. Feinstein replaced the piano player (there is an excellent 5-man music backup) to sing “Without A Song,” reminding us that this iconic piece came from a play that closed within a few weeks.
You never know where you’re going to find excellence, but I can tell you you’ll find it for sure at Feinstein’s. If you get the chance, do not miss this glorious evening of music from two, true superstars.
(PS: Intimate clubs are always great. After the show, awaiting our bill, the guy behind us received a text and said excitedly to the woman with him, “It’s my agent! But which one!? New York or California?”)
© Alan Weiss 2010. All rights reserved.
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Alaina decides to visit Gabrielle by executing the rare full gainer arabesque, free style. Unfortunately, she blew the dismount.
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September 06, 2010—Issue #51
This week’s focus point: Small businesses are the largest generator of net new jobs, far more than large companies. In a slow recovery, they are seeking multi-talented people who can do a variety of things, focused on pragmatic, short-term results. Consultants in this market should demonstrate the same characteristics, while helping their clients find such resources. If you’re helping people find work, coach them with this in mind.
Monday Morning Perspective: Nothing is possible without individuals; nothing is lasting without institutions. — Jean Monnet
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Privacy statement: Our subscriber lists are never rented, sold, or loaned to any other parties for any reason.
Contact information: info@summitconsulting.com
http://www.contrarianconsulting.com
ISSN 2151-0091
© Alan Weiss 2010. All rights reserved
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