Tag Archives: managing

The Pros From Dover

I was flipping around the dial last evening when I came across a program called “Talking Funny” on HBO.  It was Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Louis CK and Ricky Gervais talking about comedy and having, as the promo says “an unscripted conversation about what it means to be a comedian.”  It was pretty funny stuff and, more importantly for our purposes in this space, it got me thinking about some broader business points I’d like to share.

One of them made the point that most people can amuse themselves.  You or I can tell jokes and make ourselves and others laugh.  This was said with a touch of bemusement and amazement that despite this fact, people pay a fair amount of money to go to comedy shows.  And that’s the business point. Continue reading

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Getting Scoped

Stomach colon rectum diagram.

Image via Wikipedia

I’m writing this well in advance of you reading it.  While I usually write the day I publish something, I’m kind of tied up today having a colonoscopy.  For those of you under 50, this is something that will become a regular (if every 5 years or so is regular) part of your life going forward.  It’s to make sure that you and colon cancer don’t become acquainted.  Even though the disease is very curable if caught early, because there aren’t any real symptoms until it’s too late you need to have this exam to catch it when it’s very treatable if it’s there.  Obviously it’s not like checking yourself for lumps or funny moles.  But there’s kind of a business point to be made (you knew that was coming).

You see, most business problems are treatable if they’re found early.  Like the exam I’m having today, the process isn’t always pleasant, critical though it may be.  Lots of folks avoid the short-term discomfort and find themselves facing a much worse situation down the road.  Annual budget reviews are mostly rubber stamps.  You not seeing any  symptoms – why upset things and dig too deeply, right?  Wrong.  Don’t run your health that way and don’t run your business that way either.

Short and sweet today – if you’re over 50, get checked.

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The Budget

U.S. Federal Spending FY 2008

Image via Wikipedia

I think we all know by now that politics is not a topic of conversation in this space.  However, sometimes things going on  in politics lead us to insights about business and hopefully that’s the case today.

You’re probably aware that there’s a “discussion” of sorts going on with respect to the Federal Budget (I use quotes because it often seems to be less of a discussion than a topic about which to issue press releases stressing one’s unwavering position as if that’s helping us all).    I’m kind of amused that all we seem to hear about is how we need to cut spending (we do) and not a lot about how to grow revenues.  Which of course got me thinking about it in business terms. Continue reading

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Filed under What's Going On