Sunday, December 23, 2012

7 Holiday Dos And Don'ts For Every Entrepreneur

Holiday Dos & Don'ts by Gene Marks

Maybe it's a little late for 2012 but this article, published in inc.com, has some great advice for the small business owner. Even big business could take away a few lessons. My favourite:

"4. Forget about an overboard office party." I've been at enough of these to know. When I was young, it was fun, but as I got older and wiser, they became a duty and a chore. Someone always drinks too much, says or does something inappropriate. Careers are ruined. Hearts get broken. Too many awkward moments. Best to do the holiday celebrating in a safe environment with your family and friends.





Friday, December 7, 2012

The Paradox of Leadership

The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.
Harvey S. Firestone

I don't know much about Mr. Firestone. Certainly his company is a household name. But this quote is a good one.

 
In most organizations, as many of us have experienced, leadership is all about the leader. The leader becomes preoccupied with ensuring that there is no one who can easily replace him. They need to look good to their board, their peers and their old boy network. I say him because it usually is. Leaders also ensure that they get the credit for all the good things that happen. Their inappropriate bonuses and salaries depend on it. They blame and punish everyone else for their own mistakes, even if they've ignored the good advice of others.

They also refuse to look at anything that might be going wrong; a lost major client, employee exodus, accounting irregularities, unless a regulator intervenes or a law suit is imminent. They want to hear that everything is rosy, and that their subordinates will just take care of the problems because of the "if I don't know about it, I can't be responsible for it attitude". Thankfully regulation and legislation now prevent them from this escape route.

People in leadership positions everywhere, whether you are a small business owner, in the clergy, a teacher, a politician or an executive, you are only a true leader when you are helping the people you are responsible for develop and grow. All of them--not just the ones that kiss your butt. That is your only job. Focus on it and the other things you worry about will take care of themselves... unless, of course, your boss is not a true leader.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Some Things Never Change
Clearly the world has moved on since I left Bay Street. But clearly some things never change. Here is an excerpt from an article by Brad Smith. Read it and weep. It's the 1990s all over again.
* * *  
They say you learn something new everyday...
And one of the things I recently learned was a new oxymoron: a social media budget.
Because in most companies, it simply doesn't exist. They expect Fans, Followers, Likes and Pins to fall from the sky.
But that's not the worst part...
No, the worst part is when you see how companies actually spend a social media budget if they have it.
Because most of the time it's wasted on vanity metrics and hot trends.
And the problem typically resides with the HIPPOs (highest paid person's opinion), because the highest paid person is also (usually) the least knowledgeable and furthest away from the front-lines.
 
The social media budget cartoon

* * *

Getting funding for websites and intranets was nearly impossible in the 1990s and even 2000s. It always came too late and too little, if at all. To make matters worse, the HIPPOs though they should control the content and design.

No wonder we are in the economic mess we are in.

Friday, July 6, 2012

Fate? Destiny? Love at First Sight?

I think it was meant to be. I am now the proud owner of a vintage White Model 2335 sewing machine, complete with cabinet. This is my story.

Several months ago a member of the Oakville Sewers Forum came to inherit the White 2335 in a sewing machine cabinet. Having no use for it, but wanting to find an owner who would have need of a sewing machine, she inquired within our group. We were unable to come up with an owner.

Last month I taught a sewing course for absolute beginners. Some of my students did not have sewing machines. I encouraged them to ask around of relatives or friends who may have one sitting in a closet somewhere. I was delighted that this yielded two machines. But there was one student who's machine was broken and not worth the cost of fixing. While we had loner machines at the facility, this meant the student did not have a machine to practice or use at home after the course. My idea was to offer the student the White 2335. But first I want to check it out to ensure it would be suitable.

I arranged to pick up the machine in my van. It was heavy and with a lot of difficulty I maneuvered it into the back and laid it on its side, hoping that would not be damaged in any way. When I arrived home, I was so eager to try it out that I didn't wait for my husband to come home to help me. Struggling, I managed to get it into the house.

I opened up the cabinet, and pulled the machine up to the operating position. It is the heaviest machine I have ever laid hands on. But it is a beautiful turquoise green with little signs of aging. It is the colour of the refrigerator we had at home in the 1950s. The accessory box is in mint condition with all the original attachments. I was also pleased that the previous owner kept the manual as these often go missing. I felt a pang of nostalgia.

I replaced the light bulb and was disappointed that it didn't work. I tested the bulb, replaced it again, but it still didn't work. I brought out my portable Ottlite and decided the light bulb wasn't that important.

I knew the machine would need oiling and removed its top. I was delighted to see that there were no plastic cams (these often wear, crack and break in the older machines). Every part was metal and it was very clean inside. Still I oiled all the parts that needed oil and replaced the top. I did the same with the head plate, bobbin casing and then the undercarriage. Everything looked very clean and moved smoothly. I admired the workmanship and robustness of the inner workings.

Now it was time to see how she sewed. I set up the machine to wind a bobbin and was disappointed to see that the bobbin winder rubber ring was split open. With a some fiddling and patience I was able to get a bobbin wound and set within the machine. Following the instructions, I threaded the machine and tested it out. The tension was off. I adjusted the upper tension. It was still off. I adjusted the bobbin tension. Now it sewed a perfect seam.

Still it was noisy. I stitched a fair bit and as the oil worked its way through all the joints, she started to quieten down. I tried to stitch faster. She flies like the wind. And the stitches are perfect and accurate. I tested the zigzag stitch. She sews them perfectly. I change the width and length and still, she delivers lovely precise stitches.

As I sit at the machine and put her through her paces, I marvel at how well she is designed. The cabinet is the right height for sewing--unlike the sewing machines of today that are placed on desktops that are too high. She is set into the cabinet so that there is a very large flat area around her to make for smooth sewing. I think of the hundred of dollars I spent on custom sewing cabinets, templates and flat beds for my machines and here she is with her flat bed built right in. Instead of a foot peddle that wanders all over the floor, she has a knee control bolted to the side of the cabinet so that stays in place. She comes with a straight stitch plate for accurate straight stitching on the finest of fabrics. The height of the feed dogs is adjustable. She can sew with two spools of thread and a twin needle. I'm lovin' this.

I read through all of the manual to learn all she's capable of. While she is strictly mechanical and does only straight stitch and zigzag stitch, she does them extremely well. I could be very happy sewing on this machine. Hmmmm. I run out to Fabricland and pick up a new bobbin winder rubber ring and a bottle of oil. She's ready to go to her new home.

I contact the student's mother and we arrange to have the machine delivered. In anticipation of her leaving, I look online to see if there's another White 2335 out there in need of a home. I start thinking that although I have five machines (at last count, three of them vintage) I could still use one just like this. I check out eBay listings but they are too far away and too expensive to ship. I find a similar model in Burlington (next town over) through Kijiji  and not too expensive. I decide that I will go have a look at it once this one is gone.

Then I received a voice mail from the student's mother. She says they have decided that they don't want the machine after all. They prefer to have a portable that can be taken to classes. I am disappointed for the student, but I understand. That is why machines like this one are not wanted any more. But secretly I am relieved.

I tell my husband what happened and he asks if I need help taking it to the local thrift store. I say, "Not yet dear."

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Something original to say, I hope

I cringe every time I receive a newsletter that begins with something like:

I can't believe the year is half over.

I can't believe it's July (or month of your choice) already.

Time has gone so quickly.

It's almost Christmas (Thanksgiving, Labour Day or other holiday of your choice).

Please, newsletter writers, begin your topic with something besides how quickly the time goes by.

And proofreaders everywhere, don't let your copywriters print this stuff. And if you have some president, CEO or other self-important boss who insists that this is the message he or she wants to convey despite your sage advice, remember, there's a special place in communication hell for them.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Commitment

Without involvement there is no commitment. Mark it down. Asterisk it. Circle it. No involvement, no commitment.


Thursday, May 3, 2012

Those days are gone. Get over it.

Yesterday, the organizers of the Creativ Festival did a very brave thing. They asked their customers to provide feedback about the recent show on facebook. I read them with disappointment. I was wondering if I was in fact at the same show.

The Creativ Festival is a top-notch consumer show. The vendors and activities are a reflection of current market trends in the world of arts and crafts. If it's not the same as 10 years ago, there's a good reason. The world has changed. Look around you. The glory days are gone. Probably for good. Be grateful for all those vendors and experts who made the effort to be there to teach, exhibit and sell their wares. It's not easy and it's a big risk. For a $15 admission fee you received outstanding value if you were open to learning something new or just taking in the sights.

Freebies. Free patterns. Free handouts. Several people said that vendors should be giving out more freebies. Back in the day, vendors used to be given free products by the manufacturers to distribute and encourage more sales. That doesn't happen any more. Handouts. Hmmmm. Printing costs have gone through the roof. Printing even small quantities costs $100 of dollars. And they often end up in the recycling bin. So no. Freebies and handouts aren't the answer because the truth is, they don't generate more sales--or even enough sales to cover the vendor's costs. They generate waste and satisfy people who want handouts, not people who are looking for value.

A $14 needlework pattern? Is that too much to ask if it gives you hours of enjoyment? Is that too much to ask if the artist spent weeks designing, perfecting and testing it? Is that too much if the exhibitor has to sell a 100 of them to cover the cost of their booth for that day? I don't think so.

Elegant Designs for Easy Living

Yesterday was what I call I near perfect day for a sewing enthusiast. Visiting Toronto and taking in the sights, sounds, tastes and smells is a treat for the senses. One important stop on the itinerary was the Textile Museum of Canada.

Tucked away in a corner behind City Hall, the museum is the place I often escaped to on precious lunch hours when I worked on Bay St. While others ate their power lunches hoping to make a big connection, panted away on treadmills in the local gym, or toiled in stark grey cubicles wolfing down fast food while staring into flickering screens, I would slip off to this little oasis of tranquility and creativity.

The Textile Museum shop on the second floor has so many books on all sorts of textile art. They also have used books for sale, donated to the museum to help raise funds. This book by Maggie Lane was a treasure that I purchased yesterday. It was published in 1978, over thirty years ago. I've not heard of Maggie Lane or this book previously, and patchwork is not something I'm particularly interested in. What attracted me was that the book included patterns for oriental clothing; Indian pant, Magyar coat, Dofuko, tabard, kangaroo shirt and several more. Typical for books of that time, it contains colour plates of the garments. This $18 find will give me hours of enjoyment as I pore over the construction details and marvel over the simplicity of the designs that are functional and yet have an aesthetic that I am attracted to.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Twenty Annoying Workplace Habits - Corporate Rant Alert!

For the past few decades, management consultants, good and bad, have influenced organizations to varying degrees. Mostly the organizations did not have the staying power to implement the good stuff. And it was expensive and difficult to justify, so they just muddled through. The organizations that did well, didn't need them because they already had strong leadership (think Microsoft, Apple, Dell) or were highly regulated.

Here is a list of 20 annoying habits of the workplace by Marshall Goldsmith, another management consultant. All of them ring true and I have experienced these not only annoying but destructive habits first hand. And although many executives use these tactics from time to time to put their subordinates and rivals in their place, I have seen executives who employed all of them consistently and on a regular basis. Hard to believe anyone could be that annoying...

One thing that they taught us in management school was that most people could handle only three or maybe five thoughts at a time. So the list is long for anyone who is Type A, has a short attention span, is self-absorbed or a sociopath; in other words, an executive of the worst kind. Unfortunately, they are the ones who need to read this and learn from it. But they won't or they can't because that would be admitting they were wrong (see #15).

The good news is these badly behaved managers are a dying breed. Capitalism in its current form doesn't work (it's been publicly declared!) because it bred these leadership types and rewarded them at the expense of the global economy aka everybody else. So to those whose egos are far bigger than their intelligence, skill or talent; get over yourself--you're just not that important.

The 20 Annoying Workplace Habits You Need To Break Now

by: Marshall Goldsmith

  1. Winning too much: The need to win at all costs and in all situations – when it matters, when it doesn’t, and when it’s totally beside the point.
  2. Adding too much value: The overwhelming desire to add our two cents to every discussion.
  3. Passing judgement: The need to rate others and impose our standards on them.
  4. Making destructive comments: The needless sarcasms and cutting remarks that we think make us sound sharp and witty.
  5. Starting with “no,” “but” or “however”: The overuse of these negative qualifiers which secretly say to everyone “I’m right. You’re wrong.”
  6. Telling the world how smart we are: The need to show people we’re smarter than they think we are.
  7. Speaking when angry: Using emotional volatility as a management tool.
  8. Negativity, or “Let me explain why that won’t work”: The need to share our negative thoughts even when we weren’t asked.
  9. Withholding information: The refusal to share information in order to maintain an advantage over others.
  10. Failing to give proper recognition: The inability to praise and reward.
  11. Claiming credit that we don’t deserve: The most annoying way to overestimate our contribution to any success.
  12. Making excuses: The need to reposition our annoying behavior as a permanent fixture so people excuse us for it.
  13. Clinging to the past: The need to deflect blame away from ourselves and onto events and people from our past; a subset of blaming everyone else.
  14. Playing favorites: Failing to see that we are treating someone unfairly.
  15. Refusing to express regret: The inability to take responsibility for our actions, admit we’re wrong, or recognize how our actions affect others.
  16. Not listening: The most passive-aggressive form of disrespect for colleagues.
  17. Failing to express gratitude: The most basic form of bad manners.
  18. Punishing the messenger: The misguided need to attack the innocent who are usually only trying to help us.
  19. Passing the buck: The need to blame everyone but ourselves.
  20. An excessive need to be “me”: Exalting our faults as virtues simply because they’re who we are.
 Amen.