Execution -- The Gap Nobody Knows
Execution -- The Discipline of Getting Things Done
Everybody talks about change. In recent years, a small industry of changemeisters has preached revolution, reinvention.... But unless you translate big thoughts into concrete steps for action, they're pointless. Without execution, the breakthrough thinks breaks down, learning adds no value, people don't meet stretch goals, and the revolution stops dead in its tracks. What you get is change for the worse, because failure drains the energy from your organization. Repeated failure destroys it.
No company can deliver on its commitments or adapt well to change unless all leaders practice the discipline of execution on all levels. Execution has to be a part of a company's strategy and its goals. It is the missing link between aspirations and results. As such it is a major of a business leader.
The Worst Restaurant on Long Island -- LL Dent
In deciding what was the worst restaurant that you have eaten at, do you consider the food, service and decor or just the food. I would lean towards the food taking the lion's share of the responsibility. This past weekend, I had the pleasure of having the worst dining experience ever. My advice is to eat anywhere else other than LL Dent.
My wife and I went to LL Dent in Carle Place for dinner. We started off with the corn bread which was pretty good. We should have left right then and there. Following that, the food was awful. I had the fried chicken and my wife order the meatloaf. When the meatloaf came, it looked terrible and tasted worst. She then order the barbecue chicken which should have been a safe bet (but was not). My fried chicken had no taste.
We could not ever entertain the idea of dessert at this restaurant. I would like to say that service made up for the food but it was below par as well.
My recommendation is to avoid at all costs.
Some Thoughts on Management
I was looking at the Guth-Renker website and found their
Ten Commandments of Management and thought that they were great.
1. Thou shalt not be afraid to take risks.
2. Thou shalt make thy
competitor thy friend.
3. Thou shalt pick great
partners.
4. Thou shalt build thy rolodex
and use it.
5. Thou shalt test, test, and
test again.
6. Thou shalt cultivate the
mini-media universe.
7. Thou shalt join and lead thy
association and trade group.
8. Thou shalt cultivate the
press and build thy company's brand name at all times.
9. Thou shalt not limit thy
upside.
10. Thou shalt be prepared to
eliminate all these commandments and start over.
Foursquare Comes to the Blackberry
Great News!. Foursquare has finally come to the Blackberry.
The new app works with Research In Motion’s BlackBerry 8000 and 9000 series and has the basic functions as the app for the iPhone – users can see where friends are and check in at different locations, allowing for “virtual badges.” But it doesn’t yet have all the features of Foursquare’s social network, such as allowing users to add new friends.
“From a core-functionality perspective, the app for BlackBerry is equal, but for those side features, for now you still have to go to foursquare via the mobile web,” says Foursquare cofounder Naveen Selvadurai.
Foursquare’s app comes as location-based apps are becoming more popular.
But Foursquare’s Mr. Selvadurai says that other location-based apps are not necessarily competitors. “We’re sticking very closely with our thesis which is, how can we make our city easy to use? How can you share data better with your friends? We’re still building towards that, but at the same time, I don’t think anyone is really there yet.”
Tristan Walker, the head of business development for Foursquare, estimates current Foursquare app users to be around a quarter of a million. He says the company hopes to make money by working with “local mom and pop shops” as well as mid-sized retailers. For instance, he said, Tasti D-Lite recently launched a Loyalty Program on Foursquare, through which customers can earn and redeem points by tweeting or checking in on Foursquare while stopping by the ice cream chain.
But the company is not yet profitable. “We’re still at a point where we’re getting feedback,” he said. “Right now we have over 500 venues on board with our platform, so we think there may be value we can extract from that by giving them sophisticated analytics.”
The company launched on the iPhone in March 2009 and then expanded to Google’s Android platform and Palm Pre devices. In September, the company received $1.35 million dollars from Union Square Ventures, which has also invested in Boxee, Tumblr, and Twitter.
37 WEIRD JOBS THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY MAKE A LIVING AT
6. Fortune Cookie Writer
Yes, we've all wondered who the heck writes those fortunes in English. Finishing a take-out Chinese meal isn't only full of MSG, but those delightfully witty pieces of advice that people are so quick to heed.
7. Pet Detective
Another one we might have missed if it weren't for a film or television show. Ace
8. Cheese Sprayer
Don't worry; I am not talking about someone spraying chemicals on your cheese. This person is actually in charge of spraying either cheese or butter on popcorn. Yet another job that most people might have guessed was done by a machine, but how else would you engineer that perfect, handcrafted cheese coating on every kernel?
9. IMAX Screen Cleaner
If you've ever seen an IMAX screen, these things are huge!But someone has to make sure that bad boy is crystal clear so we can travel through the
10. Chimney Sweeper
Here is another job which could be more on the dirty side. The unfortunate person partaking in this age old profession is sure to be covered in soot and ash by the end of the day. It a fact that around the turnof the twentieth century people use to use young children to chimney sweep because they were small enough to fit inside the tiny chimneys some structures used.Even poets like Blake and Kingsley have written about this one. I'm pretty sure(I hope) technology has brought this one up to date.
11. Light Bender
Making neon lights seems like it would be a relatively easy job, but it requires a lot of precision and electrical work.Apparently if the lights don't have the proper thickness and shaping, they will amount to nothing more than broken glass. This job has to be quite lucrative in a town like
12. Odd Job Journalist
A writer gets actually paid money to write articles about other weird and odd jobs that exist. Maybe someday he'll find a real job of his own. Hey, wait a minute...
13. Professional whistler
Believe it or not there are people who whistle tunes for a living. Allegedly this gentleman is well versed in several different genres of music.
14. Fountain Pen repairer
Honestly, I think most of us would have to be fairly wealthy and care a hell of a lot about our fountain pens to have them repaired rather than go buy another pen.
15. Snake Milker
If you ever get bitten by a poisonous snake you'll be grateful these people know how to work with animals. They are responsible for getting the venom out of snakes to make the anti-venom. Be honest,which one of you thought that snakes had actual milk glands?
16. Wrinkle Chasers
Nobody likes that crease that shoes get after about a month right below the toe line. Well wrinkle chasers make sure those leather crow's feet never appear on those shiny new shoes before they leave the factory. Now can we please find someone to invent something that keeps it that way?
17. Rodeo Clowns
I know that I've always been fascinated with those Spaniards in
18. Cow Hoof Trimmer
Just like horseshoes, cows need some hoof maintenance too. These fine animals can have poor milk production, lameness, and decreased fertility if not properly groomed. Try to imagine giving a cow a pedicure.
19. Chicken Sexer
Going through baby chicks and separating them according to sex. I hear this job is pretty easy, if you just play bad 80's music and set things up like a 5th grade dance, they separate themselves.
20. Ostrich Babysitter
Apparently this guy gets to sit in a field full of ostrich and make sure that they didn't peck each other to death or get stolen. Any job where you can sit down, read a book and do absolutely no work is always a plus, but I have heard that these birds' behavior can get a little aggressive.
21. Furniture Tester
Ever been sitting in your favorite chair or sofa and say to yourself, man I wish I could do this for a living. Well some really lucky human being actually tests out furniture for companies like la-Z-Boy. A new definition of the phrase "couch potato."
22. Cartoon People/Mascots
Remember when you went to
23. Oyster Floater
They float oysters on a barge in running water until they are completely free of impurities, also a short term storage method. Sounds like a cranberry field full of oysters and I can imagine this isn't the cleanest job in the world. But if you enjoy the taste of these slimy shellfish, I'm sure you can sneak a lot in during your shift.
24. Neck Skewer
Basically this job involves skewing the neck of beef halves with a steel rod after the head of the cow has been removed. 500 pound raw beef shish kabob anyone?
25. Adult Store attendant
One of the more harder-to-stomach professions,unless you're a pervert. Sooner or later we have to get into some nasty jobs.In this case the adult store worker not only takes care of the store, but has to clean up the booths where clientele "test" the pornographic merchandise. Probably a good candidate for The Discovery Channel's popular program, and one heck of a way to apply that human services degree.
26. Braille Translator
Someone has to modify all sorts of texts and convert them to Braille for the blind. This can include novels, music, textbooks, and brochures. There is nothing wrong with making things more accessible for the blind and this one sounds like it's a quite useful job, but it does sound tedious.
27. Ski Slope illustrator
Fortune Magazine has also done some investigating and sure enough there is someone out there who has to draw those trail maps on the ski slopes around the world. Fortune has also mentioned our next weird job...
28. Dog Food Tester
Watch out guys, this gal is going to have some great breath in store for you. Just like any other meals, dog food needs to be inspected too. I suppose they can't use dogs to test the food so this profession requires a taste testing of such a delicious cuisine.
29. Gum Buster
Have you ever sat in a park bench and had the misfortune of placing your hand in old gum? Well that's where these guys come in, removing gum that resides all over the place.
30. Fantasy Broker
If you want your dreams to come true then talk to these folks. Their job is to make sure that if you want something, you get it. Kind of like a concierge of life. If I were in the business of making fantasies come to life, I think I'd charge quite a large amount.
31. Golf Ball Diver
I know every time I hit the range, about three balls head into the water and I suspect it's the same way for most. These quasi-scubas get in there and find all those balls and probably clean them up for resale. If you want to scuba dive in the
32. Whiskey Ambassador
Let's face it, this is every over 21 year old's dream job. You would be responsible for choosing only the finest whiskeys and teaching your clients the proper way to taste and admire the different attributes which this delicious liquor can possess. Sign me up!
33. Nasty Stunt producer
Perhaps you've tuned in to shows like Fear Factor which use insane stunts involving all sorts of insect and animal parts intended on grossing the contestants out. Well this profession's job is to research these insects and animals and make sure the stunts are safe and appropriate for the shows. Huge cockroach,bon appetit.
If you happen to be an extreme hermit who has very little time to do important things, there might be a national park out there that will pay you (a very low wage) to sit in a tower and make sure none of those pesky landscape altering fires occur.
35. Weed Farmer
Don't get too excited all you slackers, that's not what I'm talking about. Weed farmers actually grow weeds rather than trying to get rid of them. They sell them to horticulture schools and labs so various people can do research and studies in the wonderful world of weeds.
36. Carney
Some people make their living as a full time carney. The pay is decent, the scenery changes, and you get take advantage of young people by enticing them with stuffed animals in games that are impossible to win.
37. Dice Inspector
With one false move of a single die a person can lose quite a bit of money on those craps tables. The dice inspector checks for proportionality, specific angles, and blemishes. I guess if dice are not perfect they can't be the reason for you going broke in the casino.
Definitely some of the weirdest jobs that people actually make a living doing. Some jobs are dirty, some boring, and some just plain weird, but taking a look at an array of these wacky professions can make most of us respect the normal jobs most of us have. No matter how rough the day gets, taking time to inform ourselves on just how awkward jobs can be.The next time you wake to that dreaded alarm, remind yourself that you don't have to work at a job like one of these jobs, and then go ahead and breathe a sigh of relief. But the next time you find yourself unemployed, watch out for some of these jobs; maybe you'll fall in love with trimming cow hoofs or scuba diving for golf balls.
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It's Official -- Steve is Divorced!
CareerExcuse.com -- Professional Job Reference Service??
Crazy Jobseekers
The last couple of days I have published crazy interview questions. In the spirit of fairness, let’s talk about the crazy behavior of the jobseekers. This behavior is even more amazing due to the importance of the interviews to the jobseekers. I would love to hear more stories like these. Here are some of the odd things reported by HR professionals.
1. "... said he was so well-qualified that if he didn't get the job, it would prove that the company's management was incompetent."
2. "... stretched out on the floor to fill out the job application."
3. "... brought her large dog to the interview."
4. "... chewed bubble gum and constantly blew bubbles."
5. "Candidate kept giggling through serious interview."
6. "She wore a Walkman and said she could listen to me and the music at the same time."
7. "Balding candidate abruptly excused himself. Returned to office a few minutes later, wearing a hairpiece."
8. "Applicant challenged interviewer to arm wrestle."
9. "... asked to see interviewer's resume to see if the personnel executive was qualified to judge the candidate."
10. "... announced she hadn't had lunch and proceeded to eat a hamburger and french fries in the interviewer's office."
11. "Without saying a word, candidate stood up and walked out during the middle of the interview."
12. "Man wore jogging suit to interview for position as financial vice president."
13. "Stated that, if he were hired, he would demonstrate his loyalty by having the corporate logo tattooed on his forearm."
14. "Interrupted to phone his therapist for advice on answering specific interview questions."
15. "... wouldn't get out of the chair until I would hire him. I had to call the police."
16. "When I asked him about his hobbies, he stood up and started tap dancing around my office."
17. "... had a little pinball game and challenged me to play with him."
18. "... bounced up and down on my carpet and told me I must be highly thought of by the company because I was given such a thick carpet."
19. "At the end of the interview, while I stood there dumbstruck, went through my purse, took out a brush, brushed his hair, and left."
20. "... pulled out a Polaroid camera and snapped a flash picture of me. Said he collected photos of everyone who interviewed him."
21. "Candidate asked me if I would put on a suit jacket to insure that the offer I had made was formal."
22. "Said he wasn't interested because the position paid too much."
23. "While I was on a long-distance phone call, the applicant took out a copy of Penthouse, and looked through the photos only, stopping longest at the centerfold."
24. "During the interview, an alarm clock went off from the candidate's brief case. He took it out, shut it off, apologized and said he had to leave for another interview."
25. "A telephone call came in for the job applicant. It was from his wife. His side of the conversation went like this: "Which company? When do I start? What's the salary?" I said, "I assume you're not interested in conducting the interview any further." He promptly responded, "I am as long as you'll pay me more." "I didn't hire him, but later found out there was no other job offer. It was a scam to get a higher offer."
26. "An applicant came in wearing only one shoe. She explained that the other shoe was stolen off her foot in the bus."
27. "His attache [case] opened when he picked it up and the contents spilled, revealing ladies' undergarments and assorted makeup and perfume."
28. "He came to the interview with a moped and left it in the reception area. He didn't want it to get stolen, and stated that he would require indoor parking for the moped."
29. "He took off his right shoe and sock, removed a medicated foot powder and dusted it on the foot and in the shoe. While he was putting back the shoe and sock, he mentioned that he had to use the powder four times a day, and this was the time."
30. "Candidate said he really didn't want to get a job, but the unemployment office needed proof that he was looking for one."
31. "He whistled when the interviewer was talking."
32. "... asked who the lovely babe was, pointing to the picture on my desk. When I said it was my wife, he asked if she was home now and wanted my phone number. I called security."
33. "... she threw-up on my desk, and immediately started asking questions about the job, like nothing had happened."
34. "Pointing to a black case he carried into my office, he said that if he was not hired, the bomb would go off. Disbelieving, I began to state why he would never be hired and that I was going to call the police. He then reached down to the case, flipped a switch and ran. No one was injured, but I did need to get a new desk."
35. "... asked if I wanted some cocaine before starting the interview."