Making business resolutions is no different than making personal resolutions. For any resolution to stick it should be: 1. Specific 2. Measurable 3. Actionable 4. Realistic 5. Time bound 6. Written down Let me give you an example. In 2012, Shamrock has specifically resolved to expand the ways in which we communicate with our customers.…
When I started my career, I worked for a very successful entrepreneur who always enjoyed the social side of the business. He would throw an office party to share success with the group and show his feelings of appreciation for his employees. One thing he said to me, though, struck me as a little off…
Last night I watched a TV show with a Christmas theme. (Not unusual for this time of year.) One of the people on the show said something that was memorable. (Usually unusual for TV.) He said, as adults, we’re always trying to capture the childhood feeling of our first Christmas, which is why we work…
I’m going to go out a limb here and state, without hesitation, that 2012 will be the Year of Being Relevant in business. Not being relevant will mean failure. Example: The Post Office. It’s really good at what it does, we just don’t need it. No more than we need a good horse shoe, or…
I started at Shamrock as one of the team. (And while I still like to think of myself as a team member, the reality is I am here to lead.) As a leader, part of my job is to create. A vision. A portrait of the future. As the leader / artist, my job is…
Yes, really. I honestly believe that each of us has the ability to be an entrepreneur. After all, an entrepreneur makes the decisions that drive a business. And who doesn’t enjoy being in the driver’s seat? Actually, many of Shamrock’s best and brightest thrive on being entrepreneurs. It’s our corporate culture; it’s in our DNA.…
Since I was a kid, Thanksgiving has always meant the congregation of family. More than any other holiday, the values and traditions of Thanksgiving have had a tremendous impact on my life. I remember how the entire family would always gather around my grandparents’ table. My grandparents owned a dairy farm with plenty of work…
If you’re inadvertently revealing too much of yourself because your zipper’s open, you may be in for some severe embarrassment. Now, I’m not asking you to check the zippers on your clothing (although, it’s not a bad idea!). In this case, the zipper I’m talking about is the mouth. When I was a kid, my…
I’ve never paid much attention to the belief that it’s a bad idea to develop friendships with co-workers and customers because a personal relationship might damage the professional relationship. Actually, I think a personal relationship only strengthens the professional bond between two people. I also believe that the best way to reinforce relationships is…
Hey, I’m not spying on what you do at work. That’s your personal, professional and private decision. What I’d like to do is share with you an article I recently read about game theory at work. This particular Wall Street Journal article, “Latest Game Theory: Mixing Work and Play” (WSJ), says that businesses from…
