I Wanna Be a Maccabee

I Wanna Be a Maccabee

Google It?!

http://www.businessinsider.com/steve-jobs-was-right-google-looks-a-lot-like-microsoft-did-2011-11

A point well made!

http://spectator.org/archives/2011/11/04/your-taxpayers-money-at-work

Innovation is not hard!

Innovation is the doorway to success.  Are we searching for unlocked and unknown doors or are we happy with the ones others have found?  Willingness to except the present and known ways doing business as the best or only ways leads us to the dead end of complacency.  Far too often we hear things such as “that is all we can do” or “this is the way we have done it in the past”.  If we open our eyes, ears and MINDS we may just find a doorway that leads to success.       



Something for us all to think about!

I am a huge fan of innovation and seek out sources of innovation in my work as a college professor. Many times I have used Steve Jobs as the example of innovation in 21st century. To say the least I am a fan of his work.
Now let us address this question of eternity. No one but God and Steve Jobs knows what he held in his heart as he passed from this world to the next. From what I have read about Steve Jobs, he looked at all possible options and committed to nothing until he saw how it was the best option.
The Lord of the harvest seeks out those who will come to His field in the morning, noon, and night. No matter the time of the request the reward is the same. It is His to give. Jesus said if we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth He will save us from our sins and restore our fellowship with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This can be done at any time and in any place by anyone. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Steve Jobs The Face of Innovation!

Forbes.com Video Network | Technology: What You Can Learn From Steve Jobs

The Box

col·lab·o·rate

erb \kə-ˈla-bə-ˌrāt\

col·lab·o·rat·edcol·lab·o·rat·ing

Definition of COLLABORATEintransitive verb1

: to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor

Merriam-Webster.com/dictionary/collaboration

Many times success comes from thinking outside the “box”.  A few questions; what is the “box”? Why are we in the “box”?  How can we get rid of the “box”? To answer the questions you must understand business structure, what it is and what it is not. It is not about tall or wide but it is about leadership! Group think is the “box” and is the stumbling block to success of any organization. Please understand that when finances are limited so are options. It is now common place in the business world to stay the course. What is missing is the promotion of innovation among members of the organization. Collaboration is innovation’s fuel for success and our escape from the “box”. Can leadership’s failure to recognize the power of the intellect be the one thing standing in the way of our recovery?  American business’ ability to overcome adversity has always given us overwhelming advantage. We will not find this type achievement in a bail-out or a public program.  Our recovery will come from the ingenuity and creativity of the organization’s best. Collaboration will bring us the innovation that will bring us back to prosperity.

For nearly a century, when people have sought a relationship with IBM—whether as a client, employee, partner or neighbor—what have they been seeking?

Perhaps it was deep expertise in science and technology. Or a partner with broad understanding of their industry or sector of society. It might have been long-standing presence in their market, their community or around the world. Or perhaps they hoped to learn from a company that itself had undergone continual change.

There are, however, certain kinds of aspirations that can't be achieved through organizational capabilities, global reach or technology—or by applying the lessons of the past. To capture the biggest economic opportunities or to tackle society's most daunting problems—to imagine what the world might be, and actually to build it—people have sought something more fundamental: a unique ability to conceptualize opportunities, to analyze developments, to tackle and overcome grand challenges.

In my view, the defining value that IBM has provided over the years has been the way we think. Today, as in the past, when people turn to our company, I believe they are looking for how IBMers approach problems, as well as for the types of problems we choose to approach. They seek a kind of relationship, in addition to the outcomes of that relationship. And they are drawn to a set of values that reflect their own.

Most companies aim to satisfy their customers. Some go farther, dedicating themselves to their clients' success. A few define success as bringing to the world innovations that make a lasting difference. A handful build trusted, long-term relationships with their owners, employees, partners, neighbors and the world at large.

For nearly a century, IBM has chosen to live at the intersection of these values. This choice has enabled our company to prosper, to create value for our clients and owners, to provide rewarding careers for millions of people, and to be a progressive force in the societies in which we do our work.

Samuel J. Palmisano
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer IBM

Innovation link

http://youtu.be/NugRZGDbPFU

Innovation

Innovation is the life blood of the entrepreneur. Seeing current trends is a great ability but to see past the current trends is vision. Innovation cannot be planned or directed but must be part of every organization. Those who are striving to see more than what is obvious to everyone may just catch a glimpse of the next big thing!

Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.

Steve Jobs

Nothing New

“You should pass this jobs plan right away,” the president declared over and over in his 32-minute speech, in which he eschewed his trademark soaring oratory in favor of a plainspoken appeal for action, stiffened by a few sarcastic political jabs.   President Barack Obama address to Congress    

Why must this law be passed? I find it very hard to believe that the economic situation we find our nation in can be fixed by the legislature.  We suffer from a trade deficit of $550,000,000. One billion dollars in exports is equal to 20,000 jobs!

 To widen the market and to narrow the competition, is always the interest of the dealers…The proposal of any new law or regulation of commerce which comes from this order, ought always to be listened to with great precaution, and ought never to be adopted till after having been long and carefully examined, not only with the most scrupulous, but with the most suspicious attention. It comes from an order of men, whose interest is never exactly the same with that of the public, who have generally an interest to deceive and even oppress the public, and who accordingly have, upon many occasions, both deceived and oppressed it.

The Wealth Of Nations, Book I, (Adam Smith 1776)

Let's try this!

We the people need to have the opportunity to win!

Supply-side economics is a school of macroeconomic thought that argues that economic growth can be most effectively created by lowering barriers for people to produce (supply) goods and services, such as lowering income tax and capital gains tax rates, and by allowing greater flexibility by reducing regulation. According to supply-side economics, consumers will then benefit from a greater supply of goods and services at lower prices. Typical policy recommendations of supply-side economics are lower marginal tax rates and less regulation.

Commitment

The use of proven principles is the answer.  The challenge is to execute the actions that bring the desired outcomes. Words are cheap, results take commitment to high standards.

Do you know?

Much of what we perceive as successful change in our direct reports comes from an internal reaction in them. This reaction is caused by a proper stimulus.  We as leaders in an organization must become experts in understanding of our team members and know what motivates them.

Empowerment

Empowerment has become an axiom for a successful organization, but it is also an overused word that can have little meaning.  What are the implications of an empowerment program in name only? That question is foundational to understanding organizational behavior. Please look past the words and look at the program. Observe how an organization defines its self by the performance in and outside the company. Use glassdoor.com and other websites to gain insight.        

Start Today!

It has been said you made your bed now lay in it. But I say IF YOU CAN, GET UP OUT OF THAT BED!

Look at the next big change!

Occam's Razor

Occam’s Razor

All things being equal the least complex answer is usually correct.   

Power Envy

Joy suckers, power zappers, and monkey wrench throwers are all too common in our lives.  Many times we allow detractors to hijack our brainpower.  Driven by jealousy and desperation these individuals are seeking to own part of our thinking resources.  In a strange attempt to rob us of our creativity, innovation, and vision we are being set up.  We are baited into conversation with a seemingly benign appeal for participation.  What seems to be a simple question turns out to be a cleverly executed sneak attack. You are now fully engaged in a winner takes all game of “stump the chump”.   The appeal for your opinion was never really intended to gain your insight.  The appeal was used to get you to stand still long enough to be shot at.  Do not allow yourself to be so easily snared.  Knowing the motivation of others can help you avoid the bizarre and unproductive encounter.  Understanding that shattered people are looking to shatter others is the key.  Do not think you can “fix” everyone.  By Gods grace they may change just remember you are not God.  Let your actions speak for you. It is not what we say that makes us who we are but rather what we do.  Our actions show our true character.  You need not seek approval from those who are out to derail you. Seek out those who will help build you up and avoid those who are out to tear you down.  Don’t cast your pearls...well, you know.    

 

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional  Intelligence:   In each of us is a level of awareness that is reflected in our actions and reactions to our social environments.  Emotionally others have an effect on us in different ways.  Many times the impact can be so personal.  Disagreements, lack of recognition, and failure to see opposing viewpoints are all part of everyday life.  When we find ourselves in a negative situation it is our recognition of our emotions that is key to understanding how we are perceived by others.  Recognition must be followed up by regulation of the emotions.  Part of social interaction is to exercise the emotional management tool of social awareness.  It is not always what happens to you that others see but how you react that opens others eyes.   

Looking Ahead

Temporary jobs, two levels lower, under employed, and this job will get me to my next one. How did we get to this point?  What happened to the entrepreneurial spirit of Americans?  At the very start of this down turn market we were told we will need to wait for better times. Do we sit around and get 99 weeks of unemployment payments?  Do we find under employment jobs? Settle for what we have and hope for better? I think it is time to remember that we do live in a country that allows us to do what we choose to do. It is time to get back in the action mode! We need to trade in this "I can't" for an "I can".  We need to find our own way to win. We do not need to settle for hand outs. It is time to seek out what will save our way of life and there has never been a social program that can do that. We have come to the cross roads of wait and opportunity it is time for each of us to choose one.  Use this opportunity to make something happen. Get out and get involved. Search out what will make you better. Education comes in many forms!