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2010 Executive Tidbits
IBM, P&G, General Mills, McKinsey, and McDonald's have the best manager training programs according to Fortune 2009. |
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Check out Keith's other site:
Virtual Writing Coach |
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The
Executive Connection SM
a publication of The Virtual Executive
Coach SM
"Vision + Accountability = Success!"
www.virtualexecutivecoach.com
January, 2009
In This Issue:
1. Preview
2. Executive Summary
3. What Me Worry?
4. Helpful Hints
1. Preview
The Executive Connection explores the creative and analytical
process of business development, team-building, and executive
development. We are an interactive community of executives
and small business owners who desire to network with like-minded
high-performance executives to enhance our knowledge,
skills, and aptitudes in the competitive business world.
Published monthly, the Newsletter offers coaching suggestions
around the topics of: business development, financing,
marketing, networking, incorporations, mergers, human
resources, governmental regulations, and tax laws. Topics
are presented from the perspective of Keith Barton and
represent only his ideas on creating and running your
business.
Because we are an interactive community of executives
and business owners, other viewpoints are welcomed and
may be printed in future monthly newsletters with permission
from Keith Barton.
2. Executive Summary
January, 2009
Dear Executive Connection Subscriber,
This month's newsletter features: What Me Worry?
3. What Me Worry?
Those of you boomers old enough to remember Mad Magazine know that Alfred E. Newman epitomized stupidity.
When I look at the CEOs marching before Congress with hands held out, I'm reminded about the punk-head,
freckle-faced dweeb who could never get it right. Now that AIG has their billions they dole out year-end
bonuses after cavorting around tropical beaches while We the Taxpayer enable their mindless muddling through
another year of stupidity. Or how about that shiny new SUV that guzzles 10 mpg in gnarled traffic gridlock,
as we commute an hour to work each morning while the fat cats in Detroit commute by limo, now that their
prized corporate jet fleets are being auctioned off on EBay.
The financial and auto crisis is but a symptom of a deeper problem with corporate America and that's who's
minding the store? With auditors, federal regulators, loan examiners, and a myriad of other middle management
minions, our companies continue to pull rabbits out of their hats to the amazement of their stockholders and
Boards of Directors. In case you've missed the business page the past year, you might have noticed that America
is in deep dung. The American dollar has shrunk to 71 cents in Europe, 90 Japanese Yen, and 68 cents in the U.K.
Imports are being curtailed to force the American consumer to "buy American" to pledge to the world that we are
not traitors to our economy. Let's return to yesteryear to see how we got ourselves in such a mess. There are
four reasons for our wallowing in a pit of pitiful plenty.
Credit Cards: In 1950 with the Diner's Club card American's could shop at their favorite
department store or eat out and pay only 1% interest. Credit was intended to build brand loyalty and not put
Americans in debt. Those were the days when a Sear's card meant a new lawnmower and layaways meant the store
holding your item until you could purchase it in cash. Today we buy now on credit and hope we can pay later
when we get that bonus or raise, only to find we can barely keep up with the 21% interest. Today the typical
American family owns eleven credit cards and has $11,000 of credit card debt. American Express, MasterCard,
and Visa make more money on interest than principal and plastic arrives in the mail faster than snowflakes
in a Vermont snowstorm.
The SEC: Who would have thought that a former SEC regulator would have duped investors out of
$50 billion dollars? Who was watching the henhouse? Read my lips-no one. The once sacred Securities and Exchange
Commission now stands for Sell Everything to China. Governmental regulation is a joke when Barney Frank and
Chris Dodd continue to receive sweetheart deals from mortgage companies while pretending to watch out for Joe
the Plumber. Self-importance and image are greater commodities than corn, oil, soybeans, pork bellies, and
derivatives that any 7th grader could see through. The power brokers of the twentieth century have been replaced
by Congressional Oversight Committees who have no idea how to manage our Federal Three Trillion dollar debt,
much less their own pork-barrel projects back home.
Corporate Greed: The Corporation today is run by short-term institutional buying and selling
by insiders who want the quick buck at the expense of integrity and respect for their stockholders. Our prisons
today are filled with financiers, former CEOs, and lobbyists who were more concerned with numero uno than the
consumer. The Enron scandal seems pale in comparison to today's grossly negligent disregard for ethical
decisions that protect rather than threaten investors.
The Consumer: Yes, you heard me-the American consumer is chiefly responsible for our mess
because we confuse needs and wants. Bread lines during the Great Depression are now being replaced by personal
bankruptcies and loan defaults so we can wait for the next credit card in the mail. Greed is the culprit. Yes,
we have met the enemy and the enemy is you and me. We continue to buy unwanted items to make our children happy.
Let's put another Wii game under the tree for little Susie and Johnnie to numb out on bright sunny days while
cerebral atrophy replaces the once, lauded President's Physical Fitness certificate from President Kennedy.
Yes, it's time to worry about our retirement, our children, and grandchildren. The savings bond program of the
fifties where for $18 you could receive $25 ten years later may be a starting point. Certificates of deposit
held with staggered maturity dates may be another safe start. Now that we have fallen off our bicycles and
skinned both knees, it's time to throw away the bikes and start walking. Band-aids no longer work.
Helpful Hints:
- Check your investment portfolio; if you've lost only 40% since last year then consider yourself lucky.
Breaking even with our initial investments may be more realistic over the next two years.
- Consult your financial advisor or yourself and move some of your investments into balanced mutual
funds that emphasize value blended stocks with less volatility.
- Continue to save 10% of your take-home income. Don't buy anything else this year unless the item is a
replacement for something that no longer works.
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
The Executive Connection SM is a free publication.
If you want to continue to receive this Newsletter, you
can SUBSCRIBE
by clicking here or by sending a blank email message
to keith_barton@att.net
with the words SUBSCRIBE TO THE EXECUTIVE CONNECTION in
the subject line.
To
UNSUBSCRIBE click here or send a message to keith_barton@att.net
with the word UNSUBSCRIBE TO THE EXECUTIVE CONNECTION in the
subject line.
Be assured your name and email address are confidential.
We do not sell, rent or share our mailing list with anyone.
Contact Information:
Keith Barton, Ph.D.
Voice: 281-583-5005
Fax: 281-583-5008
Web: http://www.virtualexecutivecoach.com
E-Mail: keith_barton@att.net
(c) Copyright 2009, Virtual Executive Coach SM
and A. Keith Barton, Ph.D.
All rights reserved.
Distribution Rights:
The Executive Connection SM is copyrighted,
but you may retransmit or distribute it to whomever you
wish as long as not a single word is changed, added, or
deleted, including the contact information. However, you
may not copy it to a web site.
Republication of The Executive Connection SM
in paper media is encouraged and permitted by individuals,
organizations and associations, as long as the issue is
reprinted in its entirety, without change, and includes
the contact information.
With advance permission, we are happy to edit an issue
to fit your space requirements. Republication also is
encouraged under other circumstances. However, the advance
permission of
A. Keith Barton, Ph.D. must be obtained in the event that
changes in the text are desired.
The Executive Connection SM
Mission:
The Executive Connection SM is dedicated to
helping first-time business owners and executives to recognize
resistance to change, while they create and manage their
own businesses. My goal is to help you transform your
vision into a successful business venture with the addition
of accountability structures and silent partner.
The Executive Connection SM is a publication
of The Virtual Executive Coach SM and Keith
Barton, Ph.D.
We would like The Executive Connection SM to
be as interactive as possible. If you have feedback, comments,
topics you would like addressed, or can suggest additional
resources to benefit us all, please email us at any time.
Send your e-mail to keith_barton@att.net.
Please forward this issue to anyone you think would find
The Executive Connection SM interesting and
beneficial. Your recommendation helps us keep growing,
and ensures an excellent exchange of information and techniques.
Archives:
You can read previous issues of The Executive Connection
SM in our archive section.
About Keith Barton, Ph.D
Dr. Barton received his Ph.D. in 1972 from the University
of Texas at Austin and has been a practicing therapist
for over thirty years. He is a graduate of MentorCoach
and is accepting new clients.
He has been an adjunct professor at the University of
South Carolina, consultant to Fortune 500 companies in
executive development, founded and managed Texas Community
Living Ventures, Inc., in 1986 for providing group home
services to persons with mental retardation. Keith founded
and has been running a clinical practice in Northwest Houston since 1990.
He writes part-time with the goal of completing one novel
a year. His desire to coach others derives from his passionate
interest in helping others become attuned to their creative
powers of storytelling.
Dr. Barton has training in coaching, cognitive and family
therapy and health psychology. He has published articles,
made presentations and conducted workshops about:
Small Business Development
Employee Wellness Programs
Anxiety and achievement
Stress management
Self-esteem
Communication skills
Leadership styles
Core values in the workplace
Executive Development
High-performance groups
Physician support groups
Writer support groups
© 2009 The Virtual Executive Coach SM
and Keith Barton.
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