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2010 Executive Tidbits
Price of denim jeans: 47% under $25, 37% $25-50, and 16% over $50. |
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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
December, 2010
In This Issue:
1. Preview
2. Executive Summary
3. Coaching Executives
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
December, 2010
Dear Executive Connection Subscriber,
This month's newsletter features: Coaching Executives
3. Coaching Executives
This will be my last executive newsletter for a while. After six years, I am burned out with the
monthly deadlines but you may view all past newsletters on my website. Perhaps I will do these
again if folks find them helpful but I plan to take a year off from the newsletters, but will continue
to offer career and executive coaching to my clients. I tried to come up with a WOW newsletter as my
farewell to subscribers who have been with me for six years.
After all the executive coaching books, certifications, diplomas, and experience in running
three businesses since my thirties, I'm afraid being successful is all about vision and accountability
which I have used as my logo on my coaching business cards from 2001 when I decided to become a coach
to small business and corporate clients.
In my last newsletter, I mentioned that great leaders are futurists with a vision; they may not be
great managers, but they have this uncanny knack to look beyond what is now and focus on potential
consumer demand. Take the example Waterproof, Inc. who decided that it was expensive to replace
electronic communication devices like IPhones, IPads, Kindles, Nooks, laptops, and notebooks so
he came up with the idea of a hard plastic container that protects your $600 IPad that you accidentally
knocked off your kitchen countertop onto your hard tile floor. Assuming your Smartphone or IPad did not
break into a million pieces, the circuitry was fried and you are left with a useless communications tool
and make a quick trip to your favorite Apple or PC store to buy a replacement.
Waterproof Case Company has been around for years developing self-contained safety gear for scuba divers
who must navigate below the water's surface, sometimes to depths of over 200 feet for recreation or
repair work. Deep sea divers must withstand significant PSIs at greater depths without injury to themselves
or to their equipment. As soon as Waterproof's executives saw that sturdy, plastic cases could protect
our precious electronic devices, their business grew two thousand percent in two years and now is building
a second warehouse and plans six more in the U.S. and Canada. Over sixty employees owe their jobs to
Waterproof and their patented engineered designs can be used for tools used in the construction industry,
small appliance stores, and virtually anything that requires protection from accidental falls and abuse
thereby saving companies millions.
Waterproof started with a vision gained from one business
sector (diving) to the electronics industry. Engineers
worked years developing the technology to withstand certain
PSI damage. Now the company has a successful business
model that began with an idea. Without a vision, there
would be no Waterproof.com.
Accountability comes from a strong work ethic that holds people responsible for their work performance.
In an age of governmental corruption, corporate greed, and unions, people no longer respect their companies
much less their competition. We have become a nation of dozers rather than doers, punching a clock that
divides our time between work and play. In some cases there is no division and millions are lost by sick
time, competitive stealing of trade secrets, and just plain laziness. Show me a union and I'll show
you stagnation rather than innovation. We have ceased to be accountable to ourselves and our
consumers, preferring instead to concentrate on short-term financial gains for our institutional
shareholders. Witness China's recent 1% buy-in to GM when the stock went public last week. Now we
have China who will not devalue their currency or renegotiate labor contracts to make their car prices
more competitive with American built autos. Say what you will about Japanese, Chinese, and South Korean
products, there is no level playing field and our only leverage is expensive tariffs on their products
which they are still able to avoid with cheaper labor. Witness outsourcing (now a popular TV comedy series)
to India and Indonesia that employs computer engineers at less than ten thousand dollars annually. Next
time you phone a call center, see how helpful they are, assuming you can get by the accent.
Don't get me wrong. I'm all for free trade as long as it is fair and balanced. American ingenuity should be
the battle cry for the next decade with the new Chevy Volt leading America back into being a major
competitor in the auto industry with rising oil and gas prices. Yes I realize that renewable energy
resources, conservation, and protecting our environment are buzzwords used by the media and PR campaigns,
but we must have a vision of electric cars before we can build them cheaply and safely. I would
challenge American industry to increase their R&D budgets by spending less on their AD slogans.
What does this mean to you, the American entrepreneur? There's no magic formula or secret. Vision
plus Accountability equals Success.
Helpful Hints:
- Next time you drive to your job (if you're lucky enough to have one) ask yourself
if you are giving your best efforts to your boss. If not, then ask how he or she can better
use your talents.
- If you're one of the brave few who have chosen to go it alone on a new business venture,
tell your investors what you can deliver rather than promise. How much of your claims are
based on research versus PR?
- Develop your own formula for success. Would you spend your own money and sweat equity to get
your business off the ground?
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 2010, 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
© 2010 The Virtual Executive Coach SM
and Keith Barton.
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