Greetings Leaders!

With the unemployment rate so high, I’ve been pondering about the differences between those that have jobs and those who don’t. Sometimes, it is just being in the right place at he right time, or the wrong place at the wrong time. While I understand that life just happens, I don’t like losing. I want to maximize my chances of getting ahead and staying ahead. Here are some tips that I’ve learned over the years that have seemed to help, despite being unemployed twice in my career.

Read the rest of this entry »

Greetings Leaders!

Growing up in Hawaii and being half Japanese (Hapa to those local to Hawaii), I was influenced a lot by Japanese culture. I often went to the .25 cent movies with my dad and we would watch Samurai movies such as Musashi Miyomoto or Zatoichi, The Blind Swordsman.

In the picture below (created by Steve Higgs), the Kanji character represents Samurai. Literally, Samurai means to guard or to watch. The Samurai lived by a code called Bushido which is represented by the Kanji under Samurai. Bushido can be summed up by the English words listed below it: Justice, Bravery, Benevolence, Politeness, Veracity, Honor and Loyalty. Read the rest of this entry »

Greetings Leaders,

Today the Stock Market tanked almost 3%, a day after the government reported GDP numbers that unofficially indicated that the US is out of the worst recession since the Great Depression. President Obama released new data today, showing how successful the stimulus package was this year, despite a soaring unemployment rate expected to increase to about 9.9% in next week’s unemployment report. In a recent Harris Poll, 78% of Americans think the government is on the wrong track. What gives? Read the rest of this entry »

Greetings Leaders!

Today in the Wall Street Journal you’ll find an article about GM complaining to Mr. Kenneth Feinberg, Treasury Pay Czar, that their search for a CFO is in jeopardy because it can’t find a “qualified” CFO for a measly $1 million, plus stock options and full benefits.

Let’s think this through…

1. The country has a problem with exorbitant executive pay. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. I’ll spare you the details because we all know it is true.
2. Management in the US Auto Industry took us down the primrose path over the past 30 years, albeit cluelessly. The crisis facing the auto industry could have been avoided.
3. By promoting from within the ranks of “qualified” CFOs, companies like GM only sealed their fate. Does the term Groupthink come into play here?
4. The “good ol’ boy network” needs to be broken. By hiring executives that are already being paid millions of dollars, the cycle of outrageous pay continues.

On the other hand….

1. New blood would help reduce all the problems above.
2. If GM  put an add in the paper, or on the internet, advertising for a CFO that makes $1 million plus stock options, plus benefits, do you think they’ll have any takers? Of course they will. There are a hundreds of people who would apply. Now, GM’s argument would be that these candidates aren’t qualified. Hogwash. What did the auto industry CFOs of the past 30 years accomplish? Does helping to drive these companies into the ground come to mind.

There are lots of CFOs who are working or who have worked for publicly traded companies who would be up to the job. There are also people out there who have not been a CFO yet, but who could certainly do the job. I know this is a huge generalization, but if pressed to prove it, I would open this up for public dialogue. If a panel of people, let’s say a small group of successful business owners (businesses that have revenue of $50 million or more) were picked at random to find a successor, they would be able to find someone for the job. It might not be who GM would pick, but guess what GM, there ARE qualified people out there that could become your next CFO, you just don’t want to go look for them.

Take away for leaders. Leaders should not be self serving. I have no problem with people making a lot of money. In my view, $1 million is a lot of money. My concern is that too many leaders do things that benefit only the few. In this case, GM can find someone, they just aren’t willing to. As we all know, “change” is difficult.

Mr. Feinberg, if you are serious about changing corporate culture… don’t give in.

All the best!
All the time!
JT

Greetings Leaders!

I was reading Joanne Maly’s blog and she had a post with a video of Gregory Hines tap dancing. Well, one thing led to another and I found myself watching the video below, highlighting Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis Jr., that has some great lessons for leaders, those over 40 out of work, and those just entering the workforce.

For Those Over 40 and Out of Work

Don’t despair! Just because you were let go, you still have game. You have experience and talent. What you learned and the skills you developed over the years matter. You just need the chance to use them. In the video, these older gentleman had the skills to dance. They had it regardless of Max’s (Gregory Hines) initial opinion. They had this inside of them, in their souls. Just because you find yourself without a job, doesn’t mean you have no worth, or no skills. Never… ever… forget that.

To use your skills again, you need to do a couple of things.

1. Stay sharp. These older dancers in the video must have been practicing or exercising regularly.
2. Get a support group. These gents had each other and it helped them a lot. Don’t go about your layoff alone.
3. Keep your pride. Challenge the system. Don’t let your age keep you from reentering the work force, or for settling for something less.
4. Learn new skills. While this didn’t come out in the video, the reality is that the world is changing. Be willing to learn new ways of doing things.

For Those Just Starting Their Career

Gregory Hines learned a valuable lesson. Older people still have what it takes. I was young once and remember entering the workforce with enthusiasm. I also had a nickname while a Naval Flight Officer, which I once laughed about but am not so proud of anymore…. Prima Donna. I was cocky. I thought I knew it all. Now over 50, I realize how little I knew 30 years ago. Here is some advice for younger workers:

1. Don’t assume those over 40 don’t know how to get things done using today’s technology. Some of them don’t… but some do.
2. Listen to people who have been in the workforce for awhile. They may have some sage advice that will prevent you from making a serious mistake, or will propel you to stardom. Take advantage of their experience.
3. Remember, you too will one day be one of the more “experienced” workers.

For Leaders

There are lessons for leaders in this video too. I mentioned this in a few other blogs, but I have noticed that many displaced workers are older than 40/45. This is not a coincidence and I understand why this happens.

What you need to remember as a leader, is that older workers have valuable skills that the younger workers don’t. I just read an interesting blog by George Brymer on Linked2Leadership that listed the top 10 things that younger workers are lacking. These are things that the older workers are great at. Remember, you should have a balanced workforce and there are gems out there that although older, may be worth keeping and polishing. Don’t be like the young girl who comes in at the end of the video and dismisses the older crowd because they are old.

All the best!
All the time!
JT

Greetings Leaders!

Over the past 10 years, I  have had the privilege of knowing and working with some awesome people. Some have successfully started a consulting business, others got started but had to return to the workforce as their business entered difficult times. In either case, you have to applaud people who follow their dreams.

If you are starting a business, congratulations. You are one of the few. The brave. Someone that wants to make a difference. Let’s get you to the point though, where you join the elite, someone who not only successfully started a business, but also someone who was able to make a living at it.

First of all, do  your homework. Here are two outstanding books on starting a consulting business.

• Getting Started in Consulting by Alan  Weiss
• The Business of Consulting: The Basics and Beyond by Elaine Biech

Secondly, assess your strengths and weaknesses. From my observations, most consultants struggle in the area of marketing and sales. Most consultants are proficient at what they do but they don’t know how to sell. In order to succeed, you are going to have to learn how to market and sell yourself. I’m not talking about your 30 second elevator speech, creating a website or developing your social network. These are all important, but, at some point you are going to have to close a sale. After building your business plan, ensure you get some help in developing  your sales technique.

Here are some other things to consider before starting a consulting business:

1. Is your product or service relevant?
2. Is it the right time to start a business?
3. Can you live with minimum income for at least 3 years?
4. What is your target market?
5. What are the demographics in your area for your target market?
6. Do you have access to capital if you require seed money?
7. Is your family supportive of your endeavor?
8. Did you bounce your ideas off three trusted advisers? What did they say?

There are two blogs that I often visit that give me ideas about business and marketing.

• Building Your Business
• Scott McKain Viewpoint

All the best!
All the time!
JT

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Greetings Leaders!

Yesterday I accompanied my wife on an extra-credit assignment for a class she is taking at Sacramento State. We went to the California History Museum in Sacramento and were treated to a educational trip down memory lane. There were several exhibits that I found interesting and thought provoking.

The Journey – and – the Welcome

One of the exhibits we visited was a video documentary of early migrants who made their way to California in the 1920s – 1950s. One of the stories revolved around a family moving to Anaheim from Texas in a 1950s car emblazoned with a sign that indicated they were from Texas. Upon their arrival they were surprised at how many people would wave to them and say things like, “welcome to California, Texas”! Is that the same greeting they would get today? I don’t think so. In fact I jokingly told my wife that people might wave, but they would probably be waving something else at them besides their open hands. What has happened to our country since the 1960s? Have we lost our innocence?

Cultural Melting Pot

With all the talk of illegal immigrants today, I was astounded to learn that California has always had a large immigrant population. In the 1860s, 39% of California’s populace were immigrants with this number slowly declining to around 13% in the 1990s. With the rise in immigration recently, today 22% of California’s populace were born outside of  California. Put in perspective, today we have less foreign born Californians (by percentage) now then we did 100 years ago. So why the big fuss? Have we lost sight of who we are? Are those of us who achieved prosperity by the opportunities provided by America now trying to close the doors on others who have a dream?

All the best!
All the time!
JT

Greetings Leaders!

As a seasoned Project Manager, here are the Top Ten Things that I do that makes me successful.

1. Take time to assess the big picture. Why this project? Is now the right time?
2. Understand the organization’s culture and tailor what you do to be most effective in it.
3. Assess stakeholder expectations/fears AND manage them.
4. Define what a successful project outcome looks like in real terms (Not on budget, on schedule). What does the organization want this project to accomplish?
5. Determine organizational roadblocks to meeting project success and mitigate them.
6. Develop a project strategy. How will you manage the project?
7. Ensure the project has effective executive sponsorship.
8. Take time to get the right people on your team.
9. Establish clear roles and responsibilities.
10. Use an appropriate project management methodology.

All the best!
All the time!
JT

Greetings Leaders!

As a Chemistry major in college I learned how to assess and analyze data using the Scientific method. What I learned is that there are many ways of crunching numbers and presenting facts which often makes the truth hard to find. Yet, the truth is still out there. What I’ve also learned, is that the ability to decipher and assess information seems to be a dying art. Wherever I turn to nowadays, be it the television, tabloids, newspapers or the internet, it seems like arguments are being made on nothing but hyperbole, rhetoric, emotions and just plain old bad logic. An example, I have such a hard time believing that there are people out there, who still believe that President Obama is not a US Citizen.

I was prompted to blog about this after watching a video of an AARP meeting gone bad.

There are several things to take away from this video:

1. I am always suspect when a video is edited as it creates suspicion on my part as to what was left out. I appreciate the need to edit a clip to make a point, and also to keep down bandwidth on the internet, however… what was left out of the video?
2. The AARP representatives need more training. If you are going to speak in public, especially about a divisive topic like health care, you better be prepared. These representatives were not prepared.
3. The audience was on a mission. I don’t know if the audience was organized or not, but… it seems odd that they were emotionally charged from the beginning. I can only surmise that the emotions came from listening to talk show hosts, reading tabloids or not doing their homework. There is a good article in the Chicago Tribune on health care reform myths that are scaring seniors.
4. The people in the meeting were mixing politics/emotions with the discussion at hand, which should have been health care reform. One gentleman stated he was concerned because he feared that the proposed health care legislation would cause a loss of his freedoms. While I understand the concern of big government, this does not solve the underlying problem which is that health care costs are increasing at a fast  rate. In addition, he gave no good reason for feeling this way. What freedoms will he be losing? If he’s worried about the federal deficit, perhaps he may have a point. But, this is a different fight to fight. With the country already $10 Trillion in debt, the question really becomes how much debt can America maintain, and still be sound economically? If he’s worried about his freedoms, he should be asking why the Federal Reserve can print money at an astounding rate, without any oversight rather than fighting health care legislation.

I realize I just blogged about this last week, but think that rational thinking regarding health care reform is a must. We cannot continue along the path we are currently on, and just hope that everything will work out.

As a leader, I encourage you to do your homework, be prepared and discuss things rationally.

All the best,
All the time,
JT

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Greetings Leaders!

In today’s tough economy, many project managers are facing the dilemma of changing industries and I often get asked about this when teaching project management classes. Can project managers (PMs) switch industries? My answer… it depends. It depends on your individual situation and your goals and aspirations.

Before I give you advice on switching industries, let me give you the perspective of employers on this topic. This is based on my experience in project management as a hiring manager, not on a survey, so take this for what it is worth. Based on what I’ve seen over the past 15 years or so, I would say…

Project management spans across industries… project managers do not.

This is grim news for those of you who are contemplating a change. However, to give  yourself a good chance of succeeding, you need to understand the challenge that you are up against. The reason why I don’t think project managers can “easily” span industries, is that a good PM understands more than just a methodology.

To be a great PM, one has to understand the industry. How are you ever going to manage risk, estimates, quality assurance, procurement and all the other things that fall outside of a project schedule… if you don’t know the industry?

When I was younger, I used to think I could manage any project. While I could probably manage just about any small project, I now realize that any significant project requires some understanding of the industry. This is an important distinction in understanding your chances of succeeding in transitioning to another industry. If you are at an early stage of your career, you may be able to make a lateral change by taking on smaller projects. If however, you are 20+ years into your career, to expect to be in the same position of authority, making the same amount of money, in an industry you don’t know very well… well… you get the picture. I’m not saying it can’t be done, just that you need to be realistic in your expectations.

When contemplating switching industries as a project manager there are several things you need to take into account. First of all, you need to ask yourself, do you REALLY have the skills necessary to succeed in the new industry? Some industries are easier to learn than others, and you need to ask yourself if you have the qualifications to effectively do the job. As an example, it would be much more difficult to move into an industry that requires technical competency of some sort.

Many people are thinking about moving into “green” industries (solar energy) or healthcare technology. These are not easy industries to break into without some training or expertise in the area. If you are going to target these industries, you should take some classes from a local university. For example, in healthcare, you need to have a basic understanding of billing, claims, benefits, enrollment, medical records, and membership. You should also have some understanding of medical coding.

In a more technical industry such as solar power, you have a better chance of succeeding if you are an engineer or come from a technical background. If you don’t have this background, you should ask for informational interviews with a company you may be targeting, and ask them what skills are they looking for, then look for ways to acquire these skills yourself.

A second consideration is to target a specific niche in project management. You may excel at managing schedules, risk or quality. There are certifications that you can work on that show your expertise in these areas. However, before you jump in and work on a certificate program, do your homework and ensure that there is a demand for the skill you are going to target.

As you go about trying to switch industries, it is vital that you understand that you are going to have to really work at selling yourself. You may even have to take a position with less responsibility and pay at first. I wrote about my experiences as I transitioned out of the Navy in 1992 in another blog. You may find the perspective interesting.

Good hunting!
JT

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