Did You Hear a "BOOM?"

With soaring gas prices, rising interest rates and dire reports from the U.S. auto industry you might be forgiven for assuming the U. S. economy is on shaky ground.

You'd be wrong.

We are within days of breaking the Dow Jones Industrial Average record set during the internet-mania days of 2000. According to the Wall Street Journal, corporate profits are in their 11th straight quater of double digit gains--the longest streak since the 1950s. Consumer demand is up both here and abroad. Just yesterday economists noted a continuted rise in housing sales.

So, what are you doing to capitalize on these economically robust times? I recommend you "make hay while the sun shines." Redouble your sales efforts, seek new partners, make new investments, launch new initiatives--the market is ripe.

If not now, when?

GMS

Speak the Truth

I just got off the phone with a colleague and friend of mine who recently rejoined the corporate world. After just 3 days on the job he's having doubts about his decision. His boss, who was friendly, encouraging and excited during the interview process is beginning to show his true personality--autocratic, unreasonable, and disingenuous.

This gets me to the point of this posting...truth. I'm not a philosopher and I'm sometime too pragmatic for my own good, but it seems to me that much more can be accomplished and more satisfaction gained if we dare to be truthful.

I advised my friend to be truthful with his new boss. Ask direct questions, challenge any false premises, and discover what is truly going on here. While it seems possible that his new boss has multiple personalities, something else may be going on. Admit there is a dead horse in the living room and candidly discuss how to get rid of it.

I'd advise the boss to have the courage to be truthful. It may not be as admired as it once was, but a society, a culture, a relationship, and a business cannot be ultimately successful without it.

I'd also advise my friend that if the boss will not behave truthfully, to get away from this organization and seek one with more integrity.