CEO Success Report -
January 2003
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CEO Success Report
- January 2003
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Increasing the Effectiveness and Enhancing the Lives of CEOs and
business owners.
Contents of this issue...
.. Welcome - A few words from the publisher, Gary Lockwood
.. Thought-Starter - "Lonely at the Top"
.. Guest article - "Radical Resolutions"
.. CEO Resources
.. Quotes to use in your staff meeting this month
.. Humor to lighten up the executive suite
.. Contact the publisher
.. Subscribe and unsubscribe instructions
See past issues of the CEO Success Report at:
http://www.CEOSuccess.com/archives
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WELCOME to this issue of the CEO Success Report!
===================================================
Hello again. I'm Gary Lockwood, President of CEO Success.
Let's kick off the new year with a bang.
Welcome back once again to the CEO Success. I know you have
no shortage of material to read and I thank you for choosing to read our
newsletter.
We work hard to provide practical ideas, thought-provoking concepts and
useful information for you.
You (and about 1000 of your CEO peers), have honored me by being a loyal
subscriber. For that, I appreciate you.
One aspect of business life that top executives rarely discuss is their
isolation.
When you are the Chief Executive Officer of the company, whether it's a
start-up or a multi-million dollar enterprise, who do you talk to about
really important issues? If you're like most CEOs, there are just some
things you can't share with employees, friends or even partners. My
"thought-starter" in today's issue discusses this dilemma.
May I ask a small favor? Please forward this issue to other CEOs and
company presidents who may be interested in receiving
these messages. Thank you.
And now for our guest article this month...
Our guest article this month was based on the work of Tom Peters, and
was compiled by Rick Sidorowicz, Editor and Publisher of The CEO
Refresher. Rick has put together a list of out-of-the-ordinary business
resolutions for you. So if you're up for being extra-ordinary, make the
leap into the future - to a leaner, meaner, and radically more
responsive business. This assumes of course that you've 'handled' the
'not so radical resolutions' and are ready for more!
Read more about Rick at the end of his stimulating article.
I hope you enjoy receiving these articles and ideas to
help you sharpen your thinking about being an effective CEO.
My wish is that you use the ideas in the CEO Success Report to
get the results you really want. If you want some help in putting
them into practice, or if you have questions, email or call.
As you know, our specialty is Increasing the Effectiveness
and Enhancing the Lives of CEOs and business owners.
Enjoy this issue with my compliments.
Sincerely,
Gary Lockwood
CEO Success
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This month's THOUGHT-STARTER
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Lonely at the Top
by Gary Lockwood
You've heard the phrase, "It's lonely at the top". What does
that
really mean? One aspect of business life that top executives rarely
discuss is their isolation.
When you are the Chief Executive Officer of the company, whether it's a
start-up or a multi-million dollar enterprise, who do you talk to about
really important issues? If you're like most CEOs, there are just some
things you can't share with employees, friends or even partners.
Think about a sensitive strategic issue you've had to face in the past
year. Maybe you were (or still are) thinking about:
* selling the company
* bringing in or replacing a top executive
* merging or acquiring
Most likely, you won't share these types of issues with employees. They
have so much at stake they'll not give you good, objective feedback. You
might even cause an unnecessary panic or at least a lively rumor mill.
Discussing these sensitive decisions with friends or family might make
you feel good, but what's the possibility that you'll receive solid,
unbiased feedback on your ideas?
Your advisors - attorneys, CPAs and consultants - usually have an agenda
of their own. Can you blame them if they slant their input just a little
to put them in position for keeping or expanding their engagement with
your company?
If your decision is concerning your partner(s), you obviously can't
openly and objectively explore the issue with her/him.
So, what do you do?
Most CEOs just keep it to themselves. You probably spend a lot of time -
and some sleepless nights - pondering the pros and cons of these
significant issues. If it's a "bet-the-farm" decision, as so many of
your strategic decisions seem to be, the stress of going it alone can be
overwhelming.
Many top executives describe this as feeling "totally alone" or
"me
against the world". Lonely at the top? You bet it is! The toll is often
health-damaging stress, strained personal relationships, lack of focus
on the rest of your business responsibilities, and perhaps a decision
that costs you the enterprise.
What's the solution? You have a couple of practical possibilities that
can provide you a knowledgeable sounding board, agenda- free advice,
timely response and probing questions that truly challenge your
thinking.
One possibility is to join a peer-level board-of-advisors group. These
are groups of CEOs who, like you, have the ultimate respons- ibility for
decisions in their enterprise. Like you, they know what it's like when
you must make payroll every week.
Chances are that at least a few of these experienced CEOs have been down
the path you are traveling. Some of them already have the battle scars
and can help steer you away from disaster. Perhaps the pointed questions
from this group could help you clarify your thinking or even disclose
that the issue you are pursuing is not even the real issue. If you can
handle the deep, probing questions, you'll sharpen your thinking.
Another solution for CEO isolation is a business coach. Many people have
a personal trainer for their body. Why not have a coach for your mind?
Using a coach is the latest way for people to get ahead in today's crazy
business world.
People use coaches for two basic reasons:
* Some people seek coaches to help them develop a balance between their
personal and professional lives.
* Others want a coach to help them become more productive in their
business or help increase their earnings.
A Coach can be your sounding board, support system, "devils advocate",
cheerleader and teammate all rolled into one. Bottom line; the task of a
coach is helping you realize your full potential.
Whether you join a peer advisor group or hire a business coach, take
action to relieve the isolation. Running an enterprise should be
challenging, exciting, rewarding and fun. It doesn't have to be lonely
at the top.
About the Author...
Gary Lockwood is Increasing the Effectiveness and Enhancing the Lives of
CEOs, business owners and professionals. Get the Free BizSuccess
newsletter -
http://www.bizsuccess.com/newsletter.htm
or send any blank email to mailto:subscribe@BizSuccess.com
==================================
Guest Article
==================================
Radical Resolutions
compiled by Rick Sidorowicz
Make the leap into the future - to a leaner, meaner, and radically
more responsive business. This assumes of course that you've 'handled'
the 'not so radical resolutions' and are ready for more.
** Within 90 days triple the spending authority throughout the firm,
starting with the mailroom!
** Insist on a maximum of two levels between the 'top' and the '
bottom' in any division or business unit!
** Break up businesses into units of 250 persons or less, each with
a board of directors which includes outsiders.
** Within the next year transfer one third of all staff positions at
head office to the operating units!
** Eliminate all performance appraisals and replace by customer
evaluations of service and performance!
** Eliminate all job descriptions. Now!
** Destroy all organization charts. Now!
** Have every person in your organization make at least two
substantive customer visits per year!
** Have all top division and corporate managers spend two days per
month with customers, two days with suppliers and
distributors, and
visit three 'neat' companies per year outside of your
industry!
** Aim for one third employee ownership of the business within five
years!
** Within the next year promote to a position of significant
responsibility at least one 'weirdo' and 'rabble-rouser' who
doesn't like you or agree with you on much of anything!
** Establish for everyone, moderately low base pay with significant
incentives, 50% based on direct measures of quality and
service!
** Present a weekly award in every dept. to the person who surfaces
the stupidest thing the company has done in the last seven
days!
** Implement a six month unpaid sabbatical for every executive in
the corporation every three years!
** Outsource your distribution activities!
** Outsource your MIS function! (Perhaps to your MIS function!)
** Visit at least one 'lost customer' per month, or a prospect that
has never considered your product or service!
** Base 25% of incentive compensation for divisional heads and
executives on the share of revenue from new products and
services
introduced within the last 12 months!
** Sell off the corporate art collection and every piece of '
executive' furniture costing more than $500.
** Vacate all facilities more than three stories high!
** Within three years target for women to comprise 40% or more of
your Vice President and General Manager positions!
The above list is loosely based on Tom Peter's 50 Survival Strategies.
Compiled by Rick Sidorowicz, Editor and Publisher of The CEO Refresher.
The CEO Refresher is brain food for business! Leadership - strategy -
leading change - performance - insight - words and wisdom - mindfulness
interestingness - learning - and learning faster!
Check it out - http://www.refresher.com/ceo.html
=============================================
RESOURCES for CEOs
=============================================
Get ALL you want from your business AND
have fun along the way!
I have openings for two new business coaching clients. If
you are ambitious, ready to tackle some big achievements,
and are willing to be accountable for the results you
produce, let's talk.
Coaching is not cheap, nor is it easy. If you are in charge
of your life, ready to move quickly, and can afford to invest in your
future, contact me at (909) 739-7444 or by email at Gary@CEOSuccess.com
We can discuss your situation and how the business coaching program
could help you get the results you want.
Check out the details at
http://www.BizSuccess.com/coach.htm
=================================================
QUOTES to use in your staff meeting this month
=================================================
"Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have
let go."
William Feather
"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."
Franklin D. Roosevelt
"There is no such thing as a long piece of work, except one that you
dare not start."
Charles Baudelaire
"This above all; to thine own self be true."
William Shakespeare
"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who
cannot read them."
Mark Twain
"It ain't braggin' if you can back it up."
Dizzy Dean
=================================================
HUMOR to lighten up
the executive suite
=================================================
Answering machine at a Mental Hospital
"Hello, and welcome to the mental health hotline."
If you are obsessive-compulsive, press 1 repeatedly.
If you are codependent, please ask someone to press 2 for you. If
you
have multiple personalities, press 3, 4, 5 . If you are paranoid, we
know who you are and what you want. Stay on
the line so we can trace your call.
If you are delusional, press 7 and your call will be transferred, to
the mother ship. (hehehehe)
If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully and a small voice, will
tell you which number to press.
If you are a manic-depressive, it doesn't matter which number you
press, no one will answer.
If you are dyslexic, press 96969696969696.
If you have a nervous disorder, please fidget with the pound key,
until a representative comes on the line! .
If you have amnesia, press 8 and state your name, address, telephone
number, date of birth, social security number, and your mother's
maiden name.
If you have bi-polar disorder, please leave a message after the beep,
or before the beep or after the beep. Please wait for the beep.
If you have short-term memory loss, press 9.
If you have short-term memory loss, press 9. If you have short-term
memory loss, press 9.
If you have low self-esteem, please hang up. All operators are too busy
to talk to you."
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CONTACT CEO Success
=================================
Gary Lockwood is the publisher of the CEO Success Report.
Email: mailto:Gary@CEOSuccess.com
Office: (800) 272-1575 (USA) * (909) 739-7444
Fax: (909) 494-4314
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Your Comments, please?
========================================
I appreciate feedback, corrections, and comments about the
CEO Success Report. Please send your thoughts to:
Gary@CEOSuccess.com mailto:Gary@CEOSuccess.com
