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When you’re on hold with a large organization, do you like the background music and messages?  You know; "thank you for choosing (fill in the blank) we appreciate you and your business." 

Well, have you ever wanted to throw the phone against the wall because the company doesn’t come close to living up to the slogan?  Today, I experienced just that.  I live in suburbia where trash removal is just another part of taking care of things.  My appreciative provider is Waste Management.  And yes, they play music and messages while you’re on hold that claims how much they appreciate the business.

I won’t bore you with the details of my disgust, but they need a disclaimer before they play that lousy music and message.  Something like; "the information you are about to hear reflects our own delusional belief that we really care about our customers.  In truth, we only care about our revenue and expenses and you are nothing more than means to an end."

Think I should change trash removal services?

If you choose to pursue your purpose and destiny what are the chances you will be opposed?  My experience says the chances are great.  Why?  I think mostly because purpose and destiny leads back to God…our origins and such.  It makes us uncomfortable to think that there is this great story wrapped up in our life.

It is a great tragedy that the very opportunity for happiness in work and life is avoided by most.  Opposition is a key reason. 

You might be surprised by those that will rally forces to thwart you.  Friends, family, career to name a few.  I don’t offer any magic pills for dealing with opposition besides…DON’T GIVE UP! 

When this ride around the Sun is over you won’t want regret defining you.  It will be too late to do it over (sorry my Hindu friends).  The following are some links to help you on your journey:

1. Success Built To Last
2. The Juggle
3. Fast Company/John Baldoni

Winter in Ohio…what a great photo! 

Guy Kawasaki’s post on the Top Ten Marketing Podcasts is full of great information on marketing in today’s world. 

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that marketing is just for businesses.  Smart people will want to learn all they can about marketing…we’re all marketing something.

As I’ve written before, I am a fan of the innovation spirit in Apple and Steve Jobs.  My respect for that innovation spirit doesn’t wane even with the stock option issues in front of both. 

In the spirit of fair coverage I think Fortune’s piece on Jobs is telling.  You’d like to believe that he will come out of this fine, but even men of great brilliance can do stupid things.  Yes, I believe misrepresentation and rigging the game are stupid choices.  The U.S. Attorney must think that and more…

Hope I’m wrong on this one.

A wise man once said, "you pay talented people for their results, not their time."  How true!  Sadly, many organizations feel it a divine right to keep their people locked into constrictive schedules.  Mediocre managers foolishly believe that they get their money’s worth when an employee works a certain number of hours.  If you think about it, this approach implies that the organization doesn’t really believe in the talented people they have.  Consequently, they buy into the science of results = time worked.

If a talented art director delivers results in three hours instead of eight, is that an issue?  You may think, "hey, he or she could get even more results if they worked five more hours."  I’d say they’d get more results if they picked their daughter up from school to get some ice cream.  Corporate America needs to realize the following:

1. The "command control" approach to leading and managing does not work.  So stop it (if you’ve been applying this method)!
2. Generation X and Y won’t work for companies that don’t offer flexibility.
3. Talented people will always produce results…they’re DNA demands it.

Check out Pat Katepoo’s site it has some good resources to draw on as you navigate through work and life.

This article from the most recent Leader to Leader journal is out of this world.  It touched me deeply…much contemplation and validation.  Give me your perspective and why not join the Leader to Leader Institute?  I’m a proud member!

Even though Guy Kawasaki does a little advertising for LinkedIn, I thought you’d appreciate his insights on Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn. 

Networking has been essential for me, and as a people lover I wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to connect.  Whether you use LinkedIn for job hunting, business building or general connection I think you’ll benefit.

It appears that Hank McKinnell isn’t the only who had a merry Christmas.  As today’s Bloomberg.com reports, Bob Nardelli is calling it a day at Home Depot.

Funny how losing in corporate America can feel a lot like winning.  Of course, if you see life as more than stock options, severance packages and cash in-hand you might disagree. 

Bigger issues loom here…like what has Bob Nardelli traded for all of that money and power.  Everybody is a trader…

With a year coming to an end it seemed appropriate that I would have a vivid nightmare this morning.  Ok, some of it was more like a dream.  I’ll explain…

Here goes:

My wife and I are making plans for a vacation (I think somewhere in the Caribbean…this is what I meant by the dreamy part).  It felt great…

We needed to call the travel agent back to correct some information, but as I call out to my wife for clarification of the correction she’s swimming in the most beautiful ocean you could imagine.  Swimming free and happy.  As I’m talking to the agent, I start thinking of an island near Florida.  But I can’t remember the name of the island.  Suddenly, a friend from a former work group appears to provide a map.

I couldn’t help but ask him about the old group.  He goes on to describe how it looks like nothing I would recognize…for the worse.  I swear I could feel the sadness in my sleep state.  Totally dismantled and fallen down.

I’ve stated before that you should not fall in love with your employer.  One key reason is business is not about love, but money.  If you own the show you might choose to blend the two, but most shareholder-owned companies operate purely from a profit perspective.  I am not endorsing or indicting this…you decide for yourself.  I can tell you from experience…falling in love is dangerous.  If it comes to an end you’re gonna need to get over it.  Just like a love affair…

In some ways the nightmare from this morning may be a fitting ending to many things.