Overview

Overview

Business Madness: Unraveling the Paradox of the People Puzzle   (Power - People - Profits)              © 2006 Larry & Pat Nelson Introduction/Defined (Updated 3/17/06)

Business, like the word madness, has many definitions. In Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary, the definition I like best for madness is, "intensive excitement or enthusiasm". However, as you flip through this book, you might think the other definitions such as stupidity, silliness and senselessness are more appropriate… and at times they might be.

Business takes on many shapes: big or small; profitable or not profitable; service or product; public or private; innovative or classical. You get the picture. In fact, most people have three or so pictures in their mind when they hear the word business. Worldwide, that would be millions of different pictures. One thing for sure, everyone would like to build a successful, sustaining and superior business while avoiding the slippery slope of shoddiness. People, Power and Profits are the focus in Business Madness.

'Entrepreneur' immediately comes to mind when business and madness are mentioned in the same breath. The word entrepreneur conjures up an array of descriptors from embattled to embarrassed, from emancipated to elated. Entrepreneurs represent about 80% of the business in the United States. As you might expect, entrepreneurs often have to play the roles of leader, manager and window washer. To top it off, if they are technically adept, they often get overwhelmed with everyone's computer problems.

The entrepreneur definitions have a strong relationship with both business and madness. My favored definition of madness ("intensive excitement or enthusiasm") explains why some executives are very inspirational leaders while the other definitions shine a light on how some executives have exploited every other meaning of the word such as weird, wacky and witless. My friends in Boulder, Colorado say, "There is a Ying and Yang in everything."

This will come as quite a shock for the company slackers, but executives, managers and leaders have to deal with many issues. Some of these issues are difficult, some dicey and others are downright dopey. There are literally tons of sources of information dealing with those issues. Some of it, and the key word is 'some', can be helpful as long as you, your company or your situation fit into the proper mode or are in the specific situation as outlined in the text or lecture. Unlike the one-size fits all prescriptive, “Business Madness" will put you in the driver’s seat. Unfortunately, some get nervous about their hands being on the steering wheel.

Typically, executives, managers and leaders are offered 10 absolute magic steps for accomplishing the impossible or solving earth-shaking problems. If you follow those proven steps (proven by a company not like yours at all) or buy their product or service, all your troubles and woes will be answered. Your competition will fall to the depths of despair and desperation, your profits will sore and drive your stock prices through the roof and you’ll be the proverbial happy camper… or not.

Often, the 10 steps or Holy Grail are tactical, tangible, tight and more often trivial. Can you imagine following in the footsteps of Michael Dell? Oops, there are many trying to do that today. How about being an understudy of Lee Iacocca and try his heavy-handed management style. He was a successful leader, wrote a good book but was only a man "of the time" for Chrysler, and not an example of a replicable management system. We’ll share some other examples to use and others to avoid in later chapters.

You will have a chance to explore, accept, reject and modify the Business Madness applications to suit your business best. Yes the pages are numbered, but you can start your exploration where you feel it makes the most sense as well as hop around accordingly. Business Madness is also part of an eco system of success that includes an up-to-date Blog.

Well, for all the metrics, markers and methods, there is a Ying to that Yang… or is it a Yang to that Ying? Of course it is important that you take the right steps and in the proper order… or is it? There’s a key in this mix of methods and measures. It’s the soft side of madness that yields extraordinary results… and it often defies accepted logic. If this all bothers you, don’t worry, we’ll have lists of guiding principles and practical tips, too. It’s all about the combination of measurable results and feeling good along the way… all along the way.

There are many issues facing and challenging business, government and academia in these turbulent and changing times. The focus of this book is about Power, People and Profits. The first few chapters in Business Madness are about PEOPLE.  Pat & I feel that:

#1 People are the source of all problems. #2 People are the solution to all problems.

We will be seeking input and ideas from everyone. We will also be inviting people to contribute 1-3 pages to the book. Please comment here or email us at radio@w3w3.com

Comments

[Michael Cushman]

Larry, first let me state that you are a liar. You told me you can’t write. I like your style, blend of light and serious, reverent and flippant.

Are people the source and solution to all problems? No and Yes. Since business people are trained as functional experts and general managers, they are too good at solving problems mechanistically. Mechanistically means by using systems, processes, checklists, structures, policies, etc. The people problems go unaddressed and some mechanistic “solutions” create more people problems, unintended consequences. So the easy, logical fruit is picked early and often, and only the people problems (and solutions), remain to rot or harvest. Not that people problems are that tough, it’s just that “logic”, as you note, can be fruitless.

You and Pat, with all your people training knowledge and skills, will create a great book! If I can help in any way, glad to do so.

Warmly, Michael