Ignited! by Vince Thompson

Taking Back the Skies

                                                                                  

I’m a huge fan of the Passenger’s Bill of Rights.

After the Valentine’s Day flight delays there’s been a new surge of support for legislation that put the best interests of the passengers on par with the interests of all the other players in aviation. With The WSJ reporting today that we have a rough summer ahead, support should build even further.

As managers we so often have to fly and we all have travel nightmares to share. This winter I sat on a runway in Columbus for four hours only to get to Chicago and sit on the tarmac another 2 hours. (yes, I am quite thankful we made it but go with me here)

A few years ago I flew from SF to Chicago in a 747 that was diverted to Milwaukee due to weather and ground congestion. When a big plane like that lands it has to be fueled. The problem we faced however was that after making our way from #17 in line for fueling, we learned that the fuel station had run dry.  We had to wait for a fuel truck. They couldn’t disembark our plane in Milwaukee because they didn’t have gate equipment for a 747. Seven hours later without food, drink or approachable bathrooms we took off for Chicago. Total time on the plane….13 hours. I hope you won’t blame me for ripping the United banner off the wall upon arrival that night and kicking over a trash can.

Anyway…The Legislation is a good thing. Three hours on the tarmac tops and the plane must go back to a gate.

In a perfect world I’d like add a few things…

• No Mexican Food allowed. Bring whatever you like on the plane..but please no Mexican food. It just doesn’t smell right after two hours at 30,000 feet.
• Next…if you’re in coach you should not be able to fully recline without giving thoughtful consideration to the size of the person behind you.
• Finally…let’s ban airline food entirely. Why even try? We’ll bring our own food sans the La Salsa Burritos, of course. Have you noticed how great it is without that food cart? I even think the flight crews are happier now that they don’t have to push that god-awful, dirty metal box down the aisles. Think about it…the local roach coach in my neighborhood has better shine on it and that thing is outside!

To learn more about the Passenger’s Bill of Rights, sign the petition and donate, visit these two great sites:

http://www.strandedpassengers.blogspot.com/

http://www.flyersrights.org/

If you’d like to share your own stories, you can do so on this one here.

http://www.flyersrights.org/5.html

Or like me…get a Blog and piss off your friends who love Mexican food.

Making Sense of the Talent Shortage

In our research for Ignited we identified Four Major Trends that are putting the wind at Manager’s Backs. One of the trends is the fact that the boomers are leaving the workplace. Business Week reported that 24% of Management positions would be open in the next couple of years.

Add to this pressure a growing economy, resurgence in start-ups as well as reinvention across most industries and the shortage is going to run a lot deeper in the months to come. To get a sense of the landscape one needs guides. I’ve been fortunate to have a many great friends in the talent acquisition business and over the last 18 months have become good friends with Brandon Gutman.

 

(Here's a pic of Brandon after a fat Ribeye at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse in NYC's Grand Central Station.)

Brandon leads Business Development for Stephen Bradford Search in NYC. In addition to his demanding day job, Brandon is the Talent Columnist for IMedia Connection, an industry standard for those in Digital Marketing.

What I like about Brandon’s writing is that he reminds us of the age old business principles while he attacks the hot issues of the day.

You can check out Brandon’s columns by clicking here

Make sure to read his latest column  “Why Someone Would Leave Google”

Having had so many conversation recently about how to work with what we’ve got, I jumped in as well with an article that was picked up by over 40 publications.

If you’d like to see my article “Talent Shortage? How to Win With What You’ve Got” check it out on  Manta.com, the killer business information site I consult click here.

All the Best-

Vince T.

www.BeIgnited.com

Usable Insights

I was recently asked “Why are our workplace so Crazy?”

My response?

“People are Crazy”

Somehow we trick ourselves in believing the business is a substantially different than life in general. We like to think there are rules and structure and ways to play the game. Sure…there’s lot of evidence to support this but doesn’t it all come down people.

As I think about every opportunity I’ve been involved in, every job I’ve had and every asset I own – they we’re afforded me by people. People who saw something in me, had confidence and a need to fill and gave me the opportunity.

Business is about people and who you are and how your work with people determines your success.

Therefore, when I first discovered Dr. Mark Goulston I was really excited to learn more about his work. Mark is an accomplish psychiatrist who after years of teaching and practicing oriented his efforts towards business. His deep understanding of how we as people work and how we engage others has been the backbone of two bestsellers.

You can learn more about Mark at: http://markgoulston.com

See a sample of his Useable Insights at:

http://markgoulston.com/insights/20070123021264379087.shtml

And you can register for his Usable Insights, which I’m particularly digging at:

http://markgoulston.com/list/

Revsiting Malcom Forbes

In 1991, a year after Malcolm Forbes passing, I bought a book on the discount table at Crown Books in Glendale called “How to Use the Power of the Printed Word”. It was a cool little paperback and if the sticker is correct I paid a whopping $1.98. As I flipped the pages I came across a little section on “How to Write a Business Letter” by Malcolm Forbes. It was great and while I’d heard of Forbes this was when I realized he was a guy I could learn from.

Malcolm Forbes lived a big life. Growing up the son of a publisher, he served in WWII and received the bronze star and purple heart for bravery. Taking over America’s first Business magazine founded by his father, Forbes built a publishing powerhouse. Later, he ran for Governor of New Jersey. In his 50’s he became a biker and in 1973 became the first person to balloon across the United States.

Forbes gave a lot of great quotes. Here are two of my favorites.

Men who don’t get carried away, should be.

If you don’t ask Why? Often enough, people will ask Why You?

If you’d like to get that book on the power of the printed word do so at:
http://www.bestwebbuys.com/How_to_Use_the_Power_of_the_Printed_Word-ISBN_9780385182164.html?isrc=b-search

If you’d like to check out some of this other quotes go here:
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/malcolm_forbes.html

Best-
Vince T.

Accelerate: 20 Practical Lessons to Boost Business Momentum

A while back my good friend and mentor Jason Jennings (www.jennings-solutions.com) introduced me to Dan Coughlin. Dan’s an amazingly talented consultant and speaker who has had great acclaim for his work in propelling people and companies forward. 

Yesterday his new book debuted on Amazon.

Accelerate: 20 Practical Lessons to Boost Business Momentum

Within its pages you’ll learn how to:

• Expedite your results and the results of your staff in a sustainable and profitable manner.
• Align your strengths and passions with your organization's desired outcomes.
• Avoid the pitfalls of poor communication.
• Execute profit-boosting improvements.
• Implement an effective, brand-building strategy based on effective business research.

Based on over 10 years of research and over 3000 hours in the field with executives in over 20 different industries, Dan’s book delivers the goods in an actionable and powerful way.

Check out Dan's website at http://www.thecoughlincompany.com/

Buy your copy of Accelerate by clicking HERE.