"Let's get the burrito bowls again. You go first," I said to my wife. We were at Chipotle, a burrito bar restaurant for the millionth time. "Brown or white rice?" asked the burrito barista. "Ummm. ... ... No rice." My wife finally answered. "Black or pinto beans?" "I don't know. What do we normally get?" … Continue reading Management Skills: Decision Making
Tag: Customer Service
My TV and the Future of Retail
Tragically, my television broke just days before the Super Bowl. Since we would not survive without a TV, we were forced into shopping for a fast replacement. Before we ventured out to old-fashioned retail stores, we shopped online. In a half hour I went to about ten stores. All of the specifications were similar, and … Continue reading My TV and the Future of Retail
Understanding Management
I've been called many names. "A good manager needs to be like the mayor," I heard a top-level executive declare last week. The comparisons don't end there. What makes management so hard to understand that we have to make a myriad of silly comparisons? We compare managers to political leaders like mayors or heads of … Continue reading Understanding Management
Remembering My First Leadership Lessons
I recently remembered a childhood experience from when I was nine or so. I used to ‘work’ with my grandfather during summer vacation. His name is Billy Stamboly, Gido to me, which is Arabic for grandfather. Years ago, he owed a small grocery store at the corner of Eagle and Seymour, in the Corn Hill … Continue reading Remembering My First Leadership Lessons
Can Managers Be Artists?
Eli Broad, famous billionaire and philanthropist said on "60 Minutes" last week, "civilizations are not remembered by their business people or bankers or lawyers, they are remembered by the arts." Can't managers be artists too? The bit reminded me of Seth Godin's book Linchpin. Seth says we can all be more like artists at work. Here's … Continue reading Can Managers Be Artists?
The Best Boss I Know
I know a lot of bosses, but there is one woman who stands out as the best. Her team is tough and her business is stressful, yet she succeeds through strong leadership values we can all learn from. Supportive and Patient She believes in encouragement, not punishment. In Lee Cockerell's "Creating Magic," there is an … Continue reading The Best Boss I Know
Management Skills: Focus on Success
During tough times work can feel like a lot of effort without a lot of results to show for it. As a manager, I've fallen victim to a seemingly common trap –– focusing on my team's failures, shortcomings and missteps rather than on anything positive. I ask them at meetings, "What are we doing wrong?" … Continue reading Management Skills: Focus on Success
You Never Know
You're a young entrepreneur who's just inherited his father's burgeoning business. Dad passed away just as the business was getting on its feet and this makes you doubly committed to success, yet cautious of the mistakes the inexperienced (you!) are likely to make. One day a not-very-prosperous looking gentleman wants to pay for a huge … Continue reading You Never Know