The question came from the Pepperdine LinkedIn forum on Private Capital Markets.
Here's my answer, and, true to the title of this blog, it may be the most important thing you read today (or all week, or all month, or all year)
Doc Williamson • It is a classic case of, "You never have a second chance to make a first impression."
I almost didn't respond to this message thread because I thought to myself, if I am a CEO candidate walking into an interview with a "hiring committee" which I believe consists of a lot of "underling" types who are only there to be the HR filter that says, "no", I might be inclined to scowl, frown and posture about being their "boss" and they had better treat me well, if they wanted to still be with the company after I take over. But seriously, who is that ever going to "impress"?
Whether your leadership style is that of Joan of Arc, or Emily Dickinson, first you have to make them WANT to follow you, and that includes when the interview is for the mail-room clerk on your first job with the company, or as Senior Group Vice President (and eventual CEO candidate). ALWAYS smile whenever you meet anyone.
A smile is a "gift" that costs you nothing, and can mean everything to someone else. That could be especially if even thought they smile back at you, they are (mentally) standing on the edge of a bridge and considering whether to jump.
Always do your best, and wish the best for others. It is the only hope we have as humanity for any kind of global sanity.
Sincerely,
Stafford "Doc" Williamson
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Stars beckon. Earth dead. No exit. (Six word story)
I just published the above "title" as my submission to SMITH magazine www.smithmag.com
It was over forty years ago that my friends and I agreed that "there ought to be a law" to prevent creation of objects that would (supposedly) last for millennia unless there was a process created simultaneously that would allow the re-cycling of the substance from which it was to be made. No such legal structure has been created, but we are getting smarter. Lots of us now realize that, "there is no garbage
It was over forty years ago that my friends and I agreed that "there ought to be a law" to prevent creation of objects that would (supposedly) last for millennia unless there was a process created simultaneously that would allow the re-cycling of the substance from which it was to be made. No such legal structure has been created, but we are getting smarter. Lots of us now realize that, "there is no garbage
Friday, June 8, 2012
Senator John McCain the Luddite
I spend a lot of my time with young people. You expect young people to make occasional poor choices despite your best efforts to steer them in the right direction. Sometimes they need "corrective" guidance. So what do you do with a 75 year old US Senator who is making poor choices? You write him a letter. That is what I did this morning.
Here is what I said to him.
"I recieved the following email from the President of the Renewable Fuels Association of America: The Renewable Fuels Ass
Here is what I said to him.
"I recieved the following email from the President of the Renewable Fuels Association of America: The Renewable Fuels Ass
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Social Media, Building Consensus, Do We Want a Greener World?
Late Breaking news: President Obama announced NEW Fed Funding joint DOE/DeptAg prog. for development of biofuels SEE DE-FOA-0000657 (at this page. )
Building a Consensus
Social Media, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and many more, are a good means of coming to a consensus about some ideas. What those ideas may be focused on, or how many it takes to make "a consensus" are pretty broad topics in themselves, but assuming we turn our attention to promoting "good" ideas, the consensus th
Building a Consensus
Social Media, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and many more, are a good means of coming to a consensus about some ideas. What those ideas may be focused on, or how many it takes to make "a consensus" are pretty broad topics in themselves, but assuming we turn our attention to promoting "good" ideas, the consensus th
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Future of Internet Hidden in Plain Sight
Sound Bytes
I have been told by experts (including Susan Harrow) that the way to a television producer's heart is by using tasty little sound bites. That is, pithy, little nuggets that encapsulate a concept or opinion or fact in a memorable way. If you can string together a high profile, topical (especially tied to some other current news or event or seasonal item) pitch that incorporates a good sound bite or two and follow through with an interview with the producer that adds a couple more
I have been told by experts (including Susan Harrow) that the way to a television producer's heart is by using tasty little sound bites. That is, pithy, little nuggets that encapsulate a concept or opinion or fact in a memorable way. If you can string together a high profile, topical (especially tied to some other current news or event or seasonal item) pitch that incorporates a good sound bite or two and follow through with an interview with the producer that adds a couple more
Sunday, February 5, 2012
The Answer to Everything (?), Exports Under-Emphasized in SOTU
Beware of the Barnums
Famous circus promoter P.T. Barnum (founder of the circus that eventually merged with its main competitor to become today's "Barnum and Bailey" circus) was clever but flaunted his lack of respect for people too dumb to avoid being deceived by his tricks of marketing. There are no shortage of unscrupulous swindlers, especially plying their skills on the internet. You have probably heard, or perhaps even laughed at those who have been duped into some sucker scheme to flee
Famous circus promoter P.T. Barnum (founder of the circus that eventually merged with its main competitor to become today's "Barnum and Bailey" circus) was clever but flaunted his lack of respect for people too dumb to avoid being deceived by his tricks of marketing. There are no shortage of unscrupulous swindlers, especially plying their skills on the internet. You have probably heard, or perhaps even laughed at those who have been duped into some sucker scheme to flee
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Japan's Great Leap Forward, Feedstocks are Key to Green Company Values
Kyocera Announces Solar Storage for the Home
Apparently motivated, in part at least, by the Fukushima nuclear power disaster of last year, Japan has created legislation that permits "feed-in tariffs" for independent (including "home grown") electric energy generation to be added to the national (or regional) grid power system(s). Home energy backup systems is a major perceived demand in Japan, at least according to Kyocera who are using batteries from Samsung along with solar panel arrays to
Apparently motivated, in part at least, by the Fukushima nuclear power disaster of last year, Japan has created legislation that permits "feed-in tariffs" for independent (including "home grown") electric energy generation to be added to the national (or regional) grid power system(s). Home energy backup systems is a major perceived demand in Japan, at least according to Kyocera who are using batteries from Samsung along with solar panel arrays to
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