http://www.gregkelemen.com growth strategy, innovation and ethical leadership Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:58:18 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en "Steve Austin, astronaut; a man barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world's first bionic man. Steve Austin will be that man. We can make him better than he was before. Better, stronger, faster." These opening lines from the 70s ... http://www.gregkelemen.com/2009/12/02/dont-just-stand-there-buy-something/ I had another DSL outage today that lasted about 8 hours. My network automatically switched over to dial-up, so I called my provider and got through to a pleasant lady who I will call Linda. I tell her that I'm calling from Eastern Ontario (a very beautiful place, check it out ... http://www.gregkelemen.com/2009/10/19/our-technician-mark-will-call-you-back/ Why is it, when you look at most industries, that companies treat Customers so badly? Is it because they don't care, or they just can't help themselves? Or don't they know what they are doing? *According to Dilbert, if more companies could remember that Customers are always Right, it would be ... http://www.gregkelemen.com/2009/10/16/the-customer-is-always-right-handed/ It's surprising how many business leaders today still consider maximization of profits as their only goal. Many, in fact, see it as their legal obligation part of their fiduciary duty. I have had several very difficult conversations with experienced, successful people who contend that it is wrong for Boards and ... http://www.gregkelemen.com/2009/06/03/profit-not-for-whom-but-for-what/ There is no doubt we are in the midst of a serious economic downturn. Its impact is being felt by every kind of organization, large and small, high tech and low tech, government and not-for-profit. We can expect this year and most of 2010 to be a severe and painful ... http://www.gregkelemen.com/2009/03/29/after-the-cuts-then-what/ This week, I met with a senior management development executive of a large international telecom manufacturer to talk about their plans for the future. During the meeting, she made some refreshingly candid comments admitting the company's mistake with a recent acquisition. I follow this company closely and was very encouraged ... http://www.gregkelemen.com/2009/02/21/if-aint-broke-break-it/ Every time I talk with managers about change, I get the sense of a serious disconnect about the reason for any change. There's still a prevailing attitude in most organizations that there's no need for any changes. Yet many managers complain bitterly about how things aren't going well and how ... http://www.gregkelemen.com/2009/02/15/why-change-check-your-attitude/ In early December, I again visited the large bookseller I wrote about in an earlier post. To my surprise, they had installed new kiosk terminals in the same locations as the old ones. There were no other changes in the store. The kiosk (pictured below), features a bright white and stainless ... http://www.gregkelemen.com/2009/02/14/you-still-cant-do-that-from-here-part-2/ I was talking with a senior exec over lunch recently who complained about lack of engagement in his organization. He expressed serious concern that, even though individual units did well, as a whole his company was failing to adapt to the sweeping changes taking place in the market. He was ... http://www.gregkelemen.com/2009/02/10/clarity-of-purpose-why-are-we-here/ For some reason, recent events seemed to connect with a memory I have of a scene in a movie where a gas station attendant predicts the events taking place today. This clip is from the movie, "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" starring Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges. In it, the gas station attendand ... http://www.gregkelemen.com/2008/11/02/days-of-future-past/