#251: Going down the toilet

When I hear that the economy is going down the toilet, I think about that other office cubicle. The one that is confusingly labeled the bathroom or the restroom.

The state of this cubicle can predict whether your company is also going down the toilet. Why? Because it shows how much you respect your employees and visitors, and how much they respect your company.

Many people judge a restaurant by its food and service. I judge it by its toilets and coffee. Toilets and coffee are after thoughts. You tend to ask for these at the end of your meal. At this stage you have committed your wallet, which is why some restauranteurs skimp on toilets and coffee. If they do, I don’t go back.

Some companies skimp on toilets. If employees had more power, I’m sure they won’t go back.

Come on, give your employees an unexpected bonus. Freshen up those toilets. Oh, and give them decent coffee.


I’m JamesMcIntosh@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh

James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA

#250: Cool job hunting

If you are looking for a job, how long should it take you to find one?

Here’s a hint from my school days. If it takes 5 people 50 days to build a house, how long would it take 50 people to build one?

Today I know that the right answer is seldom the practical solution. Why? Because more is not always faster and certain things cannot be rushed. For example, many cooks can bake one loaf of bread faster by turning up the heat, but will eat what comes out?

And yet, I have watched people job hunt that way. Many resumes sent faster to more places might get you a job, but will that job satisfy you?

If you are really desperate then take any job, but please don’t stop there. Use the time you have gained. Turn down the heat, follow a proven recipe for job hunting and let the process develop naturally.


I’m JamesMcIntosh@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh

James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA

#249: Don’t fear to delegate smartly

There’s a lot of fear out there, I know, but now is not the time to do stupid things just to prove how valuable you are to your employer.

Like doing more and working harder.

OK, maybe these are not stupid tactics in the short term, but they can harm your future prospects.

I know it is tempting to do more and more yourself instead of delegating, but please restrain yourself. The ability to delegate effectively identifies you as a leader in two ways. It calms your superiors to know that you can utilize resources; and it cheers your subordinates to know that you value them.

The ability to calm and to cheer people during times of fear and stress can be quite valuable.

As for working harder, well, that’s always a dumb strategy. This economy, whether it is growing or shrinking, is now mostly a knowledge-based economy. That calls for working smarter, not harder.

More brain, less brawn.


I’m JamesMcIntosh@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh

James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA

#248: Love what you do now

Last week I explained the saying ‘do what you love and you will be rewarded’.

Listen again. Customers love dealing with people who love what they do. And companies need customers, especially when times are bad.

Of course, there is a catch. In difficult times the catch is fear. When times are tough, it is easy to slide into doing out of fear instead of acting out of love. Why? Because job loss and income loss is all around you and you fear it might happen to you.

But ‘might happen’ is future thinking. You are not in the future. You are here, in this moment, doing what you love.

If you are absent from this moment, then fear might stop you loving what you do now. When you stop loving what you do, you will discover that what you do is just a job.

And what do we know about jobs? They don’t pay well and they are disappearing.



I’m JamesMcIntosh@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh

James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA

#247: Make sales, not mistakes

Making sales during a recession is no reason to make sales mistakes.

Many years ago my second client taught me these two lessons. As a young man he sold software in England. The product was not selling very well, even after steep discounts and so he became desperate. Once while pitching to a CEO he felt relieved that the sales pitch was going well. But then the CEO said, ‘are you trying to buy it back?’

He had missed the cue that the CEO had bought. Instead, he kept on selling.

Poor sales led to his company being sold instead. One of the first decisions enforced by the new owner was a price increase of ten times. Yes, ten times. The sales force was ready to riot, but then a strange thing happened. Sales took off.

Two lessons: Value what you are selling and others will as well. And stop selling as soon as they have bought it.



I’m JamesMcIntosh@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh

James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA

#246: Create your own job security

What do you say to someone who has lost her job? At the rate at which companies are dumping people they once held dear you are bound to face this quandary sooner rather than later.

I suggest you say as little as possible and listen as much as possible.

And if you have lost your job? Then think ‘opportunity’. Loss seldom walks alone. Invariably, opportunity accompanies loss. You might not see it now, but you will.

The opportunity in job loss is to create your own job security. No, it’s not a contradiction in terms.

Job security no longer exists.... unless you do what you love. When you do out of love instead of doing out of fear, then you will be in demand. Why? Because customers love dealing with people who love what they do. And companies need customers, especially when times are bad.

Hence the saying ‘do what you love and you will be rewarded’.



I’m JamesMcIntosh@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh

James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA

#245: As the tide turns

We know that a rising tide lifts all ships. A rising tide does not discriminate. More water means more room for more ships of all shapes and sizes.

But when the tide recedes the waters become crowed and some ships, especially the heavier ones, get stuck in the mud.

Similarly, few companies go out of business when the economic tide is rising. But not all know how to stay afloat when the tide turns.

It’s somewhat like climbing a mountain. Success is not reaching the top; success is getting down safely.

In other words, success is more than just growing when a rising economy lifts everyone’s profits. Success includes floating your boat when others are running aground.

Mountaineers come down lighter than when going up. Businesses are heaviest when coming down, making it easier for them to slip and fall.

Of course, the trick to staying afloat is knowing what to throw overboard, and when.



I’m JamesMcIntosh@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh

James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA