As a friend was engrossed in reviewing the execution of a failed initiative, an executive walked over to his desk, mentioned a few things, then stated "It's the 25th and we need to find more money for the month. I'm heading to Accounting." ... Let that soak in. The first time you hear it, the alarm bells should start going off. The twentieth time, you think it's funny and laugh about it with some colleagues. The hundredth time? You might be responding, "How can I help?"
“Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, As to be hated needs but to be seen; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, we first endure, then pity, then embrace”
-Alexander Pope
Short-sighted corporate cultures don't focus on value creation. Managing by the quarter (or month) is like driving a car with the top two-thirds of your windshield blacked out in a snowstorm. Once you get to the point that executives have no fear of reprisal and say it out loud, you realize that everyone else on the freeway had their windshield blacked out as well. Some of your top-performers end up heading for the exit lane. Some potential top-performers never become such because they're stunted or take the exit as well. Others find a niche of the company where hopefully they can hide out until after the massive pileup. It's a culture where, like political dictatorships, the worst tend to make it to the top. Is the ensuing crash inevitable? Will it be public? Who will make it out? If you're asking the question, your answer will probably be, "I'm not going to wait around to find out."
“Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, As to be hated needs but to be seen; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, we first endure, then pity, then embrace”
-Alexander Pope
Short-sighted corporate cultures don't focus on value creation. Managing by the quarter (or month) is like driving a car with the top two-thirds of your windshield blacked out in a snowstorm. Once you get to the point that executives have no fear of reprisal and say it out loud, you realize that everyone else on the freeway had their windshield blacked out as well. Some of your top-performers end up heading for the exit lane. Some potential top-performers never become such because they're stunted or take the exit as well. Others find a niche of the company where hopefully they can hide out until after the massive pileup. It's a culture where, like political dictatorships, the worst tend to make it to the top. Is the ensuing crash inevitable? Will it be public? Who will make it out? If you're asking the question, your answer will probably be, "I'm not going to wait around to find out."
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