Connections with Integrity
Connections with Integrity
by Reid Hoffman
The venture capitalist who cofounded LinkedIn reveals the surefire system that he has used since high school for evaluating potential business relationships.
As a venture capitalist, and the cofounder of the leading online professional networking site, I am keenly aware of the value of good alliances. Indeed, my interest in the nature of alliances began long ago, when I was a freshman in high school. Thinking about what I would do with my life, I came up with a perfect plan. My friends and I would all seek positions of power: One of us would be president of the United States; another would be president of IBM; another would run a powerful nonprofit. We’d coordinate our efforts and change the world together. Seems like a lofty ambition for a high schooler, I know, but we truly believed that if we joined forces, anything in life was possible.
What is Strategic Lag?
Strategic Lag is a name given to a phenomena which I have witnessed regularly in my strategic consulting. Particularly relevant amongst executive decision makers, this lag transcends organizations, industries and countries and is applicable to just about any strategic process in varying degrees. As its name implies Strategic Lag suggests that the actions you take, or don’t take, today will only be manifest some time into the future and give you the capacity you desire down the road. i.e.: The strategic planning of today will only begin to see the relevant results in due course.
The Sad Reality of South African Education
Jonathan Jansen’s article ‘Matric razmatazz conceals sad reality‘ was published on Saturday, a few days after the Department of Education announced the Grade 12 National Senior Certificate Results. Jansen’s writing is to the point and ultimately asks us not to listen to the Department of Educations political hype but rather to look at the reality of what our education system is actually delivering.’ The truth is indeed a sad reality which will take much more work from private sector involvement and guidance to steer back in even the vaguest of right directions…
The Sad Reality of South African Education
Jonathan Jansen’s article ‘Matric razmatazz conceals sad reality‘ was published on Saturday, a few days after the Department of Education announced the Grade 12 National Senior Certificate Results. Jansen’s writing is to the point and ultimately asks us not to listen to the Department of Educations political hype but rather to look at the reality of what our education system is actually delivering.’ The truth is indeed a sad reality which will take much more work from private sector involvement and guidance to steer back in even the vaguest of right directions…
10% of the Population as Community Volunteers
One of the most interesting goals of China’s new Five Year Plan is to have 10% of its population as community volunteers. When you recognise that 10% of the Chinese population stands at approximately 135 million people, you being to gain a realistic understanding of what a staggering thought process this is! It is a hugely positive, if not ambitious, target to try and mobilise such a vast quantity of their citizens to give to the community and play their role in building China as a nation. Not only is it a sign of the time that their is such a significant emphasis being placed on community involvement and volunteering, but it also symbolizes the a certain ‘Ubuntu” that this seemingly unemotional and clinical nation has lying beneath their surface.
Ben Stein’s Confession
This is a piece recently written by Ben Stein which I felt compelled to share with you…
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don’t feel threatened. I don’t feel discriminated against. That’s what they are, Christmas trees.
Redefining Leadership
The below article, written by Judith Ancer, appeared in the Sunday Times this past weekend and truly struck a chord with me. Although primarily directed a parents raising children, this piece epitomises what I believe the younger generations should be taught from an early age: Leadership is about serving others
Gandhi CEO – A Summary
Gandhi CEO
14 priciples to guide and inspire modern leaders
Mohandas Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869 in the coastal town of Porbandar in India. He was the youngest child of Hindu parents during British rule in India. His life’s work revolved around
championing the cause of the poor, weak and down‐cast of South Africa and India. Gandhi is often refered to as Mahatma meaning ‘Great Soul’, an honour bestowed on him during his challenging
work. He was a servant leader who was willing to dedicate his personal presence to highlight and improve the plight of others. As one of the greatest leaders of all time he created a standard for all
who would manage transformative change in any collective endeavour. Axelrod’s book ‘Gandhi CEO’ highlights 14 principles to guide and inspire modern leaders.
Onward – How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul
I’ve just read a wonderful book co-authored by Howard Schultz, ceo of Starbucks, entitled Onward. For those of you who don’t know, Schultz was the iconic leader of Starbucks who retired in 2000, to become non-executive chairman, only to sense that in 2007 all was not well with the iconic coffee brand.
He returned as ceo to Starbucks in the beginning of 2008 and set about revitalising the company at the height of the first recessionary wave. In his book, there are 4 particular observations about growing companies that struck me:
What Makes Apple Apple – Gary Hamel
The following is an excerpt from Gary Hamel’s forthcoming book, What Matters Now, to be published in December 2011 by Jossey-Bass Business.
Honeybees and Locusts – A Precis
Honeybees and Locusts
A business case for Sustainable Leadership
Bee colonies consist of a queen and many specialists, such as drones and foraging workers. Under ideal conditions, a colony of honeybees can produce more than 90kg of surplus honey a year. However, the bee’s most significant contribution is pollinating plants that affect about one third of the human diet and much of what animals and insects eat. Without bees our lives would be impoverished by a general lack of fruits, vegetables, flowers and other plants. Honeybees are essential for maintaining a large part of the ecosystem. The honeybee is not only productive, but is a symbol of cooperation, thrift, diligence forethought and healing, and stings only for defence purposes.
Zambia’s Lesson to Africa
The recent general election in Zambia was characterised by two things.
The first was the ability of the varying political parties to campaign without fear of intimidation. The result was that, in a hotly contested election, the opposition party managed to gain power by a small majority.
The second interesting point was that the ruling party of the last 15 years mangnanimously accepted defeat, seamlessly handing over power to the newly elected President.
Are You Swimming Naked?
‘When the tide goes out, you soon discover who has been swimming naked’ – Warren Buffet
Many professionals I encounter find it incredibly hard to be anything but short term in their thinking. Whether it is their short term survival, short term gains or seizing of short term opportunities, these individuals and their organisations seem so focused on the immediate future that they are unable to make the appropriate provision for the medium and long term as well.
In the professional sense, making the appropriate provision for the medium and long term means looking thoroughly at a myriad different factors such as whether you are investing in the right people, skills, markets and technology to name but a few. Sadly, it appears as though the consumption culture and need for instant gratification has reduced our thinking to very short term uncertainty.
The Ovarian Lottery
“I was extremely lucky in life. I won the ovarian lottery.” – Warren Buffett
I love this quote from Warren Buffet as he is making a simple point that the only reason he is so lucky and fortunate with his success is because he was born into a fortunate environment and so given the right opportunities. Buffet could have just as easily been born a street beggar and as such he is clear that whatever he now has needs to be seen in the context of the fact that he just born lucky. As it stands,
Buffet has given away much of his financial fortune to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which aims to bridge the gap between the ‘Haves’ and the ‘Have Nots’. I always find it important to remember, all of us who are in the have zone, just how lucky we are to have been born into such environments.
Leadership Like Malema
It is little wonder that Julius Malema gets so much press and media attention. Regardless of the positions held by Jacob Zuma, Kgalema Motlanthe and the rest of the South African cabinet ministers, Malema is the only individual demonstrating any form of leadership in this country. Whether calling for a command team to overthrow the Botswana government, pushing for the nationalisation of mines and banks without compensation or arguing that white owned land should be expropriated, Malema has done one thing right – stepped up to his position as a leader.
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