Not Urgent: That is waht email is for.

I hired someone a few months back because I was convinced the guy was the best I could find in the market. I went on my christmas holiday (long one) and came back to only find that he had quit even before I returned from holidays (although we promised each other to wait for action). After about 2 weeks of analysis, I have understood the root cause. It is EMAIL. Yes, you read it right, it is the outright bastardization of one of the most marvellous tools of our generation, Email. Ok, to release the puzzled look on your face let me explain.

During my holidays there were some exchanges between the gentleman and some individuals who I would not hire even to do janitorial work (in some scarily senior positions)and the man got disillusioned by the attitude (rightfully so in my opinion). The exchanges show that there were not much of a face to face conversation, maybe some phone calls and possibly one real meeting. It is too late. Unfortunately for us, this gentleman brings over 15 years of expertise in the market under consideration and is one of the most respected figures across the industry (which models after the Italian Gomorrah)circles.

When I negotiate for my next role, I plan to add a 20% Blackberry tax to my compensation if I am expected to stay connected. Different from Barack Obama? Well if I choose to change the world, I will not let others intrude my life through the tool meant for the "maybe important but certainly not urgent" communication. If it is really urgent and important, call me - DO NOT send me an email or post a comment on this blog ;)

Blackberry (or email) is certainly addictive, but I wonder if Steven Covey, Michael Brimm (the INSEAD OB God) or John Maxwell (21 irrefutable laws of leadership) will approve of the current surrender of human brain to technology. It will take us another decade in my opinion to understand the power of getting things done in the real world is more important than technology ever will be. Stop hiding behind your computer and please get to work.

Negotiating with people without values

I am involved now in a big multi-party negotiation. There is nothing more frustrating than negotiating with people without values. It is much worse than people without authority. I have both kind of parties in my negotiation. Most of these people do not like setting ground rules (Italians grrr). I am inches away from walking away simply because of values. My BATNA is scarily low, but hey those negotiation instructors in INSEAD need to learn a thing or two about assigning scores in the BATNA value for human pride and values.

Leadership

A day when I am learning more about leadership than any other day in this company. I am in the middle of an organizational storm and everyone around me has been touched. Some have been touched positively and some have been touched negatively. I do not think it is right for me to judge especially the negative touches. But I am convinced, the power of °ahimsa° (Martin Luther King + Mahatma Gandhi) using non-violence to achieve victories over the more powerful does work.

Strong values and strong belief in self does take you places. I have seen it today more than any other day in my life. A smile is glowing in my face although I do think there is huge potential in the ones that lost and hope they are able to move forward in peace with themselves.

Bad times test one's character

It is incredible how much one is put to test in a crisis. I have not seen a Crisis this close from an industry that is right in the heart of the crisis. Demand in November for what we make is down 30% on the median. That is notorious in an industry with razor thin margins and very high capacity costs and full of excess capacity. Everything about the business model is value destroying (strategy 101) in the industry I am passionate about.

The sad part is how people react in the crisis. The key phenomenon I am seeing around me today is called "Grab the chair". People have clearly stopped acting in the best interest of the company. People have stopped acting to cut costs. People have stopped acting to improve morale of people down the chain. Instead people have chosen as their number one priority "Saving their chairs". Everyone will do anything and everything just to ensure that they maintain the status-quo with their jobs. No one around me sees this crisis as an opportunity to redefine the way business is done. To think how to capitalize on the opportunities when we get out of the crisis. How we can build capacity in our networks to ensure that we reduce failures and do things right first time. It is painful. Today more than ever I want to be an entrepreneur rather than an employee.

5 Year Reunion

When I was told by a colleague that he was returning to INSEAD for his five year reunion my heart missed a beat. I am almost racing towards 2 years since graduation and guess what???? I am uncertain about everything about life. Uncertain about what I want out of life. How I can make career a less risky marathon and not a daily dose of "100 meter dash". Its all frightening. But then I look at my job and I say. "Wow, I work with those 3 markets that are growing exponentially and we are starting from scratch, I also work for this company that is doing so spectacularly well right?"...there is still 3 years to do something to be proud of. I am not sure if I want to be proud there or not. I certainly want to be happy.

New Life, New Role, New Results, New News.

Hello all,
It is incredible how much life has changed in the last four months. Things have been looking up, up and up. My role changed into something I was looking to do. A line role, where my results can be measured. I also seem to enjoy the travelling (100K miles in the last 3 months) and the numerous people I meet. I have lot several weekends on flights but the effort has been well worthit.

In the meantime the markets have been crashing and things are getting a little yucky with the markets and we are unsure if things will stay as good. We will wait and watch.

Hilarious Italian Laws !

Non-EU citizen staying with you - inform police authorities
Published 2007.07.04

As of April 12, 2007, Law no. 46, dated April 11, 2007 reinstates the obligation to inform police authorities if you have a non-EU citizen staying with you.

This must be done within 48 hours of the person arriving.

Anyone not respecting this obligation risks a fine of between 160 and 1,100 euros.

Employers employing a non-EU worker are not required to do so.

This is compulsory for all those who, for any reason, give lodgings to, or host foreign or displaced citizens (even relatives or similar), or allow said persons to use property in Italy.

The communication must be detailed and include all the hosted person’s document details and exact location of the property.

If accommodation was provided for non-EU citizens between February 20 and April 12 (the period in which this requirement was not in force, given that the law has now been reinstated), you are simply required to communicate this information to the authorities as soon as possible.