Practical Austerity

Global economic conditions have forced the widespread adoption of austerity programs – not just within governments, but also corporations, small businesses, and individual households. Greece’s complex financial issues are constant fodder for world news, and our U.S. government is knotted up in bi-partisan debate over a stunning spend rate that continues to increase the national debt. Most financial struggles have a lower news profile than these stories, but they all have a few things in common from which we can learn.

Managing financials requires a great deal of practicality and discipline. Budgets must be well-conceived and realistic. Actual spending should be governed by the budget, and not obscured via accounting smoke and mirrors. When revenue is down, expenses must be cut. Difficult decisions have to be made by leaders that carefully consider the short and long term impact of available options for action.

Few are fond of operating in an austere environment. Merriam-Webster defines “austere” with words like “cold”, “somber”, “grave”, and “unadorned”. It sounds like there should be little room for fancy expense account meals in an austere budget, doesn’t it?

When money is tight in our own households, we eat ground chuck instead of choice steak, vacation at home instead of flying abroad, combine errands to conserve fuel, use coupons to stretch a dollar, do our own mani/pedis, postpone large purchases, repair electronics instead of replacing them, and mend clothing to avoid buying new. Credit cards are cut up or put away to avoid undue temptation.

Small businesses modify their business plans to stay afloat. They postpone growth, operate with a skeletal staff, renegotiate rents, forge cooperative partnerships, and get creative with marketing. They make the changes necessary to stay in business, even if they are painful.

We hope that big business and government leaders have the courage to apply the practical austerity we employ in our smaller-scale finances. Instead of tolerating posturing to protect executive positions and privilege, let’s hold leaders accountable for making the difficult decisions for the good of employees, stakeholders, and citizens.

Why Non-IT-Centric Corporations Need IT MarCom

I spent the last five years of my career in Hospitality Technology in IT Marketing and Communications. Not long into that newly-created position, I discovered that an IT MarCom department was an unusual beast within a corporation whose primary business is not technology. This was made obvious to me when I spoke as part of a panel at a conference hosted by Forrester Research, where the concept was clearly foreign to many of the IT executives who attended.

How can an IT Marketing/Communications department benefit a non-IT corporation?

1. INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS: Large corporations often have large IT departments, with their own complex internal organizational structures. The team may be geographically dispersed. An internal communication strategy enhances employee engagement, promotes visibility and understanding of strategic goals, illustrates the beneficial impact of IT work on the core business, and improves team member loyalty and retention.

2. POSITIONING IT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AS A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE: Although technology is not the core business, it assuredly supports the strategic and operational efforts of the core business. If IT products and services are innovative and robust, they are providing a competitive advantage. IT MarCom is responsible for creating a compelling message to make that clear.

3. PACKAGING IT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR IMPLEMENTATION: IT software engineers design and develop technology solutions. They are not well-equipped to brand products, or to articulate benefits or market technology in a way that will encourage acceptance by the target audience. Expert assistance in this effort can make all the difference in the successful adoption of new technology.

4. EDUCATING CORPORATE EXECUTIVES: IT makes a big contribution to the success of the business, and needs organizational and financial support from the executives who control funding. The more they know about what IT has done, is doing, and can do for them, the less IT will be vilified as a necessary evil. IT should be welcomed into the inner sanctum of strategic planning.

5. GATHERING ACCOLADES: An IT MarCom group can pursue recognition for technology products and services. Imagine winning a high rank in Computerworld’s “Best Places to Work in IT”, being among the top of the “InformationWeek 500”, achieving CXO Media’s “Enterprise Value Award”, or even bringing home a MarCom or Telly Award for your IT department. Along with a morale boost to IT, the entire corporation gains prestige and credibility with these awards.

Large IT departments need their own MarCom group to give technology and IT team members the focused attention and the identity they need to be successful.

If your company needs IT MarCom assistance, Haropulos Bailey Consulting can help. Contact us via email at habaconsulting@comcast.net.

Weiner's No Leader - and No Boy Scout

I can’t let the subject of Rep. Anthony Weiner’s indiscretions pass without commentary. As disgusting as I find his sexually-charged internet photos and texting to be, the bigger issue is his stupidity and cowardly lies. Weiner is a U.S. Congressman! He was elected to be a leader and a champion of the people he represents. He is also a husband and, unfortunately, reportedly soon to be a father. I am very sad for his wife, who must not have known the darker side of Weiner’s character when she married him just 11 months ago.

Democratic leadership will most likely find a way to force Weiner to resign. If they don’t, however, and the people of New York choose to allow Weiner to continue as their representative in the House of Representatives, then their Congressman is a man who takes semi-nude, narcissistic photos of himself with his cell phone, holding his business with just a towel obscuring the details. Make no mistake – Weiner will be forced to resign. He will have to tuck his wiener between his legs and join the ranks of former politicians disgraced by sexual misconduct. Maybe his wife will keep him, but the House shouldn’t.

Some hold the opinion that “private” behavior is unrelated to Weiner’s political suitability. To that I say:

(1) Representative Weiner lied about his sexting activity, therefore
(2) He is a Liar, and

(3) He will lie about other things.

(4) He cannot be trusted.

Since 1789, the U.S. House of Representatives requires a swearing in oath. The oath was updated in 1884: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”

Maybe it’s time we enacted an enhanced oath with elements from the Boy Scout Oath: “On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law*; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.”

Anthony Weiner, we shouldn’t allow anyone to follow you. You do not deserve to be a Congressman, or a Boy Scout.

*Scout Law: http://usscouts.org/usscouts/advance/boyscout/bslaw.asp

How Much is Too Much?

There were stretches in my career when I gave almost more than I had to my employer. I traveled constantly, pulled all-nighters, worked seven days a week, and worked around chemotherapy treatments when I had cancer. I always felt like it was worth it. However, I married at thirty-five, never had children, and retired from corporate life at fifty-two. My situation is not the norm.

In this era of high-unemployment and high expectations for productivity, how do you decide whether your professional efforts are worth the personal cost? There is no definitive answer, but I can spotlight some warning signs that fall into two major categories:

YOUR HEALTH IS SUFFERING

• You don’t get enough sleep, because you have some degree of insomnia. Your work responsibilities intrude into your “offline” thoughts and don’t allow you to relax.

• Weight gain is an issue, for a number of reasons. For example, you eat out too much because of travel, or you get home too late to make a decent meal, or you are seriously hating life and feel like you deserve to eat what makes you happy.

• You “don’t have time” to work out.

• Digestion issues plague you. Indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, and/or ulcers.

• Self-Medication issues, including over-consumption of alcohol or painkillers, which you “need” to relax.

• You ignore worrying symptoms, because you would rather not know if you have a serious health issue.

YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOVED ONES ARE AFFECTED

• Your most important relations are jeopardized. Specifically, you don’t have enough quality time to spend with your significant other – intimately, socially, or at leisure.

• Family events just cannot get purchase on your calendar, because of work commitments.

• You rarely get to see your children play, perform, or achieve, although they are rapidly growing up.

• Birthday, Anniversary, Graduation, and Confirmation wishes are missed or belated, because you just can’t keep up.

• Vacations are paid time off that is sacrificed. There is no time.

• You are ALWAYS “connected” to work, via email or text messages. Your boss expects an immediate answer.

There should be boundaries to employment’s intrusion on your personal life. There may be an exception if you are a CEO or an Executive Vice President (in which case you ARE your job). How much of your life blood do you plan to sacrifice for a paycheck? Sometimes, there is a point where too much is asked. That is the time to explore alternatives for your life and your loved ones.