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Einstein Was Right -- AGAIN!
 I
saw a quote that epitomizes what Chief Executive Boards International is
about
"We can't solve problems by using
the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
- Albert Einstein
Einstein's point was that anyone's knowledge
and understanding is limited to his own experience, training, education, and
information sources. He was also making a case for the advancement of science
and knowledge, which expands the inventory of possible solutions to any problem.
And does so in surprising and sometimes unpredictable ways.
Advancements in silicon technology enabled
microelectronics which enabled implantable medical devices like pacemakers which
enable people to live longer which extends their productive earning years which
enables their children to go to college which enables those children to advance
a yet unknown area of knowledge.
The tagline of CEBI is "We
Share Ideas". We also share Perspective.
Other board members are rarely looking at the problem the same way the
member with the problem is (and has been) looking at it. And they have
knowledge, experience and viewpoints previously unknown to the member with the
problem. Thus we're solving problems using a different kind of thinking than was
used when they were created.
Einstein was right -- again!
What Have You Done for Me Lately?
Do you find you customers just don't
understand or appreciate what you do for them? Could it be because
they can't remember what those things are?
 I
had a curious experience last month while on my way to a Local Board meeting.
When we landed in Tampa, the Captain came on the intercom and said "Thank
you for flying American Airlines today. We're pleased to have provided another on-time
arrival. We're at the gate about 6 minutes ahead of schedule." To
someone who has come to regard the spread between actual and scheduled airline
arrival and departure times as a somewhat random number generator, it was almost
humorous.
To my surprise, however, a number of passengers actually reacted to this
announcement. In the jetway, I heard a lady in a wheelchair mention "It was
nice to be here early." A number of people apparently processed the terms
"American Airlines", "on-time arrival" and "early"
together in their heads, and that perception is likely to stick there for
awhile.
For the rest of the article, Click
Here.....
Growth or Harvest? Do I
Really Have to Decide?
An interesting and
provocative discussion came out of one member's presentation at a recent Local
Board Meeting. It focused the Board on an essential strategic question
that business owners can't ignore. A
member was talking about taking a big project which would have stepped his
business up from about $4 million to almost $7 million. He had already concluded this
would put extraordinary stress on his management team (mostly himself). As
the Board asked him more questions, it turned out he was in "leadership
gridlock" -- he had no one other than himself who he could count on for
leadership within the company. And he was apparently already at the level of
time and effort he was able to give it himself. So, he's in a corner -- step up
the business and bring in the management help to support it or harvest the
business -- optimize it at its current size while continuing to manage it by
himself.
What did the Board
say? Click
Here.....
Fall Summit Reminder
Our Fall Summit will be a
return to a favorite venue of CEBI members -- Virginia Crossings Resort in Glen
Allen (Richmond), VA. The Summit lineup will include Executive Briefings
by members, meetings of the National Boards meetings and some topic-specific
roundtables or workshops. For a sample of presentations from prior
Summits, see the Summit
Library page (member user name and password required).
If you miss this Summit, you'll
be missing a great event. Mark your calendar for the Fall
Summit, November 13-14.
Thanks,
Terry Weaver
CEO
Chief Executive Boards International
TerryWeaver@ChiefExecutiveBoards.com
www.chiefexecutiveboards.com
www.chiefexecutiveblog.com
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