Comments for First Friday Book Synopsis http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com "...like CliffNotes on steroids..." Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:10:34 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on What Innovators Can Learn from Bill Belichick by Bob Morris http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/what-innovators-can-learn-from-bill-belichick/#comment-524 Bob Morris Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:10:34 +0000 http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/?p=3863#comment-524 Again, we agree. Of course Bedlichick's cheating wasn't right. Draw up a list of history's ten greatest leaders and I'll bet you can then identify at least 2-3 serious flaws in the character of each. (I drew up my own list and most are also among history's greatest cheaters.) Your comment (i.e. #3) at least indirectly refers to punishment. I doubt if Belichick pays any attention to criticism of his recent decision in the Colts game or even his violation of NFL rules concerning surveillance of other teams. In fact, I doubt if Belichick ever feels any guilt, however others may judge him. If Friedrich Nietsche owned an NFL team, he would probably want Belichick to be his head coach. What do others think about these and other issues? Again, we agree. Of course Bedlichick’s cheating wasn’t right. Draw up a list of history’s ten greatest leaders and I’ll bet you can then identify at least 2-3 serious flaws in the character of each. (I drew up my own list and most are also among history’s greatest cheaters.) Your comment (i.e. #3) at least indirectly refers to punishment. I doubt if Belichick pays any attention to criticism of his recent decision in the Colts game or even his violation of NFL rules concerning surveillance of other teams. In fact, I doubt if Belichick ever feels any guilt, however others may judge him. If Friedrich Nietsche owned an NFL team, he would probably want Belichick to be his head coach.

What do others think about these and other issues?

]]> Comment on What Innovators Can Learn from Bill Belichick by Randy Mayeux http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/what-innovators-can-learn-from-bill-belichick/#comment-523 Randy Mayeux Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:38:17 +0000 http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/?p=3863#comment-523 I admit that I am presenting an ideal version of the concept of "leader." I am bothered by his "flaw," and think the price he paid was not strong enough. And, yes, he won three Super Bowls -- but I wonder if his "cheating" affected the outcome and gave him an unfair advantage. It worked -- but was it right? However, to argue the other side, every leader has some flaw or another. So I think I probably ultimately agree with you -- but I don't like it that a man caught doing what he did did not pay a greater price. I admit that I am presenting an ideal version of the concept of “leader.” I am bothered by his “flaw,” and think the price he paid was not strong enough. And, yes, he won three Super Bowls — but I wonder if his “cheating” affected the outcome and gave him an unfair advantage. It worked — but was it right?

However, to argue the other side, every leader has some flaw or another. So I think I probably ultimately agree with you — but I don’t like it that a man caught doing what he did did not pay a greater price.

]]> Comment on Dehumanized, a Second Take: Dehumanizing The Consumer and Job Seeker by 091123 Evernote | johnsumser.com http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/dehumanized-a-second-take-dehumanizing-the-consumer-and-job-seeker/#comment-522 091123 Evernote | johnsumser.com Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:46:01 +0000 http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/?p=2926#comment-522 [...] a rare piece from Mayeux about the importance of keeping the intimate parts of recruiting [...] [...] a rare piece from Mayeux about the importance of keeping the intimate parts of recruiting [...]

]]> Comment on What Innovators Can Learn from Bill Belichick by Bob Morris http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/what-innovators-can-learn-from-bill-belichick/#comment-521 Bob Morris Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:57:28 +0000 http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/?p=3863#comment-521 Although you and I agree on most matters, I disagree with your suggestion that Belichick does not "deserve" to be called a leader. The Patriots have won three Super Bowls and more NFL games than any other team since he became their head coach. Over the years, he has made a number of "tough calls" and most of them have been the right calls. My point is that achieving such results -- and doing so during a period of several years -- is only one criterion by which to identify a leader. There are others and the cheating scandal suggests one or more character flaws in Belichick (as well as poor judgment) that no one would ever associate with, for example, John Wooden or (in the NFL) Tony Dungy. There are several obvious examples in the business world of CEOs who also have achieved great success in terms of results and yet have indicated flawed character and imperfect judgment. For example, Robert Nardelli (Home Depot), Carly Fiorina (Hewlett-Packard), Durk Jager (Procter & Gamble), Steven Heyer (Starwood Hotels & Resorts), Frank Raines (Fannie Mae), and Dick Fuld (Lehman Brothers). I view them and Belichick as incomplete leaders...but leaders nonetheless. Although you and I agree on most matters, I disagree with your suggestion that Belichick does not “deserve” to be called a leader. The Patriots have won three Super Bowls and more NFL games than any other team since he became their head coach. Over the years, he has made a number of “tough calls” and most of them have been the right calls. My point is that achieving such results — and doing so during a period of several years — is only one criterion by which to identify a leader. There are others and the cheating scandal suggests one or more character flaws in Belichick (as well as poor judgment) that no one would ever associate with, for example, John Wooden or (in the NFL) Tony Dungy.

There are several obvious examples in the business world of CEOs who also have achieved great success in terms of results and yet have indicated flawed character and imperfect judgment. For example, Robert Nardelli (Home Depot), Carly Fiorina (Hewlett-Packard), Durk Jager (Procter & Gamble), Steven Heyer (Starwood Hotels & Resorts), Frank Raines (Fannie Mae), and Dick Fuld (Lehman Brothers). I view them and Belichick as incomplete leaders…but leaders nonetheless.

]]> Comment on What Innovators Can Learn from Bill Belichick by Randy Mayeux http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/what-innovators-can-learn-from-bill-belichick/#comment-520 Randy Mayeux Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:14:59 +0000 http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/?p=3863#comment-520 Bob, This is a really good post. I think the call was the wrong call, but gutsy -- and maybe brilliant. This I know, if it had worked, we would have called him a genius. But -- on another issue. Belichick is, I think, a successful coach who is a bad model as a leader. He cheated. He paid the largest fine in NFL history for a coach, and then he stated that it was simply a misunderstanding/misinterpretation (his own words:): "My interpretation of a rule in the Constitution and Bylaws was incorrect." If a man does not truly acknowledge wrong-doing; if a man persists in wrong-doing over a period of time; as Belichick did, I believe that he does not deserve the label "leader." Bob, This is a really good post. I think the call was the wrong call, but gutsy — and maybe brilliant. This I know, if it had worked, we would have called him a genius.

But — on another issue. Belichick is, I think, a successful coach who is a bad model as a leader. He cheated. He paid the largest fine in NFL history for a coach, and then he stated that it was simply a misunderstanding/misinterpretation (his own words:): “My interpretation of a rule in the Constitution and Bylaws was incorrect.”
If a man does not truly acknowledge wrong-doing; if a man persists in wrong-doing over a period of time; as Belichick did, I believe that he does not deserve the label “leader.”

]]> Comment on The Kindle, A Reflection — How will people change how they remember? by Randy Mayeux http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/the-kindle-a-reflection-how-will-people-change-how-they-remember/#comment-519 Randy Mayeux Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:16:07 +0000 http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/?p=3804#comment-519 Karl, you may be more right than you know. In California, Governor Schwarzenegger is calling for electronic textbooks. (http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Economy/story?id=7827997&page=1). For students without computer access, they will be able to get print-outs of the books. (I did not read this detail in this link, but remember reading it in another version of the news story). Ah, the pace of progress... Karl, you may be more right than you know. In California, Governor Schwarzenegger is calling for electronic textbooks. (http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Economy/story?id=7827997&page=1). For students without computer access, they will be able to get print-outs of the books. (I did not read this detail in this link, but remember reading it in another version of the news story).

Ah, the pace of progress…

]]> Comment on The Kindle, A Reflection — How will people change how they remember? by Karl Krayer http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/the-kindle-a-reflection-how-will-people-change-how-they-remember/#comment-517 Karl Krayer Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:01:34 +0000 http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/?p=3804#comment-517 They will likely print out the books so they can work with them. Remember in LOVE IS THE KILLER APP, the entire premise was that you should actively work with a book. There is almost nothing prescribed in that book that you could do with a Kindle. So, in the absence of a printed version to work with, people will print their own. Great! We will have now moved from a nice-looking book with a quality cover and pages, to an ink-jet printed version that we 3-hole punch in a binder. What a wonderful thing that will be! They will likely print out the books so they can work with them. Remember in LOVE IS THE KILLER APP, the entire premise was that you should actively work with a book. There is almost nothing prescribed in that book that you could do with a Kindle. So, in the absence of a printed version to work with, people will print their own. Great! We will have now moved from a nice-looking book with a quality cover and pages, to an ink-jet printed version that we 3-hole punch in a binder. What a wonderful thing that will be!

]]> Comment on Superfreakonomics and the Parable of the Horse Manure — (There is So Much I Don’t Know) by Superfreakonomics and the Parable of the Horse Manure « O*M*G* Moment's Blog http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/superfreakonomics-and-the-parable-of-the-horse-manure-there-is-so-much-i-dont-know/#comment-516 Superfreakonomics and the Parable of the Horse Manure « O*M*G* Moment's Blog Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:54:30 +0000 http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/?p=3767#comment-516 [...] http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/superfreakonomics-and-the-parable-of-the-horse-manure-there-... (via [...] [...] http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/superfreakonomics-and-the-parable-of-the-horse-manure-there-... (via [...]

]]> Comment on A Blog Update from Randy – with a brief look at our most popular posts, and a comment regarding “Comments” by Bob Morris http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/2009/11/15/a-blog-update-from-randy-%e2%80%93-with-a-brief-look-at-our-most-popular-posts-and-a-comment-regarding-%e2%80%9ccomments%e2%80%9d/#comment-514 Bob Morris Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:39:08 +0000 http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/?p=3730#comment-514 To the extent possible, the efforts of Randy, Karl, and their FFBS associates attempt to accommodate Voltaire's suggestion that we cherish those who seek the truth but beware of those who find it. The FFBS welcome mat is always out for suggestions. To the extent possible, the efforts of Randy, Karl, and their FFBS associates attempt to accommodate Voltaire’s suggestion that we cherish those who seek the truth but beware of those who find it.

The FFBS welcome mat is always out for suggestions.

]]> Comment on The Attack of the Killer Stuff — David Allen’s Getting Things Done Suggests a Solution by The Attack of the Killer Stuff — David Allen’s Getting Things Done Suggests … « O*M*G* Moment's Blog http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/the-attack-of-the-killer-stuff-david-allens-getting-things-done-suggests-a-solution/#comment-510 The Attack of the Killer Stuff — David Allen’s Getting Things Done Suggests … « O*M*G* Moment's Blog Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:42:35 +0000 http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/?p=3701#comment-510 [...] The Attack of the Killer Stuff — David Allen’s Getting Things Done Suggests a Solution via First Friday Book Synopsis by Randy Mayeux on 11/12/09 [...] [...] The Attack of the Killer Stuff — David Allen’s Getting Things Done Suggests a Solution via First Friday Book Synopsis by Randy Mayeux on 11/12/09 [...]

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