Money vs Business: You Decide

Money vs Business: You Decide

Regardless to whether you watch sports or not, I’m pretty sure you all have heard about the recent events regarding the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers and the NBA but if you have not here is what happened.  On Saturday there was a recording released of David Sterling having a conversation with his girlfriend and in that conversation he made some outrageous remarks.  He did not want his girlfriend hanging around with African Americans, posting pictures with them in Instagram, or even bringing them to the Clippers games.

According to the article on BusinessWeek.com, “Sterling Has No Future With the Los Angeles Clippers,” this was not Sterling’s first time broadcasting his racist views.  He had been known to be a slumlord in his LA apartment complexes refusing to rent to African Americans and Hispanics.  If he did rent to them, they received the bottom of the barrel.  He was sued but settled out of court for a whooping 2.5 million dollars for running the Clippers team like a “slave plantation”.  The charges never stuck before because there was no evidence, but this time it was clear as day.  The NBA believes there is no room for people with those types of views in their organization.  It is now in the hands of commissioner Adam Silver to determine what happens next.

That may seem like a lot of pressure on one man, but when you’re a manager of such a large organization it happens.  He has to decide what he needs to do and do it fast.  In another article from BusinessWeek.com, “Sterling Comments Sink Clippers Ticket Prices,” ticket prices have since dropped tremendously.  Fans do not want to attend games behind a person who thinks that way.  As a business manager and a human being, Silver has a decision to make.  He has to decide whether to keep a man whom has been involved and bringing money into the NBA for over twenty years and have business constantly decline, or keep players and fans happy by firing this man and keep business happy. I think in this case his decision is clear-cut.  Business will decline with fans and players will not play if this man remains an owner.  There has already been talk of protest from both parties.  More importantly despite Sterling bringing in a lot of money, you have to be cautious as to how you run a business.  Regardless as to Silver feels the same way Sterling feels about minorities, he will be looked at in a negative light.  He has to think about the majority and what will be appeasing to them along with himself.  With your morals and success of business on the line what would you do?

 http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-04-28/donald-sterling-has-no-future-with-the-los-angeles-clippers#r=most%20popular

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-04-29/don-sterlings-comments-sink-clippers-ticket-prices

General Motor's = Quality of Life?

What kind of car do you drive?  Is it safe and reliable?  As some of you have heard, there has been a recent recall on General Motor’s vehicles such as the Chevrolet Cobalt, the Pontiac G6, Chevrolet Malibu’s, and Chevrolet HHR’s.  These vehicles have been getting recalled for since February of this year and have only increased in number since.  GM has had problems with some of their vehicles since 2003, but has neglected to say or do anything about it.  Problems have ranged from airbags not deploying, to faulty ignition switches that could turn off at any given time.  Thirteen deaths along with dozens of accidents have occurred at the hands of General Motors vehicle issues.  As of recently, it has come to light the GM was actually warned about their failing products, but neglected to do anything about it until now.  How does that sound to you?

           

This sounds like a number of things in my eyes, but the biggest thing being lack of sufficient management.  What manager in their correct state of mind would allow something like this to happen firstly and allow it to continually happen secondly?  Not only does it make the company as a whole look terrible, but because of some managers lack of care, people have lost their lives.  Many of the people that were killed were no older than sixteen or seventeen years of age.  Was the money that important?

           

It is evident someone from the top dropped the ball in a major way and GM is now paying the hefty price.  As a manager of any company, big or small, it is your duty to make sure your decisions are beneficial for the company.  It is not about you as an individual anymore, you have a company image to uphold.  Good managers look past the money and the right now aspect of the business, they look at the future aspect of it.  Not only do they think of their employees but most importantly their customers.  The customers are what matters when it comes to a business such as this.  They are the reason you are where you are as a company.  It comes a time where money is not the most important thing, but the welfare of those under you.  What kind of manager would you be?

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2014-03-31/gm-safety-agency-face-congress-over-recalls
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2014-04-01/congress-seeks-answers-on-delay-in-gm-recall

Being a Great Leader in a Competitive World

Most would agree that being the manager of a business or becoming a manager of a business requires hard work and perseverance.  Besides the workload, one has to have qualities of a being or potentially being a leader.  Being a leader is not always fun or easy, but it is a position only a few can do and do it greatly.  There are certain traits that great leader’s exhibits which are as follows:  strength, positive energy, passion, and selflessness.  A leader has to be strong because no one wants to be led by a weak leader.  That is probably something most people can attest too.  Positivity is something that everyone should have especially leaders.  There may come a time when your employees are feeling down or stressed and as a manager or leader it is your job to keep them uplifted and positive.  That also makes for a better work environment.

Competition is something prevalent in the world nowadays especially in the world of business.  Everything is a competition from games, to schools, to certain jobs.  It is safe to say the world is a competitive place; however, some do not know how to compete to their advantage.  An article from Entreprenuer.com have the following tips: when getting a break, don’t blow it; stay focused on the big picture; don’t do handshakes or verbal deals; negotiate in good faith; be genuine and direct; be professional; compete to win fair and square; handle rejection like a pro; and try not to be “interesting”.   I am pretty sure these speak for themselves and for a fact are very important in the business world. 

Together these traits and facts really go hand in hand.  The last few points are needed to get into the position of managing while the first four traits are needed to maintain the position.  There are other things besides these that go into entering and working you way up into the business world.  By the same token very attainable for any and every person with hard work and dedication.  Keep your head in the right direction and work hard and it will all pay off.  It may not happen in the timeframe you would like, but patience is a virtue.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/232522

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/232653

Women We Are

As a woman do you feel you have a major place in society? Do you feel you are valued as much as men? In school do feel you feel you cannot relate to of your professors because they are all men? In the work force do you feel you are allotted the same opportunities as men? On the home front do you feel it is your duty to do everything from being a working woman to being a wife to being a mother? The articles on BusinessWeek helped shine the light on these particular issues.

This week in BusinessWeek, women were the subject as to why women are not as prevalent in business and what keeps women astray. Majority of the school, at least the top business schools, are dominated by men. The percentages of female professors at these universities are no more than thirty percent. When you think of all the educated women in the world how could this be? Another major factor is motherhood. Some women still feel they cannot do what their husbands or male counterparts can because they have too many other duties and this is far from true.

Both articles I read show women are capable of doing more than they think it's all in how you handle it. Some women feel business schools and jobs are too male dominated and they would not be treated fairly or respected. Just because these schools are male dominated does not mean you do not have a place. If anything you should go into those schools with your head held high and make it known what you are there for. Like managers of a company you have to make them respect you. Make them know just because you are a woman does not mean you cannot go and further and better yourself. You want to make a living for your family too. Some women do not go to school because they have a child but because you have child does not mean you are incapable. The young woman in the article went to school while she was pregnant and while taking care of a husband and a four month she still managed to get her degree. It is not impossible ladies. She even mapped out suggestions to those that are in this situation or are thinking about having a baby while in school. As women we cannot be held down by our circumstances.

It is time for us to stand up and do what it is we want to do and not dictated to do. If we want to be CEO of a Fortune 500 company who says that we cannot? There is no rule that states that. If anything we would make better managers because we are more understanding than men. Speaking from experience I was one of the best and not to mention the youngest at the age of twenty. Now I have that experience to put on my resume because I would let no one tell me I could not do something. I worked my tail off to get that position and I deserved it. Ladies we can do this we have to get together encourage one another and do it.

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-02-26/having-a-baby-while-youre-in-business-school-a-roadmap

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-02-20/faculties-at-elite-business-schools-still-skew-heavily-male

Family and Management

On entrepreneur.com, there was an article about managing a business while working with family.  According to the article, there is always room for error when dealing with family in business.  Some family members may slack on their work because they are family, some may pick arguments and fights with others because they know what buttons to push, and some do not know how to leave personal matters at the door.  Some may intertwine personal and business life at home or at the office and some may want to do things their way even if it is slow and ancient.  While all of this seems to be a bit much and stressful, but a good manager can have these things flow a tad bit easier.  The article gives four points to make this flow smoothly.  First, play each family member’s strength.  Define the roles, never overstep authority and decide which family member is better at what.  Second, keep personal matters out of the business.  It is family and family knows everything; however, they can never make a presence in the workplace, it will only complicate things.  Third, be understanding of the generational divide, meaning find a happy medium between the things the older and younger family members can deal with without causing confusion.  Lastly, separate personal from professional time.  Do not discuss personal information at the business and vice versa.  Everyone needs a break and it also decreases problems in the office.

There was another interesting article regarding management of business from a family perspective only this one was a little different.  Suppose you and your spouse were in business together and things had been going well.  As time goes on things on the personal end tend fall by the wayside and you all have come to the conclusion that you need a divorce.  How is it you all can run a business while going through or even after the divorce?  Entreprenier.com sums up what they feel are key ways to avoid a travesty in the workplace.  First, create a division between legal, financial, and emotional issues.  Do not bring the emotions, finances, and legalities to the workplace.  This is a difficult time because both worlds are about to change drastically.  However, it must kept professional at all times.  Secondly, do not go through this alone; always have someone in your corner whether it be a friend or family member.  Preferably it should be no one at work because you never want to mix business and personal matters together.  Thirdly take a break meaning you all should not be there at the same place if possible.  One should take sometime off so you all can be apart.  It would be greatly positive for both parties.  Fourthly, define your roles, which consist of redefining you and your spouse’s relationship.  You all have to find a way to work with each other without crossing boundaries.  In this process, you all will be able to find out whether you all can continue to work together or not.  Fifthly, give yourself an out meaning, try out and see if working together can continue.  If it does work, great keep in going; however, if it ever becomes too much or you all decided you cannot work together, create a method where once could leave the company and not be forced to stay there.  Lastly it is very important to accept an evolving relationship as you all move forward.  Know that whatever decision you all make in the beginning does not have to be final so if you all feel that working together does not work out, it’s okay.  Give yourself time.

 Managing needless to say is not always an easy task and can sometimes be very stressful.  A good manager will know how to deal with both situations accordingly.  It is important in either of these situations, as manager you take care of yourself first and business.  If you are not one hundred percent, your business cannot be and vice versa.  Both of these article present key points for being managers in these situations.  Hopefully neither one of the situations occur, but should it ever hopefully you will know how to deal with it.  They also can coincide and help function even when these situations do not occur.  I think all of the points in both articles will help a manager effectively manage any business.  Speaking as a former manager, these are point or qualities that are needed on a regular basis.

http://m.entreprenuer.com/article/231742

http://m.entrepreneur.com/article225916