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