Guy Kawasaki’s post on the Top Ten Marketing Podcasts is full of great information on marketing in today’s world. 

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that marketing is just for businesses.  Smart people will want to learn all they can about marketing…we’re all marketing something.

As I’ve written before, I am a fan of the innovation spirit in Apple and Steve Jobs.  My respect for that innovation spirit doesn’t wane even with the stock option issues in front of both. 

In the spirit of fair coverage I think Fortune’s piece on Jobs is telling.  You’d like to believe that he will come out of this fine, but even men of great brilliance can do stupid things.  Yes, I believe misrepresentation and rigging the game are stupid choices.  The U.S. Attorney must think that and more…

Hope I’m wrong on this one.

A wise man once said, "you pay talented people for their results, not their time."  How true!  Sadly, many organizations feel it a divine right to keep their people locked into constrictive schedules.  Mediocre managers foolishly believe that they get their money’s worth when an employee works a certain number of hours.  If you think about it, this approach implies that the organization doesn’t really believe in the talented people they have.  Consequently, they buy into the science of results = time worked.

If a talented art director delivers results in three hours instead of eight, is that an issue?  You may think, "hey, he or she could get even more results if they worked five more hours."  I’d say they’d get more results if they picked their daughter up from school to get some ice cream.  Corporate America needs to realize the following:

1. The "command control" approach to leading and managing does not work.  So stop it (if you’ve been applying this method)!
2. Generation X and Y won’t work for companies that don’t offer flexibility.
3. Talented people will always produce results…they’re DNA demands it.

Check out Pat Katepoo’s site it has some good resources to draw on as you navigate through work and life.

This article from the most recent Leader to Leader journal is out of this world.  It touched me deeply…much contemplation and validation.  Give me your perspective and why not join the Leader to Leader Institute?  I’m a proud member!

Even though Guy Kawasaki does a little advertising for LinkedIn, I thought you’d appreciate his insights on Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn. 

Networking has been essential for me, and as a people lover I wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to connect.  Whether you use LinkedIn for job hunting, business building or general connection I think you’ll benefit.

It appears that Hank McKinnell isn’t the only who had a merry Christmas.  As today’s Bloomberg.com reports, Bob Nardelli is calling it a day at Home Depot.

Funny how losing in corporate America can feel a lot like winning.  Of course, if you see life as more than stock options, severance packages and cash in-hand you might disagree. 

Bigger issues loom here…like what has Bob Nardelli traded for all of that money and power.  Everybody is a trader…

With a year coming to an end it seemed appropriate that I would have a vivid nightmare this morning.  Ok, some of it was more like a dream.  I’ll explain…

Here goes:

My wife and I are making plans for a vacation (I think somewhere in the Caribbean…this is what I meant by the dreamy part).  It felt great…

We needed to call the travel agent back to correct some information, but as I call out to my wife for clarification of the correction she’s swimming in the most beautiful ocean you could imagine.  Swimming free and happy.  As I’m talking to the agent, I start thinking of an island near Florida.  But I can’t remember the name of the island.  Suddenly, a friend from a former work group appears to provide a map.

I couldn’t help but ask him about the old group.  He goes on to describe how it looks like nothing I would recognize…for the worse.  I swear I could feel the sadness in my sleep state.  Totally dismantled and fallen down.

I’ve stated before that you should not fall in love with your employer.  One key reason is business is not about love, but money.  If you own the show you might choose to blend the two, but most shareholder-owned companies operate purely from a profit perspective.  I am not endorsing or indicting this…you decide for yourself.  I can tell you from experience…falling in love is dangerous.  If it comes to an end you’re gonna need to get over it.  Just like a love affair…

In some ways the nightmare from this morning may be a fitting ending to many things.

Found this photo today courtesy of Fox News.  A bald eagle flying over the Manhattan skyline.  Couldn’t help but think of Seal’s song "Crazy:"

"In a world full of people, only some want to fly…isn’t that crazy?"

Out of the ordinary and inspiring!

OK, stop what you’re doing and write down your story.  Don’t be afraid or skeptical!

What is your story?  What have you done?  What do you know how to do?  What are your great feats (this one is relative)? 

Just brainstorm…don’t worry about who will read it…right now.

Did you come up with anything?  If you took my advice about not to being afraid, I bet you found the following:

1. You’ve accomplished more than you thought.
2. Your life IS a story.
3. You might need some mentoring/coaching (everybody should have one of these).
4. You have the makings of a great resume/credentials.
5. You’re worth (internal) more than you thought.

Isn’t it great to be awake?  Your 2007 will be great too…if you let it.

This might be a very merry Christmas for Hank McKinnell (the former CEO of Pfizer).  As the article from TheStreet.com illustrates he’s going to leave Pfizer a "richer" man than he was before he arrived.  His package will total close to $200 million.  Not bad for…well, you decide for yourself how good he was and whether he’s worth $200 million.

For the record, if you make customers, employees, and shareholders money then you’ve earned your windfall.  If you perform and produce results you should be paid accordingly.  If you don’t, we have some nice parting gifts for playing.  Pfizer’s results speak for themselves.

Merry Christmas Hank.