Archive for July 6th, 2010

Here’s what NOT to tell your boss, when you miss your performance objective (by a lot)

July 6, 2010

Let’s fresh our memories. 

Obama’s crack team of economists said: “Let O spend $750 billion to stimulate the economy and unemployment won’t go over 8%”.

Then, Team Obama overspent the $750 billion by about $100 billion.

If you’re keeping track, that’s an overspend of more than 13%.

(Don’t try that at your company … )

Then, unemployment shot past 8%, all the way to 10% … and has settled between 9.5 and 10%.

The first excuse: “the mess we inherited was even worse than we could have imagined.”

Hmmm.

You self-proc;aim to be the the smartest people on God’s earth and you’re the ones who set the performance metric.

Try again.

OK, try this: “critics say the unemployment rate is 9.7% .. but at least it’s not 12% or 13% or 15%…”

Huh ?

First, in Racine – where the stupid line was delivered – unemployment is 14.2%

Second, the argument is idiotic.  Carried to the logical extreme, as long as unemployment stays below 100%, the stimulus worked because unemployment could have been even higher – forget that 8% number.

Try that logic in your next operating review: “well we might have lost even more market share”.

My bet: you’ll be shown the door.

Here’s the video if you haven’t seen it … I love when the teleprompter is turned off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3TlNsPFkyE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3TlNsPFkyE

Posted in Employment - Jobs, Obama Administration | Leave a Comment »

Caddy’s puttin’ on the Ritz … lipstick on a pig ?

July 6, 2010

Bottom line: After years of decline, Cadillac is trying to regain its luxury aura.

But given its older and less affluent owner base, that’s an uphill battle.

* * * * *

Excerpted from BusinessWeek, What Cadillac Is Learning from the Ritz, June 17, 2010

Last year, General Motors spent $354 million on marketing for its Cadillac division — more than any other luxury car maker in the U.S.

The branding campaign was largely ineffective: In 2009 Cadillac sold all of 109,092 vehicles, its worst year since 1953.

The brand’s product lineup needs refreshing, the average age of its buyers is a less-than-youthful 62 (13 years older than typical BMW owners), and Cadillac hasn’t been the top-selling luxury auto brand in the U.S. since 1997.

What to do? Sell like the Ritz.

It’s taking a cue from the hotel chain’s attention to customer service to restore a brand that’s sorely lacking in luster

In its effort to reconnect with upscale customers, GM has brought in trainers from Ritz-Carlton to show Cadillac dealers how to create a consistent sales experience across the U.S.

Cadillac has copied Ritz’s pocket-size “Credo” cards, which explain how customers should be treated.

Ritz employees also have $2,000 that can be used to make up for a bad experience or surprise a guest with a better one.

So Cadillac service chiefs are now given greater flexibility to extend OnStar subscriptions, provide free maintenance, or even reduce service charges for customers who are unhappy.

GM also is trying to garnish the brand image. Cadillac recently removed most references to mass-market icon GM from its Web pages and e-mails.

Still, no image remake can fully succeed until Cadillac comes up with more stylish models that can attract younger buyers.

For now, the company’s image will likely remain dinged as it continues churning out land yachts which appeal mainly to buyers in their 70s.

“They don’t need another  geezer-mobile.”

Full article:
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_26/b4184024360730.htm?chan=magazine+channel_news+-+companies+%2B+industries

Posted in Mktg - Brands | Leave a Comment »

"Let him eat! Let him eat!"

July 6, 2010

The decorum of the annual Coney Island hot dog eating contest was disrupted when a former chanp dog-eater stormed the stage.

Is nothing sacred ?

* * * * *

ITN: Tsumani storms the stage at hot dog eating contest,  Jul 5 2010

Competitive eater Joey “Jaws” Chestnut gobbled his way to a fourth consecutive championship un the annual Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Champion Chestnut downed 54 hot dogs in ten minutes to win the annual Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Chestnut was disappointed with his performance, despite claiming the bejewelled, mustard-yellow prize belt plus a $20,000 purse.

The 26-year-old from San Jose, California, was aiming for a record 70 dogs in ten minutes, beating his own record of 68 last year.

The event was marred when Chestnut was suddenly upstaged by the surprise appearance of his biggest rival: six-time champion Takeru Kobayashi, who did not compete but crashed the stage after Chestnut’s win and wrestled with police. He has been charged with resisting arrest, trespass and obstructing governmental administration.

“Let him eat! Let him eat!” the crowd chanted as police handcuffed the world’s Number three professional eater, dubbed “The Tsunami.”

32-year-old Kobayashi did not eat this year because he refused to sign a contract with Major League Eating, the fast food equivalent of the NFL.

Full article:
http://itn.co.uk/5249dbb22d318bd642d2288f15577336.html

 

Posted in Laughs, Sports & Athletics, Sports - Games - Recreation | Leave a Comment »