How to Create Meaningful Position Descriptions
Published August 24, 2011 | 
Management Lessons From the Orchestra
Attending a concert is an exhilarating night out. From the moment the hush falls over the audience once the Concert Master has ensured the orchestral members set their instruments to a common pitch, the excitement begins.
To hear the haunting qualities of the oboe, the flights of fancy on the piccolo, the rumbling of the double basses and tubas, the piercing brilliance of the trumpets, and the power and strength of the combined violins, violas and cellos makes a night out at the orchestra an event to be remembered.
But what about those musicians in the orchestra? These are the workers who produce the sounds the audience enjoys as music. They each contribute to the combined outcome of the orchestra. What does their job description look like?
In Praise of Monopolies
Published April 1, 2011 | The copyright in music debate creates an opportunity to re-think the purpose of copyright and similar laws, such as patent protection. Neither copyright nor patents had an illustrious beginning. Used by the powers in authority as an attempt to either limit free speech or raise money, the laws had a purpose to protect the position of those in authority. In other words, they were used to protect a monopoly.
More recently laws such as copyright, patents and trademarks are used to create monopolies not of political power but of economic power. Music writers sell their compositions to music publishers who invest time and money in print and marketing to create sales. The publishers and shareholders want a return on their investment. They are clearly not happy if someone gets access to the same product without paying for it. Book writers do the same.
So do hamburger makers.
Only Two Roads To Success
Published April 1, 2011 | There is something inherent in each one of us that keeps us aiming towards success. Defining success, however, is an individual matter.
For many people success is measured in tangible terms. The size and quality of the home, the car, the bank account, or the vacation location. Others, of course, add in more personal issues. Then there are less tangible things, such as quality of life, family, and other things that individuals assess are important.
But with that in mind, it is curious to see just how many people fail to meet their own standards of success in tangible things. It is this discontentment that keeps entrepreneurs dreaming and the rest of the population working for them.
5 Common Mistakes in Starting a Business
Published April 1, 2011 | Being self-employed is the dream of many. But as one self-employed person quipped, “I used to work for a boss; now I work for a tyrant.” Or, as another put it, “When you’re self-employed, you’re the first one hired and the last one fired.” That’s true, but you may also be the last one to get paid.
Undaunted, people launch themselves in various self-employment projects. But having found themselves on the self-employed merry-go-round, many find the journey tough going. This can lead to early retirement from self-employment and a loss of confidence in entrepreneur activity.
The mistakes many make, however, are readily overcome with a little planning and thought.
Here are five of the common mistakes made by startup businesses.
Recent Comments