Singing in Three Parts, Harmony Optional

When I was very young and singing in the school chorus, we were divided into soprano and alto and taught some simple harmonies.  (This wasn’t a girls-only school.  We were so young that even the biggest boys were still high-pitched.)  I was entranced by the sound, the theory, and the math involved in this, counting up and down the scale to get a third and a fifth and so on.   What I wanted to do, more than anything else, was be able to sing in more than one voice, all by myself.  I couldn’t do it.

Now, through the wonders of technology, I have more than one voice.  I am not sure how they harmonize; that is left to the audience to decide.  These voices – there are three – can’t actually be created simultaneously, but they can be produced at pretty much the same time.  This blog became my voice two years ago.  It is now joined by two others, which can be accessed with the links in the right column here.

The first, CEO2CEO, debuted July 21, 2009.  It’s me, CEO, speaking to other CEOs.  But you don’t have to be a CEO to read it or comment on an entry.  Believe me, CEOs need all the input they can get from people who aren’t CEOs.  It keeps us from believing our own press.  (In fact, the latest post is about why we really need people who don’t ‘yes’ us into inaction and anti-creativity.)

The second, Tools4Careers, debuted August 1, 2009.  It’s me, survivor of more bad-fit jobs than anyone else I know, talking about careers.  It will probably have more actionable advice than anything else.  Between the dismal unemployment rate and the wretched ‘employed but miserable’ rate, I’m hoping to hit a few right notes that inspire people to find their fit.

And I’m hoping you’ll bring your guitar, your kazoo, a pot and spoon to bang it with – and, of course, your voice – and add to the harmony.  It’s always better with a chorus!

Three Customers in a Few Hours Can’t Be Wrong

When it comes down to it, the best judges of quality of hire are your customers.  So imagine my slightly mixed feelings at getting these three emails within the space of a few hours from my daughter Marni, QoCS (Queen of Customer Service).

1- I came in to find an email sent out to the floor.  It was a kudos to me.  It seems that a nurse called back hours after I talked to her to let my manager know that I was “friendly and knowledgeable”.  Yay me!

2- Jamie from Client Services just came over and asked if I remember talking to a specific nurse yesterday (she’s a supervisor in a generally new account) and she said that I was the only person to be able to do ANYTHING for her and thank you.

3- So a nurse (who is actually pretty new) called and asked for me specifically and it was just a regular thing of taking an order and when I asked why she asked for me she said “because you know what you are doing.”

I was in London for a customer so by the time I read them, it was too late to call and tell her how proud I am of her.  And how happy I am that I was wrong.  (Oh no, stop the presses: mother admits to being wrong!)

This is the kid I didn’t understand until she took a Role-Based Assessment.  I mean, really, I’ve been interviewing people most of my life, been a therapist, done expert testimony.  I gave birth to her and lived with her for all that time – the equivalent of a few years of interviews at the very least – and still did not get her.   Of course once she went through RBA for career help (now online at www.Tools4Careers.com) and I got over the shock of having raised a kid who is that caring she can handle anyone’s problems any time as long as they are very short term, it was pretty obvious she was born to be QoCS.  Even though I thought she was just being stubborn, not wanting to become a psychologist or run a company.

Mom 0, Customers 1.  I think I like being wrong.

What makes a great CFO?

“CFO’s don’t bring in money – we force others to bring in money. We then complain that it is not enough and force them to go back out and get some more. When we get money, we hate to part with it and we arm wrestle with those in the organization who think money grows on trees. This is pretty much what we do – should anyone ask at a cocktail party where we try to get others to buy our drinks.” -John Marshall, the very funny but totally functional CFO of CBI Group

It’s always nice to see your friends get quoted and realize you were the one who caused it. John serves on a board with me and since he’s the only CPA on tap I asked him to do the budget. That didn’t make much sense, as he quickly pointed out, since this is a new organization and there’s no income to budget. Not one to waste talent, I said, well figure out where to get some. That was his tongue-in-cheek answer. And yes, I did buy him a drink.

This had all been by email and it was so funny, I passed it on to my R&D team who, of course, are always amused by the absurdities of the C level. Today, it showed up as the quote in a Tools4Careers report, an example of what good Watchdogs aren’t like.

Watchdogs are found at all levels of organizations.  They’re often found in the finance department but also show up in HR departments – any place, in fact, where limited resources that need to be stretched are an every day reality.   Functional companies respect them and value that special ability; dysfunctional ones disrespect them and meet their ability to spin gold out of straw by taking their meager supply of straw away bit by bit.

So what makes a great CFO?  If you’re a CEO wanting one, start by deserving one.   Figure out how you’re going to keep John’s description something to laugh at, not the reality of your organization.