Joel's Mutterings

I have said before that I think blogging is something that every executive should carve some time out to do.

You might ask why bother?  You might ponder what do I have to share?

Most of all you might ask what is in it for me?

Money? - Perhaps but if that is your goal keep your day job

Fame? - Do not expect anything and be please with that which you get.

Friends? - Perhaps but I would value the relationships you have and not look to a blog for friendships.

Networking? - Maybe but as we all know an ExecTec dinner is a much better way to achieve that.

A blog is a place to express yourself. Let’s face it, those moments of brilliance and clarity experience in the (shower, car, Pilate’s class, while staying awake in that boring meeting) are wonderful but if kept to yourself serve no one even yourself. Simply put great thoughts need to be expressed or they are simply wasted electrons.

Great ideas also need to be nourished and encourage and you are not getting any brighter achieving six sigma efficiency in your personal GTD program. By taking and active step and expressing yourself in written form you are giving a home to those thoughts letting them develop.

Now this need not be a public blog (we all know those of you who have secret hidden blogs) but it does need to be a written blog.

Ultimately blogging is about getting your ideas out of your head and into some more legitimate form. If you choose to share those thoughts and experiences great and if you only use it as a place to sound out your thoughts that is great too. I think the real power is in taking the time consider and formulate you ideas.

For those who do make their blogs public there can be gains that include:

• Social connection with friends and acquaintances.
• Establishment and legitimization of an online presence.
• Creditability in a field or subject.
• Potential opportunities for monetization.
• A platform for self promotion.

Take the plunge and put something out there. You are not getting anywhere lurking around in the shadows of the internet so step into the light and let the world see what you have to offer.

Andre Gaulin in this blog post on HR Talent Manager commented on Seth Godin’s article about focusing HR on talent rather than the mundane.

By mundane it seems both Seth and Andre feel that it is important to focus on talent but that McDonalds decision to focus on a trait like people who smile treats the employees more like cogs then the talents they are. 

Andre wrote in his blog: 

The old fashion ideas that HR is more clerical than functional and helpful are out dated. Over the last few years I’ve worked to find individuals in my HR organization who can help focus us on talent. As with anything you’ll need to think a little differently, but those who can find and retain a strong pool of talented contributers will be able to weather almost any challenge.

I think both Andre and Seth are right to in a form but are short sheeting one of the keys to hiring the right employee by focusing on talent and ignoring cultural fit. 

Microsoft is screening for talent that is aggressive. Certain interview questions make sure they screen for this characteristic. It is no different then trying to hire people who smile more. McDonalds is just being more up front and public about it.

Talent is great, but hiring 25 talented people is not as good as hiring talented people who fit your culture.

Disneyland and Disney World have this down if your looking for a good example. Their drive to find talented people to work in the theme parks who also have the Disney spirit is effective and clearly can be seen by anyone who visits the park.

As I always say a Disneyland employee on a bad day is nicer then many employees on their best days. This culture is critical to the sucess of employee in an environment  where customer services and experince is critical. 

Talent is potential but does not make the person the right hire. One must look at many factors and a clear direction from leadership and management to the hiring managers as to what the culture of the company is to be will allow them to hire the right talented people.

Sunday will be my 21st LA Marathon.

No I don’t run it, however I do have a record 2 hour and 2 minute time from start (well about 100 yards ahead of the start) to finish via the Honda Photo truck. 

I have been for the last 21 years a paid photographer on loan by Marathon Foto to the LA Marathon.

This is one of my shots from the start of last years Marathon. Shooting from the photo truck can be a bit of a challenge as the motion and speed variations of the truck can be quite an issue and shutter speeds of greater then 500th of a second are required. 

 I actually use two Nikon D2H’s one with a wide 18 to 70mm lens as well a 70 to 300mm lens. 

Here is an image from last year shot with the 70 to 300mm lens. The photo truck is generally back a bit from the runners and the long lens is a must at this distance. 

While images like this one and the one above are impressive. It is not my main assignment during the race. 

Images that show the city and the people who come out to see the runners are big targets for me during the two hours I will spend trying to stay on my feet in the back of the photo truck.

Last year they changed the course so that we now at the suggestion of former photographer and Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge pass over the 6th street bridge which does make for an excellent shot of the city with the runners in the foreground. Perhaps this year we will be a bit closer to the lead runner as we pass over the bridge.

So if you are out and about at tomorrows or any future marathons feel free to look for me as I continue my long standing tradition of covering the LA Marathon.