Friday, August 11, 2006

I NEED YOUR ADVICE II

Amazing result to my post I NEED YOUR ADVICE.

Really wonderful.

Thank you.

Both the poll and the comments were very interesting to read. After all, this is the kind of stuff I've been struggling with alone, for the last three years, so it was an eye opener to read what you wrote and see the result.

Just sad that such a small fraction of readers actully do vote. So if you haven't done it yet, go back to the poll and one click is all it takes!

And I know some felt it was stupid to do a poll. Anonymous wrote, You certainly know a cheap poll will not provide the answers to life’s most complex and important questions.

But I'm not so sure about that. I learned a long time ago that many people often come to a better decision together than just one individual. Then again, I also learned that sometimes you have to go against conventional wisdom and hold your ground. I guess, following the latter advice, is part of the reason I'm in my particular situation.

But anonymous also wrote, We, your “semi-adoring” (LMAO) fans, know next to nothing about you.

And that made me think. That is true. So starting tomorrow, or maybe later today, if I have the time, I'll start giving you an idea of whom I am. So you can get to know me.

And, starting right away, I'm going to look at the different possibilities you suggested to make some cash. And I'll write about it.

But don't worry, I won't stop writing about all that other stuff that made you come here in the first place. It'll just be personal stories mixed with snarky and cynical comments on the state of the world.

And a few posts for the Pfizer employees who have started coming here.

If you have any suggestions what you want to read about, write rostpeter@hotmail.com.

I'll do my best. After all, this is a blog which responds to readers!

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

"But I'm not so sure about that. I learned a long time ago that many people often come to a better decision together than just one individual. Then again, I also learned that sometimes you have to go against conventional wisdom and hold your ground. I guess, following the latter advice, is part of the reason I'm in my particular situation."

This is a most interesting paragraph you have written. On the one hand you first validate group think. Then (on the other) you go on to rationalize and validate that going against the grain felt right. But then, there's that downside. Ah, to have your cake and eat it too. Wouldn't that be the ticket?

Notice the advice provided in taking an organized analytic approach, with the seeking of advice/opinion/input to follow that work, also refrained from suggestion you actually go with any consensus view (that might be) coming out of such dialog.

We have now arrived at that special place know as circular logic; right back where we started from. Only to further validate the original contention of the cheapness factor in poll mentality. By way of expressing thanks, and in the spirit of having some fun on Friday - I'll leave you with this YouTube linky: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc1xUFDcFCk

Sing it Billy!

"don't worry, be happy"
-Bobbie McFadden

Gotta Wear Shades

Peter Rost said...

Sorry. Let me explain. There is no one "fits all" solution. Including working in a group. On average, the group is more often right, because of its collective wisdom. But, some of my best and most profitable business decisions have been made when I did what "everyone" thought was wrong. Such as lower drug prices. That's really just contrarian thinking. You can't make big money if you do what everyone else is doing. The trick is knowing when to use a group and when to rely on your own gut. And that's the real tough one. In a way business is like warfare. You can win over and over, based on your great decisions, but you only have to lose once to get killed. And its all over. That is reason risk avoiding people make it to the top. They didn't do that fatal mistake which killed their career. They also often didn't do anything outstanding . . .

:)

Anonymous said...

In one of my "insane" moments yesterday the thought struck me that perhaps it is time to have "arab only" airlines. Don't allow them to fly on Western airliners. Same security that we now have in place for all of us, only it is for "arab" only airlines. The rest of us have a pretty good record of 70 years or so of "safe" airline flights, we should not have to go through the nonsense that we do now in order to take a flight.
Of course, like I said - this was just a crazy, spur of the moment thought.

Kansas said...

Me thinks Anonymous needs to put down his college psyche books and have a Coke...

It has been said,

"It is one thing to be ignorant; it is another to have refused to learn."

"Rejecting knowledge is evidence of pride, and pride in reality is foolishness."

"There is wisdom in many advisors."

Doc, you said:

"But don't worry, I won't stop writing about all that other stuff that made you come here in the first place. It'll just be personal stories mixed with snarky and cynical comments on the state of the world."

Personally, I can’t wait. It was your snark that attracted me to your posts in the first place!

I’ve always been of the opinion that you should be more involved in the conversations that your posts arouse. After all (said in my whinniest voice) YOU started it!

And don’t worry about joining in on a fistfight in the comments area. A lot of readers return simply BECAUSE they got their feathers ruffled!

Kansas said...

Arab Only Airlines. Interesting idea.

Guess then they'd have to just be satisfied with blowing up the terminals...

Anonymous said...

That's stupid. If we had Arab only Airlines, it would only work if Jews were also singled out as well. We can have Jew only airlines or we can make the Jews and Arabs share the same airline. Then you guys can blow each other to shit and not involve the rest of the world in your shit.

Anonymous said...

big emphasis on YOUR shit, not OUR shit.

Anonymous said...

Israel, America's best ally in the Middle East:

http://www.ussliberty.org/

With allies like this, who needs enemies?

Kansas said...

Ok, now I want my own airlines.

It will be for people how can stay on topic.

Anonymous said...

You started by setting up a poll in order to go about asking for advice. Which one do I choose? This looks like a search for a “one fits all” solution. Fortunately, you end well by welcoming any suggestions. Unfortunately, you continue to dialog in the same circular self defeating fashion. Fortunately (or not), I’m going to continue to be your friend, and call you on it -

“You can't make big money if you do what everyone else is doing.”

Really? I do what a lot of other people are doing, we just do it better. By my standard, we are making big money. I’m not in a ballpark with CEO’s of fortune 500’s, but then I don’t need to be. I’m comfortable and successful.

“The trick is knowing when to use a group and when to rely on your own gut. And that's the real tough one.”

There are no tricks, there is no magic. There’s risk and there’s hard work.

“In a way business is like warfare. You can win over and over, based on your great decisions, but you only have to lose once to get killed. And its all over.”

May I suggest a profession involving a bidding process is not for you?

“That is reason risk avoiding people make it to the top.”

We wouldn’t have a successful business today without having risked it all just to get started. We live our lives every day with risk of the charts. Our business insurance premiums rival those for malpractice by physicians. (That will keep you guessing)

"If you risk nothing, then you risk everything"
-Geena Davis

“They didn't do that fatal mistake which killed their career. They also often didn't do anything outstanding . . .”

Career is an aspect of what should/could be a deeper multifaceted life. Career as a defining life strategy? Now there’s a concept. Career is not the most outstanding thing in life one can achieve.

Here’s a free form poem you inspired-

-Strategy for Success-

Ask for the group think.
Get a consensus.
Lament… collective wisdom.
Go maverick.
Tricks involved.
Lament… your inner maverick
Fatal; they didn’t go

Outstanding; they weren‘t.
Risk avoidance as strategy.
For success?
O definition be divined.




Additionally, I’d like your take on this business week piece http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_50/b3912101_mz056.htm in light of your previous commentary regarding the soundness of Pfizer’s recent choice for CEO successor.

Select quote -

“Nearly all of these executives have had to overcome a common prejudice: that lawyers make bad corporate leaders. Often unschooled in core skills such as accounting or finance, lawyers start their careers in a strange world where risk is frowned upon, colorful marketing is unethical, people rarely work in big teams, and nobody makes a decision without reviewing stacks of paperwork first. Business attorneys are often considered the "vice-presidents of No," says Jeffrey A. Sonnenfeld, associate dean of executive programs at Yale School of Management. So it is hardly surprising that, as Sonnenfeld says, "people do ask questions when a career lawyer becomes a CEO."“

“There has never been any systematic study analyzing how lawyers do in the corner office. But anecdotal evidence indicates that the stereotypes aren't entirely justified. For every corporate attorney who has bombed as a CEO -- the most often cited example is former Time Warner chieftain Gerald M. Levin -- there has been a seemingly equal number of successes, such as Viacom's Redstone and Southwest Airlines' ex-CEO and current board Chairman Herbert D. Kelleher.”

Peter Rost said...

Wow. Wow. Wow.

Truth be told, a few lines here are never enough to explain the art of surviving or business management or anything else.

After all, entire books are written about that.

But, why not make this blog into a "reality show" blog.

About survivial.

See IF I make it.

And along the way we can talk about if I made the right decisions and what should be changed.

But before you hop on board, anonymous, pleeease select some kind of name so we recognize your well chosen words!

Welcome.

Argon said...

Actually that's not a bad idea, since shows like the "Apprentice" are popular and if Flavor Flav can do a show about his search for Love then you can write about your search for a better career.

Since most people here seem to have a political bent and are sure they could run a campaign better than the ones in office you could have your readers offer ideas on your platform if you took beeta's suggestion and ran for office.

An Angel's Destiny

Argon's Awareness

shooter said...

Peter, he's already chosen a name, "shit" which is about what his comments are worth.

Anonymous said...

Peter: But, why not make this blog into a "reality show" blog?

===

Because practically nobody cares about your particular soap opera, that's why not.

Take a big step back. Breathe. It's kenosis time. Empty yourself. Tighten up your own personal bible belt with a bit of prayer and fasting, perhaps.

And if you haven't done so already, check out THE ROCKPORT INSTITUTE.

http://www.rockportinstitute.com/

Kansas said...

Wow Beeta, dippin' into those mushrooms a little early tonight aren't we?

shooter said...

Beeta......That was just wonderful! No, I mean it. Not the words, but your presentation. What happened to you? The snark, I mean. I don't mean to tell ya but I'm all tingly. It's like those make-over shows. (and I'm not being pejorative, I swear.) (Can a Pagan swear?) Doesn't matter. Just wanna say I LOVE the new Beeta. Hey, and don't think I'm just trying to pull a swifty, you know? I'd be very disappointed if You didn't fling a "baby killer, humanity degrader, and violator of all God's commandments, at me with the same (I must admit, tedious) regularity. And I, of course, reserve the right to to refer to you as an Arafat butt licker, but hey! I won't feel as guilty doing it like I did before. Now you've got pizazz, now you've got sass, and now you've got (dare I say it?) Snark! But don't think it's easy. You ain't gonna attain the level Me and Moo ( Me'n'Moo, kinda flows...dontcha think?) But I digress. It's kinda like me and business. I was good when I was 20. Thought I was about as good as they get. But guess what? I was a whole lot better at 30. Just as I was sayin to myself man, they don't come much better than me, I was 40. Well, you get the idea. (God, I'm old) So welcome to the Snark Neophyte Society. It is probation, you understand. Me'n'Moo look at neophytes like......well kinda like cheetoe's, a quick snack. No real challenge. Torn between a quick squash or toying with the wannabee a while.........then a quick squash. No one said it was gonna be easy. But Ranger, Seal, Green Beret training ain't easy either. If you've really, really got what it takes, someday you'll make it. And then, all the hard work will pay off. You'll be walkin down the street, someone will yell out to you (having heard a rumor that you had gotten your "wings", and thinking it would be cool to be the first to challenge you) Yo, Beeta, "You ain't no Snark!" So this idiot's head is bobbin, got this stupid grin on his face, mouth hangin like his adenoids are infected, holdin his breath so hard his pants are startin to slide down his skinny ass. " You hear what I said ?" (and this is the good part where he thinks his I.Q's are gonna shine, so he croutches down, purses his lips, and says real softly) beeta, beeta, beeta, beeta, beeta, beeta, beeta................until he starts turning blue and has to stop to take a deep breath. And now the part the audience payed their money to see. Everbody goes shhhhhhhhh....watch this. You turn around, your head, bobbin too, but a lot slower. You say, with a really bored look on your face, "Yo, I thought they sprayed this place this morning" " Cause ain't no muddahf......'n troll cockroach with balls big enough to say what Beeta Snarkmeister just thought she heard. So before you got time to turn to look at him, his adenoid challenged mouth clamps shut, his eyes stare at you helplessly, pleadingly, mercifully. But being a snark means, "it's showtime baby!" You lock his eyes with your gaze, an evil involuntary smile appears on your lips, and right before your eyes, the dick is minimized to a tadpole, wiggling it's tail and slithering in the gutter and down the nearest storm drain. Yeah, life is grand! And you've got a long way to go, but I'm pullin for you, Beeta. Cause debating for a snark isn't so much about what position you take, it's that you're debating someone who knows what they're talkin about.

And, MooGirl, you know I ain't stupid enough to be talking for you. Just took a little poetic license for illustration's sake. Cause no one cracks me up like you, especially when I just flick on the computer and catch you in the middle of skewering some poor soul while being castrated. Your razor's so sharp and delivery so smooth, the victim doesn't know he's toast till later when he rubs his neck, then sees his hands soaked in blood.

Kansas said...

ROTFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!

"Me'n'Moo look at neophytes like......well kinda like cheetoe's, a quick snack. No real challenge."

How do you know me so well?!? You can talk for me any ol’ time you want. You, my friend, are a verbal Picasso!

I was kind of afraid to take on the ol’ Beetamax tonight. The whole Sybil thing she did really threw me. But I was also very proud of her level of snarkdom. At least I was hoping it was snarkdom.

I was going to ask her for a roadmap so I could follow what she was saying, but I was afraid she would give me one. I have to admit, the Friday Night Beeta Show is WAY more entertaining than anything that's on during the week.

I do kinda miss the baby killer flinging though. That was always my favorite part.

And Beeta girl, just when Shooter was about to crown you with the "Best New Snarker of the Blog" award, you go and apologize. Never apologize unless you actually hurt someone’s feelings (and even then it’s sometimes ify).

The first rule of Snark is: Only amuse, never abuse. Ok, well sometimes abuse is called for, but where Moo-Shoo are concerned, we welcome this kind of abuse.

We’re just weird that way…