BILL MURRAY ON FRIENDS AT WORK

Posted on June 5, 2012 by michaelweening

I was reading the Bill Murray article in this month’s Esquire and as always, Bill entertains with his eclectic views and approach to life.

I found his point on work and friendship not unlike my own:

BM: When I work, my first relationship with people is professional. There are people who want to be your friend right away. I say “We’re not gonna be friends until we get this done. If we don’t get this done, we’re never going to be friends, because if we don’t get the job done, then the one thing we did together we failed.” People confuse friendship and relaxation. It’s incredibly important to be relaxed – you don’t have a chance if you’re not relaxed.

A lot of my current friends are work colleagues – after the job is done. Those shared experiences create bonds.

JACK: STRAIGHT FROM THE GUT (archive)

Posted on August 16, 2005 by michaelweening

I just read my first Jack Welch book – Straight from the Gut. While his points are interesting and have become standard business practice: the vitality curve, etc., I was left with a different impression than the one that gets sold to the world; captain of industry – trend setter – business icon.

In the end, I could only think: Nice life Jack. I do not admire you.

1. He worked all the time. He often referred to his work schedule of in the office early, traveling often, going on marathon business reviews (as a regular part of the business – ending at 8 or 9PM and then going out for drinks).

2. He constantly talked about how his first wife did a great job of ‘raising the kids’. Good business man – absent father, it would appear. I wonder if they will grow up to be titans of business or ticked off youth who never want to be like their workaholic dad.

3. That great wife divorced him. As he put it, they had grown apart. I wonder why? Good for you Jack. You built a great company. You are famous and rich. You have a second wife who you are close too (He refers to the fact that she can talk business with him). But at what cost?

4. When he did have time to spend with the kids, what did he do? He went off to the club to golf every Saturday morning.

For me, no thanks. I often see executives who are leading companies or divisions and doing it at a break neck pace – traveling everywhere, doing all kinds of dinners with clients and long night business reviews and I honestly do not know if it is worth it. On the other side, I see people running companies and doing it in a completely different way (balanced), and I admire those business people.

To be successful in business WHILE being successfully at home is – in my mind – the ultimate accomplishment.

Sorry Jack – I read your book and in the end, you and I are on different pages.

GO ON VACATION

Posted on August 11, 2005 by michaelweening

I am on vacation this week and read an interesting stat from Fortune about staying healthy. A survey by a staffing firm Hudson says that 34%of employees check in with the office so frequently while on vacation, they come back ‘either more stressed than, or just as stressed as, when they left”

When I was younger, I used to call in on deals. During all these years, I never lost a deal while away on vacation (Christmas time was different – that was end of year).

I am taking this week off, and I was asked to come on 2 conference calls – I said no. Why? Because to truly recharge, you must unplug from work – I firmly believe that. I know a number of people who do not believe that … and I also know that when I come back, nothing will be unrepairable (Or changed).

TONY ROBBINS: GURU

Posted on June 10, 2005 by michaelweening

I had a friend tell me a funny story. He was interviewing sales people and asked one lad: “What is the best sales course you have ever taken?”

The response: Tony Robbins. End of interview.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I think he is great. But he does not teach sales, he teaches personal motivation. What that interviewee did not realize was that … he was being sold.

Quick fact: Did you know that Tony Robbins owns many of these $14,000 USD exercise machines because he is a time maximization guru. Yes, for only $14,000 you too can stay fit in only 4 minutes per day!

http://www.fastexercise.com/

Like this 4 minutes work out – people believe that motivation is something that can be quickly fixed – the 4 minute motivator – and in my experience, that is not the case. Most people come out of these events pumped, and for a short period change until their situation brings them back down and they settle into old habits.

For me, motivation ebbs and flows, that is normal. But when it is ebbing more than flowing, I don’t look to a guru – I look at myself and say what is going on. I heard this the other day and believe that it is something we should all ask ourselves:

Do you get up in the morning excited about going to work? And when work is done, do you go home excited to be getting home?

Something to ponder.