[lbo-talk] Why I am not rich

joanna bujes jbujes at covad.net
Wed Aug 11 20:40:57 PDT 2004


I attach the latest communique from the noble leaders at one of America's finest corporations. Reading through the muscular, no-nonsense, and truly inspired prose that follows should make it perfectly clear why I am not in the million dollar bonus club: I just don't have the cojones or brains (or stomach) to come up with this stuff.

Read and be awed!

Joanna ________________________________________________________________________________________________

You've no doubt seen the top 5 corporate priorities - we sent out a playbook earlier in the week that provides a good summary. I'd like to make a request of each and every one of you. It should take no time at all.

First, memorize the 11 words that make up our 5 priorities.

It's not tough, I've already done it - and even if you don't read the

playbook, knowing these 11 words will help you think about what we're trying

to get done at XXX across the world.

Make money.

Grow.

Re-enlist champions.

Leverage our partners.

Simplify our business.

Again...

Make money.

Grow.

Re-enlist champions.

Leverage our partners.

Simplify our business.

11 easy words. Please expect to be tested when I see you in townhall

meetings, or before customer calls. I will spare you having these

printed on your badges (that'd be too expensive), but they may end up

on your business cards.

Second, read the play book.

We've made it brief and targeted. And tried to communicate not only the

"what," but the "why" of prioritizing our efforts and resourcing. It's

important to understand the content and context - and the playbook is

a good overview of exactly that.

Third, think about how you'd apply these priorities to your work.

Every day, you've got to make choices about how you spend your time, and

your budget. For managers and executives, you have to set the priorities

of those working for and around you. Use these - ask yourself if the work

you're leading is helping us to make money? Grow? Reenlist our champions?

If you don't understand how what you're doing is helping to drive these

priorities - don't be shy, ASK YOUR MANAGER. Ask your team mates - talk

about the priorities, openly, honestly. These aren't state secrets - they

are the lens through which we should be examining all our investments.

So again, do your best to remember those 11 words - it's not tough, and I will be delivering pop quizzes!

Make money.

Grow.

Re-enlist champions.

Leverage our partners.

Simplify our business.

Thanks, Jonathan



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