Some salutary and mainly sad stories from onlinebusinessdegree.com… I guess the important message is that a bad workplace or bad work experiences can have disastrous people consequences.
“You’ve probably felt the urge to throw your computer out of your office window or give your boss a piece of your mind. Don’t worry; we’ve all been there. Offices and certain jobs can really start to wear on a person. Unfortunately, some people actually follow through with their impulses, with sometimes amusing, sometimes tragic results. Whether the stories are funny or horrifying, managers and office workers can learn lessons from these nine crazy employee freak-outs.
Flying is scary enough without the person piloting the plane having a nervous breakdown mid-flight. Luckily, this flight had a fully capable copilot who handled the freak-out as well as anyone could. On March 27, 2012, JetBlue captain Clayton Frederick Osbon began rambling incoherently mid-flight, discussing “the sins of Las Vegas” and saying “we need to take a leap of faith.” The copilot locked him out of the cockpit and passengers subdued him as he yelled about 9/11, Jesus, and terrorists. The plane made an emergency landing and the pilot was taken into custody where he is facing criminal charges for interfering with the airline crew.
You might think that the workers in a yoga store would be totally zen, but that wasn’t the case with Brittany Norwood. In November 2011, a jury found her guilty of the murder of a co-worker at Lululemon Athletica, a sports apparel shop in Bethesda, Md. Norwood and her fellow employee Jayna Murray got into an argument when Murray apparently confronted Norwood after hours about stealing from the store. Murray had at least 331 wounds when her body was found. Though Norwood originally staged the scene to look like a robbery, evidence pointed to a serious workplace freak-out.
The well known term “going postal” has been used since at least 1993 to describe someone snapping at the workplace, and for good reason. There have been several incidents of postal workers losing it in violent ways. One especially terrible incident occurred in 1986 when part-time letter carrier Patrick Sherrill got sick of receiving criticism for his poor job performance. He came to work one morning with guns and ammunition packed in his mail bag and went on a shooting spree, killing 14 of his co-workers at his Oklahoma post office and wounding six others. When the damage was done, he killed himself. Another notable day for “going postal” was May 6, 1993, when two separate postal worker shootings took place states apart. One Michigan man killed one person and himself at his post office and later in the day, a California postal worker killed two coworkers and his mother.
If there’s one McDonald’s in the world that you probably don’t want to visit, it’s this one in Greenwich Village in New York. They’ve had three recent fights there, including one that involved an employee. In October 2011, a YouTube video captured the brawl between two customers and a McDonald’s cashier. Two women had come into the restaurant and started arguing with Rayon McIntosh, the cashier, with one of them slapping him. One of them then climbed over the counter, so the cashier ran and got a medal rod and started beating the women, hitting them again every time they tried to get up. Though it was a brutal response to dealing with unruly customers, he was eventually cleared of felony assault charges because he was defending himself.
Steven Slater is hailed as a hero by similarly fed-up employees who wish they could quit their jobs, and as a nutcase by most everyone else. As a flight attendant for JetBlue, an airline that should probably screen employees better, Slater hit his breaking point when he was hit on the head with a passenger’s carry-on luggage or the overhead bin door. He then made a speech filled with expletives, grabbed some alcoholic beverages, and opened up the emergency exit. After throwing his bags down, Slater slid down the inflatable slide and went home. He was of course arrested later and charged with criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, and criminal trespass.
“Geniuses often come stereotyped as loners who prefer the company of themselves and themselves alone when it comes time to start working out their ideas and insights. In some cases, the popular image actually holds true, as many of the world’s most celebrated minds really did exalt in the pleasures that solitude provides. Time alone seems incredibly conducive to creativity, as many of the following practitioners would most certainly attest if they weren’t all dead and stuff.
Marcel Proust Probably the most familiar image the literati holds of the In Search of Lost Time scribe is one of an antisocial recluse hermitting away in a cork-lined bedroom, hammering away at his typewriter. He actually began life as quite the social butterfly until the death of his father propelled him to seek solace writing in isolation.
Nikola Tesla Science requires creativity, especially when it comes to inventing and building upon some of the most popular technologies of all time. Like, oh, the radio. Dashingly handsome Nikola Tesla was quite the proponent of solitary innovation, allegedly quipping, “The mind is sharper and keener in seclusion and uninterrupted solitude. No big laboratory is needed in which to think. Originality thrives in seclusion free of outside influences beating upon us to cripple the creative mind. Be alone, that is the secret of invention; be alone, that is when ideas are born.”
Virginia Woolf A Room of One’s Own empowered women writers to launch their careers with their own money and a private space in which to work. While certainly not the most reclusive author of all time (not that there’s anything wrong with that!), she advocated “a room of one’s own” (duh) for maintaining a clear head while getting literary — advice that applies across gender and gender identity lines.
Michelangelo Buonarotti Michelangelo’s notoriously boiling temperament won him few allies in his lifetime, and it tended to drive away any assistants who wished to apprentice under his brilliant sculpture and painting skills — not to mention patrons. But he didn’t hold much patience for them, either, and mostly worked alone because so few (if any) lived up to his precise (anal retentive) standards.
George Carlin, who gets my vote for Best Comedian Ever, never said a word about leadership. That should be your first clue that I’m making up part of this. What follows are actual things that George said (courtesy of the wonderful folks at BrainyQuote) along with my humble thoughts about the leadership lesson they should teach us.
George Carlin: ”Always do whatever’s next.”
Lesson: Keep moving. Get things done. Great leaders revel in calls to action.
George Carlin: ”By and large, language is a tool for concealing the truth.”
Lesson: When you’re a boss, almost every message you get is filtered through self-interest and a unique perspective. You’ll do better if you learn to separate the two and ferret out the truth.
George Carlin : “Electricity is really just organized lightning.”
Lesson: Great bosses organize the energy of their team members.
George Carlin : “Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?”
Lesson: We all have our own perspective. You have yours, so be aware of it when you listen to criticism. Your team members each have one and usually you can learn something from it.
George Carlin: ”I have as much authority as the Pope, I just don’t have as many people who believe it.”
Lesson: Your organization can give you authority, but it’s only real when others believe it.
George Carlin: ”In comic strips, the person on the left always speaks first.”
Lesson: Every place has its culture and its rules. Pay attention to them. Ignore them at your peril.
George Carlin: ”The reason I talk to myself is that I’m the only one whose answers I accept.”
Lesson: At the end of the day, you’re the one who has to live with the results of your actions.
George Carlin: ”Think off-center.”
Lesson: Thinking off-center is how you see possibilities and opportunities that others miss.
Boss’s Bottom Line
Work hard. Do good things. And don’t forget to laugh.
Teaching is always part of a Leader’s skill set, so here is a neat take on the subject from one of the world’s greatest thinkers of recent times – Betrand Russell.
“Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.
British philosopher, mathematician, historian, and social critic Bertrand Russell endures as one of the most intellectually diverseand influential thinkers in modern history, his philosophy of religion in particular having shaped the work of such modern atheism champions as Christopher Hitchens, Daniel Dennett, and Richard Dawkins.
It originally appeared in the December 16, 1951, issue of The New York Times Magazine, at the end of the article “The best answer to fanaticism: Liberalism.”
Perhaps the essence of the Liberal outlook could be summed up in a new decalogue, not intended to replace the old one but only to supplement it.
The Ten Commandments that, as a teacher, I should wish to promulgate, might be set forth as follows:
Do not feel absolutely certain of anything.
Do not think it worth while to proceed by concealing evidence, for the evidence is sure to come to light.
Never try to discourage thinking for you are sure to succeed.
When you meet with opposition, even if it should be from your husband or your children, endeavor to overcome it by argument and not by authority, for a victory dependent upon authority is unreal and illusory.
Have no respect for the authority of others, for there are always contrary authorities to be found.
Do not use power to suppress opinions you think pernicious, for if you do the opinions will suppress you.
Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.
Find more pleasure in intelligent dissent than in passive agreement, for, if you value intelligence as you should, the former implies a deeper agreement than the latter.
Be scrupulously truthful, even if the truth is inconvenient, for it is more inconvenient when you try to conceal it.
Do not feel envious of the happiness of those who live in a fool’s paradise, for only a fool will think that it is happiness.
“Warren Buffett is successful for investing and building long-term businesses. Bill Gates is successful for creating a software empire that has changed the way we use computers. Gandhi was successful for leading India into independence from the British.
Success comes in many ways and forms but what’s interesting is that most successful people have very similar qualities.
When I read lists such as this one, I usually want to see how I stack up against it. I have to admit that it feels good to see qualities of successful people that I recognize in myself and for the qualities that I don’t have, lists like these tell me what I need to work on.
I have enjoyed and benefited much from these types of lists and that’s why I decided to organize all my research, observations and experience and compile this comprehensive list.
If you want to achieve your life’s dream and be wildly successful, you need to model yourself after people who are living their dream. The more qualities you have in common, the higher your chances for being wildly successful.
We all start out in life as being quite ordinary and many remain that way. The few who have become extraordinary have these qualities (no specific order):
1. Definite Aim, Vision and Purpose - Successful people constantly seek clarity in their lives. They know what they want and they follow their own dream. Vague desires and beliefs lead to vague outcomes. It is this sense of direction that gives them the staying power to stick to their goals and achieve their dreams.
2.Expertise and Excellence - No matter what they pursue, they become the best in their field. There is no job too small and successful people strive for excellence. They pursue mastery and understand that money is a by-product of the value they offer.
3.Focused - People who experience success know how to concentrate. They realize that they cannot do everything and they focus on the activities that will give them the highest return on the goals they want to achieve. They don’t believe in the hype of multi-tasking and they know that the fastest way to finish your to-do’s is doing them one at a time.
4.Positive Attitude and Perseverance - Extraordinary people have realistic optimism. Realistic because they take action and optimistic because no matter what the result may be, they believe their success is inevitable. They believe that like a child learning to walk, they need to take action first and then modify the action according to the feedback that they get. This positive attitude allows them to persevere and be resilient when things don’t go their way.
5. Flexible - One misconception that ordinary people have about persevering is staying the course no matter what. This is true only if the reason for pursuing your goal is still valid. Most successful people became successful doing something different from what they initially intended to do (i.e. Steve Jobs started with computers, went into the animation and really made his comeback with the iPod). This is normal because the world is always changing and they know a lot more now than did when they started. Successful people know that if their reasons for doing what they are doing changes, there is no point to continue.
6. Masters of Time - Successful people are successful because they get a lot done. The only way to do that is by making the most out of the allotted 24 hours we all get. Extraordinary people value their time and see the direct connection between how they spend their time and their well-being. They are usually always on time and “train” those that deal with them to respect their schedule by implementing strict start and end times for meetings.
7. Strong Communicators - People who can communicate effectively excel in life. Strong communicators understand that just because people speak English (or the dominant language in your country), it does not mean they understand each other. What makes them effective is that they are clear about and sensitive to the outcome they want to get from their communication and are flexible in their method of communication to achieve their outcome. They are experts at building rapport and separate what is being said from the meaning they put into what is being said.
8. Brave - We’ve all heard the phrase “No risk. No reward.” but how many of us really take the risk necessary to get the reward we want? Not many but for those who do, they are the ones who make it and become successful. Successful people have the courage to begin and the courage to continue. They are willing to not only bet but go “all in” on themselves. They are not afraid to burn bridges if it means moving forward.
Regular readers will know I have an interest in the philosophical – and in the teaching of Asia. So here is an interesting take on business from a Buddhist angle, from BusinessInsuranceQuotes.com
“Buddhism is an ancient philosophical system that follows the teachings of the Buddha. The system — a meditative, esoteric practice that often functions as a religious system — has an estimated 350 and 500 million practitioners and believers worldwide. Buddhism emphasizes the cultivation of mindfulness and values a spiritually minimalistic worldview, eschewing dependence and worldly attachment.
With the popularization of incorporating many multi-cultural and cross-philosophical practices in the business world, it’s no surprise that some elements of Buddhism can be relevant to corporate managers, entrepreneurs, and indeed most people who share some portion of their lives with the marketplace.
Buddhist business practices and maxims can be beneficial to the decision-making process in the workplace, but you don’t have to be a guru in order to take away something meaningful from Buddha’s teachings.
In fact, you don’t have to be religious, spiritual, New Age, or even seeking — these aphorisms are simply a way to rethink and reframe your qualitative skill set, and to maybe find a little zen at the office. Meditate on these ten Buddhist maxims for business, and you may achieve workplace nirvana in no time.
“Too cold, too hot, too late” can always be the excuses to those who do not want to work. They let their chance pass by.This short aphorism is a reminder of two things: 1) opportunity favors the hard worker, and 2) those with a lackluster work ethic are always going to find an excuse. Whether you have a stellar commitment to productivity, or you’re just looking for a reminder that your hard work matters personally, this is a good maxim to remember. If you have a good work ethic and a great attitude, very little will stand in your way. And if you’re the type who always has an excuse, you can bet that opportunities will pass you by.
Develop the mind of equilibrium. You will always be getting praise and blame, but do not let either affect the poise of the mind: follow the calmness, the absence of pride.The Buddhist practice of mindfulness can be a key to good business, reducing supply costs and increasing your potential to work with compassion. This saying, from the Sutta Nipata, instructs the mind and heart to be balanced, objective, and mindful of the fog of pride. Mindfulness has benefits that span many occupations and fields, and indeed most people will benefit from adhering to the words of this sutra. Remember to be calm, and not to obsess too much about positive or negative feedback. If you do a job long enough, you are bound to have great moments of achievement, as well as great moments of failure. These are both times to learn from, and keeping the mind rightly situated can be of the utmost value — especially at work.
Every MBA has an opportunity to make an impact on the business world in their own way, but first, it sure doesn’t hurt to find out about the greatness of others.
Reading about the lives and work of business icons from both the past and present can lend a great deal of insight for your own career.
Check out these biographies to discover the entertaining and educational stories of 15 great men and women in business.
What does it take to become one of the richest men in the world? Get some insight from The Snowball, the story of successful investor Warren Buffet.
You’ll find insights into not just his strategies for business and investing, but his personal life as well. Certainly a good choice for any budding MBA in search of wisdom from one of the greatest men in business.
It’s no wonder that Steve Jobs was Amazon’s best selling book of 2011: it’s an amazingly insightful look into one of the most talked about men in business.
The late Jobs is legendary for his creativity, innovation, and being notoriously difficult to work with. Apple fans, business students, and those curious about Jobs’ life will be satisfied with this biography that delves deeply into his life.
Follow media tycoon Ted Turner’s story in this book, from dropping out of college to turning his father’s billboard company into an international media empire, and going on to become a champion in his personal interests of sailing and baseball as well.
Written primarily by Turner himself, Call Me Ted also includes passages from those close to him, including family, colleagues, and competitors, all revealing how Turner has pushed through setbacks and learned how to achieve greatness in business and in life.
It is always interesting to see how leadership brands are making the most of social media. And what an eclectic list of “best practice” users – from retailers to tech companies.
Pinterest is a great place to collect images and links to ideas you love, products that rock, and just about anything else under the sun. While most users of the site are still individuals, brands and big businesses have taken note of the major traffic the social media site has been seeing in recent months, and many have begun creating their own Pinterest boards, pinning things from their own sites as well as from around the web.
There are hundreds of brands currently using Pinterest for marketing (a number that will undoubtedly grow before the year is out), and some surprising companies are making the site’s visual features work for them. Read on to learn about some of the unexpected brands that are drawing in loads of fans from Pinterest.
Pinterest has fast become a place to look for and share recipes for everything from health foods to decadent desserts, and Whole Foods has used that foodie frenzy to their advantage in their Pinterest branding. Those who choose to follow the health food store’s pins will get access to amazing and often very healthy recipes, with boards that feature recipes for dinner, vegetarians, vegans, sweets, holidays, and parties, among others. Of course, Whole Foods hasn’t made it all about food. There are also great photos of some of the other products they carry as well, including kitchen gadgets, clothing, and home decor. To date, the Austin-based company has more than 700 pins earning them 21,586 followers.
While it’s not surprising that a blog all about social media would have a successful Pinterest account, it is surprising that many not-especially-visual blog posts have drawn so much traffic over the past few months for Mashable. To date, Mashable’s boards have 19,655 followers, which is impressive since they’ve only added about 361 pins over their 14 boards. What are they doing right? Many of their boards focus on humor, tips and tricks, and showcasing particularly cool tech gadgets — stuff that appeals to both genders and is frequently repinned. Mashable also created a successful board that tied into events at SXSW, with that board alone getting 21,011 followers. It seems they know what they’re doing, but they’re not keeping it a secret: they also offer a special board just for Pinterest-based tips, tricks, and news.
Next to food and home decor, fashion pins are tops on Pinterest, and Nordstrom has made sure to throw a few of their own products into the mix. The high-end retailer has won more than a few fans (12,384 and counting follow all the brand’s boards) by creating themed boards that change with the seasons. Some of their most popular boards include “Spring 2012 Weddings,” “Weddings,” “Beauty Favorites,” and “The Wedding Suite at Nordstrom.” They also have great boards for men, showcasing shoes, looks for prom, and even those that capture trends like nautical stripes. The boards are also current with the seasons, giving fans something new to ogle every few months, which has proven to be a great strategy for Nordstrom and has helped to build a solid Pinterest following.
As many of you know, I am a big music fan with eclectic taste – and the idea behind Record Store Day to celebrate Independent Stores (and Vinyl) has always fascinated me.
John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) did an interview for The Quietus magazine (which if you haven’t checked out that online mag, you should). I found Lydon’s interview fascinating. Whilst I don’t agree with all he says (who would?) I find his consistent artistic and intellectual approach refreshing.
A man true to his ideas for decades. Can we all claim the same?
From the YouTube description: “Lydon (a gent if ever there was one) is still a fantastic raconteur, and a planned conversation about the different forms of music he discovered growing up in Finsbury Park and whether his musical education was based more in record shop or soundsystem culture became a fantastic sermon that took in anything from the reason why the Sex Pistols never covered The Beatles but did The Monkees, the joy multiculturalism, immigration, his love of The Sound Of Music and Julie Andrews, Guy Fawkes, the London riots… and generally lots of Righteous Stuff.”
Beatles From Wikipedia… John Lydon (born 31 January 1956), also known by the former stage name Johnny Rotten, is a singer-songwriter and television presenter, best known as the lead singer of punk rock band the Sex Pistolsfrom 1975 until 1978, and again for various revivals during the 1990s and 2000s. There has been a recent revival of a 1980s movement to have Lydon knighted for his achievements with the Sex Pistols. Q Magazineremarked that “somehow he’s assumed the status of national treasure.
"Leadership is the energetic process of getting people fully and willingly committed to a new and sustainable course of action, to meet commonly agreed objectives whilst having commonly held values"
We have one of the widest collections of free resources available on the web for you to study and action - Themes (550+ entries), Links (500+ entries), Magazine Articles (300+), Books (450+), Quotations (700+) and more.
Please respect the copyright of all external materials. All trademarks and registered trademarks appearing on LeaderValues and on Mick's Leadership Blog are the property of their respective owners.
The terms and conditions for using this blog are the same as those of LeaderValues.
Some salutary and mainly sad stories from onlinebusinessdegree.com … I guess the important message is that a bad workplace or bad work experiences can have disastrous people consequences.
An excellent summary of what being successful really entails, from 
Interesting post from 
What does it take to become one of the richest men in the world? Get some insight from The Snowball, the story of successful investor Warren Buffet.
It’s no wonder that Steve Jobs was Amazon’s best selling book of 2011: it’s an amazingly insightful look into one of the most talked about men in business.
