Archive for November, 2006

Creative Networking

Posted in General | Thursday, November 9th, 2006 | No Comments »

 

Even unpleasant times, such as minor health woes, can sometimes be turned into wonderful opportunities. A few weeks ago, for the first time in my career, I had to cancel a speech due to a bad bout with the flu bug.

 

Despite my innermost conviction to the contrary, the world did not come to a halt. Yes, being out sick for two weeks was a burden. Yes, it brought me to run late on several projects. But in an odd way, it was also a blessing—finally, I had the time to curl up on a couch with my address book, and take all the time I needed to reconnect with old friends, to write cards to the people I’d lost touch with; and to experience the joy being cared for—so many kind souls offered to send over cough drops, family doctors, or bring me home-deliveries of chicken soup.
So wherever you are, and whatever you’re doing, if you feel like you’re wasting your time, try to see if there’s a networking opportunity out there somewhere just waiting to be chatted up to. And if you have any special recipes for chicken soup, do let me know…

 

 

An Update On The Handshake

Posted in General | Thursday, November 9th, 2006 | No Comments »

Tom Chiarella found whilst researching handshakes for for Esquire that if he held a handshake just two beats longer than usual, people stopped what they were saying, particularly if these were people who were working for him—desk clerks, bellmen, and valets. He reports obtaining least one suite upgrade with this technique alone.


He also discovered that if he gradually increased the pressure of a shake, people would automatically smile. “And once I had them smiling,” says he, “Then, well, I had them.”

Here’s the full article…

 

Deauville Day Three: Nestle taken apart

Posted in General | Friday, November 3rd, 2006 | No Comments »

Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, chief executive of Nestlé, came under fire from women at a conference in France after he told them that the world’s largest food group, most of whose customers are women, had no female managers on its executive board” reports our favourite journalist.

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Here’s what I saw as a mere participant: Braebeck gave us a slick, “corporate” presentation of Nestle’s brilliant financial situation– so far, so good (or rather, so boring. But that’s another matter). The mike is handed over to the audience, and up stands one of France’s preeminent journalists, Christine Ockrent with a rather interesting point of view: “Cher Monsieur, thank you for these remarks and congratulations for your brilliant financial results. Now, since we are, after all, at a women’s forum, would you mind telling us how many women you have on your board of directors, and how many on your executive committee?” To which Brabeck replied (and I may not be getting the order right here, so please don’t shoot me) “In the first, two. In the second, ZERO”. A chorus of booing ensued…
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And as Andrew remarks, the Swiss’ cold shower contrasted with the warm reception reserved for the charming Franco-Brazilian head of Renault and Nissan, Carlos Goshn. We were also honored with the presence of the no-less-charming Samuel DiPiazza, Global CEO of PricewaterhouseCoopers, and (becuse there were also women speakers, after all) Pat Russo, Lucent’s very active CEO (whose company was recently bought by Alcatel).

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Hill reports that Mr Ghosn, father of three girls and a boy, was applauded when he told the 800-strong audience, the majority of whom were women leaders in business, academia and politics, that it was “intolerable to think that one of my daughters will lose an opportunity because she’s a woman”.

Both Gosn and Russo finished their session with warm applause–quite a contrast to the way participants left the Nestle panel, slamming the door for many of them ,not even waiting for the end of his remarks.
…And that’s the way the cookie crumbles. (I’m sorry, I just couldn’t help it!)