Effective Executive…right here, baby

Last night, I posted what was really a rant about my inability to keep on task and stick to a schedule. Tonight’s blog is an attempt to give you something with more substance, since I do appreciate that you’re here reading my random business bloggerings, and I think that you should get some sort of ROI for your time.

In January, I contacted the Peter F. Drucker Institute in Claremont, Calif., to learn how I could join the Drucker Society of Los Angeles. To my surprise, Drucker LA was founded only a few weeks before I contacted the institute. So, I met with the co-founders and quickly became the vice president of the society. To learn more about the society, check out the Drucker LA website (which I built thanks to a generous Web designer whose blog offers free customizable templates.)

Now, it’s difficult for me to share any earth shattering insight on Drucker’s writings and practices on management and leadership because I’m still green (as in new, not environmentally friendly, although I try to be). You see, as I posted in an older blog and video, I fell in love with business after reading Drucker’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship and figured that joining the society would allow me to expand my knowledge.

But what I realized is this: becoming one of the board members of a fledgling organization means a large commitment of time and responsibility centered on developing and growing a group from the ground up. Which also means that although I love helping the society strategize, recruit and pursue relevant projects, I’ve barely had any time to actually read, discuss and understand even one of Drucker’s books. How embarrassing that here I am, trying to be a Drucker evangelist, but I’m far from being a Drucker expert!

So tonight I took some time to read Peter F. Drucker’s The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done (Harperbusiness Essentials), considered a must read when studying Drucker’s best practices in management. I’m not far into the book, but one of its key ideas is that being effective means knowing what needs to get done. Effectiveness is not efficiency, which according to Drucker, “is the ability to do things right rather than the ability to get the right things done.” Meaning, you can become completely efficient at doing the wrong things — so completely ineffective!

If you don’t feel like reading the whole book, you can read Drucker’s article, “What Makes an Effective Executive”, which was published in an issue of Harvard Business Review from 2004; you can download the PDF version here, un gratis. (YAY!)

In the article, Drucker cites his then 65-year career as a consultant working with and observing the practices of a variety of CEO’s and world leaders. (FYI, Drucker died in 2005 just over a week before his 96th birthday). Drucker states that some of the best CEO’s he’s encountered followed the eight practices listed below:

1. Asked, “What needs to be done?”
2. Asked, “What was right for the organization?”
3. Developed action plans
4. Took responsibility for their actions
5. Took responsibility for communicating
6. Focused on opportunities rather than problems
7. Ran productive meetings
8. Thought and said “We” rather than “I”

There is one thing in the article that I do disagree with: Drucker states that an effective executive can only focus on one, or at most two, task(s) at a time. Maybe that’s the A.D.D. entrepreneur in me that’s disagreeing. I like juggling multiple tasks on most days, and then having “do or die” time when necessary. On the other hand, if I did listen to Drucker’s one or two tasks formula, perhaps I would become more effective.

I’ll try this out this week. But now I realized that focusing on one or two tasks makes picking the right task (or two) more important than ever. Such is the “reality” of the effective executive, as Drucker explains in his book…but we’ll talk about that another time.

It’d 3 am Sunday morning…

All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy.

I sometimes envy those people who have routines. My days are barely the same, and I often long to find a more consistent schedule that fits my idiosyncrasies. Perhaps this is why I’m an entrepreneur. I can’t (A) work under someone else and (B) be told when to work. Because sometimes, I want to burn the midnight oil. Is it because I haven’t grown out of my college habits? I used to think that…but it’s been five years since I’ve graduated, and I still like working through the night.

If you’re a business owner and feel the same way — holla — and leave a comment. During the day, I deal with conference calls and client meetings. And when it comes to getting stuff done, nighttime is best for me. But of course, I’m tired all day the next day. All of my overachieving friends always say, “You can sleep when you die.”

But all work and no play makes BusinessBoomer a dull girl. Well, sometimes work is play for me. I barely go out just to go out. There has to be some sort of purpose — an ROI for why I’m trading in valuable work time for some socializing.

Come to think about it…I always think ROI. What’s my ROI in spending some time with you? JK. Well, maybe I am a little serious here…because when you’ve got ADD and juggle multiple projects like I do, the next best thing to being organized and on a schedule is knowing what, and whom, to prioritize.

Opportunity knocks…what do you do?

Earlier this year, I had a plan: Harvard Business School or bust. Then, opportunity knocked.

In the middle of my Verita’s Prep course for the GMAT’s, I landed a very good client — a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles that needed a Web Producer. This turn of events brought a whirlwind of changes in my life, including credibility for my work. And I didn’t even have to pay $200K in tuition.

I haven’t blogged in awhile because I’m still getting used to running my own business. I incorporated my consulting company, MediaGuns, Inc., and have been running a muck with a newfound love for the West Coast. With all of this positive commotion, I’ve decided to postpone my applications to business schools for another two years.

I have to tell you something, though. I took the GMAT’s for the first time on Tuesday. I did okay. But it’s definitely not good enough for HBS. My math was terrible. I plan on taking the GMAT’s again and focusing on studying the quantitative section even more. But really, I am starting to wonder if I can bring myself away from all of the doors opening up here in LA.

Going away for business school means two years of studying — which is not bad — but then three to four years of paying them loans back! That’s about five to six years taken away from building my own business…and perhaps earning a few million.

With that, I leave you with College-Startup’s list of 15 successful entrepreneurs who never finished school:

• Mary Kay Ash. The founder of Mary Kay Inc. started a cosmetics business. While she didn’t have a college education or any training, she successfully created a brand known throughout the world. To date, nearly half a million women have started Mary Kay businesses, selling cosmetics. Their appreciation for Mary Kay Ash is unwavering.
• Richard Branson. Richard Branson is best known for his thrill seeking spirit and outrageous business tactics. He dropped out at the age of 16 and started his first successful business venture, Student Magazine. He is the owner of the Virgin brand and its 360 companies. His companies include Virgin Megastore and Virgin Atlantic Airway.
• Coco Chanel. An orphan for many years, Gabrielle Coco Chanel trained as a seamstress. Determined to invent herself, she threw out the ideas that the fashion world deemed feminine, boldly using fabric and styles normally reserved for men. A perfume bearing her name, Chanel No. 5 kept her name famous.
• Simon Cowell. Simon Cowell started in a mailroom for a music publishing company. He has since become an Artist and Repertoire (A&R) executive for Sony BMG in the UK, and a television producer and judge for major television talent contests including American Idol.
• Michael Dell. With $1,000, dedication and desire, Michael Dell dropped out of college at age 19 to start PC’s Limited, later named Dell, Inc. Dell became the most profitable PC manufacturer in the world. In 1996, The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation offered a $50 million grant to The University of Texas at Austin to be used for children’s health and education in the city.
• Barry Diller. Fox Broadcasting Company was started by a college dropout, Barry Diller. Diller is now chairman of Expedia, and CEO of of IAC/InterActiveCorp which includes Home Shopping Network and Ticketmaster.
• Walt Disney. Having dropped out of high school at 16, Walt Disney’s career and accomplishments are astounding. The most influential animator, Disney holds the record for the most awards and nominations. Disney’s imagination included cartoons and theme parks. The Walt Disney Company now has annual revenue of $30 billion.
• Debbi Fields. As a young, 20 year old housewife with no business experience, Debbi Fields started Mrs. Fields Chocolate Chippery. With a recipe for chocolate chip cookies, this young woman became the most successful cookie company owner. She later renamed, franchised, then sold Mrs. Field’s Cookies.
• Henry Ford. At 16, Henry Ford left home to apprentice as a machinist. He later started Ford Motor Company to manufacture automobiles. Ford’s first major success, the Model T, allowed Ford to open a large factory and later start the assembly line production, revolutionalizing the auto-making industry.
• Bill Gates. Ranked as the world’s richest person from 1995-2006, Bill Gates was a college drop out. He started the largest computer software company, Microsoft Corporation. Gates and his wife are philanthropists, starting The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with a focus on global health and learning.
• Milton Hershey. With only a fourth grade education, Milton Hershey started his own chocolate company. Hershey’s Milk Chocolate became the first nationally marketed chocolate. Hershey also focused on building a wonderful community for his workers, known as Hershey, Pennsylvania.
• Steve Jobs. After attending one semester of college, Steve Jobs worked for Atari before co-founding Apple Computers. Now without the “Computers” in their name, Apple includes innovative products such as the iPod, iTunes, and most recently the iPhone. Steve Jobs was also the CEO and co-founder of Pixar before it merged with Walt Disney.
• Rachael Ray. Despite having no formal training in culinary arts, Rachel Ray has made a name for herself in the food industry. With numerous shows on the Food Network, a talk show and cookbooks, high-energy Rachael doesn’t slow down. She has also appeared in magazines as well has having her own magazine debut in 2006. She knew she was a success when a website dedicated to bashing her was created.
• Ty Warner. Sole owner, CEO, and Chairman of Ty, Inc., Ty Warner is a savvy, yet private business man. Ty, Inc., made $700 million in a single year with the Beanie Babies craze without spending money on advertising! He has since expanded to include Ty Girlz dolls, directly competing with Bratz dolls.
• Frank Lloyd Wright. Having never attended high school, Frank Lloyd Wright surpassed all odds when he became the most influential architect of the twentieth century. Wright designed more than 1,100 projects with about half actually being built. His designs have inspired numerous architects to look at the beauty around them and add to it.

The Business of Making Celebs Beautiful

Got the chance to get my hair “did” by celebrity hairstylist Ken Paves whose long client list includes Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez and Eva Longoria. He has created and marketed clip-on hair extensions with Jessica Simpson called “Hair U Wear”and has a successful salon in Beverly Hills and Michigan, where he grew up.

In December, I had a marvelous experience getting my hair “did” by one of Hollywood’s top celebrity hairstylists, Ken Paves. He’s been responsible for creating the sexy manes seen on Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez, Eva Longoria and Carmen Electra. I’m not gonna lie…it’s not bad getting done up like a celebrity! What woman wouldn’t love that?

I landed this fun modeling gig because my best friend’s college friend is a publicist for Max Factor. They needed two more girls, so I took my friend Dasha, who’s an actress here in Los Angeles, along for the makeover (she’s the last one in the video who got the “Audrey Hepburn” style). Not only did I get to feel like a princess for a day, I got to keep the hair extensions Ken used on me in this E! News segment. The extensions I wore were synthetic, but you’d never even know. What a great pre-Christmas treat!

While Ken was styling my hair, I asked him a couple of questions about his hair extensions product Hair U Wear, which he markets with his long-time client Jessica Simpson. Hair U Wear is a patented clip-on hair extensions that you can wash, cut and style. From what I remember, the price for synthetic pieces is around $150, while the real human hair extensions cost around $400. Ken also told me that he’s 1/4 Filipino! Yes, we are quite proud of our roots. No pun intended.

Now a little about this hair extraordinaire businessman with help from Wikipedia. Ken Paves grew up in a town called New Baltimore in Michigan. In 1994, he graduated from cosmetology school in St. Clair Shores. Soon after, he moved to Miami to assist celebrity stylist Oribe. Ken only made $75 per week at that time, so he made extra money styling strippers’ hair at night.

From styling strippers to celebrities, Ken knew what it took to make a successful business. He studied hair design at Vidal Sassoon Academy and Toni & Guy Institute and gained more experience on the road. And just four years after he left Michigan, Ken met Jessica Simpson who then hired him to be her stylist for her album cover photo shoot.

The Internet helped Ken Paves grow his business even more. He and Karen Marie Shelton, who is the founder of Hairboutique.com, worked together on celebrity hair tips Online. Ken also has had numerous television appearances on The Oprah Show and MTV, among others. In 2002, Ken opened his first salon in Clinton Township, Mich., which is managed by his parents. And in 2006, he opened Ken Paves Beverly Hills, where I had my hair done for the makeover.

Whew! Hope this was informative. Make sure you comment and SUBSCRIBE to the BusinessBoomer RSS Feed and YouTube Channel! Also — you can download BusinessBoomer video podcasts on iTunes now! YAY!

Non-profits, Drucker and how I got bitten by the Business Bug

This webisode is dedicated to the non-profit organization and Peter Drucker, the father of modern management. I’ve been volunteering for Mobilize.org these past few months.

A few months after graduating from college, I was a little lost on what I should do with myself, so I asked my friend Mac what business books I should read. You see, I’ve always valued Mac’s advice. He was 18 when he started his first software business, and in 2001, Mac founded Terakeet, a technology company based in Syracuse, NY. Seven years later, Terakeet is still going strong.

Anyway, Mac told me to pick up anything by Peter Drucker. So, I went on Amazon and ordered Drucker’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship. I read, re-read and still refer to the book a lot.

In the book, Peter Drucker tells how innovative and entrepreneurial thinking helps businesses through market changes. Drucker also gives guidelines on how to turn obstacles into opportunities for innovation and growth. He also presents examples of companies and people who either embraced or failed at innovation. The book is timeless, and I found it particularly relevant to what I do and am most interested in — the changing scape of media as it applies to businesses.

So that’s how I got bitten by the Business Bug.