Third, he imparted a true meaning of Respect and Fairness. I have been attacked with a hunting knife, spat on, called all sorts of dastardly names, my family threatened, my car damaged, etc., during the firing process. I realized very early on that work is central to people's lives and while work to many is only a means, it is a means to their happiness. I was tampering with the foundation of people's lives.


During my 18 years in industry prior to consulting three individuals, who were each at times my boss, brought home to me several aspects of human nature and management that I still use and hold dear. Three words/phrases summarizes the lessons: participation, fairness, and keep communications short.

You don't need to know how to do the work your staff is doing but you need to participate with them in achieving their work goals and (thus) their personal goals. In some cases because of the size of staff you can only remotely do this but ones influence and participation must be felt. Fairness, if you make a decision to have a truck driver or a janitor or a VP of Marketing or whomever in your division or business that simply means that their value and input must be important or they wouldn't be there in your employ. Therefore all are to be judged fairly and respectively. Consistency is also synonymous with fairness.

Keep communications short. "Don't sit down when the Chairman of Board asks to see you", a realization on my first trip to one Chairman's office. I had survived a major restructuring of a public company and been elevated in rank as a result. I learned that time is important and not to waste the boss's time. Always assume that the meeting will not take long. Sit if asked to but be prepared for short direct conversation. This Chairman directed/said to me in our first meeting that "whatever you send me must be on one page, anything beyond that is rambling and I won't read it" In other words solve your own problems or state your issues and ask for help in short concise terms.

The first person I hired after being promoted for the first time in my carear into a significant management role was my most important in my life's work. I was 23 years of age. The company developed and built custom high-powered lasers. Manufacturing was an ad hoc event and all products were in some way unique. I hired a man 30 years my senior. This was the best management decision I have ever made. There was no nonsense and I could focus on the management of the process while the process got done and very well. I learned a lot from this man and from that decision. There is no substitution for experience and integrity.

What I have derived as lessons and formulated into advice comes from my experiences and I have not heard or seen total agreement amongst my long-term colleagues as to whether they arrived at similar conclusions. That is life and the beauty of lessons learned.

I have heard it said many times, as a put down, or as a statement of envy, or as simply as an exasperation, that the world of consulting is much different than working for a living. Perhaps, even after about equal time in both arenas, I can agree but not sure on what.

I continually learn from each client, even though after 23 years some of the same issues are prevalent in all projects. Product development, manufacturing, and business development has been a great teacher of human traits.