Ideas, Leadership, and Vision

Management lesson from the Tour de France

Over the past 3 weeks I have spent time watching each stage of the Tour De France.  The more I learn about the Tour De France, the more I find a connection between the tour and what we do as  managers day in and day out. 

Let me explain:

1.  We are part of a team, yet our individual efforts are so very important.

2.  Our individualized efforts are measured and analyzed.  we receive high praise for a job well done and/or criticism when we do not execute something properly.

3.  Like the Tour, our job is an endurance sport.  While at times it does feel like it is a sprint (and it might be), or even that we need to climb a mountain (and we do that too), in the end it is all about the endurance.

4.  The people that you choose to have on your team are, in most cases, what determines whether you will win or lose. 

5.  Without a good strategic plan, it is nearly impossible to WIN!!!!!  Lance Armstrong's team did not start each day and just kinda figure it out as they went.  They had a plan.  They had a plan in place months ago for how to win this year’s tour.  They were adaptable and flexible to change their plan when they needed to (adjustments), but they had a plan.

You can take it to the bank!!!!  There are two reasons why Lance Armstrong and the Discovery Team win.

          1.  They have great people on their team, everyone from riders to bus drivers, to bike mechanics etc... 

          2.  They have a Strategic plan that is measured and executed to near perfection every day.

Watch almost any interview with Lance Armstrong over the past few years and you will notice that when he is talking about how their team wins, he will always mention the name Johan Brunell "The Master tactician"  of the US postal/Discovery Channel team.  Johan is the "manager" and "director" of the team, it is up to him to have a plan, to analyze performance, to make the decisions, and to keep things going in the right direction.  He sets the direction, and through his people, he is able to deliver results.

Tour De France

This past Sunday OLN set a new record with 1.7 million people tuned to OLN to watch Lance Armstrong win his 7th consecutive Tour de France!!!!!  I thought OLN did a great job of covering the race.

Could this mean that we will see more coverage in the future?

Microsoft plans to release a test version of the next version of Windows

  I saw this over on Cnet and thought I would share.  I am curious to see if this lives up expectations.

Microsoft plans to release a test version of the next version of Windows on Wednesday morning, according to a source familiar with the company's plans.

The Beta 1 version of Windows Vista isn't expected to have the look and feel of the final operating system. However, it is expected to reflect key changes that Microsoft is making under the hood of its flagship operating system. The test version is expected to be limited, at least initially, to developers and technical audiences.

    Microsoft said on Friday that it was renaming the operating system, which had been known for years only by its code name, Longhorn. The company also promised that a long-anticipated beta version would ship by Aug. 3.

Windows enthusiast site WinBeta reported earlier Tuesday that the Beta 1 version was expected to come out on Wednesday.

A more feature-complete test version is expected to arrive by early next year, as Microsoft aims to have the final release of Windows Vista available in time to be on PCs that ship during next year's holiday shopping season.

Vista has changed significantly since Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates first showed an early version of the then-Longhorn in October 2003. The company has changed the way it is implementing a new Web services architecture, known as Indigo, and a new graphics engine, dubbed Avalon. It has also delayed a new file system, known as WinFS, that had been slated to be part of the OS.

Among the more visible changes in the OS are a new means of searching for files, as well as virtual folders that contain all of the documents that match a specific criteria, such as "edited in the last week" or "created by Mary."

The company is also working on business-oriented changes, such as making it easier to set up and manage a stable of Windows Vista-based PCs.

Also planned are improved home networking, stricter parental controls and a host of new laptop-related features, though not all of these changes may be visible in the test version due out Wednesday

TiVo launches interactive ad technology

I am a big fan of tivo.  Recently I discovered Tivo to go and I think that is a fantastic device, especially for people that travel and want to take  their favorite shows on the road with them.   It does not surprise me at all that Tivo now has a new interactive ad technology that it is debuting....  take a look just below.

TiVo launches interactive ad technology

TiVo has launched its next generation interactive advertising technology solution with campaigns from GM and The WB. The new features include:

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-- Enabling advertisers to insert a customized call to action or branded "tag" in their commercial, replacing the generic ad tags previously used by TiVo's advertising clients;

-- Ensuring advertisers' traditional TV spots will be more visible in TiVo homes, whether viewed in normal play or fast forward mode;

-- Enhance the TiVo customer's experience by allowing them to select the tag and "telescope" from the traditional 30-second ad while pausing their program to view long-form content, requests for information, or recording opportunities which will enhance the viewing experience;

-- Providing advertisers with the ability to receive leads directly from their TV spots, with the viewer's consent, so advertisers can track leads to conversion and ensure a qualified ROI;

-- Additional data for advertisers to gain a better understanding of the effectiveness of TiVo's proprietary tagging feature, the strength of their creative executions, and the efficacy of their television media buying strategy.

GM is also extending its partnership with TiVo and will be the first car manufacturer to use TiVo's new customized tags for its OnStar, GMC, Chevrolet, and Saturn brands. Using TiVo's new tagging technology, viewers will be able to instantly access additional promotional footage and request information directly from GM.

GM's General Director, Advertising and Media Operations, Betsy Lazar said, "Having worked on various interactive advertising campaigns with TiVo over a number of years, we have had great success. We look forward to our potential customers having the ability to learn about our product in more detail than ever before. This is a step forward in allowing consumers to shop and discover the GM portfolio of products in a revolutionary new way."

In addition, The WB will be TiVo's first television network partner to utilize the new TiVo custom record tags. The network will use the new technology in conjunction with promotional spots for upcoming WB shows. By pressing the green thumbs-up button on their TiVo remote, viewers will be able to record a single episode or the show's full season on their TiVo.

Yet another Sunshine starts her own blog

As I had expected my other daughter has started her own blog.  Check it out I think you will be able to see how different yet how similar twins can be.

Link:  Allie Sunshine's Blog

Allow me to introduce to you...

As some of you might know I have Twin 9 year old daughters, and like most 9 year olds they are very smart, creative, fun, energetic and inventive. 

Camp finished last week and we are now just 3 weeks away from the start of school.  My girls are busy at home working on art projects, reading books, and of course surfing the Internet (approved sites only).

I just got a phone call from my daughter Emily who has just informed me that she has started her own blog  All about Emily.  WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!  That's right my 9 year old daughter is now a blogger!  WOW!!!  how incredible is that.  Now, I know that my other daughter Allie will not be far behind.  She will either be a regular contributor to Emily's blog or I will bet there will be a new blog going up soon.  I should also point out that my girls listen to music, that they download from itunes onto their Ipod shuffles (a gift from their aunt).   

Please check out Emily's new blog and feel free to post comments as I know she would love to hear from you.  Remember that she is 9 years old.

Link:  All about Emily

No problem

The difference between great customer service and terrible customer service can make or break the entire experience.  As I have mentioned many times before I am on a bandwagon to highlight any and all instances where I find fantastic customer service.  So here is an example of the most recent great customer service experience that I have had.

My Wife and I took a much need vacation earlier this Month To Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.  Actually we stayed just outside in a smaller community called PlayaCar.  The resort where we stayed was called the RIU Palace and it was truly amazing.  What made the experience so great was the attitude and attention to detail that the people that work at the RIU demonstrated.  Don't get me wrong the facility its self is spectacular and the beaches are incredible but, the people made the difference.  The common theme among all the employees of the RIU was an attitude of "No Problem"  in fact it seemed like any time we had a question that they would respond with the phrase "no problem" and then they would go about figuring out a way to make it happen.

Congrats to RIU and to all of their employees.  And thank you RIU for showing us an amazing time!  We will be back!