The Importance Of Friendship & The Art Of Conversation: Behavioral Leadership

Viewpoint by Andrew Thorn, PhD., WCW Columnist

When I was growing up, we spent a lot of time visiting with friends and family. I remember listening to the conversations my parents and their friends and family members would have. The hours seem to pass quickly by as they talked about life. They spoke of their triumphs and trials. Sometimes I would get involved in the conversations, but mostly I would just listen to the things they were saying.

We were a busy family and I know our friends and family members were busy too. Sometimes they would travel great distances just to be together for a couple of hours. To them, visiting was a priority.

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Surfing The Hydra Mind: Travel & Lifestyle

Viewpoint by Andrew Scharf, Head of the WCW Group

We are at mid-summer and everyone is either on holiday, patiently waiting for his or her holiday, or at least enjoying a holiday “State of Mind”. Gershwin once wrote that in “summertime the living is easy”. There is a languid calmness about the heat, the white bleached light, and the long evenings. Sipping cocktails on your porch, stoop, deck, or portside adds to the charm. Some indulge in Mojitos, Long Island Ice Tea, Sex on the Beach, Manhattans, or even a cup of chai.

We are currently ensconced on an island in the Saronic Gulf, which lies in Homer’s “wine dark sea” off the East coast of the Peloponnese across the “road” from Epidaurus. Although the island is named after water, the land is parched in summer. Once inhabited by Driopian shepherds it is now home to native islanders, refugees from Athens, designers, artists, writers and musicians.

Leonard Cohen once lived here for many years and wrote “Bird On The Wire” among other excellent songs. The Pirate Bar still sports its 1960s Rock ‘n Roll tradition to all night revellers although the Stones, Eric Clapton and others can only be heard now via records there. Perhaps with a keen eye you could see the Glimmer Twins or other celebrities. Just last week was a VIP wedding whose names I will not divulge. Suffice to say it was a three day affair of including a 30 minute firework display and a party worthy of Hollywood films.

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Standing In Faith: Behavioral Leadership

Viewpoint by Andrew Thorn, PhD., WCW Columnist

I love reading the writings from ancient civilizations, especially the sacred texts that have been passed down to us from the spiritual leaders of those societies. I am often amazed at the parallels that existed during their time, and find great wisdom in the lessons they have passed on.

In the record my Jewish friends call the Tanakh and my Christian friends call the Old Testament, we learn about the prophet Elijah, and his mission to bring those who were practicing idolatry back to practicing a belief in their God.

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Stretch Your Mind: Strategic Life Planning

Viewpoint by Debra Kunz, WCW Columnist

We’ve all had days when we’re in the middle of a project and your brain gets stuck. Your head starts spinning, you keep repeating yourself and the ideas you’ve already had. May be you even start to babble. It can seem as though the creative police decided to regulate how much you are allowed to think in one day.

How do you break the cycle and re-energize?

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The Clarity Of An Entrepreneurial Mindset: Career Development & Personal Branding

Viewpoint by Andrew Scharf, Head of the WCW Group

Few areas of business attract as much attention and creativity as launching new ventures. Do you see yourself as the new Apple or Google? Or do you prefer launching the latest in concept store zeitgeist “a la Colette” in Paris on the rue St. Honore? Luxury Brand Management also has its acolytes; it is sexy and offers a romantic allure to business. Do you prefer to see yourself as a tycoon, starting your own hedge fund or real estate portfolio? Then again, perhaps you spot an opportunity: the new hula hoop? Famous Amos Chocolate Chip cookies? The “next Dean ‘n Deluca?

One thing is absolutely clear. Business must be a passion in the real meaning of the term. You must want to wake up in the morning like when you see the glorious sunlight on an island off the coast in Maine and say, “Wow! Today is glorious!”

It should not be a day of dread, worry, or drudgery. The power to Now is in your own hands. Use it. Want to be inspired? Then watch Ang Lee’s cult movie, “Hotel Woodstock”. It is a film about entrepreneurship in action, overcoming the odds, and the story of how a generation lived a “dream”. The positive attitudes of the 1960s & 1970s of “we can make the world a better place” was not just a wisp of smoke and idealism. It was real as long as people had the “right” attitude on making it real. Dreams die when people cease to dream what is good and worth living for.

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How To Choose The “Best” MBA: Business Education Trends

Viewpoint by Andrew Scharf, Head of the WCW Group

Right now the summer holiday period is upon us. After a grueling year, many professionals are beginning to investigate making changes in their professional lives. Perhaps they are inspired by Octopus Paul and the art of forecasting. With job creation low and unemployment high, savvy professionals are calculating what is the most appropriate procedure to boost their careers. They are seeking a “career catalyst”. There are many types of career boosters. The path of entrepreneurship is just one. To quote one World Cup enthusiast, “it is a game changer”.

Want to to gain the competitive edge for your own sense of self-worth, recognise that additional education or professional training can allow you to step out from your routine and see things with fresh eyes.

A recent analysis conducted by the WCW research team has shown that higher education in business is the “most” strategic stroke to either get your career back on the fast track or allow you to change the pattern of your professional development. For many, the question is not whether to do an MBA or Executive MBA programme, but which MBA.

For those of us who hear the clarion call, “MBA Admissions” becomes a personal mantra.

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Moving Forward: Behavioral Leadership

Viewpoint by Andrew Thorn, PhD., WCW Columnist

I presently find myself bothered by the actions of a couple of people in my life. Their behavior, does not really affect my existence, but for some reason, I feel very disappointed by it. I expected more from these individuals and so I feel like they deserve the circumstances they currently face, which are indeed unfortunate.

This morning, during a meditative moment, I pondered some instructions on how to live a balanced and happy life. I saw a few gaps in my own personal behavior and began to contemplate how I might grow beyond these personal stoppers.

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Spice It Up, Do Not Wait For Godot: Careers

Viewpoint by Andrew Scharf, Head of the WCW Group

Most employees find that salary negotiations tie them up in knots. Not everyone is like Octopus Paul, the famous forecaster of World Cup futures. However, many MBA grads are a privileged audience when recruiters come on campus, and yet they can even hem and haw. The economic crisis can take the strangest manifestations. What do you do if there is too much cayenne pepper in the “rouille”?

“Rouille” for those of you who do not know is a special garlic mayonnaise made with cayenne pepper and served on croutons for that simply marvelous fish soup known in the South of France by its proper name: Bouillabaise.

Well you could always sling it back at the chef as I once saw at a quai side restaurant in Cassis near Bandol. I would however, recommend extreme caution. Restaurateurs are feisty birds. One and all. That goes double for headhunters. You could wind up out on your ear.

The career services divisions at top MBAs are trying to meet the challenge by coaching their students on how to behave and negotiate satisfactory outcomes. Beware however, not all business schools offer you the career services support you may need to succeed.

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The Paris Water Bar Blues & The Venus De Milo: Fashion & Lifestyle

Viewpoint by Andrew Scharf, Head of the WCW Group

“Well, I’m walking down the highway with a suitcase in my hand. Yes, I’m walking down the highway with a suitcase in my hand. I’ve been gambling so long, I’ve got nothing to loose. Yeah, nothing to loose.”
(Attributed to a blues musician in the Mississippi Delta)

Ever notice that every summer, the news gets sillier and sillier?

In the States, people are focused on the Emmy Nominations, Jay Leno and the Tonight Show. Better to watch the Johnny Carson re-runs. At least these shows were funny. Many Americans sadly consider that the “TV Guide” is the equivalent of the New York Review of Books with their desperate hunger for celebrity news. The headlines are “American Idol Recaps, Dancing with the Stars, TV Hot List, Soap News”. In France, it is a little better, but just. Forget the scandals of Woerth-Bettancourt, Sarkozy, the stupidity of the socialists, and even the world cup. Octopus Paul has already chosen the winner. Somebody must actually inform the teams since the game is scheduled for Sunday.

My advice is take the weekend off from the trivia and head to the Louvre.

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The Cult Of Celebrity & The Super-Ego: Behavioral Leadership

Viewpoint by Andrew Thorn, PhD., WCW Columnist

Many of my childhood heroes were sports stars. Growing up in LA, I wore T-shirts with the faces of Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, Steve Yeager, Magic Johnson, Kurt Rambis, Roman Gabriel, Pat Hayden, Marcus Allen and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. These were the people who contributed so much to our local teams. I also remember hating Reggie Jackson, Lou Pinella, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and nearly every other member of the Yankees, Red Sox and the Notre Dame football team.

I admired these men for their ability to play the game. They were stars in our community, and they worked hard to be solid citizens and to protect their image. They were very careful with how they talked about their individual greatness. They were confident but humble about their super star status. We saw them make mistakes and they did their best to apologize for their human failures and move on. They did their best to obey the law and to stay out of trouble. They played for the team and always remembered that the name on the front of their jersey was much more important then the name on the back.

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