Ask Whether Your Business or Company Implements Its Ethics and Values

It's true that most every business or company will tell you that they have and believe in values and high ethical standards. You need to dig deeper and ask how they implement those values. Ask what they do to reinforce them. Ask whether they have a plan or a program to instill and support these values. Find out about their response.
Posted by Harrison K. Long, Explore Group, April 13, 2008
Source: Bob Hunt, OC Register, April 12, 2008

The Art of Life is to Show Your Hand

"The Art of Life is to show your hand. There is no diplomacy like candor. You may lose by it now and then, but it will be a loss well gained if you do. Nothing is so boring as having to keep up a deception."
-- E.V. Lucas, 1868-1938, prolific British author

Posted by Harrison K. Long, Explore Group, April 3, 2008

Credibility Is All We Have At The End of the Day

A journalist once said: "In our business, credibility is all we have at the end of the day. If you can't believe what's published in the newspaper, or the magazine, you move on. The lesson may be in how we think when we become the leaders. Too often, the best lesson of leadership - only by being last can you be first - is lost amid the power. Rocket scientists aren't the only ones who can pick out the people in the room acting better than the rest."
[Source: Craig Reem, OC Metro magazine, July 2007].
We agree.
Posted by Harrison K. Long, Explore Group.

Bob Knight's Hiring by ESPN Sends The Wrong Message to Our Young People

Bob Knight's hiring by ESPN sports network sets a bad example for the kids and young athletes in this country. As basketball coach at Texas A&M and Indiana, he bullied his players, other coaches, referees, and sometimes fans, so many times over the years. I never heard him apologize to anyone for his misbehavior. He won lots of games and got famous being the tough guy. He apparently has a good PR man, got out of many jams, and now seems to be recognized by everyone. ESPN is showing our young people that it's good to be a tough guy and bully and that you too could follow along and get famous. The ESPN decision won't set a good example for young people, will in the long run be bad for television sports coverage, and will hurt the value proposition of the communication business in general.
Posted by Harrison K. Long, March 30, 2008, Explore Group