in considered reply to Dietrich:
It took me many years to realize the key to choose the greatest goal,
the greatest purpose, and move steadily in that direction, and years more
to recognize the absolute importance of quality in the process.
Simply put, I was tolerant of people I should have said, “You know,
it’s just not there,” parted company amicably (or at least peacefully),
and moved onwards, and upwards.
I kept people in my unit out of a misplaced sense of compassion; when
The Job wasn’t getting done, I was given a thousand excuses, and no explanations.
One day, I ran into my Mentor at the University library.
He told me The Answer was simple; it worked for every great Leader in
world history.
Two Organizing Principles:
1. Choose the highest goal, and move steadily in THAT direction.
2. Only deal with the best people - “Fire The Fools.”
I went back to work, rewrote the business plan, and Fired The Fools.
I then - and THIS is The Key - took everyone left into the conference
area, reviewed the business plan with them, and asked for comments, in
writing, by 0900 next morning.
In writing.
0900, and the comments were submitted. Everyone started to go back to
their desks, and I said, “No, we’re going to discuss your comments.
Susan, stand up and tell us your understanding of the plan, and why you
wrote what you did.”
Susan was fired two minutes later.
I told those remaining to Go Home, rewrite their answers, and write
an application letter applying for their job, tying the letter into the
new business plan.
0900 NEXT morning, three more people quit - well, they “requested
transfer,” which I approved immediately.
The rest of had a lot of fun, and did more than we ever thought we could,
because ALL OF THE ENERGY WAS MOVING IN ONE DIRECTION.
In good part, that’s what’s wrong with VOR.
You really do lose credibility when your friends come to the site, and
see Reck’s junior high cafeteria dirty jokes - and you complain, and
nothing happens.
You have noticed that you are repeating the mistake of VNN’s now archaic
“Forum.”
You really do lose credibility when people come on and talk about The
Good Old Days (the Dames), totally unprepared for a show, totally casual
- like we’re listening to a party line telephone conversation.
You tolerate nonsense, you will get more nonsense, until you Get The
Lesson.
Simple as that.
So far, Edgar Steele has complained to his email list that VOR is incompetent
in simply getting an mp3 file uploaded, and linked to on a web page.
That’s Amateur Night.
The issue isn’t whether he’s right or wrong; it’s that he said
it, and, seeing how the Dames worked, I can’t argue with him.
Peter Schaenk came on as - unpaid - Program Director, and suddenly -
or it seems this way to me - The War of the Passive Aggression began, ending
with Susie using this site to post a thread that is NOTHING BUT A DAMN
AD FOR GCN, A GCN HOST, THE GCN HOST’S RADIO SHOW ON GCN, AND HIS DAM
SEED BUSINESS.
Susie is treated as a Goddess, the (advertising for GCN) page is sacrosanct,
and Peter quits.
My money says Peter is telling the truth around here, and has professionally
held his tongue about how bad it is behind the scenes.
Go to VNN’s Main Page/blog, and skip down the tags on the right side
to the tag “Open Thread.”
Those are free ideas.
I have the utmost respect for what you are trying to do, but you can’t
build a jet out of old car parts, and you can’t build the network of
Mankind’s Greatest Future on people who tolerate potty humor, and hosts
who seems to do a great job for your competitors.
Good luck.
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