Top Management Lies, by way of Stilgherrian.

This is a piece of insider wisdom from the adult services industry. You don’t work when you are desperate, because it leads you to compromise your values. You may do things you never thought you would. And you may engage with people who are not good for you. (Don’t ask where I got this from, and no, it is not what you think. :P)

There are three broad types of people in organisations: the shining stars, the squeaky troublemakers, and the silent wheels. The shining stars get the accolades and the star treatment. The troublemakers get the attention from HR. And the silent wheels… well they just get on with it. They solve problems on their feet, salve irate clients, work around dumb management directives, and generally keep their organisation running. Here’s …

White collar office worker: someone else’s business, 40-hours a week are paid for, work hard = earn the same, fixed work hours, accountable to boss and clients, danger of offshoring as work can be compartmentalised and modularised.

Blue collar entrepreneur: own business, every hour is paid for, work hard = earn more, flexible work hours, accountable to clients and self, work can’t be offshored given the requirement for physical …

An egg is a versatile thing indeed. It can be used in an amazing variety of ways. Similarly, you too have egg-like versatile skills if you look deep enough.

We often lump our skills with our jobs or training – accountant, ballet teacher, homemaker.

Dig deeper and a ballet teacher’s skill set can encompass counselling, physiotherapy, personal training, nutrition advisor, organising people and venues, and bookkeeping. By recombining these skills …

One of my friends in Western Australia worked for a really nasty business. You know, one of those toxic ones run by horrid people, that churn through talent, and spit them out the other end filled with the absolute conviction that they will never, ever go there ever again.

The thought was this: thanks to this toxic business, there is now a group of talented people (who did not …

Still very disturbed over the Dragon’s Den. I wonder what it will be like for those participants who have successfully “invited” these dragons into their fledgling businesses?

The dragons come with money, controlling shares, egos - ie power. Their primary goal will be to make money. Bottom line returns. The participants will still be about their ideas, their passions, and doing what they love. How will these relationships pan …

Re a recent cover story in AFR BOSS magazine: 2005 Top entrepreneurs.

This article again blindly promulgates the STUPID how-much-money-are-you-making approach to measuring the success of a business. This is once again presented as THE indicator of having “made it”.

Consider the first paragraph: “…but for those of us who haven’t (yet) built multi-million dollar businesses, they are a source of inspiration…”

The assumption the author is making is …