October 2009 – Mario Vittone

The Myth of the Turnaround Employee

October 24, 2009May 18, 2017
by Mario Vittone

turnaround I cant remember how often I’ve heard stories like the one I just heard from a good friend of mine. He had introduced me to a person who by all accounts was courteous and professional and an all-around good guy. After he left the room I got “The Story.” We’ve all heard it too many times. It starts off with this phrase or something similar: “That guy used to be such a problem…” or “I really didn’t like her when she first reported to work for me back in 95…” and then they lay it on you: how through considerable effort and some good old-fashined mentoring, the person finally got it and turned around and “now look at them.” They are productive and have advanced to management or leadership positions themselves. Another save. Heartwarming, isn’t it? ….Well, it just makes me want to smack somebody.

The unaccounted for variable in all these stories, from the “look what my caring leadership and mentoring has produced” series, are the other ten people that worked for you back in 95. What happened to them? What happened to your top three performers that you ignored while you were paying attention to your fixer-upper? Because something definitely happened to them – while you may have thought you were doing a good and noble thing, I personally believe you screwed up royal. If you have one of these stories of your own – then you might have fallen victim to the three myths of the turnaround employee: Read more “The Myth of the Turnaround Employee” →

Books

Vay-Ner-Chuk Gets Leadership

October 18, 2009May 18, 2017
by Mario Vittone

If Marcus Buckingham was right, that leadership is “rallying people to a better future.” – then as much as you may think of him as a marketer, as a merchant, or as a hustler (in a good way); Gary Vaynerchuk is – above all of that – a leader. With the recent release of his first book Crush It: Why Now is the Time to Cash in on Your Passion, Vaynerchuk continues to rally (lead) those of us who might listen to the better (and inevitable) future of business in a world turned upside down by…bandwidth.

His steady contention is that the gatekeepers of radio, and television, and newspapers are gone – and that anyone (not to be confused with everyone) can turn their passion for anything into a successful life doing what they love. But it isn’t what he believes in, but rather the evangelist-like, unstoppable purpose in that belief that makes Gary Vaynerchuk a true and authentic leader. It’s easy to believe and be passionate about something in a sprint. But the long-haul delivering of a message and sticking to it – in the face of detractors – is what makes people follow. It can’t be taught at business school; it can’t be faked; it comes from inside, and Vaynerchuk has it – in spades. Read more “Vay-Ner-Chuk Gets Leadership” →

Month: October 2009

The Myth of the Turnaround Employee

Vay-Ner-Chuk Gets Leadership