Leading

Leading people is no walk in the park. Leaders ultimately have a responsibility, to the people they are leading. It means one has to be honest and transparent and also, one has to listen and be approachable. And yes, one also has to be firm, and often, tough. As my one partner, Dave Frankel always reminds me, "Be tough minded, but not hard hearted."

When I was a student, many many many years ago, there was this show on TV called LA Law. They always used this cool sounding legal language, like "objection your honour" , "overruled" , "sustained" and my favourite "leading the witness". Now, the other day I observed a leader who was "leading the witness". Let me demonstrate with a quick example.

Imagine if I asked your opinion on this blog piece. Or, better still, imagine if someone else asked you. If they said "What do you think of this piece of text?" you will hopefully give your honest answer. Now there is no right or wrong here, it really is just your view. But if they asked you "Don't you think this is a great piece" or "Don't you think this is the biggest load of crap" then you will more likely go with the direction of the slant.

Leading people means really listening to them, but leading the witness, means manipulate. Asking people what they think versus leading them down a path with a loaded question, are two very different things.

In life, so often, it is not what you say, but rather, how you say it. The message and messenger; totally different things, but often the message is linked to the messenger due to loaded dice.

To all your leaders out there, lead with grace and integrity, because leading the witness is really not what true leadership is about.

Posted by Ronnie Apteker

A California story

A friend of mine sent me this. I lived in California for a while, many years ago, and this made me laugh - it was too good not to share:

The Governor of California is jogging with his dog along a nature trail. A coyote jumps out and attacks the dog.

California :

#1. Governor starts to intervene, reflects upon the movie "Bambi" and then realizes he should stop; the coyote is only doing what is natural.

#2. He calls animal control. Animal control captures coyote and spends $200 testing it for diseases and $500 upon relocating it.

#3. He calls veterinarian. Vet collects dead dog and spends $200 testing it for diseases.

#4. Governor goes to hospital and spends $3,500 getting checked for diseases from the coyote and on getting bite wound bandaged.

#5. Running trail gets shut down for 6 months while wildlife services conduct a $100,000 survey to make sure the area is clear of dangerous animals.

#6. Governor spends $50,000 of state funds implementing a "coyote awareness" program for residents of the area.

#7. State legislature spends $2 million investigating how to better handle rabies and how to possibly eradicate the disease.

#8. Governor's security agent is fired for not stopping the attack and for letting the Governor intervene.

#9. Cost: $75,000 to train new security agent.

#10. PETA protests the coyote relocation and files suit against the state.

Arizona:

#1. Governor shoots coyote and keeps jogging. Governor has spent $0.50 on a .45 ACP hollow point cartridge. Buzzards eat dead coyote.

Any wonder why California is broke?

Posted by Ronnie Apteker

The soul of business

I was having a discussion with a writer the other day, about the difference between an entrepreneur and a businessman. There is a difference, and while I have always walked an entrepreneurial path I am not a strong business person.

I think a businessman understands and grasps “the numbers” well. An entrepreneur may be good at creating, selling and marketing, but often may have someone else to complement him/her when it comes to the numbers.

The most important point is that an entrepreneur is about taking personal risk, and it is about an intensity and a drive that is focused like a laser. A businessman, on the other hand, in my view, is more about the pay-cheque.

Do you remember that scene in Jerry Maguire where Jerry (Tom Cruise) says to Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding) that he was a pay-cheque player – Jerry says to Rod “Play from the heart, and then you will get your big contract.”

I think an entrepreneur is motivated by something way beyond money, and the irony, if they do it right, the money can be quite an extraordinary result. The inspired entrepreneurs of the past 100 years, who went on to build massive companies, and brands that are admired, with fortunes that were accumulated, were a result of a labour of love. I think a businessman, in my view again, is not in it for love, but rather for money, not to say that either is right or wrong, and not to judge either but they are very different motivations. Yes, they both may arrive at a common end result, namely, an accumulation of wealth, but in the case of the obsessed, slightly cursed and tortured, entrepreneur, who kills himself in pursuit of the truth, the money earned is often only realized 20 or 30 or 40 years later, and, in my view, is way sweeter, than winning the lottery, or in getting, I mean, taking, a big cheque, to run a large corporation.

Think of these big fat-cats, who take so much money and retrench hard-working people at the same time. An entrepreneur can’t stand the word retrenchment – they are all about creating: magic, smiles, jobs, customers, and of course, legacy.

Posted by Ronnie Apteker

Rude dude

Now I know this one is out there, but I got it sent to me by a mate and when I read it I fell on the floor – I had to share it, rude and all.

A young man moved out from home and into a new apartment, all of his own, he went proudly down to the lobby to put his name on his mailbox.

While there, an stunning young lady came out of the apartment next to the mailboxes, wearing only a robe. The boy smiled at the young woman and she started up a conversation with him.

As they talked, her robe slipped open, and it was obvious that she had nothing else on. The poor kid broke into a sweat trying to maintain eye contact.

After a few minutes, she placed her hand on his arm and said, 'Let's go to my apartment, I hear someone coming.'

He followed her into her apartment; she closed the door and leaned against it, allowing her robe to fall off completely.

Now nude, she purred at him, 'What would you say is my best feature?'

Flustered and embarrassed, he finally squeaked, 'It's got to be your ears.'

Astounded, and a little hurt she asked, 'My ears?!?!?'

*Look at these breasts; they are a full 38 inches and 100% natural. I work out every day and my ass is firm and solid. I have a 28 inch waist.

Look at my skin - not a blemish anywhere.
How can you think that the best part of my body is my ears?'

Clearing his throat, he stammered... 'Outside, when you said you heard someone coming... That was me.'

Posted by Ronnie Apteker

Easy for you to say

I got this from a friend the other day - it was too good not to share :

THINGS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:
1. Innovative
2. Preliminary
3. Proliferation
4. Cinnamon

THINGS THAT ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:
1. Specificity
2. Anti-constitutionalistically
3. Passive-aggressive disorder
4. Transubstantiate

THINGS THAT ARE DOWNRIGHT IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:
1. No thanks, I'm married.
2. Nope, no more booze for me!
3. Sorry, but you're not really my type.
4. No thanks, I'm not hungry.
5. Good evening, officer. Isn't it lovely out tonight?
6. Oh, I couldn't! No one wants to hear me sing karaoke.
7. I'm not interested in fighting you.
8. Thank you, but I won't make any attempt to dance, I have no coordination. I'd hate to look like a fool!
9. Where is the nearest bathroom? I refuse to pee in this parking lot or on the side of the road.
10. I must be going home now, as I have to work in the morning.

Posted by Ronnie Apteker

Jerusalema in the US

I see the trailer for Jerusalema is now on the Apple site - check it out :

http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/gangsterparadisejerusalema/

Next month our film will be released in a group of arthouse cinemas in America - check it out indeed!

Posted by Ronnie Apteker

Too cool for school - part 27

I got this on some blanket mail from a friend of mine - some funny things here - had to be shared.

1. A day without sunshine is like night.

2. On the other hand, you have different fingers.

3. 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.

4. 99 percent of Politicians give the rest a bad name.

5. Remember, half the people you know are below average.

6. He who laughs last, thinks slowest.

7. Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.

8. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese in the trap.

9. Support bacteria. They're the only culture most people have.

10. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

11. Change is inevitable, except from vending machines.

12. If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.

13. How many of you believe in psycho-kinesis? Raise my hand.

14. OK, so what's the speed of dark?

15. When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

16. Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now.

19. What happens if you get scared half to death, twice?

20. Why do psychics have to ask you your name?

21. Inside every older person is a younger person wondering, 'What the hell happened?'

22. Just remember -- if the world didn't suck, we would all fall off.

23. Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

24. Life isn't like a box of chocolates. It's more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your butt tomorrow.

Posted by Ronnie Apteker