Robert Bloom at DRT
On December 11, 2007 Robert Bloom, former CEO of Publicis, presented several key concepts from his new book, The Inside Advantage. First off, Bob is a LEGEND in Dallas Advertising. He sold his agency to Publicis and then went on to be their CEO. Given the fact that Publicis is the 4th largest ad agency in the world, this was no small task.
Bob’s book is a very simple yet powerful read. It his book, he provides a road map to how companies can internally discover their inside advantage. It starts with a very clear and focused understanding of WHO the customer is. This is not easy but if done properly, Bob’s roadmap can help any company achieve a unique position in the market.
So does his process work? Well according to some very large brands like BMW, the answer is yes.
Take a moment and order his book at Amazon. You will find it worth every penny.
True Knowles at the DRT
Tru Knowles, former President/COO of Dr Pepper was our guest speaker this past Tuesday. His low key style and amazing story of success where truly inspirational.
True started his career with P&G. After reach the pinnacle of his sales career with P&G, he left at the age of 45 (the hardest decision he ever made) and went to Dr.Pepper. Needless to say he had no idea about the changes that he was about to experience as DP went through many financial changes in the 80s. His ability to focus on the core issues while navigating the myriad of financial issues was the hallmark of his success.
After retiring from P&G he now serves as chairman of NutraSweet.
True gave an awesome presentation - self deprecating, insightful, very honest and modest and overall an engaging person whose character shows no malice and is devoid of ego.
November 6th Election on the Trinity River Plan for Dallas
On November 6 the citizens of Dallas will be voting on a referendum to change the current Trinity River Plan. If you are in favor of the current plan VOTE NO to keep the plan as is. If you are not in favor of the current plan and wish it revised, vote yes. For more information go to http://www.votenosavethetrinity.com/
Mayor Leppert at the DRT
Dallas Mayor Leppert spoke on Tuesday to the Dallas Round Table regarding his view on the city of Dallas. In essence he indicated his belief that Dallas was at a crossroads - with tremendous opportunities and big issues that need to be addressed. He indicated that the real measure of success for Dallas is in pursuing those opportunities that have huge impact on the city 15 - 25 years out.
His guiding principles for his management (really his beliefs) are:
- Dallas needs to be more focused on international competition. What this means is that we as a community should not be thinking of competing with other domestic cities; but become a destination internationally.
- We need to pursue more opportunities that help the diversity of the city - providing a rich environment for different groups to thrive in.
- Environmental issues are hugely important. Help improve the environment through regulation and other activities is crucial for the long term viability of the city.
- Finally our community needs to take more pride in the city. It is often easy to overlook the tremendous beauty and depth of our city.
In line with these principles, the Mayor provided his insight into two major opportunities for the city. First is the idea of building a major convention hotel to compliment the convention center. Dallas is the only major city without plans for this type of facility. Second, he gave his arguments for the Unified Trinity Vision plan and why he believes that it should go forward as planned.
Another key point about the Mayor’s leadership strategy is the fact that he uses his guiding principles and beliefs to focus his energy and efforts on those projects that meet them. For any leader, focusing on a few core issues based on your guiding principles is the only way to accomplish anything. Too many times leaders try to please everyone - but by having a focused set of core beliefs a leader and manage time and expectations on those things that matter.
You can learn more about Mayor Leppert at http://www.dallascityhall.com/government/mayor/mayor.html .
DRT Members meet Rudy
A couple of weeks ago, several members of the DRT had the opportunity to meet with presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani.
Pictured here from left to right…
Karl Chaio
Scott Ryan
Rick Sapio
David Goodrich
“Mr. President”
Michael Krywucki
Jay Hull
Rand Stagen and the Drama Triangle and TED
Rand Stagen presented today one of the most interesting analysis of the human dynamics and how this dynamic can shift into a more positive and powerful catalyst for change in improve business operations.
At the heart of what Rand presented was the idea of the Drama Triangle, first developed by Stephen Karpman. In summary this Triangle outlines the three roles we typically play in human interaction; the roles of Victim, Persecutor and Rescuer. These interactions manifest themselves in a variety of methods but at their core they tend to re-enforce the status quo and do not lead to the successful resolutions of the “drama” that initiated them.
A key component of changing the dynamic of Drama Triangle is in the method by which you alter each point. This is the bases of TED, The Empowerment Dynamic. In this idea, the Victim becomes the Creator, the Persecutor becomes the Challenger and the Rescuer becomes the Coach.
So instead of blaming others for problems (the Vicitim), you acknowledge your responsibility and become self-determined to address the circumstances head-on. Instead of pointing out flaws of others (the Persecutor), you Challenge people to improve themselves without regard for their outcome. And finally, instead of trying to fix other’s problems (Rescuer), you concentrate on how to Coach them to improve themselves.
While this is a drastic over-simplification of the idea, it is non the less a very powerful idea. The DRT greatly appreciates the insight Rand shared with us today and we highly encourage everyone to visit his website at http://www.stagen.com/ to learn more about their company. The insight he shared today was invaluable!!
Lucy Billingsley
As the daughter of Trammel Crow it is no surprise the Lucy has real estate in her vanes. Today Lucy gave an overview of the residential real estate market and the impact of the sub prime mortgage on the available inventory in Dallas and Fort Worth. In a nut shell, residential real estate is facing some serious problems.
The one bright spot is in condo sales. The Central Business District (CBD) of downtown Dallas is experiencing a huge rise in interest and growth. She spoke at length about her real estate interest in the 1 Art Condo projects she has built and the leasing and sales efforts and more importantly the type of clientele.
She also discussed the impact of the Trinity River Project and way this huge development is crucial to the overall success of the revitalization effort of downtown Dallas.
Danielle DeMartino
Today Danielle DeMartino with the Federal Reserve in Dallas gave a detailed overview of the recent crisis in the sub-prime market. Use historical and current economic data she provided a very vivid and compelling account of how the sub prime market evolved over the past 5 years and many of the factors that lead to the current situation.
Needless to say her information was enlightening and frightening. The net result…the affects of this sub prime market fiasco have yet to be felt and may get worse in the future as ARMs begin to reset next year. The problem is much bigger in scope than most people image and the affect on home prices across the nation is beginning to manifest itself now. Net, net…if you need a mortgage, put down 20%, have great documentation and forget about a jumbo arm.
Steve Freeman and Employment Issues
Steve Freeman gave an entertaining overview of the employment issues that faces companies today. Given the complex legal issue, Steve reviewed the multitude of legal issues and penalties associated with current employment laws. Needless to say, hiring and firing is tough and if not handled properly a company opens itself to a myriad of issues.
Steve provided a quick PDF overview of the different employment laws. Employment Laws Click on the link to download this PDF.
Printer Discount - Save $25 on printing
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