Be Paranoid About Healthy Growth

Be Paranoid About Healthy Growth
By Mike Teng

John Chambers, CEO of Cisco Systems says that he possesses a healthy paranoia. He
is paranoid that Cisco may grow too far from its customers, partners and employees.
Andy Grove of Intel first wrote about paranoia in the book, Only the paranoid will
survive. Company should not just be paranoid about survival, it should also be paranoid
about healthy growth.

John Chambers grew Cisco from 1995 to become a super growth engine, which fuelled
the burgeoning demand for computer networking. Its sales revenues grew from $2.2
billion in 1995 to $18.9 billion in 2000. The profits grew from $0.84 billion in 1998 to
$4.3 billion in 2000. Without Cisco routers, there would be no World Wide Web. By
year 2000, over 75 percent of all Internet traffic traveled over Cisco products and the
future appeared bright and expected to grow from 275 million to 1 billion by 2005.

However late in 2000, the US economy went sour and by early 2001, the high-growth
Cisco System was in trouble. It was forced to write off billions of stocks and laid off
7,900 employees. The stock fell and Cisco Systems fell from its pedestal of growth.
Chambers was always mindful that Ciscos bubble might burst, although he was taken by
surprise too by the sudden turn in Ciscos fortunes. Faster than most other CEOs under
similar circumstances, Chambers restructured Cisco by putting stress on profit and cash
flow performance. He put emphasis on focus, execution, productivity and taking only
calculated risks. The company did subsequently show signs of improvements.

Another example is Donald Trumps corporate empire. He was acquiring and growing
very rapidly from real estate, hotel, casino and airlines. When the real estate market
crashed in New Year in the late 1980s, Trump was almost bankrupt. Like the proverbial
Phoenix, he emerged from the ashes and became a comeback kid in the 1990s. Both John
Chambers and Donald Trump had learnt a bitter lesson that a company must emphasise
on getting healthy first before growth and expansion.

The 1980s and 1990s were decades of growth by merger and acquisition. However, the
successes had been far and few. Also, companies that went through growth by merger
and acquisition were highly geared and paid dearly for their overburdened debt situation.
As a result many are still digesting their acquisition or prevented from further
acquisitions. In the 2000s, growth will be more organic rather than through pure
acquisitions. Companies will plan more for real growth through internal development
and expansion. Branson has risen to this challenge by building his businesses through
organic growth rather than acquisition. Growing and starting new companies enables him
to stretch his people and he enjoys providing opportunity for his employees. At the risk
of overplaying his image, this strategy fits his concept of the organisational family, one
that grows by progeny rather than by adoption.

One also ought to be paranoid if the company is not growing. The market, the staff, the
creditors and the shareholders demand growth. The bank interests, inflation, wage
increase, returns on investments are all expected to grow and therefore the company must
also grow correspondingly. Chances are that if you are not growing, your competitors are
growing at your expense. Companies need to have sustainable growth, otherwise they
are dying. Similarly, a person who totally retires is heading for the grave and need to
grow mentally in order not to become senile.

Even in so-called mature and competitive industries, companies are growing. For
instance, Dell Computers is still growing despite the very tough and mature personal
computer market. Many old companies such as Coke, Proctor and Gamble and Gillette
are still growing in the markets with hundreds of similar brands. Growth is always
possible no matter what the age is. Thomas Alva Edison deemed mentally slow by his
teachers patented a total of 1,033 inventions! His work spanned a lifetime and grew with
age, with the first patent issued at age twenty-one, his last at age eighty-one. For both
corporate and individual, the lesson is never to stop growing.

However, top line growth per se is useless, as evidenced in the demise of many dot.com
companies in the world and construction companies in Singapore. If the growth is not
accompanied by attention to costs, productivity and efficient use of resources then the
growth is not sustainable and can spell more troubles.

However, companies need to have a healthy and balanced view of growth. If growth is
done artificially to please the stock market and shareholders, then it cannot sustain. This
happens to companies that go on an acquisition binge and they get indigestion. Therefore,
one should target for healthy growth, which is based on a solid foundation

http://www.corporateturnaroundexpert.com

Dr Mike Teng (DBA, MBA, BEng, FIMechE, FIEE, CEng, PEng, FCMI, FCIM, SMCS) is the author of the best-selling business book Corporate Turnaround: Nursing a sick company back to health, in 2002. In 2006, he authored another book entitled, Corporate Wellness: 101 Principles in Turnaround and Transformation. Dr Teng is widely recognized as a turnaround CEO in Asia by the news media. He has 27 years of experience in corporate responsibilities in the Asia Pacific region. Of these, he held Chief Executive Officers positions for 17 years in multi-national, local and publicly listed companies. He led in the successful turnaround of several troubled companies. He is currently the Managing Director of a business advisory firm, Corporate Turnaround Centre Pte Ltd (http://www.corporateturnaroundcentre.com). Dr Teng was the President of the Marketing Institute of Singapore (2000 2004), the national body representing some 5000 individual and corporate marketing professionals in Singapore

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Corporate Retreats: Key to a Healthy Mind and Body in the Workplace

Corporate Retreats: Key to a Healthy Mind and Body in the Workplace
By Sheridan Hammond

A corporate retreat is an excellent opportunity for any business from conferences to workshops, or simply for escapism of the hectic, stressful nature of the workplace. A crucial advantage, however, is that relationships and communication are maintained amongst employees/employers which allows for solid team bonding. Corporate retreats will not only benefit peoples lives, but will also improve the way work is approached on a daily basis.



It is never too late to renew and rejuvenate the workplace with the experience of a corporate retreat. There are a diverse range of retreats available, which can often comprise of a weekend getaway or a week-long adventure, depending on the company. Activities are involved and can include those such as: yoga, water sports, outdoor activities, team bonding exercises, and food preparation workshops.



Team building should be a priority for any organisation, no matter the size. Strong interpersonal relationships and communication skills are vital for the workplace. Corporate retreats allow great qualities to shine through. Individuals will exceed their expectations of themselves and fellow workmates. The internal environment of an organisation needs to be strengthened so that all external activities are effective.



Retreats are designed so that participants leave with a wide range of invaluable skills and lessons to take home and apply to their lives. The journey of a corporate retreat is an innovative form of involving employees and providing them with a foundation for strong teamwork. A retreat allows for an employee incentive, as a reward for their hard work and dedicated efforts.



Company Advantages



A corporate retreat will assist in team building by strengthening employee-to-employer as well employee-to-employee relationships, communication, trust and acceptance. By participating in this experience, workplaces will no doubt benefit and receive a refreshed and energetic staff upon return to the office. Corporate retreats also increase performance and productivity, as well as assist in maintaining sound employee relations.



It is far better to maintain a content work environment otherwise morale will decrease, thus resulting in a depletion of productivity and work ethic. By providing an organisation with a corporate retreat, employers will be seen as proactive and willing to support the growth individuals as employees.
Employee Benefits



Individual employees will experience a general feeling of wellbeing and appreciation through the adventure of a corporate retreat. The relaxed environment will revitalise their work ethic and encourage motivation and passion, which will be transferable to the workplace. Good rapport should also develop: employee-to-employee and employee-to-employer.



Inspiration and dedication are key factors involved in developing and executing corporate retreats. Qualified instructors will help enhance the skills of any individual, regardless of what their area of expertise is. Absolutely anyone can enjoy a corporate retreat age, gender and ability are irrelevant. A corporate retreat is the ultimate incentive for any employee.



A final word



No matter the size or nature of the company, all will benefit from a corporate retreat. A refreshed and inspired workplace will always deliver 100% and beyond, in performance. Remember, a happy employee is most certainly a productive one.

Sheridan Hammond is the founder of Samudra - Surf & Yoga Retreats run in magnificent ocean settings in Australia and around the world. Sheridan and his staff run corporate retreats which are all about team building while experiencing a different culture, eating healthy foods and engaging in the intimate practice of yoga with new friends. For more information on Sheridan or Samudra, visit the website at http://www.samudra.com.au.

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Healthy Joke

Healthy Joke
By James Good

Always laugh when you can. Its cheap medicine- These words from the prolific comedy writer, Larry Gelbart, seem to describe best what most of us know from our own experiences with laughing: it not only makes us happier, it also makes us stronger and, in many cases, healthier.

When I first came up with the idea of creating a new humor web-site, my goals, I have to admit, were quite modest. I always loved dealing with funny materials, and the site gave me a chance to know some jokes that would later help me turn even the dullest social gatherings to an orchestra of roaring laughs. But it wasnt until I started getting responses from people visiting the site that I began to realize how important even a couple of good jokes a day can be.

I became really interested in this phenomenon called humor and laughter, and began to ask myself if apart from its obvious social benefits, it also has a real physical influence. In recent years, brain-scientists has been exploring the positive responses of the body to funny experiences, a subject that has been mostly neglected and over-shadowed for ages by studies about depression, fear and anger. Though in its early stages, already some small studies imply that brain activity from humor can reduce feelings of pain, prevent negative stress reactions and boost the brains biological battle against infection.

There are also various groups of scientists and doctors who are working hard to push forward some non-conventional treatments that involves laughter as a form of therapy. Within the field of Psychotherapy, text and handbooks have appeared, all advocating the application of humor (One Psychohumorist even offers advice heavily loaded with humor on how to deal with life and work-related stress). There is an Interdisciplinary American Association for Therapeutic Humor (AATH), that promotes the healing power of laughing and humor. There are even guidelines on how to form your own local laughter clubs, which purportedly can help you achieve such idealistic goals as personal health and happiness. Around the world this kind of Laughter clubs, where people meet in circles, hold hands together and start laughing as if there is no tomorrow, are spreading quite rapidly.

Laughter becomes an important tool in keeping a healthy way of life and in treating mental and physical problems, whether big or small. While it is not always clear what is the direct influence of humor on the physical body and what is the biological response it creates, it is quite clear today that there is a beneficial effect of humor and laughter on the body, mind and spirit, and that attention only to the physical body when trying to keep a healthy being or during treatment in illness will yield only a partial or temporary recovery.

For me, the scientific researches and the testimony of both patients and caregivers, emphasizing how important a good laugh was in the therapy process, were all in harmony with the reactions I got from visitors in my site. An elderly man from Florida once wrote me that It is with the help of laughter that I keep winning the battle against all sicknesses.

Im not sure if a few jokes could promise us life of eternity, but I now know that it is exactly this kind of simple stuff that helps different people from around the world enjoy life a little more. Even if humor doesnt make us live longer, it sure does make us live better, and if it is thanks to my humor site that someone in this world could improve his life with a smile, then it sure has made my life richer and more fulfilling.

James Good works for JokesGallery.com. Jokes Gallery site contains a very large archive of free jokes and funny pictures.http://www.jokesgallery.com

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A Healthy Lifestyle Helps to Prevent Erectile Dysfunction

A Healthy Lifestyle Helps to Prevent Erectile Dysfunction
By Valerian D.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) becomes a more common condition as men age. Experts evaluate that about half of men older than 40 years have at least modest problems in achieving and maintaining an erection. Taking into consideration the US male population, that means erectile dysfunction may affect about 18 million men.

Nobody knows yet exactly why ED happens but the consequences are very serious in some cases.

A research team conducted by a scientist working for the manufacturer of Viagra concluded that men had problems in maintaining a relationship had important troubles related to depression, anxiety and self-esteem. After 10 weeks of treating erectile dysfunction, members of trial group restored self-esteem and improved their depression and anxiety condition.

Of course erectile dysfunction treatment is beneficial for people in need and many trials have confirmed the life improvements. But more important is to try to prevent this uncomfortable situation.

More and more studies confirmed that every man can avoid the physical factors that cause erectile dysfunction with just a little effort. A healthy lifestyle is very important to prevent these kind of troubles. Avoid smoking, excessive use of alcohol and high fat foods. Keep the body weight in normal limits, maintain the cholesterol and blood pressure at low level and go exercising daily.

Valerian D is a freelance writer interested in health issues affecting men such as erectile dysfunction.

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