Take The Risk Out of Hiring

Get help, don't go it alone!

One of the most important activities that impacts business success is hiring talented people into the right position.  However, research tells us this is one activity that is most often poorly executed in most businesses; especially smaller firms.  The cost for a hiring mistake in recent studies range from 2 – 3 times the person’s salary; a $50K person will cost somewhere around $100K to $150K.  Why is this true?  What can we do about it?

There are two key factors that create poor hiring decisions:

Ø  Not having a hiring process that is designed to identify good candidates and screen out people that should not be hired.

Ø  Most hiring managers hire with such little frequency they have insufficient practice working through the process, using assessment tools effectively and utilizing excellent interviewing techniques and methods.

I help managers in the hiring process to overcome the above impediments.  Also, I add additional elements that are proven best practices that increase the probability of making good hiring decisions to help ensure new hires are successful.

The hiring process is designed to be a screen to ensure only talented and capable people make it through. 

A simple model:

American Exceptionalism; Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs and American Exceptionalism

Steve Jobs, who died yesterday at the too-young age of 56, was a living refutation of all what liberals constantly tell us about our country -- that we're falling behind others and live now in a "post-American world," as one of Barack Obama's favorite books puts it in its title.

As anyone who's ever handled an Apple product or had his life improved by the technological innovations our system has produced in just a decade (that means all of us) will tell you, Jobs and innovators like him epitomize that immeasurable quality the left somehow finds most abject -- American exceptionalism.

The meme of the left is that drudgery and mediocrity is not just our future but probably also our just desserts--for being too imperialistic, consumerist, wasteful, patriarchal, or what have you. (For an inexhaustible list of all our ills and sins, please check with the mob gathered at the "Occupy Wall Street" protest.) One should compare this deadened vision with the wonders Jobs wrought.

Apple Computer, the company Jobs founded at the age of 21 along with his friend Steve Wozniak, was valued at the close of business yesterday at $350 billion and some change, more than $100 billion ahead of Microsoft. General Electric, another American giant, weighed in at less than half the price, $161 billion. Ford, GM and Volkswagen? Respectively, $40 billion, $35 billion and $42 billion. That should give some idea of where we are in the 21st century.

That beauty contest, how much a company is worth, is a result of decisions made by millions of investors voting with people's savings (that is, for most of us, the sweat of our brow and our hedge against an uncertain future). Investors voted for Jobs' company because consumers loved its products, and consumers bought Apple products not because they were ordered to do so by central planners but because they saw them as magic.

From computing to music to journalism, Jobs changed the way the world did its business and leisure. Very little of what we do today has not been impacted somehow by Jobs and his company. He certainly changed my life from my first Apple III with floppy discs almost 30 years ago, costing about $6000 and possessing a small fraction of the capabilities of my streamlined new iPad 2, all at less than 10 percent of the cost of that early dinosaur.

Macs, with their trademark coloring and sleek design, transformed the way people came to see computers, from gizmos only nerds understood or liked to things almost as organic as the partly bitten apples of the ever-present logos. Creative designing and thinking flowed naturally from a Mac, powering the creativity and productivity that have become the hallmark of the American economy, our present problems notwithstanding. In music, Jobs changed the industry by taking it digital.

As for journalism and reading in general, we have now gone back to where we started: the biblical tablet. The elegant slab we take with us wherever we go can do the same for us and take us, no matter where we are, anywhere in the universe our imagination wants to visit.

All this was the result of the happy coincidence of genius in an individual and a system. Jobs was an individual with special DNA, no question. But this half-Arab boy who was given up for adoption at birth and went on to drop out of college was able to transform the lives of individuals across the world because he lived and worked in this country.

The genius of the American system is comprised of the rule of law, respect for private property and the freedom of the individual to strive to be better than himself and his neighbor and reap the rewards that come from his innate abilities and effort. All of these and many other liberties are safeguarded in our Constitution. It is all part of what makes us an exceptional country.

This is not to say that we don't have problems. We are indeed falling behind -- not behind other countries but behind our promise and potential. Our government spends too much, tries to tell us how to run our private lives, and ties down in red tape the genius that brought you Apple. The great and sometimes cacophonous debate we are having in our country at the moment results from the fact that Americans have finally woken up to the threat our system confronts and are doing something about it.

This is not what you hear. Daily we are told by our government leaders, the media, and academia that we are as exceptional only in the way that is every other country on the U.N. roll, from Albania to Zimbabwe, is exceptional. We are told that we have to manage our decline as a power and that the great debate over ideas that we're having is evidence that "our politics is broken." Typically, a columnist from a Manhattan paper has titled his most recent book That Used to Be Us, a line, we're sad to say, that came straight from a speech by Barack Obama.

This is nonsense. Steve Jobs may have given to liberal causes and politicians throughout his life, but his life proved the existence of the American Dream. As anyone who's Googled something in her iPad and then Tweeted about it will tell you, Steve Jobs and those like him symbolize American Exceptionalism every day.

Edwin J. Feulner

Get a coach, change your life forever!

One reason why personal coaching has exploded in recent years is that at the core, people believe they can – and should — feel better about who they are and what they are doing. But they are often frustrated and don’t understand why or what to do about it.
Since the 80’s, when coaching was not widely known, the options for help were limited. Choices were working with a psychologist, psychiatrist, or a social worker. It was called “therapy”, or more technically referred to as psychotherapy. By its nature, psychotherapy can take years of work. That’s because it is often based on the belief that current behavioral issues are based on personality disorders or abnormal psychology. To understand and address those issues, psychotherapy examines life’s experiences as distant as one’s childhood in order to achieve change in current behaviors.
Today people want more immediate solutions. Although therapy still has an important role in some lives, the issues many people face that daily cause frustration, anxiety, and moodiness are nothing more than naturally flowing complications from living and working in a complex world;. In other words, the normal complexities of being a human being. These are not the result of personality disorders or abnormal psychology. Therapy may not fit such issues, and if it does, it takes a long time. Also, many people are discouraged by the time investment that therapy requires.
In comparison, personal coaching delivers results in a relatively short time, often just a few months.  It is circumstance driven. It leads to change and improvement in life more quickly and easier than psychotherapy.  It does not carry the stigma of “being in therapy” as people are familiar with the idea and role of coaching from other areas of life.
“More people than you realize rely on coaches today. It may be the greatest untapped resource for individuals.  Athletes, singers, actors and business leaders are familiar examples of the types of people who turn to coaching,” explains Bill McAdory, Professional Coach.  “When you think about it, this should not be surprising. Why would we have coaches for activities like sports and acting but not also turn to coaches to help us reach our personal and professional goals? The reason is that most people are not aware of what a Professional Coach can do for them personally, or the difference between therapy and coaching. Therefore it is not an option they consider.”
Coaching is an investment in self — the greatest investment you can make.  Who you choose as your coach is key.
Bill McAdory began his career in 1973 as a coach before personal coaching had a name. He began his professional life as a successful corporate executive, working in the board rooms and top-level offices of Fortune 500 companies as an executive in the traditional sense. In that role, he came to realize that even successful, high-powered business people have issues. Only by resolving those issues could they be effective leaders driving company-wide successes. Thus began his dual role as a personal coach to high level executives in both their professional and personal lives.
Bill earned a reputation in corporate America as “the one to call when you meet life head on.”  He underwent years of education and mentoring with nationally known leaders in the personal coaching field to develop his skills and insights.  In 1998, Bill realized that the most rewarding work in his career in corporate America was personal coaching.  He decided this was his calling.
With that realization, Bill began studying neuropsychology at Emery University in Atlanta that year. He successfully completed all requirements of the three year degree program. Why neuropsychology?  Bill explains, “Neuropsychology is the blended science of neurology and psychology.  Neuropsychology explains the reasons why people are unable to change on their own and deal with the issues blocking their success.  I knew instinctively that this is what had been missing in my work and that of other personal coaches. My work since then has demonstrated that the knowledge and insights of neuropsychology lead to more quick and effective results than traditional coaching – and psychotherapy.”
Since that career shift, Bill has helped hundreds of individuals through all manner of life’s transitions and challenges — from life altering, to the common issues of our daily lives, to identifying and understanding the profound changes in lifestyle that Baby Boomers face today as they enter retirement. He has a unique ability to help people discover why they are “stuck” and what to do about it.
Here are some comments from those who have worked with Bill McAdory, Professional Coach.
“Bill has both experience and gifts. The combination makes him a truly remarkable person. His business experience gives him insight and his social/emotional intelligence allows him to use it in the service of others. In the words of George Santayana he has “Something rarer and finer far than ability…he has the ability to recognize ability”
Sean McGrory.  - Partner, CFO Miller Valentine Group
Bill is the person who helped me view my life differently from which I have benefited professionally as well as personally.
Jim Gravel. -  CFO Catholic Healthcare Partners (CHP)
“I love Bill’s no-nonsense approach to identifying and solving problems. He has an impressive ability to see through the clutter and get to the bottom line. Most importantly, I always feel better about myself after spending time with Bill. He is a master of his craft.”
Dave Ross – Real Estate Consultant
“Bill is a truly engaging leader. He is strategic, motivating, dedicated and truly cares about people. Bill inspired me, as well as others, to be better leaders. He is a wonderful coach and mentor. His positive influence will be felt by many for years to come.”
Michelle F. Frambes. - Human Resource Manager CHP
“Bill was a very innovative and effective.  He is one to bring about needed change with the only the best in mind. He can always be counted on for high integrity and sparkling insight into creative problem solutions.”
Kevin G Grosse. – Engineer Hill-Rom
“Bill’s leadership, coaching skills and problem solving abilities are a huge plus to any organization and personal relationship.”
Mike Duwell. Director Business Development Hill-Rom

Baby Boomers and Retirement Planning

Baby-boomers may have many bonus years of extended middle age and active elder-hood. This was revealed by the demographic and longevity shift in the 20th. century.  Thanks to modern medicine, we are living longer and better than just a generation ago. In 1935, when age 65 was established as the retirement age for full social security benefits, the average life expectancy was 61.7 years. The current life expectancy is 84.8 years for men and 86.8 for women. We're talking about a lot more active years than ever before.

These extra years will be defined by transition, opportunity, experience and risk. 

Proactive and well thought-out planning is essential to successfully navigate and make use of your extra years ahead. An experienced guide can help make your journey more predictable, comprehensive and gratifying.

Retirement Lifestyle Planning is specially designed to help you create  something new. Your roots are well-established; now is the time to evaluate and plan the next chapter of your life.  

With my help you will explore and define your passion, dreams and commitments to create the path to make them a reality. The process includes guiding you to identifying a new purpose and identity that maintains your engagement in a life of vitality and fulfillment.

My reluctant transition from the World of Work to the World of Retirement has been made easier for me through the wisdom and patient guidance from Bill.  My years of 'retirement resistance' and anxiety were finally allayed by Nigel through his continuing encouragement and novel approach in pointing the way to an interesting and lively 'after work' future.

            - Lee M.

Working with Bill I have:

• identified my core values and the interrelationships between these values
• developed methodologies to help me use these values as reference points for prioritizing personal and professional activities
• adopted rituals into my daily routine to help me replenish and sustain my energy levels

            -  William C.

The significant 'take-away' for me was the re-framing of my future from the 'next' stage to the '2nd Half' of my life. The information presented, provoked my thinking towards a different paradigm around possibility and opportunity at hand.

            -  Pat D.