Showing posts with label Culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Culture. Show all posts

Friday, January 13, 2012

Perfume Ads In Magazines - A Strange Whiff Of American Culture

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Once upon a time, perfume was reserved for department stores or boutiques, and not magazines. But about 100 years ago, an enterprising publisher figured out a way to insert or imbibe perfume into pages of a magazine, and the smell factor arrived in the magazine world.

One publisher of a regional gazette that was distributed to rural residents - mostly farmers - decided to spice up his springtime planting issue with a whiff on wild onion, and he added the essence of the onion to his ink. The newspaper was then printed using onion ink, and it had a strong and pungent odor. Back in those days, rural subscribers always got their magazines through the mail, because they did not often go to grocery stores, bookstores, or other places where magazines might be sold. But they sometimes did not get to the post office on a quarterly basis, either, and those who got their mail at a post office box might let it sit there for a week or two before they went to get it. This caused many rural post offices to smell bad, as this single gazette sat there sweltering in the boxes of small country post offices. Finally the Post scholar general of the Usa sent a stern warning to the publisher that he must cease printing with onion scented ink, or be severely fined by the federal government.

But most of our touch with scented magazines goes in the other direction, and involves picking up magazines that smell like exotic and costly perfumes from France or other fashion aware cities. The rock star Neil Young was once asked if he read Rolling Stone Magazine, which is the quintessential publication for rockers and musical entertainment. He commented that he quit reading it back when it started smelling like perfume - a statement on the evolution of the glamour rock commerce as well as a commentary of the fact that many magazines have changed their factory or sold out, to sell ads.

But if consumers buy magazines with perfume inserts, and then go out and buy the perfume, that is a huge boon for stores selling perfume and other associated items. So the conception of development reading an olfactory touch may turn out to be one of the cleverest marketing schemes in modern times. And the blend of ink and perfume is not likely to go away anytime soon, but may instead find us smelling coffee, air fresheners, or other scent-related consumer goods in the future.

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Saturday, January 7, 2012

How Leadership Affects Culture and Culture Affects Leadership

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There has been so much written on leadership that there is very diminutive I can de facto add. Leaders should be story tellers, communicators, holistic, strategic, encouraging, creative, conservative, risk taking, ethical, competitive, inspiring, and a whole host of other attributes that are too numerous to mention. There are 940 books currently ready on the field and it would not surprise me if you there were close over half a million articles on the subject. It is the bread and butter of every consulting firm throughout the world. With so much conception and insight, why is it still an issue?

The write back lies with culture. The whole purpose of leadership is to create a culture. In a large and well established organization it can be difficult for an outsider to implement a new culture. So, does leadership create a culture or does culture create a leadership? The write back to both questions is yes.

Culture Affecting Leadership

"I have been here 25 years." said the director of a large municipality. "I have outlasted 3 City Managers so far and I will outlast this one." That is the attitude that many leaders face, especially when they are brought in from outside organizations to run or manage large, well established ones. The negative cultures especially can undermine inevitable leadership as initiatives are actively undermined by managers who have a stake in the old culture. Either it through manipulation or complacency, negative cultures can be create considerable challenges for change.

Negative leadership, however, can have a fast, dramatic sway on a inevitable culture. WorldCom was a telecom leader and very innovative culture until Bernie Ebbers took over. While squeezing every cent he could from the environment and putting pressure on employees to work harder with less, he was pillaging the company. Turnover soared and, within a few years, WorldCom was bankrupt.

Culture as a Function of Leadership

Companies reflect the ethics of the leaders who run them. Bob Page felt like an outsider and had to hide his sexuality. When he built Replacements Ltd. He ensured that it would be a place that standard diversity not just of lifestyle but of conception and would spend in building their community. Anita Roddick founded the Body Shop to show that you could build an environmentally amiable corporation that reflected her commitment to environmental activism. Jim Goodnight's commitment to work-life equilibrium is part of the culture at Sas, the largest privately held firm in the world. Jack Welch's commitment to being the best created an environment of excellence at general Electric. In each of these cases, the ethics of the leader became a central part of the culture.

The Obstacles to Culture Change

The real obstacles to culture turn are what we call the internal obstacles. False ego, fear, complacency, and preconceived ideas create a negative environment. When turn is introduced there is resistance, even when the turn is positive. People learn different coping mechanisms to avoid the turn such as hiding behind procedures, 'office cooler' talk or gossip and complaining, or actively undermining the initiative. The examine then becomes how can leadership have a inevitable impact on the culture of an organization.

How can a leadership sway culture

Whether a leader comes up through the organization or is brought in from the outside to turn the organization, there are ways that leadership can have an impact on culture.

1. Walk the Talk People survey what you do, not just what you say and the values of the leader, not just what they say, While Enron C.E.O. Kenneth Lay and his management team were stealing from shareholders, many of his traders were laughing how they were going to bankrupt diminutive old ladies for their heating bills. This is the toughest part of leadership. Having worked with People who wrote books on the subject, I can tell you that often times their actions did not match their words and the sway was that a number of People had no respect for them. When you say you are going to do something, you need to result through and do.

2. Rewards and enforcement are a function of ethics. .
We value what we recognize. How are People rewarded or recognized? For instance, if you want collaboration and teamwork and then reward People for 'hitting their numbers' then their energies will be on what they are recognized for. Jim Goodnight from Sas enforces that People only work 37.5 hours a week because they will be burned out if they work late hours and are therefore less productive. If 'yes' People are promoted, then the culture will see that conforming is the only way to result and you will create a hierarchical culture.

3. Be Passionate
Passion is contagious and People like to be part of it. As the saying in the maritime Corp. Leadership program goes, "People will result you because they have to or because they want to and who do you want with a gun at your back?" When you inspire People to make change, you de facto reprogram their brains and they will take proprietary to ensure success.

4. Get Networked with the organization
Many senior leaders are very removed from the front lines, which is de facto where the tire hits the road. These are the People who ultimately create the culture. Many leaders de facto only interact with their direct reports, which gives them a skewed sense of what is going on. What is de facto happening at the front lines of the organization? Who are the enablers and resisters in the organization? That is the one advantage of promoting within the organization - they know the people. Of course, the problems within the organization may call for new leadership. Either way it is prominent to be networked in the culture. There is the culture you have and the culture many leaders think they have.

A number of years ago, I heard this story from a client. He was upset that the organization was getting rid of their smoking rooms because smoking was being banned by law from the whole building. "Even though I don't smoke," he told me. "I was amazed by what was happening in there. People were de facto talking without regards to title because they had one thing in tasteless - an addiction. One day a Senior Vice President came to me and told me about this guy he was talking to who had a number of very good suggestions regarding labor relations he wanted to implement. He asked me who he was, I looked it up and found out he was part of the custodial staff. He was de facto the janitor."

Leaders need to take off the layers around them and build in "smoking rooms".

5. Quote clearly
It may sound like an inevitable statement but in the absence of clear communication there is unclear and informal communication, i.e. Gossip. Gossip can undermine any turn and have a negative impact on the culture. People appreciate honest and uncomplicated communication, even when it is negative. The worst part is not knowing.

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Thursday, January 5, 2012

Meanings of Flowers in American Culture

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We will be going over some of the more common, and popular flowers that are found out there.

We will start out with the carnations. The carnations have several distinct color varieties so we will go over the basic consolidate starting with the normal meaning of the carnation. The carnation stands for the love of a woman and your love. It also incorporates fascination.

If you were to receive a pink carnation that would mean that the person that sent you that carnation will never forget you. You will all the time be in their head even if you are not there. If you were to receive the red carnation that basically means that person misses you a lot. It means that you are in their heart. It is also used for admiration. A white carnation basically implies pure or true love, a person's innocence. A striped carnation can be used to transport that you cannot be with a person. A yellow carnation is a sign of rejection.

Next we will move onto the Chrysanthemum. The chrysanthemum in normal means that person is a splendid friend, rest, and even cheerfulness. The chrysanthemum also comes in distinct varieties in which we will cover. The white chrysanthemum implies the truth, and the yellow means slighted love.

The daffodil stands for unrequited love, and it means that you are the only one for me. The daisy's meaning is innocence, loyal love, purity, and the saying I'll Never Tell. Lavender stands for Admiration, and solitude. The ambrosia flower is used to transport reciprocal love.

The Forget Me Not, which most of us are sure to know about, has the meaning of true love, and memories.

The white lily means virginity, purity, and majesty. The yellow lily means that you are walking on air, and the calla lily stand for beauty. The tiger lily, which is unique in and of it, stands for wealth and pride. The day lily is the Chinese seal for mother, and the Lily of the Valley basically stands for sweetness, humility, return to happiness, and that You've Made My Life Complete.

The bridal rose means love, of course. The dark crimson rose stands for mourning, and the hibiscus rose stands for delicate beauty. The pink rose stands for exquisite happiness, and the red rose stands for love and I love you. The white rose stands for innocence and purity.

The sweet pea stands for good bye, and departure. The iris is a flower which represents faith, courage, and wisdom. It is also used to transport the importance of a friendship. The yarrow flower is used to transport healing, and aloe is used as a seal of integrity and wisdom. The orchid stands for beauty, refinement, love, and gorgeous lady.

Now that you know a microscopic bit more about some of the meanings to several flowers that are ordinarily found in the florists today you will be able to realize what flowers should go in a determined bouquets, and if you receive a bouquet, what it means. Keep in mind that no all people will chronicle in flower choices; they may have distinct cultural insight regarding the meaning of flowers, or did not think the flower meaning and naturally chose them because of the design. However, some florists do keep these meanings in mind when designing a vase or bouquet.

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Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Hispanic Culture In America

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1st Generation Hispanics are intimately in tune with their culture. Whether they are from Mexico or El Salvador, they live in the U.S. But their hearts and their minds are still back home in their native country. That is why in America there are so many languages being spoken. There is also more and more exposure to flags of other countries.

The imagine behind this is the First Generation mindset of not letting go of the inner culture. A first Generation Hispanic will talk openly about where they came from and how they like to visit their native land from time to time. Once they settle, 1st Generation Hispanics will determine for life and live in the same home or city for the rest of their lives.

A 3rd Generation Hispanic will not be as in tune with their parents or grandparents native country. The imagine is because the more assimilated they are in American culture, the more they embrace it. When Hispanics embrace and live within a determined culture, they shy away from their native culture. They may still want to be a part of Hispanic functions but they will not speak the native language, they will speak English because that is the way they learn and think in the U.S. Social school system.

The Hispanic Culture is still arresting to Third Generation Hispanics but not as much as 1st and 2nd. Third Generation Hispanics are living in better upscale residential areas then the way they were raised. 3rd Generation Hispanics will move often and turn jobs, even if it means arresting far away from parents and immediate family.

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Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Japan's sway on American Culture

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Originating in Japan as means of letting off steam in a serious world of business, men and women in America have come to love the sensation of being up on stage in front of an audience singing songs that are accompanied by instrumental versions of their favorite music selections. Using monitors that display the lyrics and playback equipment that simulates the sounds of a band, habitancy can choose from a wide selection of tunes that are available in a catalog and take to the platform to honor their heroes of rock, country, metal, pop, alternative, and every other genre of music available.

First brought to life in the restaurants and clubs of Tokyo, there have been a number of Americanized karaoke bars in Nyc opening up over the past decade. Allowing habitancy to cut loose and drop their inhibitions straight through the mild use of alcohol, karaoke has come to be a favorite past time of many habitancy that take pleasure in crooning to the classics while their friends encourage them to perform dance steps and antics that add to the entertainment of everybody in attendance.

Combining live activities with collective interactions, the art of singing adds to the good times that are enjoyed by habitancy that are finding to relax and have some fun after a busy day at work. Making a night out on the town more pleasurable, and giving the performer a opening to showcase their talent, anyone level they are at, karaoke bars are a favorite hangout of anyone that does not take him or herself too seriously and who does not mind being the center of attention.

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Monday, January 2, 2012

History Of American Sales Culture - Part I

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On five great historic occasions Uncle Sam went out with his money in his hand and bought more real estate. In 1803 he bought Louisiana from Napoleon for ,000,000. Thomas Jefferson drove the agreement and admittedly picked up fourteen new States at a price of two and a half cents an acre. That was the greatest real estate transaction known to history. It doubled the size of the United States and gave us a huge territory.

In 1822 James Monroe bought Florida from Spain at a marked-down price of ,000,000 less than the value of a handful of Google shares of today. Then, just after the Civil War and for no particular purpose, Uncle Sam bought Alaska. He paid ,200,000 and got plentifulness of blame for throwing away good money for snow- drifts. For thirty years Alaska was ordinarily regarded as a bad bargain, and then some half frozen trapper found the Klondike. In the best time of the gold-rush Alaska paid for itself, in gold, about once in every four months.

Our fourth real estate purchase was the buying of the Philippines. As to just why we did it no one has ventured to tell, for we first thrashed Spain and then to salve her injured feelings, we gave her ,000,000 for an archipelago off the coast of China.
This archipelago had not been advertised. It was not new or serviceable. There was no examine for it. But, as roughly all other nations own a few antiques, we thought that we could afford a hidden collection.

The Panama Canal site cost us ,000,000; very nearly as much as all the others combined. We paid a million dollars a mile for a non-existent canal, which proves that Roosevelt was at least not as clever a bargainer as Thomas Jefferson. But we had to have it, and it is a source of national pride and nautical shipping accomplishment.

So, it was buying and selling that gave us half our territory; and it is also a fact, not regularly recognized, that salesmanship played an important part in preserving the Union. While it was Lincoln and Grant who put down the Rebellion, it was Jay Cooke, the paramount banker, who sold the bonds and brought in the money.

Jay Cooke was admittedly the first to open a national sales campaign. In 1864 he was appointed by Lincoln as Sales boss of bonds, at a time when the Federal Government was at its wits' end for money. At once Cooke sent out more than four thousand agents. He established a press bureau the first in the world, maybe. And he advertised the bonds in every worthwhile paper in the Northern States.

His fellow-bankers were shocked and astounded at his methods. They said he was no financier, nothing but a peddler of patent medicine. But Cooke only laughed at them and sent out other flood of hand-bills. He had a flaring advertisement hung in every Northern post-office. Such was his vigor that in a few months the North went into a fit of bond-madness. After the noise and the shouting were over it was found that
Cooke had sold bonds to the face value of ,240,000,000.

Twelve Hundred Million Dollars!

Such was the consequent of the first national sales campaign in the United States.

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Friday, December 30, 2011

Seven Reasons Organizational Culture Matters

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We spend 40 . . . Or 45 . . . Or 50 . . . Or more hours at work each week. Many of us spend more time with those we work with than we do our families. For us to be content and fulfilled people, that time must be needful for more than a dollar. . .

We want to be engaged in our work. We yearn for work that is enjoyable, meaningful and engaging. When we are engaged we are safer on the job, more productive and more willing and able to pleasure Customers.

It is for these basic reasons that organizational culture matters. It is the right thing for an society to do - to think about the work environment, working relationships and "how we do things here."

Focusing on building and sustaining an organizational culture is one way of showing that citizen are the organization's most needful asset.

There are of procedure many other bottom line business reasons to focus on and build organizational culture. Here are seven of those reasons.

A strong culture is a talent-attractor. Your organizational culture is part of the holder that prospective employees look at when assessing your organization. Gone are the days of selecting the man you want from a large eager pool. The talent market is tighter and those finding for a new society are more selective than ever. The best citizen want more than a wage and good benefits. They want an environment they can enjoy and follow in.

A strong culture is talent-retainer. How likely are citizen to stay if they have other options and don't love where they are? Your organizational culture is a key component of a person's desire to stay.

A strong culture engages people. citizen want to be engaged in their work. agreeing to a Gallup observe at least 22 million American workers are extremely negative or "actively disengaged" - this loss of productivity is estimated to be worth in the middle of 0-0 Billion annually. Your culture can engage people. Engagement creates greater productivity, which can impact profitability. Need I say more?

A strong culture creates power and momentum. Build a culture that is vibrant and allows citizen to be valued and express themselves and you will generate a very real energy. That obvious power will permeate the society and generate a new momentum for success. power is contagious and will build on itself, reinforcing the culture and the attractiveness of the organization.

A strong culture changes the view of "work." Most citizen have a negative connotation of the word work. Work equals drudgery, 9-5, "the salt mine." When you generate a culture that is attractive, people's view of "going to work" will change. Would you rather see work as drudgery or a joy? Which do you think your employees would prefer? Which will lead to the best results?

A strong culture creates greater synergy. A strong culture brings citizen together. When citizen have the occasion to (and are startling to) tell and get to know each other better, they will find new connections. These connections will lead to new ideas and greater productivity - in other words, you will be creating synergy. Literally, 1 + 1 + right culture = more than 10. How is that for leverage?

A strong culture makes every person more successful. Any one of the other six reasons should be guess adequate to focus on organizational culture. But the bottom line is that an speculation of time, talent and focus on organizational culture will give you all of the above benefits. Not only is creating a better culture a good thing to do for the human capital in the business, it makes good business sense too.

Hopefully this article has helped you see that time spent improving your organizational culture will be time wisely invested. Regardless of your current culture, it is never too late to enhance it and to begin creating the benefits described above.

What are you waiting for?

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