Comments on: Rock Stars, Athletes and Yellow Pages Executives http://staging.blog.biakelsey.com/index.php/2005/10/19/Rock-Stars-Athletes-and-Yellow-Pages-Executives/ LOCAL MEDIA WATCH. The Nexus of All Things Local Mon, 01 Jun 2015 22:23:47 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.39 By: John http://staging.blog.biakelsey.com/index.php/2005/10/19/Rock-Stars-Athletes-and-Yellow-Pages-Executives/comment-page-1/#comment-441 Wed, 19 Oct 2005 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-441 Jim,

From my AT&T days (70's), following two guys down the hall in Basking Ridge:

"How are you doing, Charlie?"
"Oh OK, I'm retiring in only 8 years"

Where is the incentive in that environment????

John

]]> By: Jim Bryant http://staging.blog.biakelsey.com/index.php/2005/10/19/Rock-Stars-Athletes-and-Yellow-Pages-Executives/comment-page-1/#comment-442 Mon, 17 Oct 2005 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-442 John,

Good point. The old utility business model didn’t encourage risk taking or adequately reward successful risk takers. (I know this first hand.)

I recall from my NYNEX days – circa 1986 – seeking corporate approval for a controversial business idea that I had (publishing the company’s directories on CD-ROM). One of the key decision makers confided with me at lunch that he probably couldn’t support the idea because “I’m planning to retire in 10 years and I need to play it safe in the meantime.”

Jim Bryant

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