I was only in Istanbul, Turkey, for 3.5 days. To some extent, I feel like I’m still there or perhaps it’s just my heart that is still there. I watch the news closely. I have Turkish colleagues who are engaged in the protests. My journey and mission was cut short due to the protests. What’s this all about?

Imagine if the President of the United States started bulldozing 600-year old trees to build a shopping mall in New York’s Central Park, the Boston Common or San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Do you think there would be a backlash? Of course! And, that is what is happening in Istanbul.

Gezi Park is a small park in the middle of Taksim Square in the heart of downtown Istanbul. It is an oasis in the hustle and bustle of the downtown. The Prime Minister unilaterally decided to implement his plan and began the demolition of Gezi Park.

The reaction from the protesters is predictable and understandable. It’s a complete outrage. But, it’s peaceful outrage seeking a reversal of this decision.

The Turkish PM has lost all moral authority on this issue due to his response, arrogance, sense of entitlement and contempt for those who do not agree with him.

• In an effort to demonize and polarize others against the protesters, the Turkish PM claimed that protesters entered a mosque with their shoes on and drank beer inside the mosque while tending to injured, a fact disputed by the Iman who runs the mosque. This shows a PM trying to polarize people using lies. It’s beneath his office.
• The PM has put forth an angry, violent response against his own citizens with water cannons, tear gas, and more, actions that have resulted in rebukes by the European Union and have contributed to more protesters coming forward. I don’t know how the police can do this to their own people–”just following orders” I guess.
• Tear gas was fired directly into a hotel Saturday night, a violation of international law.
• 3 rival soccer clubs’ fans who despise each other in normal life have come together as one to help the protesters with support. They have years of experience combatting the police. For these groups to come together would have been thought unimaginable.
• The protesters include all religious groups rallying side-by-side–it is a wonderful thing to watch.

Today (Sunday, June 16th), in a staged, partisan rally, the PM sought to rub his “victory” in the faces of those evicted from Gezi Park by force the evening before. What a man!

Istanbul is one of the world’s most magnificent cities. May cooler heads prevail. May the protesters be safe from government-inflicted violence.

The following link will help you see more about what is going on in Istanbul

Thought for the week:

“Apps need to be opinionated. Too flexible and users won’t know what to do.” -Jason Calacanis at Launch 2013

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Dave Gardner, Gardner & Associates Consulting http://www.gardnerandassoc.com

© 2013 Gardner & Associates Consulting  All Rights Reserved

Note:  To receive an email version of “Thank God It’s Monday” to start your week, please subscribe here.  I would very much appreciate your suggesting to others that they subscribe.

The Wizard of Oz’s Dorothy taught us “there’s no place like home.” I’d like to add, “There’s no place like Istanbul!”

I’m just back from Istanbul where I attended the Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network annual global conference co-sponsored by Intel. I was also invited to keynote the Endeavor Istanbul entrepreneurial conference, an event postponed due to the on-going protests. You know you’re not home when:

• There are metal detectors at all hotel entrances
• Internet access is quite unpredictable
• Your passport is examined three times at the airport prior to boarding a return flight

The protests in Istanbul remind me of protests in the U.S. back during the Vietnam War. In Turkey, it is simple: the people don’t want a historic park replaced with a shopping mall in the downtown area. And, they are letting the Prime Minister know.

The Prime Minister sees this as an attack on his authority (and ego). His announcement is the genesis of protests that have triggered a violent government response that is only adding fuel to the very protests he wants to stop.

Leadership means getting buy-in from, not ignoring, stakeholders, even those who didn’t vote for you or won’t vote for you in the next election. The Prime Minister does not know how to come to a more feasible solution without appearing weak.

He’s not leading. He’s infuriating a large segment of his own population. The emperor has no clothes yet his advisers don’t seem to want to share the news with him. He won’t thrive but I believe, ultimately, the Turkish citizens will.

I really enjoyed Istanbul, the food, the people and the Turkish entertainers. I can’t wait to return.

“Don’t let your past steal your present. Attitude & focus are critical factors in your success. Don’t surrender them to yesterday.”  - Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey

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Dave Gardner, Gardner & Associates Consulting http://www.gardnerandassoc.com

© 2013 Gardner & Associates Consulting  All Rights Reserved

To receive an email version of “Thank God It’s Monday” to start your week, please subscribe here. I would very much appreciate your suggesting to others that they subscribe.

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Strategy execution failures can be attributed to many things. I consider these to be among the top reasons:

• No strategy buy-in from leadership team
• No accountability on the execution side–everyone responsible/no one responsible
• Team celebrates strategy definition, not the execution and delivery of the strategy.
• Team sees strategy as a periodic discussion, not part of the day-to-day journey
• No follow-through–no plan to deliver the outcomes required by the strategy
• Urgent matters trump important
• Too many initiatives with conflicting priorities owned by the same people

Strategy must be executed to have the chance to be effective. How else can you thrive?

“Don’t start your victory dance on the 20-yard line.”  - Vickie Sullivan

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Dave Gardner, Gardner & Associates Consulting  http://www.gardnerandassoc.com

© 2013 Gardner & Associates Consulting  All Rights Reserved Note:  To receive an email version of “Thank God It’s Monday” to start your week, please subscribe here. I would very much appreciate your suggesting to others that they subscribe.

How can you accelerate growth if you firewall yourself and your company off from those who want to reach you?

• Don’t you just love the voicemail systems that have just about every option in the galaxy but the one you want–to speak to another human being about a problem that isn’t on the menu? Would you like to hear our menu again? And, again?
• Just this week, I overheard a receptionist at a multi-billion company refuse to put a call through to an executive when the caller was unable to provide a specific name. I’m sure she’s just following orders but really? Is she a receptionist or in the call prevention business?
• When I asked the CEO to call his start-up company’s phone number last week, he learned that the receptionist puts his callers into a directory system wherein callers would have to enter his correct name on their keypad to match a listing in a directory to find a his voicemail box so they can leave him a message. Sounds like fun, right? People who need to reach him call him on his cell. Yet, his business card provides a company phone number that is the equivalent of a black hole. He didn’t know what dysfunction someone might encounter.
• Have you ever tried to speak to a human at Google about a problem? Good luck with that! Google doesn’t want to interact with customers or prospects. I asked a question of a sales guy who knows me and he merely gave me a URL to answer my question. And, what happens if your question isn’t covered in the Frequently Asked Questions section? What if you don’t know what the right keywords are to find assistance? It must not be that important.

The Japanese employ the concept of “gemba” which means “go to where the work is.” To me, this means understanding what happens when customers, employees, stakeholders, suppliers try to interact with your company.

Only by doing this can you be certain of what’s happening on the other side of the transaction.

“Do not waste a minute living someone else’s dream.” - Michelle Obama

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Dave Gardner, Gardner & Associates Consulting http://www.gardnerandassoc.com © 2013 Gardner & Associates Consulting  All Rights Reserved Note:  To receive an email version of “Thank God It’s Monday” to start your week, please subscribe here.  I would very much appreciate your suggesting to others that they subscribe. Privacy Statement:  Our subscriber lists are never rented, sold, or loaned to any other parties for any reason.

My consulting practice is about accelerating growth through change. Occasionally, it feels like some would prefer my practice be more about “accelerating growth by preserving and maintaining the status quo.”

If you are about preserving and maintaining the status quo, you don’t need me. You can do that on your own.

There are implications of inaction. Have you taken a few moments to consider the implications of your status quo?

If the area you are responsible for is suboptimal in fulfilling its essential value to the company, ask yourself,

• What is my legacy going to be?
• When I am ready to move to a different company or area within my current company, what legacy will people ascribe to me?
• Did I move the needle on the business? Or, did I pretty much support the status quo?
• Did I produce measurable, value-laden, important business outcomes or can I merely report that we worked hard?

As my mentor, Alan Weiss, teaches: “We are here to make waves.” He’s right. Businesses that thrive eschew the status quo.

“The faster you build trust, the more likely you are to increase deal velocity.” – Dave Gardner

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Dave Gardner, Gardner & Associates Consulting http://www.gardnerandassoc.com © 2013 Gardner & Associates Consulting  All Rights Reserved Note:  To receive an email version of “Thank God It’s Monday” to start your week, please subscribe here.  I would very much appreciate your suggesting to others that they subscribe. Privacy Statement:  Our subscriber lists are never rented, sold, or loaned to any other parties for any reason.

When President Bill Clinton was elected to his first term in the White House, his key political strategist, James Carville, brought laser-like focus to the campaign by coining the phrase, “it’s the economy, stupid.” This mantra ensured campaign staff focus for the duration of the campaign.

When I coach entrepreneurs, I encourage them to adopt the mantra “it’s about the customer.” An entrepreneur should be asking how they can:

• address a need in someone’s life differently and better than others before them?
• create engagement such that customers become addicted to their offerings?
• get customers telling other customers about their experience with your product or service?
• have customers sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for “what’s next?”

For Apple and the late Steve Jobs, it was all about the customer. Consider the iPhone. People in major metropolitan areas put up with AT&T’s dreadful cell phone coverage for years just to have an iPhone. Today, 50% of robberies in New York are iPhones stolen from people as they walk down the streets.

It’s not just about your product or service. If you focus on your customer and what they will crave, you will thrive. Conversely, if you aren’t providing a customer experience across all customer touch points, that will undermine your business and create opportunities for competition to steal market share and your customers.

If you want to thrive, make your mantra “it’s about the customer” and then do what’s essential to create an incredible customer experience through everything you do.

Photo Credit: Flickr by Stitch: Istanbul Grand Bazaar

“No idea works, until you do.” – Robin Sharma

 

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Dave Gardner, Gardner & Associates Consulting

http://www.gardnerandassoc.com

© 2013 Gardner & Associates Consulting  All Rights Reserved

Note:  To receive an email version of “Thank God It’s Monday” to start your week, please subscribe here.  I would very much appreciate your suggesting to others that they subscribe.

Privacy Statement:  Our subscriber lists are never rented, sold, or loaned to any other parties for any reason.