Category Archives: Original Content

The Apprentice vs. American Hot Rod

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I’ve been kicking back watching marathon editions of American Chopper and American Hot Rod on the Discovery Channel.  It got me thinking about those posers on The Apprentice.

I’d put Paul Teutuls Jr. of OCC or Charles Hutton of Coddington Hot Rods up against any of Donald’s wannabes any day.  They both show a great amount of coolness under insane pressure, are good teambuilders and natural leaders.  No MBAs or law degrees. No experience in marketing or administration, but they know how to get things done and get people to do things.

OK, commercial break’s over.  Let’s see if Boyd pops a blood vessel before the car is built.

Where are your Funk Brothers?

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This morning’s memo from Roy got me thinking about all of the Funk Brothers I’ve met at the businesses I’ve worked with, or been priviledged to meet.  These are the people who are doing the outstanding work behind the scenes to make the folks in the limelight look good.

They’re the customer service reps who take it personally when a product fails to meet the customer’s expectations. They’re the warehousing and shipping associates who take the company’s meticulously prepared "core values" statement seriously.

You can usually find a front-line receptionist putting on a good face for the rest of the people behind  the logo who will be credited and rewarded for her performance.

Just like Motown, your business has its own Funk Brothers who are laying down the beat and the groove that makes it so easy for the stars to shine. Make sure you know who these people are and that you give them their just rewards before they leave you. If you’re lucky, they’ll stay on through retirement because the work of finding a different gig is worse in their mind than just showing up and getting the job done right. But be warned: There are always other business owners out there who are looking to find Funk Brothers of their own. It’s hard to train people to work. It’s always been easier to hire people who get things done and train them how to get your stuff done.