Insider Entrepreneurs

Link above tells how can still be entreprenurial inside your company.

"An intrapreneur doesn't quit her job to do her own thing. Instead, she develops a new process, product or service within the context of a larger organization. Using the resources and capabilities of the larger firm, an intrapreneur transforms a good idea into a profitable venture"

Marketplace Whiteboard

Here is I think a very good resource for explaining current economic terms and trends.
Marketplace Whiteboard explains hedge funds, toxic assets, leveraging and deleveraging via video.

I tried to watch the video for hedge funds -something that I tried to understand for sometime now- and I think those who would try to watch the videos here must first have some basic knowledge of economics and investment tools to really appreciate the concepts being explained.

If your curiosity is already piqued, go ahead and watch. :)



Tip to Visualizing Economics

What's Wrong With This Picture?

I work in one of the top pharmaceutical companies in the country. I have worked in an electronics company before and besides the industry, one of the main differences between the two is how it motivates its people.

The company that I work for now has a way of motivating its new hires that I find a little disturbing. In the few times I have talked with my boss regarding my future at work, he has always told me that I will be sacked or fired if I didn't perform well. To be fair, he says he likes me but there is always that warning in the end if I don't do well.

Is it just me or is there something just wrong in there? I guess it's just right to be straightforward to an employee, given that this company is in a very competitive industry, all employees need to be on top of their game and management has the right to remove all non-performing employees. However, so is my previous company and yet I didn't hear that sort of thing from my boss, nor from myself whenever I talk to our new hires about their future.

For being the local market leader in its industry, my present company sure has some machiavellian way of motivating its people. Management by fear is what I'll call it. This mention of being sacked is the only (dis)incentive that really bothers me. For one, this kind of policy doesn't encourage risk taking or innovation for who would want to take risks if he/she fears getting sacked if they make a mistake? Maybe this company just doesn't want risk taking or innovation. If so, what kind of fun is left in work?

Another thing that bothers me is the word 'boss'. I always hear that word nowadays. For an american company which supposedly has a flatter organization than asian companies, 'boss' just reinforces the distance and heirarchy.. I remember writing an essay while I was still studying, about the differences between a 'boss' and a 'leader'. In the 21st century, does 'boss' really have a place in the organization? Anyway, this is another story.

Any company, however great it may be, is never perfect. In its evolution, the policies in place either have stood the test or time, or currently the most effective in leading and controlling its people. If its the former, then is management by fear the true way to lead? I hope it's not entirely so. For like I said before, I have this gut feeling that it's not just right. There must be a better way.