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Tuesday, March 29, 2011

When the body says NO!

Did you ever experience a moment of complete exhaustion, where your body is just not able to go on anymore? Fortunately I never experienced it, but being leader of teams and part of a company where not only the products are fast moving and consuming I (sadly enough) had several occasions to witness that state of exhaustion in my employees, peers or bosses, causing severe health problems.

Some of the problems led to forced breaks, stays at the hospital and health sequels that will be present for life. Whatever may be the reason that causes the problem, the most important thing is to take it seriously. It's your health and there is no way to get around health problems than to deal with it. Health can't be negotiated, refueled or bought, it's a life time stack that you have to take care of to be able to live a long and prosperous life.

Whatever work you do and how important it may seem it's never as important as your health and only being healthy you're valuable to your company, family, friends and above to YOURSELF.

Please take care!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

When being yourself becomes dangerous

We had a vivid discussion the other day about the following question:

"Was it right to dismiss John Galliano from the house of Dior, after his verbal escapades?"

There were two fervent opinions groups with obviously contrary views. The ones who defended John Galliano, thinking of him as just another citizen with the right to make mistakes, the others defending the house of Dior thinking of the dismissal as the only right answer to the public offense their Artistic Director committed.

Now as for me I think that maybe the fact of being Swiss naturally moves me into a center position, but me make myself clear : John Galliano is a human being like we all are and is entitled to make mistakes and pay the price for it as everybody else. Could you imagine being sacked from your job after committing the same mistake? I doubt it! But not because the mistake is commendable but because nobody gives a damn about you. The problem with John Galliano is that he is a public figure and being a public figure he is not only constantly exposed to public but also to their judgment.

In this case not the Artistic Director of Dior has been sacked but John Galliano as a person. The best proof for this is, that the following fashion show has not been cancelled, proving that Dior was not at all ashamed of the artistic work done by Galliano. They just had to react to the fact that the public figure Galliano, in his role as spokesperson of Dior was no longer in line with the values and the image of the House of Dior.

What is sad, is that in the end Galliano fired himself, it was due to come. I would assume that both parties are ok with the fact that it happened because they knew that a change was necessary someday. Dior stands clear of all that happened and reacted quickly and John, well he'll rise from the ashes and everybody in Paris that condemned him now will cheer at him when he comes back in a few months, stronger and crazier than he has ever been before.

The only sad thing is that I would have loved to see a great goodbye runway Galliano for Dior - now that won't happen, will it? So let's look forward to the first post-Galliano Dior-Show and the return of the master himself.

Beware of Nicoleon

So it's done! After weeks of meeting, discussing, argueing and disagreement the Undecided Nations (UN) declared war on Gaddafi - well not really, just gave themselves the right to attack Libya at will.

And as China and Russia stay out of the line, the US is not really into getting a second Iraq, Angie is more busy finding new uncopy-pasted ministers and showing that she is not a leader - again - there is the time for Nicoleon to rise.

Since childhood he had been training for this moment. With small airplanes and tin soldiers (unfortunately he is not allowed to use them) he orchestrated the big invasion. La Grande Nation is back and a boys dream is coming true. France is leading the world forces against the tyrant and Nicoleon is proud.

But beware: as his vision is as great as he stands stall he soon may get aware that there are Waterloos to come and that exile (or next elections) is nearer than he could imagine. Until then he plays, living his childhood dream, being Nicoleon, a big hmmm sorry rather small statesman.