Corporate Culture & the Meaning of Life
Have you felt from time to time that life is just Work, Work, Work!? Have you experienced that “Hamster on a Treadmill” feeling? Have you mislaid the meaning of your existence? If so, you’re not the first person to have lost track of the key – that your life, your family and your work are […]
Seeing the Big Picture
“To see the big picture, sometimes you must rise above the puzzle!” – Anonymous In our experience, some clients acquire a training seminar and go home happy. But others, a few, go “All In!” and acquire, install, operate, manage and evolve an entire complex winning system. Puzzle Piece or Big Picture? Seminar or System? […]
40 Years of Fusion Experience
As we reflect on our 40 years in business, we want to express our gratitude for the opportunity to serve you over the years. We would love to hear how your Fusion experience impacted your life, whether it was last week or 40 years ago. It’s your turn to share your story!
The “Many Hats of Management”
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts.” — William Shakespeare, As You Like It In the early days of railroading, each crew member had a unique function; and each wore a distinctive hat […]
Management Rocks
Bancalero or Bricklayer? Spanish Olive Groves on Majorcan terraced hillsides – held in place by stone walls of ancient design. No mortar in sight, these weathered walls (also seen on buildings and homes in the towns) serve to contain groves, lives and businesses behind uniquely patterned curtains of stone which quietly endure the centuries. “Bancalero,” […]
Genius & Taking Pains
“Genius is the infinite capacity for taking pains.” — Thomas Carlyle, Essayist, satirist, historian 1795-1881 “I’ve been working on my career now for five years and I’m pretty much convinced that success is basically a matter of getting up earlier and staying later at the job…” — Anonymous young businessman in Seat 11-B – Flight […]
Endless, Cheerful, Repeated Coaching
“Man, you gotta have your head in the game every second of every play. You doze for a second, and the other guys are all over you and that’s the down, the quarter, and the whole game. Too many games, and your career is done!” —NFC Playoff Team Member If a football team went a week […]
Ancora Imparo
“And still I am learning!”– Michelangelo “Learning on the job is essential to judging!”– John Paul Stevens, Associate Justice, United States Supreme Court (1920 – 2019) “The New” is upon us! We can cook prepackaged meals in moments, serve them on plates that double as garbage disposal units, diagnose, and treat cancer with internal camera […]
Fusion: the Heart of a Star!
Stars and Corporations are both energized by the same force: Fusion. Our “Sun,” a “Star;” is a “Hydrogen Fusion Engine.” Fusion Formula: Take two atoms of hydrogen, agitate rapidly under titanic gravitational stress, then apply cosmic heat. Caution: Do not over-stimulate or the mixture may explode and engulf the entire solar system; but be sure […]
The Long Now
The Fusion Group is excited to be celebrating our 40th year in business! This is quite a milestone for a small business that was founded by Jennifer StJohn in 1984. This year we will be sharing our Past history – from Fusion wisdom to client testimonials and more! As we look to the Future, we […]
The Soft Stuff is the Hard Stuff
“I have also a flower,” declared the little prince as he tried to describe his planet to a geographer. “We do not record flowers,” said the geographer. “Why is that? The flower is the most beautiful thing on my planet!” “We do not record them,” said the geographer, “because they are ephemeral.” Excerpt from The […]
Making & Keeping
Stock offerings are launched by making promises. Lofty stock prices are guaranteed by keeping them! Elections are won by making promises. Legacies are secured by keeping them! Weddings are begun by making promises. Marriages are secured by keeping them! Mortgages are begun by making promises. Mortgage Backed Securities are made valuable by keeping them! […]
The Wisdom of Fusion
1. Sales Riddle: “I can’t work with you until I know that you know what I know.” We think it’s more important to “get” your customers’ issues, marketplace and challenges first rather than trying to push a product, service or feature. “Pull or Counselor” Selling is all about allowing customers to disclose needs (perhaps fears) […]
Beren & the Elders
The Sales & Counselor SellingSM Series Beren, among many young braves, was called to speak to the Tribal Council about a difficult issue. There would be no decision until all of the Council Elders agreed upon a course of action. Planning to set the discussion on a course to a successful end, Beren resolved to […]
Do Your Homework!
The Sales & Counselor SellingSM Series “Rommel, you magnificent bastard, I read your book!” * – General George S. Patton, U.S. Army Spoken by George C. Scott, playing the general, in the movie “Patton”
Tabula Rasa
The Sales & Counselor SellingSM Series Tabula Rasa (Latin: “scraped tablet” or “clean slate”) Tabula Rasa is a Latin phrase often translated as “blank slate” in English and originates from the Roman “Tabula:” a smooth piece of slate covered with bees wax; used for notes — which was blanked by heating the wax and then […]
Shedding Light on Laughter
“Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh, and the greatness which does not bow before children.” — Khalil Gibran “There are two kinds of light — the glow that illuminates, and the glare that obscures.” — James Thurber Laughter is the greatest indicator of upset resolved, occlusion […]
Invisible Made Visible
“Culture is the ‘invisible infrastructure’ that shapes people’s approach to work, family and community.” —The Fusion Group If Culture is an “invisible infrastructure,” does it have physical manifestations? How do we know it exists? And what is it about culture that makes a difference?
No Excuses
“I’m hopeful that the reforms that the secretary and the administration are undertaking will resolve the flaws in the current system that I inherited.” – S. Elizabeth Birnbaum Outgoing Director of the Minerals Management Service Was the “First high-profile government official to resign in connection with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of […]
Taken for “Granite”
“Never take anything for granted!” —Benjamin Disraeli Victorian Era British Prime Minister 1804 — 1881 Granite Definition: Igneous (volcanic) rock with a crystalline structure. From the Latin Granum, in reference to the coarse-grained structure. When cut, sculpted, or finished, the surface is long lasting and withstands decades, even centuries of weathering and punishment. Working in […]
A Hard, Sharp Edge
“Pull out your tape, hang the hook over a sharp edge and look out son, you’ve just created a universe!” — Anonymous Master Carpenter Leadership is distinguished by standard setting. One individual simply says, “This will be so!” And everyone buys in. Or they don’t and there’s a discussion, an argument perhaps. Maybe a fist is thrown, but eventually […]
Candor (by Degrees)
Candor – definition can•dor (kæn dər) Noun: the state, quality or capability of being open, frank and honest. from Middle English, Old French and Latin, from Candēre, to shine. Ever known someone who just can’t stop telling the truth (as they see it?). Usually, someone takes pity on the organization, and shows this dweeb the […]
Pain is Temporary
“Pain is temporary. Pride is forever!” – Bystander sign at Mile 21 of the NYC Marathon The 50th running of the New York City Marathon was held on Sunday, November 7th. We honor all the runners, their families, support teams, and you, our readers, by directing our focus on the “Power of Intention.”
An Engraved Invitation
“Opportunity does not knock; it presents itself when you beat down the door.” — Kyle Chandler Waiting for an engraved invitation? A signing bonus? A big fat salary and lots of perks? Someone to meet you at the door to hold your coat and your hand? An elder confidante who commiserates at how competitive and frustrating it is to […]
Forgiving Faster
“I concluded a particularly humbling foreign assignment and came home to lick my wounds. The Boss, after a solicitous interval said, ‘Are you going to be laughing about this in 20 years?’ I responded, ‘Well, yes…’ He smiled and said, ‘Why not laugh now?’” — Jennifer R. StJohn There’s a lot of time wasted in […]
Baby Steps
Lost in Rugby, England, Dwight Morrow and his wife, the parents of Anne Lindbergh, wandered through the streets for hours. He stopped a little Rugby lad of about 12 years. “Could you tell us the way to the station?” he asked. “Well,” the boy answered, “You turn to the right there by the grocer’s shop […]
Seeing the Big Picture
“To see the big picture, sometimes you must rise above the puzzle!” – Anonymous In our experience, some clients acquire a training seminar and go home happy. But others, a few, go “All In!” and acquire, install, operate, manage and evolve an entire complex winning system.
Shovel & Pink Tights
The circus came to town. Dad and I made the trip to see the parade down 4th Avenue. Later that night we saw the Main Event under the Big Top! The Elephants were my favorites — a long line of them. There, sitting atop the leader, at the head of the column, was a girl […]
Management Rocks
Bancalero or Bricklayer? Spanish Olive Groves on Majorcan terraced hillsides – held in place by stone walls of ancient design. No mortar in sight, these weathered walls (also seen on buildings and homes in the towns) serve to contain groves, lives and businesses behind uniquely patterned curtains of stone which quietly endure the centuries. “Bancalero,” […]
Endless, Cheerful, Repeated Coaching
“Man, you gotta have your head in the game every second of every play. You doze for a second, and the other guys are all over you and that’s the down, the quarter and the whole game. Too many games, and your career is done!” —NFC Playoff Team Member If a football team went a week […]
The Wisdom of Fusion
The Sales & Counselor Selling Series 1. Sales Riddle: “I can’t work with you until I know that you know what I know.” We think it’s more important to “get” your customers’ issues, marketplace and challenges first rather than trying to push a product, service or feature. “Pull or Counselor” Selling is all about allowing […]
You Can Change the World
“Everyone thinks to change the world. But nobody thinks to change themselves!” — Leo Tolstoy “We can change the world, rearrange the world. It’s dying to get better!” — Graham Nash, Chicago Examine Your Habits… of Thought, of Word, of Deed because all meaningful change starts right at the center of the individual. The magic […]
Do Your Homework!
The Sales & Counselor Selling Series “Rommel, you magnificent bastard, I read your book!” * – General George S. Patton, U.S. Army Spoken by George C. Scott, playing the general, in the movie “Patton” In this classic war movie from 1970, General Patton triumphs over his nemesis in part by reading Rommel’s book on tactics, […]
Management v. Leadership
(in a crisis) Well, we admit it. We’re Americans. And that old picture of Washington Crossing the Delaware has a warm place in our heart. Also it points out the dual nature of being the Boss. You have to Manage the crossing. But once you’re across and out of the boat, you have to Lead […]
Imposing Limits
The “Back to Basics” Series “I don’t need time. What I need is a deadline.” Duke Ellington American jazz pianist, Composer Conductor (1899 — 1974) “When will you make an end?” Pope Julius “When it’s finished!” Michaelangelo Excerpted from The Agony and The Ecstasy Ever noticed that writing, drawing, building a presentation, you know, “work” […]
Promoted? Step Up!
“Promotion is not an honorific for time served.” Many people, after years of dedicated service, are promoted. Whereupon, they immediately fail in the new role. It’s not the nice new shoulder boards; it’s not the scrambled eggs on the shiny hat brim. It’s the fact that they have not gotten their head around what the […]
Management v. Leadership (in a crisis)
That famous painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware has a warm place in our heart. It points out the dual nature of being the Boss. You have to Manage the crossing. But once you’re across and out of the boat, you have to Lead to the ultimate victory. “Management works in the system; Leadership […]
Aliens from Babel on Groundhog Day
“There was a tribe which became successful, rich, and so arrogant that they decided to build a tower, tall enough to allow them to walk directly into heaven, without divine intercession. As the work began, and progressed over time; the Almighty became angry and levied a curse on the tribe. The next morning as […]
The Many “Hats of Management”
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts.” -“As You Like It” William Shakespeare In the early days of railroading, each crewmember had a unique function; and each individual wore a distinctive hat to […]
“It’s the Culture, Stupid!”
“The Shepherd does not despise the sheep.” – Biblical Proverb “It will be the policy of this organization that to refer to a client as muppet, puppet, crumpet or strumpet, will be a firing offense.” Friends, it’s not the words, it’s the culture. If your culture is such that feeling superior and derisive toward clients […]
Blade Runner
Blade Runner (This story is true! Or it ought to be. Then again…) Commissioner: “We are here to determine whether Mr. Pistorius’ handicap constitutes an unfair advantage over conventional able bodied runners.” First Witness: “Yes sir, we believe it does. You see, as a result of his life lived with the assistance of prosthetics, Mr. […]
Restoring Nobility to the Workplace
This is the last of the five-part; “What is Fusion?” series. Our clients have often said, “We didn’t know you guys do that!” Here’s our take on Strategic Planning — to let our clients and friends see past our well-known communication specialties and experience a deeper look at Holistic Management. Restoring Nobility to the Workplace […]
On Management
On Management Part Four of Five of the “What is Fusion?” series “Let’s see if your walk is as good as your talk.” – From “Zatoichi kenda-daiko” (1968) We’ve already spoken about Communication, Sales and Culture Building. This article focuses on Management Development and applies to anyone who leads – not just those at […]
Building a Culture
Building a Culture Part Three of Five of the “What is Fusion?” series So far we’ve focused on the art of public speaking, improving communication skills and the fundamentals of presentations – all through the use of “Ready, Set, Go!®“. Now your people know how to define excellence in communication – and how to manifest […]
Endless, Cheerful, Repeated Coaching
“Man, you gotta have your head in the game every second of every play. You doze for a second, and the other guys are all over you and that’s the down, the quarter and the whole game. Too many games, and your career is done!” -NFC Playoff Team Member If a football team went a […]
Goldilocks & the Four Managers
Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Goldilocks. She went for a walk in the forest where she got lost and came upon a house where four managers lived. They invited her to join them for lunch of delicious, hot soup. The first manager said “I’ll eat the hot soup so you […]
Is it an Orchestra?
“If a team is to reach its potential, each player must be willing to subordinate his personal goals to the good of the team.” -Charles Burnham “Bud” Wilkinson Head Football Coach University of Oklahoma (1916-1994) Is it an Orchestra, a Football Team, or a Sales Organization? Yes! A sales organization is in many ways similar […]
Work AND Play
“When we are at work we ought to be at work. When we are at play we ought to be at play. There is no use trying to mix the two.” – Henry Ford American industrialist & Pioneer of the assembly-line production method (1863-1947) Obviously there is much to praise about Henry, his creations […]
Keeping the Small Promises
“If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.” – Gen. Colin PowellFormer U.S. Secretary of State(1937 – 2021) The term, “worthy of trust” is at the heart of the relationship between leaders and their teams. Can […]
Managing vs. Leading in Crisis
“Management works in the system; Leadership works on the system.” – Stephen R. Covey Author, Professor The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People Despite the vast differences between leading and managing, especially during difficult times, business people have to wear both hats – we can’t afford two slots on the org chart! This requires a […]
Management Rocks
Bancalero or Bricklayer? Spanish Olive Groves on Majorcan terraced hillsides – held in place by stone walls of ancient design. No mortar in sight, these weathered walls (also seen on buildings and homes in the towns) serve to contain groves, lives and businesses behind uniquely patterned curtains of stone which quietly endure the centuries. “Bancalero,” […]
This July, think about dependence.
“Gentlemen, we’d best hang together. Or we will most assuredly hang – separately!” – Benjamin Franklin American Printer, Writer, Speaker Founding Father (January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790) Fusion is and requires a miracle.Consider Fission and Fusion in the 1700’s… The colonies broke away from England in a demonstration of Fission – great forces […]
Baby Steps
Lost in Rugby, England, Dwight Morrow and his wife, the parents of Anne Lindbergh, wandered through the streets for hours. He stopped a little Rugby lad of about 12 years. “Could you tell us the way to the station?” he asked. “Well,” the boy answered, “You turn to the right there by the grocer’s shop […]
Ancora Imparo
“And still I am learning!” — Michelangelo “Learning on the job is essential to judging!” — John Paul Stevens Associate Justice United States Supreme Court (1920-2019) “The New” is upon us! We can cook prepackaged meals in moments, serve them on plates that double as garbage disposal units, diagnose and treat cancer with internal camera […]
