More than metrics

I like metrics. What’s not to like? Metrics will guide you to a logical conclusion, which is usually correct and very, very defensible. After all, if you made a decision based on metrics and it didn’t pan out, at least you can say you followed the metrics.

But, I think there’s more to life than metrics. That’s why there are things out there that you can’t explain. Think of the movies that become cult hits. Think of the politicians who came from nowhere to prominence. Some things aren’t numbers-based and simply can’t be explained.

Barry LaBov

LaBov & Beyond
www.labov.com

Order

I woke up in the middle of the night with this sentence racing through my mind. I had to get up and out of bed to scribble it on a piece of paper so I wouldn' forget it:

Order is having the right people in your life happy.

I don't know where it came from, but it makes sense. Things are crazy and stressful if the people who mean the most are unhappy. And life is useless if the wrong people are the ones you're trying to please.

Barry LaBov

LaBov & Beyond

www.labov.com



Business aviation reality

I've been a proponent of business jets for years, having owned a turboprop, and later, a CJ1 jet. I was interviewed numerous times in the wake of the public sentiment that business jets are for fat cat, lousy, super-rich business people. I recently sold our company jet, so I feel I can speak critically on the subject more than ever.

Business jets can be wasteful, they can be instruments of lousy fat cats who see themselves as above (no pun intended) everyone else. They can also become an entitlement within a company as employees expect to be taxied about to various locales on a moment's notice. When that happens, a lot of other bad things happen--companies don't plan and leverage the flights, the employees often will leave as soon as the meeting is done and miss out on socializing with the clients, and in general, the jet becomes an excuse for not communicating often enough (i.e. "I'm waiting to fly out and see the client before I discuss such and such issue).

On the other hand, if used properly, you can actually do the math and see how a business jet can transport a team of employees from or to a location not served well by commercial flights. If the trip is planned and thought through, you can move mountains, socialize and return your employees home at a decent hour--preserving your business, clients and employees.

Now that I don't own a jet, I look at business jets as an option that any smart company must consider from time to time. Business aviation should not be vilified or glorified.

Barry LaBov
LaBov & Beyond
www.labov.com