Random Thoughts at Year's End

While I was thinking about what to write today, there were many topics that ran through my head, but none of them were things I thought I wanted to write about in detail.  Maybe someday, but not today.  Ergo, I have decided on the "jump out of the plane" thought process.  Just some observations and thoughts regarding 2011 as we start the preparations for 2012.  So here goes:

o I think 2011 turned out to be better in many regards than I originally had thought it would be.  Business was good, but while I see improvement in my medical device world, I wouldn't say everyone has confidence, but I believe many folks in the business have taken the approach of, " We can not do nothing." Which is better than a year before, but if you are anything like me, I keep waiting to hear about the next thing that will be bad news for business in general.

o I am tired of the Presidential election process already..the candiadtes (from both sides), the political pundits and the talking heads from the news media.  This one is the leader..blah blah blah...no this one is the leader blah blah blah..It is ugly already and we still have 11 months to go...YUK!

o Can we talk about the TSA for a minute?  I now know where all the un-employed DMV workers have landed.  The other day going through Hartford's Airport I watched a flight attendant cut in line...a normal thing actually...but when she passed her stuff through the x-ray machine, she propped up a travel mug with coffee in it.  If that was you or me, the TSA agent would of made me pour out the coffee.  When I brought this to the attention of the TSA Inspector that was there, the response was classic...' Well she is a flight attendant'  Really? These are the individuals responsible for our safety while flying.  I have one word..morons.

o Staying with the airport theme..Jacksonville Florida's airport has free wifi but more importantly, power stations all over the airport under the seats at the gate areas.  Brilliant!  Do you think we can bring dress codes back for air travel.  I know I'm a dinosaur here...I started travel when guys wore ties and women wore pearls BUT are Pajamas really appropriate attire for air travel.  To paraphrase Chandler Bing, " Can you BE any more lazy?!"

o To all my Stryker friends who today is the last official day of employment....there is a life after... and it is a good one.  Speaking of Stryker, just read a terrific business book.  Jim Collins book,  Great by Choice  is a good read about how companies succeed , regardess of the market conditions.  Stryker...the John Brown Stryker is discussed at length in this book.  I can not help but think that things there might be different had John's philosophy on business remained intact upon his retirement.

o Many of you know I am a huge baseball fan.  Just to let you know, Pitchers and Catchers starts in less than 2 months.  YEAH!!!

o With one selling day left in the year, there are still professional sales guys out there...you remember, the ones who get IT,  trying to make a number.  The hunters vs the farmers is never more apparent than at this time of year.

o Adult beverage of the year and something to toast the New Year with....Red Breast 15 year old Irish Whiskey.  Pot-stilled in the finest Irish tradition...the 12 yr old whiskey is pretty tasty too.

I guess that about does it.  Enjoy the remainder of 2011 and here's to 2012.  Slanté