The Right Hired Candidate: The KULPER Mantra...thank you, Guy Kawasaki

This morning, I received an email from Amazon suggesting various books and music based upon past purchases. Right next to CDs by the Beach Boys, Van Morrison and Mark Knopfler was the book, The Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki, Penguin Books, 2004.

What is great about the new marketing techniques employed by companies like Amazon is that they are able to suggest ideas to a consumer (like me) based upon past purchase patterns; seductive, but convenient, too. So, I was not surprised to see that they were suggesting Guy's book to me since I have purchased books from Amazon by Geoffrey Moore, Jim Utterback and others who study and write about early stage companies, innovation and entrepreneurship. Amazon wants me to buy Guy's book so they kindly provided a few pages of content for me to view. I took a few moments and looked inside. On those first few pages Guy writes about the idea and value of a company "Mantra" over a Mission Statement, and provided a few examples of the difference. Mission Statements are often cumbersome and loaded with hackneyed platitudes that quickly descend into mediocrity and "babble". A Mantra is simple and profound ---maybe in the same way as a Haiku.

When I read it over I thought---'yes, a mantra---for KULPER & COMPANY! Why not?"....instead of a rambling mission statement about being the best---putting clients first---providing superior customer service, quality processess etc., etc., etc., .... ad nauseum, let's see if we too, can have a mantra for our firm that really sums up our value proposition in a way that is unforgetable for us here in the firm and anyone who encounters us. Nike's mantra " Authentic Athletic Performance"--and tagline/"Just do it!" is so easily understood; Disney's mantra is "Fun family entertainment", IBM's, "THINK"...... you get the idea.

So here goes.....with KULPER & COMPANY's mantra: "The Right Hired Candidate".......

Really, that is what we strive for in our firm because when that happens everyone wins. So, if you are a potential candidate for one of our searches you can take heart---we will try to make sure you understand as much as we can tell you about the opportunity before you get an offer and accept the job. If you are a client you can know that we will have your back....every step of the way throughout the search assignment.... because we want you to attract the right new leader for your organization, not merely fill an open position and collect our fee.

Have a great weekend and work for peace every day in all that you do....I will be contemplating our mantra!

Semper rise,
Keith

Research, Innovation & Application

Probably one of the most important positions in any company or organization is the role filled by the person most responsible for driving research and applied innovation. It is exciting to see synapses firing and entirely new applications come out that make our lives better. Companies like GE were created by creative people like Thomas Edison, for example, who we in New Jersey are proud to call one of our own. Thankfully, his legacy is alive and well in large and early stage companies alike who are striving for better ways to solve problems and make our lives better and better. I love working with companies and organizations like that--it is not only important and interesting it is thrilling to see, over time, how their daring and innovative solutions really do make a difference.

If we pay attention we can take part in the creative process that is birthing innovative solutions, no matter what our role in life might be. Sometimes this means taking the road less travelled in order to support a fledgling idea or supply a key missing ingredient to the success formula; be it in the form of capital, hard work or simply moral support. Pay attention because you will have an opportunity to do that and when it comes along, go for it. In America and around the world research and innovation lie at the heart of human development, so be supportive of this very special human activity.

At KULPER & COMPANY our focus is on conducting search assignments that involve bringing forward leaders to fill key roles. Our preference in working on assignments at the seam of academia and applied entrepreneurship is founded on our belief that the right people are necessary to drive research and then apply it in innovative and often startling ways. To the extent that our efforts here can help encourage additional dialogue and interaction among these two vital groups we believe that we are helping to play a part in making the world a better place.

Warm regards,
Keith

Deciding who Leads....

As a professional executive search consultant it is great to meet bright people from our field. Joe McCool is known among search practitioners as one of the key thought leaders about the practice of executive search. It is my pleasure to recommend his book, Deciding Who Leads, to the readers of my blog. All business executives and aspiring leaders should understand the value of executive search and how it really works. Joe's book provides a great overview of the subject---I hope you will check it out.
http://www.decidingwholeads.com/the-author/index.htm

Warm regards,
Keith

Keith D. Kulper, President KULPER & COMPANY, LLC Executive Search: Pre Search Preparation

Keith D. Kulper, President KULPER & COMPANY, LLC Executive Search: Pre Search Preparation: "One of the key elements of any activity is preparation. Lately, we have been working hard to help our prospective clients in meaningful ways..."

Pre Search Preparation

One of the key elements of any activity is preparation. Lately, we have been working hard to help our prospective clients in meaningful ways before we win the assignment. We essentially test the market reaction to the first draft of the job description provided to us by the client by showing it to potential candidates and candidate sources. A key question we ask is: "what do you think the key performance indicators /by when should be in order for a candidate to succeed in this job"? We also ask their reaction to the planned compensation for the job.

This early on information helps the client better gauge how best to go out into the marketplace with a position description that is both robust and highly attractive. As a result, the search process can be shortened and the likelihood of the right candidate being attracted and hired is improved.

Warm regards,
Keith