Michael Feuer Gets It!

Michael Feuer definitely gets it! Michael is yet another example of an individual who understands that there is a very real economic downturn occurring, but he has chosen to prosper nevertheless. And, prosper in the full dimensions of the word!

Michael is one of my favorite columnists. Every month, he writes a terrific business column which appears in each of the regional issues of Smart Business magazine, a national publication targeted to C-level executives in major markets across the country.

I respect Michael for all he has accomplished as an entrepreneur. In 1988, he co-founded OfficeMax and over the ensuing sixteen years grew it into a retail powerhouse with almost 1,000 stores worldwide, and with annual sales approximating $5 billion. In 2003, his "baby" was sold to Boise Cascade Corp. for almost $1.5 billion. He then launched another start-up, Max-Ventures, a retail/consumer products venture capital operating and consulting firm.

But, I respect Michael even more for the wisdom he communicates in each monthly column. Two tablespoons of sage business advice with a dollop of inspiration.

His latest column was entitled It’s Time to Start Working Smarter, Not Just Harder. Wow...did this column resonate with me.

Everywhere I go I hear people, in all manner of vocations, talking about how they are working so much harder. But, enterprises don't succeed on how hard people work. The best organizations prosper because they do the right things...and they do them quickly and efficiently. So Michael reminds readers of the new realities of business:

"Success will be measured by results achieved in days, weeks and months, rather than the traditional long-term, five-year plan for every major undertaking."

Michael encourages all executives, managers and even employees to embrace these new realities. Michael rejects "business as usual", and does so even more passionately than my plea on this subject last month.

Michael really does get it!

As I hope you have seen throughout this series, there is a growing group of guys who do get it. But, understanding the new reality is not limited to guys. In many ways I believe woman thought leaders are getting it every bit as quickly...if not more quickly. So the balance of this series will feature examples of woman who "get it!"

Whether you are a man or woman, the question is do you "get it?" Have you absorbed the changes in the business world and in our society and adjusted your thinking to align with the new realities?

Coming Next: I will be saluting best selling author and renowned life coach, Cheryl Richardson, in the next installment of my series on examples of individuals, from all walks of life, who "get it." The series starts here.