Dr. Phil McGraw Interrogates Arthur Andersen LLPWritten by Laurel Delaney
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employee yet get fired because you expose that chief operating officer is an alcoholic. You could have kept your mouth shut and maintained your job but something inside you kept saying, "I cannot stand another day of this abuse," and you act on it. Others, in same position might hang on with tight-lip for fear of losing their job. Who is to say whose reaction is right or wrong? Or, perhaps you are CFO of a publicly-traded company and are fully aware that company's sales projections are inflated. You do your best to navigate your way through it. You start complaining and pretty soon you can't stop. Out you go -- voluntary or involuntary. Mistake? How can one judge until after fact? Or, value of your stock options is tied to how much you sell for company. Ever thought about pushing envelope to fabricate sales? Some do, some don't. Where do you draw line? Time to pause for a moment and ask yourself that very same question. If you don't, Dr. Phil will.You should hold firmly to your values, integrity and morals. If you can't, then walk. If you decide to stay, as in case of Andersen employees, then be prepared to risk it all. At some point, you will have to come clean, admit mistakes and bare consequences. Bankruptcy offers one possible solution to Andersen problem. This might make it simpler for one of other Big Four to acquire its business. It seems only natural that anti-trust concerns might be waived in event of a bankruptcy. So if Andersen declares bankruptcy, which they have indicated they have no plans to do so, this might pre-empt any regulatory concern about anti-competitive mergers. I look at it this way. If actor Tim Allen can serve time in prison and later come back to churn out a best-selling book and televison show, then Arthur Andersen can surely survive over long haul. And Dr. Phil McGraw might add, "Now, you are getting real."
Laurel Delaney runs a global marketing, consulting and web content providing company aimed at entrepreneurs and small businesses. She can be reached at ldelaney@globetrade.com or visit http://www.globetrade.com
| | Everything I Ever Needed to Know about the Consulting Business, I Learned in Manufacturing Written by Stacy Strunk
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* It's okay to charge for shipping. If you are sending files or documents via any method other than good, old standard mail, it's perfectly acceptable to add cost of shipping. (I strongly suggest making sure your customers know that UPS or FedEx is not included in your bid price.) Not only is it OK to add this charge, but also most manufacturers add 10% because manufacturers are fronting cost of shipping. That's right, you're paying for it and expecting to be reimbursed. That has a value. * Use a packing list. If you are sending a client documents or a CD containing electronic files, use a packing list. Don't describe contents in a cover letter, it will be thrown away or misplaced. Not only should you use a packing list, but also it should be in same format as your initial written bid and your final invoice to avoid confusion. * Don't be afraid of paper. Writers aren't necessarily afraid of paper, but home business owners are. Manufacturing companies, especially those that are ISO certified, keep paper copies of everything. If you get an e-mail from your client changing specs of a project, print it out and file it. You never know when your client might need a reminder. * Develop a paperwork system and stick with it. If you require a client to sign a written agreement outlining his expectations, require same from all your clients. If you need a purchase order number from a client to begin business, ask same thing from everyone.
Stacy Strunk is Marketing Manager for Sparks Technology, Inc., http://www.sparkstech.com, a filter manufacturing company located near Chicago, Ill. She also provides freelance writing, editing and Web design services from http://www.strunkwriter.com.
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