But Jim, What do you really want?

Jim Cramer is one of the hottest acts in cable news, mixing wild antics and stockpicking rants on his frenetic hour-long show, Mad Money.
Will the U.S. be the dominant economic power in the 21st century or will we be eclisped by China?
I think we'll be eclipsed by China. The Chinese Communists are just such great capitalists. They're just unbelievable capitalists masquerading as Communists, and they are so competitive that I think in the end, it's theirs to win.

Elbowing into the Q Territory

The Q killers, Nokia E62 from Cingular and Dash from T-mobile, are challenging the Motorola’s Q smart phone which made its debut earlier this year.

More Micro, Less Soft

The software giant is leading the private sector in doing something about obese employees.

For all the benefits Armstrong and others have gotten, some critics fear the creation of a new nanny corporation where employers increasingly monitor personal issues that cost them money. But as long as companies are on the hook for health-care coverage, don’t expect their mothering to change anytime soon.

Why the Big Story is Software

What’s new in Tech in 2007? The biggest news would be the release of the long overdue Windows Vista and Office 2007. And Apple will follow a couple of months later with the Leopard version of its OS X software for Macs.
However, Google and new startup Zoho are bringing more sophisticated network based software into the market place.
And in digital entertainment, the chasm among companies that create computers, consumer electronics, and entertainment stifles the real progress.In communication, Wi-Fi are being deployed on a city-wide basis, and Wi-Max is being tested in Japan and Korea. The adoption of these two technology will enable true mobile broadband.

Differentiation is the antidote

Loyalty is no magic bullet. In today’s globally competitive world, you can’t survive, let alone thrive, without satisfied customers. Do “loyal employees” make that happen? Sure—sometimes. But for satisfied customers all the time, you need employees loaded with talent, energy, and passion. You need people who aren’t with your company because you take care of everyone all alike and the dental benefits are good, but because your mission turns them on, the work is fun and meaningful, and the opportunities for growth and thrilling. You need people who are happy to stay but ready to leave if the environment isn’t buzzing. Those are your winners.

The concept of employee loyalty as a corporate and societal virtue went out the door with lifetime employment, which had to go when foreign competition arrived.

Differentiation is the antidote.

You need employees sticking around for more than security –namely, opportunity and growth.

Getting Back on the Radar

The Welch Way
By Jack and Suzy Welch

The most effective way is to over-deliver. Try to do everything better and faster.
The second powerful comeback technique is to raise your hand when the call goes out for people to sign up for major projects and initiatives, especially ones that don’t have a whole lot of popularity at the outset. You need to prove you are willing and able to go the extra mile.
Finally, if you are draining away political capital within the organization in any form, stem the flow immediately. That means you need to stop disparaging fellow employees, even in jest, or acting in any form like a wet blanket. Right now, your attitude needs to shout out one word: ”Yes”.
Jump before you are pushed.
From Day One, start building the results and reputation that will make you the new kid rising through the ranks.

The Key Ingredient: People

Use a personal Touch
Sent out more than 16,000 thank-you notes to staffers of all levels.

Set Expectations
Every manager must meet with direct reports each month to update their progress on clearly articulated goals.

Open yourself up to opinions
Every six weeks, Conant has lunch with a group of dozen or so employees to hear about problems and get feedback.

Create Opportunities
Encourage Movement among staffers, develop CEO institute to bolster the pipeline of talent.

The New Microsoft Soul

The soul of the new Microsoft, though-its Geek 2.0-may just be Allard. As Gates prepares to step away, a new breed of leaders is retooling the company and searching for growth opportunities. "The only way to change the world is to imagine it different than the way it is today. Apply too much of the wisdom and knowledge that got us here, and you end up right where you started. Take a fresh look from a new perspective and get a new result."