LinkUP Thursday: Here's What I'm Reading This Week

"How much of your life is spent in fear? Fear of disappointing others? Fear of being disappointed? Fear of not being good enough? Fear of missing out?"

Good Morning Folks,

On LinkUP Thursday, I quench your thirst for knowledge and self-development, bringing you the curated, cliff-notes version of my week’s knowledge quest— as I span the web, so I can bring all the best stuff to you here all wrapped up in an easy to digest package, all in one place. And sealed with a FSO kiss.

In between postings here, I use LinkedIn and Twitter to be your guide to the very best resources and information online, providing deep insights into how to find, hire, motivate, train, incentivize, retain and improve the lives of hourly employees— and of course for being happier at work today and always. I sort the grain from the chaff. Think of my role as your information museum curator.

Moreover, I find many sales people sending me article shares in the morning as a way to stay in touch, and I appreciate that very much.

So if we have not connected socially, regardless of age, role in life or anything else, I welcome all in my friendly social club. Friend me on Twitter HERE and LinkedIN HERE.

The first article today is one I highly recommend that effects us all. How much of your life is spent in fear? Fear of disappointing others? Fear of being disappointed? Fear of not being good enough? Fear of missing out? The list goes on... I'm Afraid by @BertOliva https://lnkd.in/bWiV6Uf

Now here is more today's picks.....

What a beautiful tribute to love and courage. "My wife, my hero" by @mirvin1129 https://lnkd.in/bmyyHue

Timely: Does the stock market have you or someone you know with high anxiety? 6 Reasons Why Every Investor Should Consider ETF
https://lnkd.in/batyR8V

What's the first thing new team leaders should do? http://s.hbr.org/1pWZRGG

According to the Harvard Business Review, What Makes a Legendary Salesperson  https://lnkd.in/bk8PH_s

Tell me about a time you fought... and lost. (my favorite interview question) https://lnkd.in/brW7_rf

Giving difficult feedback: Get it right and win more work; get it wrong and lose a client http://s.hbr.org/1UZ4KkX

New #CFO Survey -- what’s keeping US finance execs up at night http://gt-us.co/1PwJNu3

Giving Customers More Than They Asked for Is Too Much of a Good Thing http://pulse.me/s/241vKQ

Five ways to keep your cool during a big presentation http://read.bi/1unBHwz 

Happiness doesn't come from chasing it, but when you're taking the good with the bad and enjoying the present moment. http://bit.ly/1hBSVmS

"Back to School - Tips for Working Parents" by @DonnaCMorris https://lnkd.in/b5hvMcZ

Have a GREAT day as I look forward to seeing all of you soon.

Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer

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"Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still." 
~~Chinese Proverb

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New Challenges- Strong People- Abundance of Ideas: Change Is In The Air

"It's no secret that people are excited and motivated to join a company with passion and excitement." (Photo via Zack Kanter)

Good Morning Folks, 

I read this weekend in Zack Kanter's blog that like Google, Uber, one of the world's biggest job creators who no one saw coming, is working towards a 2025 goal of all autonomous cars which would slash the entire workforce they JUST created. 

Autonomous cars will be commonplace by 2025 and have a near monopoly by 2030, and the sweeping change they bring will eclipse every other innovation our society has experienced. They will cause unprecedented job loss and a fundamental restructuring of our economy, solve large portions of our environmental problems, prevent tens of thousands of deaths per year, save millions of hours with increased productivity, and create entire new industries that we cannot even imagine from our current vantage point.

I think the huge disruptions of the last couple of decades will start looking pretty trivial pretty soon. And "gradual" is a relative term -- the pace of change is accelerating exponentially too. No doubt the economic impacts will be as great or greater than Zack describes in his article about Uber, whether precisely on this schedule or not.

Bottom line: The face of business is changing all around us and and the pressure is on to innovate or perish. Employment in America is increasingly operating in a new reality. The constancy of change requires today's career employee to think and act differently, because the path to the American Dream is no longer a guaranteed right of passage. 

Young Americans are being crushed by college debt. And even with college degrees, many of them can't find jobs. Older candidates faced an even harder time regaining employment during and after the Great Recession. 

Most of the gen x and younger Americans no longer have long work histories at any one particular company. It's a nomadic life of constantly on the look out for greener pastures.

The career escalator is jammed at every level. Unemployment rates are sky-high. Creative disruption is shaking every industry. Global competition for jobs is fierce. The employer-employee pact is over and traditional job security is a thing of the past.

That's why managers MUST navigate a brave new world in which companies must manage four different generations from millennials to boomers — each with different needs and motivations. 

That's why all business, law firms too, must run as better businesses.

In order to run better as businesses, law firms need true "Strategic Partners" (not just "vendors") to help them (re)IMAGINE....possibilities. To provide the ability to do what they would want to do if only they knew it was possible.                                  

It's no secret that people are excited and motivated to join a company with passion and excitement. In order to represent FSO with the “confidence, knowledge, professionalism, smiles and spark!” that we’ve pledged to in our 2015 Corporate Goals, we continue to make strategic adjustments and investments to support our foundation.

Steven Di Venuta joins us in New York City as our newest Director of Business Development. First and foremost, Steven’s power of focus will be dedicated to hunting new business and getting FSO new and amazing logos from around the country. In particular, Steven will be focusing on hunting and closing national legal accounts, particularly AmLaw 100 – 200 accounts to help expand our legal footprint. Steven will also own the growth of over 20 current FSO clients and help to further drive our national presence and revenue growth. Steven has built a reputation for sales and operational excellence, innovative strategic thinking and a deep and passionate commitment to his clients- each of which will help him drive FSO’s success around the country.

As FSO continues to sell across the United States, spotting and hiring great talent is and will continue to be our priority. That being said, I am pleased to announce the hiring of Ron Kelly, Senior Account Executive for Chicago. Ron is a very passionate individual who hates to lose! Ron is a “sales guru” (so he says, but the proof will be in the sound of ringing bells!), with 20 years of experience under his belt and still salivates over the art of the deal.

Amelia Ramos will be joining the Office of the Chief of Staff. Reporting into Denise Ngeow (SVP Corporate Strategy and Chief of Staff) and with a dotted line to Aida Hibbert (Experience Director for Field/Operations), Amelia will be focusing on strategy, learning the business end-to-end, including marketing, research and process planning.

Amelia’s responsibilities will include working with the front of house at headquarters to understand and evaluate our approach to the business and clients’ needs and to simultaneously develop a strong understanding of our hospitality model. She will help manage and deliver a solid people management program at the sites and will provide administrative support, as needed, for onsite processes and best practices at HQ. Finally, Amelia will be working with the People Solutions Team to support and deliver the FSO initiative “the happiest place to work”.

In presentation after presentation we hear that the back office folks are being forgotten about. That they are unhappy with their the outsourcing vendor, who has failed its people by neglecting focus on motivation AND training.

Seriously, every account we've won and in growing the business so rapidly in just 48 months was a client of someone else who let them down. In this economy, bigger conglomerates look to cut costs, but make a big mistake when they skimp on training. By neglecting to properly and consistently train their folks, our competitors have opened the door for others to eat their lunch.

Training is OUR competitive difference, and folks from all walks of the company are taking advantage of it.

That's where Onsite Outsourcing with Future State Outsourcing (FSO) shines. We excel at attracting and retaining inspired and passionate people with performance-based rewards and opportunities for advancement.

By partnering with FSO, outsourcing can become a leverage that can help use new resources for new projects and help drive revenue growth. 

We are on fire and we are going to LIGHT UP the ON SITE OUTSOURCING BUSINESS. We are not playing in this space. We are here to own it, and will be adding resources proactively and strategically to support our budding infrastructure."

Why? Because we CARE, we laugh, we love and we have fun! And we keep commitments many companies have strayed away from. J

Have a great week and thanks for being a part of our amazing journey.

Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer

   

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POSSIBILITY:

"Give your customers the ability to do what they would want to do if only they knew it was possible.” 

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The Difference is Culture

"At FSO, every person, from the bottom to the top, is empowered to do what’s right for the customer, and encouraged to think and act like an owner."

Good Morning Folks,

Finding the right onsite outsourcing partner is time consuming and difficult. There’s a lot on the line, not just for you but also for your company. Outsourcing to the wrong partner can be risky.

Our clients weren't looking for suppliers or contractors, but partners who would play a key hands-on role driving an evolution of everlasting change. Because brands who have stopped challenging their culture are destined to disappear.

Culture  goes much deeper than simply mission statements, vision and values, which invariably are found on company websites and sometimes that where it remains. Yes, these can all play a part in defining a partner's culture/ belief system, but more fundamentally it is how the people who will be sent to your front lines feel about their own self worth and contribution, how they are managed and the passion and pride they express during service delivery. 

Therefore cultural fit is key to success in outsourcing and is where we believe FSO adds the most value. If client and supplier are out of alignment with regards to shared goals or objectives, then the contract is doomed to failure. At FSO, with our (re)IMAGINE approach, we even take the lead when it comes to pioneering culture. But, an RFP alone will not always reveal these advantages nor result in the most productive and profitable relationship.

So how can you ensure that your “final” list of potential partners and outsourcing criteria will uncover what’s truly best for you?     

Companies shopping for a new or improved outsourcing provider should take the "speed-dating" approach— meet and spend time with supplier's leadership one-on-one before even considering them to be invited to bid. 

What you discover here is that at FSO, there is no such thing as an unimportant person, role, task or idea. When we roll out of bed each morning, we go to work knowing that, regardless of our title, we are not only needed, but appreciated.

At FSO, every person, from the bottom to the top, is empowered to do what’s right for the customer, and encouraged to think and act like an owner. Here, leadership is action not position. My mission is everyone’s mission, and any obstacle is considered everyone’s obstacles. “It’s not my job” is one phrase that is seldom heard. Everyone ensures that his or her team is charged up, in touch with the big picture, and willing and able to lead.

At FSO, no one is to blame, but everyone is accountable. No one points fingers, but everyone lends a hand. No one takes credit, but everyone freely gives it away.

If all this sounds like a smart way to run an organization, it is. It's in our DNA. It's our culture. While our business model may seem pretty simple, no one else can or has been able to replicate it because it comes from our hearts. 

Cultural alignment, I believe, will ultimately drive change, improvement and innovation. Make sure to align yourself with the right partner that sees eye-to-eye on what is important to you in order to develop a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship. Don’t be afraid to ask them tough questions. You should be looking for a partner that won’t just show up but innovate.

Thanks to all our employees for NEVER settling for mediocrity. 

Every site employee, YOU, are the FSO difference! Your commitment to service, to exceed the client expectations, to do just that little bit more, to be more professional, to have that better idea, to notice that detail, to take action when no one is watching. YOU make this company the best outsourcing provider in the business. YOU are the reason we have nothing in common with our competitors. Your smile, your enthusiasm and your hard work is what makes my vision come alive at FSO.

And that's not only what makes us different, it makes us better.

Discover how our capabilities and unique differentiators can be applied to your advantage.

TALK TO US. WITNESS US. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, EXPERIENCE US! 

Call me directly at 212.204.1193.

Have a GREAT day as I look forward to seeing all of you soon.

Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer

Learn more about what DIFFERENTIATES FSO here

FSO = Hospitality = YOU

"Thanks to all our employees for NEVER settling for mediocrity. Your smile, your enthusiasm and your hard work is what makes my vision come alive at FSO."

Good Morning Folks,

It's Monday and a new day, new week and a whole new opportunity to do great things. 

Today visiting Atlanta, like I do every day, I go on appointments and hear how the prospect thinks all outsourcing companies are the same. That's right, the market thinks we are the same! No way... The only thing we have in common with our competitors is the word “outsourcing.” Everything else is different! That difference is YOU, our folks! Yes, YOU the person on site and the person supporting the site.

Every site employee, YOU, are the FSO difference! Your commitment to service, to exceed the client expectations, to do just that little bit more, to be more professional, to have that better idea, to notice that detail, to take action when no one is watching. YOU make this company the best outsourcing provider in the business. YOU are the reason we have nothing in common with our competitors. YOU are the reason we have experienced Galactic Growth!

Thank YOU for doing the little things that make a big difference at our client sites and for supporting our client sites. Thank YOU for fueling the FSO passion. Thank YOU for waking up every day and realizing that today is a great day to serve our clients and stretch just a bit farther. 

Yes we have work to do. But we are a less than four year old start up company that has taken the market by storm, yet has only just begun. The future is so so bright.

Make this Monday the beginning of the best week of your life, professionally and personally. Put your mind right and know that if you do the right things, great things will happen. The past is the past and cannot be changed. Today is a new day, go effect your future. Go impact tomorrow.

Tom Peters said the difference between a good and great manager is 5 minutes. That 5 minutes was the extra time spent getting things right, thinking through an opportunity, organizing, etc... Be great and take the 5 minutes to write the extra email, respond to that question better, think through that problem and make that one more call.

The love running throughout this company is infectious so… take it personally because FSO is about hospitality and hospitality begins with YOU!

Have a GREAT day as I look forward to seeing all of you soon.

Hugs all around,

Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer

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"Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton asked why" 

— Bernard Mannes Baruch

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Kiss ME: It's My First Blogiversary. And We're Just Warming Up.

"Many of us we can remember a time in the not too distant past when we were hoping for a phone call that would be the answer to our prayers...a job offer...to end the drought of our unemployed status. Being jobless is often a desperate situation; especially with a family to support it can be a heavy weight to bear."

Good Morning Folks, 

What a wild ride here at FSO Onsite Outsourcing last week: a cruise around Manhattan as a "thank you" to the employees for all their hard work; 2 new sites were launched/ WENT LIVE; our National Sales Team were in NYC for an awesome and productive day of strategy, and 3 promotions were announced. 

Most importantly our galactic growth continues to fuel the creation of new jobs, put people back to work, and provide advancement opportunities for roles that traditionally had been glass ceilings. 

I have never taken my eye off what drives a successful company – continued innovations, changing with the times and having the ability to be flexible, and retaining great talent. Key is paying attention to the things your customer wants! Your customer is the one who creates success, you just have to be there to capture it.

And such customer-centric thinking has surely paid off for us:

• 100% Client Retention
• Exemplary Customer Satisfaction Scores
• Record Client Growth!

As we hit the midway point of 2014 we have a lot to be thankful for. So far 2014 has been a banner year for FSO across the USA!

I started this blog as a blank canvas 272 posts and twelve months ago, now with over 40,000 visits from 382 of the Fortune 500 leaders in Legal, Professional Services, Media, Financial Services, Building Management, Retail, Fashion  and Education.

I never pictured myself blogging or even being able to keep such a demanding commitment. But here I am and so glad I dipped in. Opines an Ted Keynoter that we shared with you last week, "employees, through social media, are changing how companies market to, and engage with, customers and prospects. Unauthentic sales pitches doesn’t work anymore. Instead, we are witnessing the rise of the social employee who creates a win/win proposition by leveraging their personal brands to build trust and increase the digital “surface area” of the brands for which they work."

MitchWeiner.com and our social media initiative have taken off beyond my wildest expectations. I would highly recommend that your brand follow suit. 

Blogging has become one of the most fulfilling, worthwhile and personally gratifying endeavours of my career. You make it so.

Every day, people show up on these pages in search for something that motivates them. Things to get them out of bed, things to get them pumped up, things to help them make it through the day and so much more! The sense purpose and emotional compensation that comes from interacting with and helping others get pumped through social media transcends cash. That in mind...

I want to end this Monday's musing by sharing an excerpt from a touching email I received from an employee. Joe writes:

"Many of us we can remember a time in the not too distant past when we were hoping for a phone call that would be the answer to our prayers...a job offer...to end the drought of our unemployed status. Being jobless is often a desperate situation; especially with a family to support it can be a heavy weight to bear.

For many of our folks (myself included) FSO was that beacon of Hope. Each and every day WE as a company help change people's lives for the better. Through succession planning with FLP we make it possible to help our folks forge a career where prior to joining FSO no such opportunities existed.

Faith is the complete trust in someone or something. We prefer to call it "Sleep Easy"…It's confidence. The confidence our clients have in us, the confidence we have in our leaders.

Hope & Faith is what makes us the Greatest Outsourcing Company on the Planet. Together we will make Mitch's vision a reality…and continue his legacy long into the distance.. 

Joe's right: Each and every day WE as a company help change people's lives for the better. My legacy is to pay it forward so people like Joe who show up with FIRE>>SKIP>> and TWINKLE... can have the same opportunities I had against all odds, coming from challenging circumstances.

Because…. HAPPIER Employees deliver more PRODUCTIVE and PROFITABLE results. 

And that's not only what makes us different, it makes us better.

Thank you for entrusting us with your business challenges. Thank you for your words of encouragement. Thank you for your support and readership of the blog and for taking time to write to me directly. 

Have a GREAT day as I look forward to seeing all of you soon.

Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer

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"We are never really happy until we try to brighten the lives of others. 

I take happiness very seriously. It is a creed, a philosophy and an objective" ~~Helen Keller                                                                                                                                    

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A Big Thank You To These Notable Readers of MitchWeiner.com:

Access Staffing, Adecco Usa, ADP, Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer, & Feld, Albert Einstein ], College Of Medicine, Amazon Corporate, American Express Company, American Honda Motor Company, American University, Amgen, Amster Rothstein & Ebanstein, Anchor Associates Group Inc, Angelo, Gordon & Co., Anne Arundel County Govt, Aquantive, Arent Fox Llp, Arhus, Kobmandsskole, Arrowhead Aea, Asrc Federal Holding Company, Llc, Aurelius Capital Management, Automatic Data Processing, Automattic, Ball State University, Baltimore Technology Park, Bank Of America, Barclays Financial Corp., Bbdo New York, Bechtel Corp, Best Buy, Black Oak Computers Inc, Blackrock Financial Management, Bloomberg Bloomberg, Brandprotect, Brookfield Asset Management, Bsnl, BT (UK searching for Denise), Cahill Gordon & Reindel, California Department Of Justice, California Education And Research Federation Network, California State University, Long Beach, Canon Usa, Carolinas, Healthcare System, Cb Richard Ellis, Cbi Connect, Cdw - Cdw Llc, Central Methodist University, Charles Schwab & Co., Choopa, Llc, Citigroup, City Of Houston, Clyde & Co Llp, Colgate-palmolive Co., Colliers Abr, Inc - Cassidy Turley, Colt Technology Services Group Limited, Columbia University, Completel, Comporium Communications, Conagra Foods, Concordia College, Condenast Publications, Control Risks Group Llc, Coral Graphics, Cottage Hospital, County Of Marin, County Of Suffolk, New York, Credit Suisse Group, Credit Suisse Group / Canada, Cuddy & Feder Llp, Cwie, Llc, Dale Carnegie & Associates, Inc., Data Control And Systems, Datagram, Dell, Deloitte & Touche, Delta Dental Of California, Delta Dental Plan Of Michigan, Department Of Administrative Services (Ohio), Department Of The Interior, Office Of The Secretary, Department Of Veterans Affairs, Detroit Public Schools, Devry, Dga Security Systems, Dickstein Shapiro Llp, Discover, Financial Services, Distributed Systems Services, Duane Morris, Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway, United Kingdom,Edelman Pr, Emerge212, Equity Residential, Ernst & Young Llp, Esi International, Espn, European Police Office (europol), Evercore Partners Services East, Llc, Facebook Corporate, Factory Mutual Insurance Company, Federal Aviation Administration, Federated Systems Group, Fedex Office & Print Services, Fidelity National Financial, First American Equipment Financial, Fisher Scientific, Florida Department Of Management Services, Florida International University, Ford Motor Company, Fort Hays State University, Fortressitx, Free Sas, Fross Zelnick Lehrman & Zissu, P.c., GE, Genentech, Georgetown University, Gerson Lehrman Group, Godaddy.com, Llc, Google Corporate, Goose Creek Consolidated Isd, Government Of Saskatchewan, Graphnet Inc., Gravitas Technology, Greenberg Traurig P.a, Griffin Information Systems Limited, Group M Worldwide, Hachette Book Group, Hamilton-clermont Cooperative Assn., Hccs - Houston Community College System, Hearst Corporation, Hewlett-packard Company, Higher Colleges Of Technology, Hill & Knowlton, Inc, Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, Hilton Hotels Corporation, Hma, Hughes Hubbard & Reed Llp, Humber College, IBM Corporation, Ikon Office Solutions, Illinois Wesleyan University, Immedion, Llc, Intergrated Office, Internal Revenue Service, International Business Times, International Monetary Fund, Io Capital Princess, Llc, Jefferies International Limited, Jewish Board Of Family & Children 's Services, Johnson & Johnson, Jones Apparel Group, Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, Kabel Bw, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Kaye, Scholer, Fierman, Hayes, And Hudler, Kddi Corporation, King & Spalding Llp, Kirby Mcinerney Llp, Kirkland & Ellis Llp, Leaseweb Usa, Legal Source Ls Llc, Leslie Digital Imaging Llc, Lexis-nexis, Linode Resources, Liquidnet Holdings, Los Angeles County Office Of Education, Loyola Marymount University, Macquarie Bank, Macquarie Holdings, Marriott International, Marsh, Mayer, Brown & Platt, Mcnc, Mckesson Technologies, Medex Pharmacy, Mediadata, Memorial Sloan-kettering Cancer Center, Merck And Co, Miami University, Michaels Stores, Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, Micro Graphic Info Svcs, Microsoft Corp, Middle Country Public Library, Milbank - Milbank Tweed Hadley Mccloy, Ministry Of Education Computer Center, Miox Corporation, Montclair State University, Morgan Stanley Group, Moses & Singer Llp, Motorola, Mount Sinai School Of Medicine, Multiverse, Munsch Hardt Kopf Harr, Namesco Limited, Nassau County Board Of Cooperative Education Services, Nassau County Boces, National Board Of Medical Examiners, National Chiao Tung University, Navy Network Information Center, NBC Universal, Nbs, Nbty, Nco Group, Ncs Pearson, Neuberger Berman, New Mexico State University, New York City Public Schools, New York Power Authority, New York Public Library, New York University, Next Jump, Nomura International Plc, Northern Michigan University, Northern Ohio Educational Computer Association, Nyedc, Off Campus Telecommunications, Old Republic, Onewest Bank Fsb, Openband Multimedia, Llc, Orange, Orange County - Telecommunications Department, Orange Israel, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, Oshean, Partners Healthcare System, Pavlov Njencom Colo, Perfect Building Maintenance, Peter-paul_verduin Pfizer, Pillsbury Madison & Sutro, Pitney Bowes Plc, Plum Creek Marketing, Plus One Health Management, Polaris Project, Polytechnic University, Powerspace & Services, Preferred Office Products, Privax Limited, PwC (50 locations!); Qitx; R.r. Donnelley & Sons Company; r.sea; Readers Digest; Reed Smith Llp (PA); Regus Business Centers, Research In Motion; Revenue Assurance Test; Richards Kibbe & Orbe Llp; Robins, Kaplan, Miller, & Cire; Rockefeller Group Technology Solutions; Row 44; Royal Bank Of Canada; Rutgers University; Safra National Bank Of New York; Salesforce.com; San Diego City Schools; San Francisco Marriott Marquis; Santa Clara County Office Of Education; Sarah Lawrence College; Scholastic; Sfr; Sharp Electronics Corporation; Shearman & Sterling; Sidley Austin Brown & Wood; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett Llp; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom Llp; Social Law Library; Societe Generale; Socorro Independent School District; Softbank Bb Corp; Sony Pictures Entertainment; Spherion Corporation; src Federal Holding Company, Llc; Standard Motor Products; Starwood Hotels; State Of Montana; Stinson Morrison Hecker Llp; Straub Clinic & Hospital; Sungard Availability Services Usa; Syracuse University; Systems Research And Applications Corp; Talktalk; Teco Energy; Tesoro; Companies; Texas Blending & Warehousing Corp; Texas Instruments; Texas Medical Center; The Chubb Corporation; The City Of New York; The Coca-cola Company; The Heritage Foundation; The Interpublic Group Of Companies; The Jnt Association; The Limited, The Metrohealth System; The Municipal Communications Utility Of The City O (Iowa); The New York Times Company; Time; Toronto District School Board; Tower Group Companies; Trlg – Hq, Ttx Company; U.s. Bancorp; U.s. Center For Disease Control And Prevention; U.s. Environmental Protection Agency, Ungaretti & Harris, United Business Technologies, United Stationers Supply Co., University Of Connecticut, University Of Dayton, University Of Florida, University Of New Mexico, University Of Notre Dame, University Of Texas At San Antonio, Us Department Of Defense Net, Varian Medical Systems, Viacom, Virgin, Virgin Media, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State Univ, Virgo Penn Business Centers L,Vivo, Volumedrive, W.w.grainger, Warrenville, Illinois, United States, Weill Cornell Medical College, Weitz & Luxenberg, Wellington Management Company, Llp, Wells Fargo & Company, West Corporation, West Publishing Corporation, White & Case Llp, Widnes, Halton,, Wisdom Tree Investments, Inc., Workforce Software, Wyndham Worldwide Corporation, X--ray Optical Systems, Inc., Xerox Corporation, Xerox Corporation, Yaquinto Printing, Yon Lew, Zuckerman Spaede

Thursday LinkUP: Millennials— If You Don't Develop Them, You'll Lose Them

"As a millennial myself, I would say that I connect deepest with brands that keep an active and inspiring social campaign. This means that their post, image, or link catches my attention in my already busy newsfeed, say images and quotes that are industry-related (but maybe not brand related) as well as industry-related articles are my favorite posts from the brands I follow." 

~~ Clark (FSO MVP)

Good Morning Folks,

I've been using Thursdays for throwback posts the past few weeks. Meanwhile I'm amassing more content than I can possibly share on social media, so today, I thought I'd LINK YOU UP to the business world's most forward thinking on my favorite topic: Millennials.

Once upon a time generations of workers had a life-long career in a single company with a progressive path upward inside the company (as in Detroit automakers), the reality is that most of us do not have that option today, and that path is no longer even viable (as in Detroit automakers).

The career escalator is jammed at every level. Unemployment rates are sky-high. Creative disruption is shaking every industry. Global competition for jobs is fierce. The employer-employee pact is over and traditional job security is a thing of the past.

At FSO our managers excel navigating a brave new world in which companies must manage four different generations from Millennials to Boomers — each with different needs and motivations. The challenge for our executive leadership team and in grooming our future leaders is... in an era of job hopping and fast rises, how do you turn young talent into leadership? The answer is if you don't develop them you'll lose them.

“The Millennial Compass“ study was released at this years SXSW holds some answers.

It found that Millennials are focused on achieving through personal networks and technology. They value a good work-life balance, perceive their managers as friends, and don’t want to be tied to an organization, a timetable or a hierarchy.

According to Mashable whose founder and editor Pete Cashmore participated in the study, (Pete Cashmore And Olivier Fleurot: The Truth About Millennials At Work), "The Boomers helped shape some of the great global companies that exist today and the Millennials are turning innovations into new businesses with speed we have never seen before. The boundaries of business today are expanding in America and around the world." 

"Successful leaders must drive constant innovation, manage with ease in a world of change, and must be able to navigate global markets. In that respect Millennials seem to be well prepared for the future. Whether they do that in large companies or in start-ups really doesn’t matter. Entrepreneurial skills should be valued in both."

"The Boomers helped shape some of the great global companies that exist today and the Millennials are turning innovations into new businesses with speed we have never seen before. The boundaries of business today are expanding in America and around the world. Successful leaders must drive constant innovation, manage with ease in a world of change, and must be able to navigate global markets. In that respect Millennials seem to be well prepared for the future. Whether they do that in large companies or in start-ups really doesn’t matter. Entrepreneurial skills should be valued in both."

Among the starkest data points in a different study (Deloitte's 2014 Global Human Capital Trends report) is this one: About two-thirds of companies around the world consider themselves weak in developing millennial leadership. Meanwhile, only 5 percent of companies rated themselves as "excellent" in that field.

The data comes on the heels of other reports showing trouble in leadership development programs. Among those findings: Companies are hurting themselves by failing to differentiate between high-performance and high-potential employees, and though they recognize the importance of talent development they're not putting their money where their mouth is by investing in development programs.

Every brand, well most of them, desperately want to understand millennials – their online behavior, where they spend their time, what they care about, how they work, purchase patterns, etc. And the reason is pretty simple. There are over 80 million of them roaming the Internet, which is by far the largest generation to date.

The only language that really counts is to "level with them". Knowing them is an edge to marketers who can provide efforts that builds awareness and cultivate referrals on long term basis.

At FSO, know we are doing an exceptional job meeting the millennial challenge and making the most of its unique technological skills and brainpower.

But if your company is like most others, you'll need all the help you can get. These article links that follow, the most informative from my large Millennial resources archive, may shed some light. 

And for millennials reading this I've also included a link to a great guide to retirement as many millennials feeling young and invincible live from paycheck to paycheck and may not otherwise consider these issues before it's too late.

Stern Advice - Getting real about retirement  (Reuters)

Get Creative to Recruit Millennials   (INC)

The Millennial Marketing Mix: Community, Innovation And Values  (Forbes)

The Paradox of Generation Y  (Entrepreneur)

Commitment-phobia: Millennials want different models of ownership and brands need to keep up (Marketing Magazine UK)

What We All Thought About Millennials Is Actually True  (LinkedIn, Log In required)

Pete Cashmore And Olivier Fleurot: The Truth About Millennials At Work (Forbes)

Why It's So Hard to Turn Fickle Millennials Into Leaders  (INC)

Millenials Believe Business Can Do More (LinkedIn, Log In required)

Millennials Are Changing the Wine Industry With Tasting Room (HuffPO)

Are Millennials Too Impatient At Work?  (LinkedIn, Log In required)

Sorry Banks, Millennials Hate You  (Ritholz Blog)

Love them or hate them, Millennials are here to stay and they carry the torch to take business into the next millennium and beyond. Therefore to my boomer peers running law firms or corporations I remind you that David Ogilvy once said "the consumer is not a moron, she is your wife" to which I say today "the consumer and brand she or he is buying from aren't morons, they are your kids!"

Next week I will return to the "throwback" mode with a review of the cell phone on its 30th anniversary.

Have a GREAT day as I look forward to seeing all of you soon.

Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer

Learn more about what DIFFERENTIATES FSO here

"Culture" Is What Happens When No One Is Looking

"My own leadership style 

to inspire others to greatness."

BTW, We are HIRING! And holding an open house at our New York office on Tuesday and Wednesday. Details HERE.

Good Morning Folks,

Over the weekend we made some new friends and they were curious what it is I do for a living. 

"Outsourcing, you have an office in India," they queried. 

I answered, "Onsite outsourcing is the business practice of hiring “experts” to manage on your behalf, the people, process and technology associated with non-core business functions. The business benefits are plentiful and most simply stated; this business model allows companies and firms to focus on their core, revenue-generating activities." 

After I explained that companies and firms outsource for management oversight, service Issues or cost, our new friends asked, "We understand that, but what makes FSO great— better at delivering this service than all of the competition?

I thought hard how to answer that simply.

I told them that we are personified by our unique corporate culture which in a nutshell is what happens when no one is looking.

Ultimately it’s the people and their passion that drives our success.

I went on to tell our new friends that FSO is building great leaders to make our great organization even greater.

Our high standards- striving for perfection and pursuit of excellence revolve around what we refer to as out 3 'p's:

• Personal
• Productive
• Passionate

When I think about our rapid growth consider every account we've brought on in the past three years is an account someone else had. There is a reason we were brought on- and it goes beyond being then better product at better price than anyone else.

From the newest hire to inspiring our current staff we are focusing on what really counts— being The HAPPIEST Place To Work on Earth.
And that's not only what makes us different, it makes us better.


Have a GREAT day as I look forward to seeing all of you soon.

Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer

Learn more about what DIFFERENTIATES FSO here

Welcome To The HAPPIEST Place To Work on Earth

"Clients: Remember, HAPPIER Employees deliver more PRODUCTIVE and PROFITABLE results. Be ready as we help you accomplish more than had ever been thought possible before."

Hi Folks,

We're glad that you could join us on a fine but chilly morning in NYC. 

I hope you all enjoyed your time off over the holidays.

And, thank you for all the wonderful notes from our FSO employees supporting the closure of the company. It could never have happened without all of your amazing efforts in 2013.

Closing the company for a week, so we could all take a collective sigh of relief, was our way to say THANK YOU for the amazing effort and year that FSO realized in 2013.

2014 will be a an even more inspired year and we plan on lighting up the nation. 

We are planning our best year yet: national, growth, legal, client and employee love fest and more.. we won’t change our strategy as we know it works, but we will certainly use new ideas, new plans, and new strategies out of the 2014 play book to ensure success for all.

But I can only do it with each of you, and your positive attitudes and passions. So... From the first chapter of the 2014 play book....
                                                                                                                 
FSO WILL be the HAPPIEST PLACE TO WORK ON EARTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is my goal and your goal— from the newest hire to inspiring our current staff— to ensure that we are focusing on what counts and what’s important— being The HAPPIEST Place To Work on Earth. I love it.

I have never taken my eye off what drives a successful company – continued innovations, changing with the times and having the ability to be flexible, and retaining great talent.

In a blog post in December I suggested ten simple ways that we motivate our best people which collectively make FSO The HAPPIEST Place To Work On Earth!

1. Challenge them

2. Give them the opportunity to make a difference

3. Give them the opportunity to advance their career

4. Be one of the leading places to work

5. Pay them well

6. Give them the ability to make decisions on their own

7. Be the boss they want to work for

8. State the company's beliefs and values

9. Be supportive of their personal goals

10. Provide complementary team members

As a result, OUR team leads with consistency in mission and in corporate/strategic initiatives. At FSO, employees really do feel a sense of accomplishment after hard work. We show every employee where they can go inside our company. We share a detailed vision! 

"We excel at attracting and retaining
inspired and passionate people with
performance-based rewards and
opportunities for advancement"

We offer employees the opportunity to work with industry leaders, the latest and greatest technology, and some of the most forward–thinking customers in the world. FSO provides an environment that rewards innovation, is rich in resources and respects the incredibly talented team we’ve built over the last three years.

For employees, forging a fulfilling career is one of the most important — and often, most difficult —challenges in building a happy life. Most employees want to use their careers to make a difference in the world. We show them how they can accomplish that through their work for you, our clients.

For employers, building a culture of happiness is key to cementing their brand’s success. When these interests converge, the result is a sense of belonging through shared values and an intangible, emotional belief that we are on a shared journey. 

I am ready, I am pumped, I am ready to lead like never before to help each of us thrive by creating the work life and workplace that we want and deserve.

So to our employees: BE HAPPY.. BE THANKFUL. It’s our time to INSPIRE A COUNTRY, light up a nation and change our client's worlds.

Clients: Remember, HAPPIER Employees deliver more PRODUCTIVE and PROFITABLE results. Be ready as we help you accomplish more than had ever been thought possible before.

I can see 2020 clearly. I hope you can as well.

Have a GREAT day as I look forward to seeing all of you soon.

Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer

Learn more about what DIFFERENTIATES FSO here