A MESSAGE OF MASTERY IN A CHANGING WORLD

12/06/99

Christos Cotsakos, Chairman and CEO of E*Trade, points out something more and more businesses fear: "Two kids in a garage-that's who we're most worried about."

And that garage may very well be in India or Latvia. The age of the unexpected competitor emerging anywhere in the world is keeping even successful executives awake at night. You don't have to think global competition to realize we are in a new kind of war. In the last seven years, over a million new companies have been formed every year in the United States alone. Call that a dynamic economy! But whatever you call it, it is America's best bet for continued economic vitality. Frightened people are fighting world trade while successful professionals, workers and leaders are positioning their companies and careers to win whatever game they are forced to play. Care enough to challenge all you know to not keep learning skills that will pay off no matter what the future deals them. These are the best of days for those positioned for opportunity and the worst of days for people holding on desperately to skills that are no longer needed. Retool and refocus but keep changing smart, and keep changing often.

MONDAY'S MIRTHFUL MOMENT

Loren Ekroth (Loren EK@aol.com) again provides this Monday's dose of mirth, more one-liners from Stephen Wright. Enjoy:

1. Brain cells come and brain cells go, but fat cells live forever.

2. Sometimes I think I understand everything, then I regain consciousness.

3. If at first you don't succeed, see if the loser gets anything.

4. Inside some of us is a thin person struggling to get out, but she can usually be sedated with a few pieces of chocolate cake.

Terry Paulson is the author of They Shoot Managers, Don't They?  He is the founder of Paulson & Associates, and has conducted management programs for 3M, Hughes Aircraft, IBM, Nissan, and Pacific Bell. He graduated with honors from UCLA.