The Turnaround Trap…Econ Recon: Where the Money Went ….Steve Case’s Favorite TED talks

“In any situation, the individual most able to describe reality without blame will emerge as the leader, whether designated or not.” 

Edwin Friedman

The Turnaround Trap

For over a century J.C. Penney has been one of the pillars of American retailing. In recent years, however, the company has come off the rails. To get the business out of the ditch the board invited Ron Johnson, formerly with Apple, to become CEO in hopes of restoring Penney’s to its former prominence. Johnson took the helm at Penney’s in January 2012 with impeccable credentials for his accomplishments at Target and for being the driving force behind Apple’s retail stores. Despite amazing contributions at his prior postings, results have been the opposite of those hoped for… and some feel that during his brief tenure at Penny’s that “rather than getting it back on the road, he set it on fire.”

Check out this article from the New Yorker for a brief but insightful analysis of what happened at Penney’s and why. There are lessons for every company here and every CEO. The Warren Buffet quote alone makes it worth a few minutes of your time.

Econ Recon: Where the Money Went…Learning from the Brits and the Germans

Where the Money Went: The 2008 recession actually ended in 2009 in terms of GDP growth…but overall salaries and wages are different stories. However, not all areas of the country have been equally affected. Check out these interactive US maps that highlight where both average earnings, and the growth thereof, were best…and worst.

Learning from the Brits and the Germans: ITR Economics President and Vistage Staff Economist Alan Beaulieu looks at events in the UK and Germany and suggests we should take note for putting our own house in order.

Steve Case’s Favorite TED Talks

Steve Case rose to national prominence at AOL, made a bad call with the Time Warner Deal, and has become a busy venture capitalist backing such startups as Living Social and Zipcar. One question we often want to ask the successful is “what do you read?” The latest incarnation of that question is “What are your favorite TED Talks? Here are Mr. Case’s picks for his Ten Unforgettable TED Talks. You may be surprised at who is at the top of the list!