A Short Letter to Eric Schmidt....
Eric:
I'd like you to know that we appreciate the work you've done, but there's a growing disconnect between Wall Street, the general marketplace and public shareholders on Main Street as to what Novell represents and where it's going.
As the leader of this company you have a moral obligation to
set an example which rises above short term political and economic concerns. Whether you understand this or not, only you possess the energy to uphold YOUR vision for what you would like to "see" Novell become. And this must be done in an environment of integrity, honestry and truth.
For this is not "just a company." The world is ONE community and your ONE vision must "go higher" and transcend any and all boundaries, restrictions, layers, limits and friction.
Unless you "do something" to manifest this will, this "energy" to overcome the static, possessive, controlling, power/control/fear-based energies that reside inside Novell, these forces will forever remove this company from being viable and take eventually it to a steady and slow death which will lead to it's ultimate break-up dissolution.
Novell is becoming more and more irrelevent. Your middle and senior managers have been holding this company under water for years through an almost predictable, repetitive game of chess which uses and abuses people while witholding critical data, information and knowledge which is needed to inspire, support and retain THE most critical asset of any community: ie. TRUST.
You now have a clear choice in front of you:
1) Continue down the same path in which these closed/possessive negative energies are corrupting you and your reputation. Whether you appreciate this or not, you are being used.
or...
2) Embrace this New path which challenges and breaks up these closed/possessive negative energies. This requires that you claim/possess YOUR energy to lead in very clear, direct ways which will inspire others to support this ONE vision. This will require that you tear down what's left of the Old Novell dam and embrace a radical new approach which calls for complete openness, transparency, honesty, truth and trust between and among what's left of the greater Novell community worldwide.
This is the perfect time to "transform" Novell.
But it's going to take GUTS, ENERGY, FIRE and an incredibly bold sense of purpose, integrity, values and meaning.
Novell's rank and file engineers deserve so much more for their efforts over these many many years. There are some incredible individuals inside - looking out - and outside - looking in - this community who are just waiting for ONE thing: someone, something, somewhere, sometime.....they can really truly TRUST.
The heart and soul of Novell's problem has been a lack of trust. This lack of trust creates perverse disincentives which motivate people to use fear/power/control-based methods to manage. This method of managing has been Novell's little dark secret which nobody wants to talk about. Worse, it's "just not right" or politically incorrect mention this.
I'm sorry, Eric, but it's time to radically exhume this disease of negativity inside Novell and stand up for what is right. Begin to TRUST INDIVIDUALS among the rank and file. Give them the power and control to transform this company. All it takes is ONE bold, gutsy declaration.
You can be the transformative catalyst which launches Novell's "new" direction in this New Age of Service.
Or, you can be just another conformative political cog which continues Novell down the same path as just a has-been anachronism in the Old Age of Business.
It's up to you, Eric.
I trust you will make the right decision. For there IS a right and wrong first baby step to take. And I think you've already taken many steps with these folks to know which steps to take from here.
Excuse the drama, but when it comes to talking about core values and principals, if you don't make life dramatic the transformational chances for something good to happen longer term radically diminishes.
Respectfully,
Fred Smart
Novell Shareholder
Novell Community Member
|
