A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE OF TT
by: clshults
Yahoo Message #25458 of 25463
I'm sitting here watching a late winter blizzard and pondering the future for TT. Two themes keep recurring to me. The first is if by some fluke TT morphed into a viable company, despite Rene's best efforts, could he possibly be the person that could lead the company to success. Secondly, given Rene's past actions is his moral discretion strong enough to justify a leadership role.
On the first point, history demonstrates convincingly that the man has evolved into the antithesis of viability. His drive may have contributed to the development of the technology, but his moral shortcomings have overpowered his strengths. History is replete with the stories of men who bulled their way to the top and almost inevitably their hubris brought him and his minions crashing to disaster. I think Inpector Harry Callahan said it best when in "Dirty Harry" he said, "A man has to know his limitations." Rene's inability to produce concrete results has turned his performance's into a Carnack like farce. He holds the hermetically sealed envelope to his turbaned forehead and spews out an answer not knowing what the question is. Unfortunately, for the shareholders, the answers aren't even funny. This is all an ongoing attempt to satiate our desire for some shred of good news, without addressing the question of viability. It also satisfies Rene's internal need to not recognize his limitations.
On the second point, I would define moral discretion as doing the right thing even when noone is looking. Obviously, this is function of one's character, beliefs and intelligence that just doesn't exist in Mr. Branconnier. How can one justify a moral debtor to conduct business on behalf of your company? He has chosen his course of action and like any immoral crusade it is headed for defeat.
After pondering these two questions I had to reflect back on my own experience to come to a conclusion. In 1991 I co-founded a database management company. Since then we have grown to the point that we will go public this coming May. We have always run the company on a upfront, honest and conservative basis. Goals were set and met. It didn't matter if the goal was revenue, employee retention, product development or shareholder return. Our job was to perform the job at hand and not sell futures.
When we were approached about the possiblity of an IPO I listened and concluded that the task was beyond my abilities. I resigned my office in favor a stronger, more skillful leader. Without exception every group connected to our company has benefitted from that decision.
The results of these basic principles applied in a business setting were success and viability. It is no coincidence that TT finds itself in just the opposite situation. It is the result of conscious decisions made at the top to exceed their talent level and not own up to the consequences of such action.
Therefore, I have two choices, one to sell my position or to throw whatever weight I represent to changing the situation. I would urge you to support Kim's attempt to solidify the shareholders of TT into a unified and cohesive force to remove the likes of Mr. Branconnier. To sellout would transform me into an ostrich, with my head in the sand and knowing that good people are going to be adversely impacted by my willingness to do nothing.
Thanks for your time spent reading this post.
|
