For the first time in a long time, Senator Obama is coming across as someone who is presidential and can address the challenges of someone (Wright) who seems to me to be one of the most narcissistic and self serving men I have observed in a while.   I have been wondering how Obama would handle someone like Wright, and I am now convinced that he can draw a line in the sand when needed.  I believe Obama just saved his reputation and his place on the November ballot.

The cover of the May Issue of Inc. Mag displays a picture of confident and quite sporty looking Gary Erickson who hit the big time from 1990-1991 when he developed the Clif Bar. The interesting thing about this story is that Erickson made the bar a household brand during a recession.

The article shares case studies of companies who did the same thing…they built a successful start-up during a down economy.

One case study that I found most fascinating was the story of Method…one of the coolest companies you’ll find today that makes soap and cleaning supplies from environmentally friendly supplies. The company built its recognition shortly following the Dot Com Bust, and founders Adam Lowry and Eric Ryan believe that the slow economy helped Method become one of the fastest growing companies in today’s biz world. As Ryan said in the Inc. article, “The hungriest wolves hunt best.” Tis so true.

I am not going to tell you all of the nitty gritty details about the article…pick up a copy and dive into the information…it is really great. However, I will give you a few tips offered:

1) During a down economy, it is a great time to sign up new customers who are looking for a more competitive price.

2) Look for opportunities to barter for or hire outsourced talent. Companies will be looking for ways to keep their talent busy as customers drop off.

3) Contact companies who are going through layoffs to inquire about seasoned talent that might be available for your start-up.

4) Offer a discount to customers who pay upfront or in full.

Harvard Business Review has some really great conversation starters.

Crisis Communications and American Airlines Posted by Kathy Bloomgarden on April 17 is a wonderful read on communicating during a crisis.  She focuses on the recent challenge with American Airlines and offers some very sound suggestions that we can all learn from.

I am still not convinced that Senator Clinton can win the democratic nomination. She seems to still be struggling with the likability factor, and her husband continues to cause problems for her with the media and the public at large. However, there is one thing I have to say that is working for Clinton…she’s a fighter, and she does not back down or give up, even in the face of adversity.

She won Pennsylvania yesterday by 10 points. This still keeps Obama squarely in the lead with 1714 delegates to Clinton’s 1584. BUT…She said she was going to win PA, and she did.

I have learned in life a valuable lesson…that giving up too soon is often the reason for failure. Much of this has to do with the craving we have in today’s world for instant results and immediate gratification. When we have a setback, we often throw up our hands and say “I quit”.

We hear it every day…that setbacks and failures are a part of success. We seem to get it intellectually, but we often can’t seem to internalize it enough to make the change. Today, as you are reading this blog, think of a past failure or setback and what this watershed moment did for you in your life. What did you learn? How did life change? How did you grow? You may be surprised that you will find a few pieces of gold in those thorns.

I was watching yesterday as Pope Benedict XVI was inspiring our country, and I was thinking about how difficult and disciplined a man has to be in order to lead the Catholic Church (all eyes are certainly on you). I came across this blog post today on Harvard Business Review by John Baldone on How a Pope Leads. Check it out…very insightful.

Did I get your attention with the title?

Good. I hope so.

In the book The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn’t, author Robert Sutton goes into a concise view of the jerks we have in many of our organizations around the country. He discusses corporate bullying, manipulation and control and gives some great advice on how to stop it. The sad thing is that in reading his book, I know a few people just like this, and I get e-mails occasionally from a few who I would never want to work with. It makes me sweat just thinking about it.

This post is one of the most important you are going to read this week. In light of what happened recently in Florida with a few teen girls beating up another girl (who by the way had been bullied and beat up by these girls for months), I have to take a stand and tell you this “Stop taking orders or working for/with a bully!” If we don’t stop it now, this is going to continue forever, and these corporate bullies are the people who are teaching our teens to go beat the s— out of another teen. I am so fired up about this story…it makes me sick!

Here are the signs that you are probably being bullied at work:

1) You are working day and night, only to be criticized by your boss or manager

2) You are being intentionally left out of meetings or social engagements with co-workers

3) You are hearing gossip about you from your work colleagues

4) You wake up in the morning, nauseated and with a headache, and you call in sick more than you know you should

5) You are doing work for your boss, and he/she is taking credit for your ideas and labor

6) You are noticing that you are being sabotaged at every turn

7) You can cut the tension with a knife

8)Your boss/manager is constantly asking you to work an ungodly schedule

So…if you are someone who is experiencing this, then please, please ask for help. And by all means, get out of the environment. Let’s put an end to this madness now!