CNN interviewed Paul Otellini, who basically said the US is not exactly headed in the right direction.
I was a little disappointed in his interview. While he comes across as a thoughtful, intelligent guy, he also gives the impression that a company like Intel doesn't owe America anything.
Contrast that against a Buffett or a Bill Gates, men who the first thing they will tell you is that the only place in the world they could have achieved what they achieved was in America.
Otellini's comments suggest almost a veiled threat that if he doesn't get the tax breaks he wants that Intel will start moving its operations to other countries.
It's these kinds of comments that slow the recovery if you ask me. Tax breaks are great and all, but let's also be realistic - America is great at business because it's a country that encourages entrepreneurship.
It's success has been founded on the notion of freedom and for any man to pursue his full potential. It has at least a 100-years of entrepreneurial spirit embedded in it's DNA and that's where it gets its competitive advantage against the rest of the world.
That said though, it definitely seems to be in crisis of losing that spirit. Whether it's a result of 'get rich quick' schemes by the banks with their sub-prime lending and credit swaps or comments from folks like Otellini who dismiss the value of America as a vibrant ecosystem of innovators and entrepreneurs and are quick to suggest they can pick up and move anywhere else in the world and it won't impact operations at all.
The sad irony when captains of industry like Otellini use the media to basically try to push the government to give them what they want is that it erodes confidence, which in turns, ultimately erodes their own growth expectations.
From a PR messaging point of view, Otellini's message would resonate much stronger if he framed his view within the context of all that is right with America. So it's the greatest innovator the world has ever seen... but it could be even more innovative and progressive if x, y and z.
But he doesn't infuse any optimism or passion in what he is saying - no up side if you will. As a result you walk away from his interview thinking 'Is he reading off Republican talking points?'
Buffett has argued for much of what Otellini is saying in this video, but he does it in such a different way. He ensures that people don't hyper-attenuate the positives just because there are a few things that could be done differently or better.
People want you to give it to them straight, but that means the whole picture, not just the negatives. If doing business in the US was so difficult and confusing and uncertain, then Intel wouldn't have 75 percent of its operations in the US - it would already be packing its bags.
So let people know what you love about the US while also laying down future considerations for how things could be better. Articulating both sides of the coin is essential for any thought leader to do... if you only articulate one side of the coin you come across as someone with an agenda and who can't be trusted.
Otellini is such a good speaker though he doesn't evoke that response, but anyone else saying the things he said, probably would.
I was a little disappointed in his interview. While he comes across as a thoughtful, intelligent guy, he also gives the impression that a company like Intel doesn't owe America anything.
Contrast that against a Buffett or a Bill Gates, men who the first thing they will tell you is that the only place in the world they could have achieved what they achieved was in America.
Otellini's comments suggest almost a veiled threat that if he doesn't get the tax breaks he wants that Intel will start moving its operations to other countries.
It's these kinds of comments that slow the recovery if you ask me. Tax breaks are great and all, but let's also be realistic - America is great at business because it's a country that encourages entrepreneurship.
It's success has been founded on the notion of freedom and for any man to pursue his full potential. It has at least a 100-years of entrepreneurial spirit embedded in it's DNA and that's where it gets its competitive advantage against the rest of the world.
That said though, it definitely seems to be in crisis of losing that spirit. Whether it's a result of 'get rich quick' schemes by the banks with their sub-prime lending and credit swaps or comments from folks like Otellini who dismiss the value of America as a vibrant ecosystem of innovators and entrepreneurs and are quick to suggest they can pick up and move anywhere else in the world and it won't impact operations at all.
The sad irony when captains of industry like Otellini use the media to basically try to push the government to give them what they want is that it erodes confidence, which in turns, ultimately erodes their own growth expectations.
From a PR messaging point of view, Otellini's message would resonate much stronger if he framed his view within the context of all that is right with America. So it's the greatest innovator the world has ever seen... but it could be even more innovative and progressive if x, y and z.
But he doesn't infuse any optimism or passion in what he is saying - no up side if you will. As a result you walk away from his interview thinking 'Is he reading off Republican talking points?'
Buffett has argued for much of what Otellini is saying in this video, but he does it in such a different way. He ensures that people don't hyper-attenuate the positives just because there are a few things that could be done differently or better.
People want you to give it to them straight, but that means the whole picture, not just the negatives. If doing business in the US was so difficult and confusing and uncertain, then Intel wouldn't have 75 percent of its operations in the US - it would already be packing its bags.
So let people know what you love about the US while also laying down future considerations for how things could be better. Articulating both sides of the coin is essential for any thought leader to do... if you only articulate one side of the coin you come across as someone with an agenda and who can't be trusted.
Otellini is such a good speaker though he doesn't evoke that response, but anyone else saying the things he said, probably would.
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