October 15, 2010
McFarland RED Session Update: 5/24/2010
We are excited about kicking off the first McFarland RED session next week. I wanted to take a minute to share the expectations we have around the RED session and the overall relationship with Keith McFarland.
First, I want to make sure everyone understands how this investment fits into the overall picture. This is an investment to drive company growth. We expect the RED process to help us move to the next level and become one of the companies that “Breakthrough”. Investment decisions are in a different class from our day to day operating decisions. For example, the number of employees we have on staff is a direct reflection of the demand for our services and is an example of an operating decision. The investments we are making in the McFarland strategy sessions and the Searcy Whale hunting program are examples of investments we are making in the growth of the company.
We see this investment in the RED sessions as a mechanism to help us:
I wish we could have the whole company participate in next week’s event, but we still have to run the business. I do want to emphasize that the RED session is just the beginning of us involving more of the company in the discussions around our strategy and our plans to execute on the strategy. You can expect further communications to the company in the week following the RED session.
I hope you have all had the opportunity to complete reading “The Breakthrough Company”. We have a lot of very exciting things going on at Crown and the book provides a view into the types of activities we will engage in to ensure Crown is one of the companies who “Breakthrough”. In fact, our engagements with both Keith McFarland and Tom Searcy (whale hunting) are examples of Crown “erecting scaffolding”
Richard
" Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success"
--Henry Ford
First, I want to make sure everyone understands how this investment fits into the overall picture. This is an investment to drive company growth. We expect the RED process to help us move to the next level and become one of the companies that “Breakthrough”. Investment decisions are in a different class from our day to day operating decisions. For example, the number of employees we have on staff is a direct reflection of the demand for our services and is an example of an operating decision. The investments we are making in the McFarland strategy sessions and the Searcy Whale hunting program are examples of investments we are making in the growth of the company.
We see this investment in the RED sessions as a mechanism to help us:
- Engage a broader group in the strategy development process
- Craft a unified vision for the company
- Articulate a clear strategic direction
- Create the 90 day tactical plans required to execute on the strategic direction agreed upon
I wish we could have the whole company participate in next week’s event, but we still have to run the business. I do want to emphasize that the RED session is just the beginning of us involving more of the company in the discussions around our strategy and our plans to execute on the strategy. You can expect further communications to the company in the week following the RED session.
I hope you have all had the opportunity to complete reading “The Breakthrough Company”. We have a lot of very exciting things going on at Crown and the book provides a view into the types of activities we will engage in to ensure Crown is one of the companies who “Breakthrough”. In fact, our engagements with both Keith McFarland and Tom Searcy (whale hunting) are examples of Crown “erecting scaffolding”
Richard
" Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success"
--Henry Ford