INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS
New England Chapter

News and Views

In this issue:

Member Spotlights

Next Event:
Monday
January 12, 2004

CMC Corner

Member Feature Article:
"Family and Friends:
Staying Balanced"
by Phil Holberton

Welcome New Members

Breakfast Brainstorms Calendar

emerson consulting
group inc.
"We turn consultants into thought leaders!"

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Next Event:

Monday
January 12, 2004

Accelerated Connections
4:00-5:00 p.m.
Dinner Speaker Program
5:30-8:00 p.m.
Sheraton Lexington, Lexington, MA

Why Smart
Executives Fail
And What You Can Learn From Their Mistakes

Register NOW online!

For complete details, visit IMCNE.org

Member Spotlights

Alan F. Kaul, Pharm. D. gave a presentation entitled "Clinical and Economic Outcomes in the Thrombolytic Treatment of Peripheral Vascular Disease" at the American College of Clinical Pharmacy Annual Meeting held in Atlanta on November 4, 2003.

Jane Hilburt-Davis (Key Resources) presented a program entitled, "Managing Conflict Creatively in Family Businesses" as a Pre-Conference Workshop at the Second Annual Multifamily Office Forum in New York City on December 1, 2003.

Bonni Carson DiMatteo's, CMC (Atlantic Consultants) article "Staging Strategic Planning Retreats for Non Profits" was published in the Fall 2003 issue of CONSULTING TODAY.

Ken Lizotte, CMC (emerson consulting group inc.) presented, "Getting Your Ideas Published" at the 5th Annual Fall Boston Business Expo held at the Hynes Auditorium in Boston, MA on Thursday, November 13, 2003

Isn't it your turn to be in the spotlight? Send your name, your business name and 1) recent awards/distinctions/professional certifications you've received; 2) public speaking engagements; and 3) published articles. (Be sure to include key facts, such as when, where and for whom.) You must be an IMC member or affiliate to be featured. Email them to Ethel Cook at , Subject: IMCNE spotlight.

The CMC Corner

CMC PEG Meeting

The next meeting of the CMC PEG will be Friday, December 19 at 1 PM at the Radisson Marlborough, MA. No charge except your lunch or coffee. CMCs only! For more information, contact Ken Lizotte by email at .

An invitation to IMCNE CMC members — This section is dedicated to you. If you have commentary you'd like to share, here is a forum for you. Send your commentary to our Editor, Ethel Cook, for consideration. Email Ethel at , Subject: CMC Commentary.

Member Feature Article

Family and Friends: Staying Balanced
by Phil Holberton

In this uncertain economic environment, I find myself running faster and faster just to keep up. Do you feel that way? My days at the office get longer and longer and therefore the time at home—with family and friends—gets shorter and shorter. If you are anything like me, when you do go home, you are still thinking about the office. This isn’t always well received.

Staying balanced is a never-ending challenge as we wax and wane between intense focus at the office and a more relaxed atmosphere at home. Human resource professionals suggest those of us who are able to keep a balance (I could do a lot better!) between our professional lives and personal lives will experience the most rewarding aspects of both lives. The HR professionals spend a lot of time helping companies come up with ways for employees to structure their lives to achieve more balance, from working remotely to giving time off, etc.

That’s where family and friends come in.

"The only way to have a friend is to be one."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

And this takes time. But the investment in friends can be one of the most important investments of our life. After all, it’s the quality of our relationships, not the size of our bank account, which allows us to experience the fullness of life.

"My father always used to say that when you die,
if you've got five real friends, then you've had a great life."
— Lee Iacocca

Developing friendships is not effortless. It takes time, but it is time we should be willing to invest as it feeds us emotionally when we may need sustenance the most. However, we must be there for others in their time of need as well. Being available to give unfettered feedback, or just being present to listen and acknowledge their anxiety can be of great help.

In this stressful time, we need to be able to turn to our friends and emote about the "state of the union." If we haven’t been able to build these friendships in the past, then we need to start today so that such supports are in place for the future.

Mentoring, one of those extraordinary benefits of being a leader is where new friendships can be developed. For many business executives, this can be an opportunity to develop friendships outside your office. Watching and assisting another human being’s growth is one of the most rewarding experiences any of us can experience. This may be slightly more than a friendship, but I submit that this process will help you grow as well. We often get from our mentorees as much as we give to them. Consider this as a way to develop friendships.

And of course, family is just as important as friends. I’m reminded of a story told by noted entrepreneur Desh Deshpande that we are all juggling balls to keep our lives on course. Unfortunately, our family ball is a glass ball and our job or business ball is rubber. If we drop the business ball, it will always bounce back. If we drop the family ball, it normally cannot be repaired.

"The family you come from isn't as important
as the family you're going to have."
— Ring Lardner

Long after our professional careers end, our family and friends will sustain us. It is very short sighted to preempt our families by overindulging our focus on our professional lives.

"Your family and your love must be cultivated like a garden.
Time, effort, and imagination must be summoned constantly
to keep any relationship flourishing and growing."
— Jim Rohn

After it is all over and we hang up our cleats (professionally speaking), we want to have our friends and family and enjoy the richness that they offer. We won’t be able to do this unless we are cultivating these relationships all along the line.

Now ask yourself... "Am I a Leader?"

Phil Holberton, an Adjunct Professor of leadership at Brandis University and former Chief Financial Officer of General Cinema Theatres, provides business advisory services, executive coaching and leadership programs. For more information, visit www.holberton.com.

Welcome New Members

Alan Pelz-Sharpe, Ovum

Marc Bussell, Celerant Consulting, Inc.

Roger Freschette, New England Pharma Associates

Breakfast Brainstorms Calendar
Free to IMCNE members and affiliates, $10 for nonmembers

Monday, January 5, 2004
7:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
Sheraton Wayfarer Restaurant, Bedford, NH

Monday, January 12, 2004
7:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
Rebecca's Café, Burlington, MA

Want to host a Breakfast Brainstorm in your area? Contact for details.

Strategic Partner Events — visit our Calendar of Strategic Partner and Other Events on our web site for more information on events of interest. Click www.imcne.org/spcalendar.html.

Book Reviews Solicited

Read any good books lately? Book reviews of up to 150 words are needed monthly. Business books and those you found helpful from other genres are of special interest. Email Ethel Cook at , Subject: IMCNE book review