AIRINC NAMES STEVE BRINK AS PRESIDENT

AIRINC NAMES STEVE BRINK AS PRESIDENT

Cambridge, MA (USA)—January 8, 2009—We are pleased to announce that Steve Brink has been appointed President of AIRINC. We are confident that Mr. Brink's vast experience and global vision will help AIRINC become the trusted source for workforce globalization. His technology expertise and his emphasis on proactive solutions fit well with AIRINC's long-term strategy.

Over the last 20 years, Mr. Brink has built businesses that utilize leading-edge decision support software and value-added databases. These products and services provide organizations with insight on global workforce optimization. In early 2008, he left his role as Global Leader of Information Product Solutions for Mercer Consulting to become the Executive Vice President of RAF Capital, a portfolio management company of HR consulting, software and information firms.

On his new appointment, Mr. Brink states, "I am excited about joining AIRINC. As a former competitor and consultant, I know that AIRINC is widely regarded as the highest-quality solutions provider and a terrific partner to their clients around the area of workforce mobility. I hope to enhance AIRINC's extensive products and services with my significant background in innovative software solutions, data products and services that address challenges of hiring, retaining and growing a global workforce."

AIRINC CEO Jim Reid said of Mr. Brink, "Steve is a top talent in the field of HR with a proven track record of success. He has an outstanding focus on the challenges faced by organizations on the issue of global talent. Steve adds another element to our already highly experienced consultants. He will be key in developing new and innovative products and services that address the many issues faced by multinational organizations."

Mr. Brink began his role on December 1. For a detailed background on his career,
please click here.

Press inquiries regarding Mr. Brink's appointment should be directed via email to press@air-inc.com.

Dream Job

If you could have any job in the world, your dream job, what would it be?

Well, I just accepted my dream job.

This week, I start as President of Associates for International Research (AIRINC). AIRINC is a human resources consulting firm dedicated to facilitating global mobility. Since 1954, AIRINC has provided organizations with superior cost-of-living services for their cross-border transfers. Today, AIRINC offers a wide range of expatriate compensation services, ranging from data delivery and database management to policy seminars and compensation program design.


Why is this my dream job? Well, simply, it consists of many items that I write about in this blog.

First, the people. This is a great group of people. People with passion about what they do. People who are devoted to sharing knowledge in this important area of HR. The AIRINC team has knowledge leadership at all levels of the organization.

Second, the opportunity. AIRINC has years and years of proven value in the HR industry. With all of the success, I still see significant opportunity for AIRINC to further assist clients with global workforce issues.

Third, the world. I have lived almost 20% of my life outside of the USA. I consider myself a global citizen. I know in my bones the positives and challenges of cultural exchange. AIRINC focuses on helping people work across borders and cultures. AIRINC knows Global! I want to be a part of that.

Four, private ownership. One of the most frustrating things that I faced as a global leader in a large public conglomerate company is the short-term focus on results. Budgets are built on short-term financial wins versus long-term profitable growth and the value proposition to the customers. AIRINC is a private company with a proud tradition of partnering with customers and retaining quality people. AIRINC is built on the values that I believe are critical to running a business.

I hope I succeed at my dream job; I hope I add value and direction to this amazing group of thinkers. I am excited and nervous. It's like my first day at a new school; my first date with my wife; or watching my kids succeed at anything. Crazy, but I have butterflies in the stomach.

With my new challenge, I will be taking a sabatatical from public blogging. I may revert back to a private blog – as this one started. Any feedback is welcome.

Thanks for reading this blog!

Today

Today is the first day for the rest of your life!

sorry short, but some news tomorrow! Stay tuned.

Joke of the Weekend XXXI

TOP TEN Ways to Know You Are Dating a Consultant

1. Refers to those "intimate moments" as "Win-Win situations"
2. Valentine`s Day card has bullet points
3. Can`t be trusted with the car (too accustomed to beating up rentals)
4. Celebrate anniversary by conducting a performance review
5. Ends any argument by saying "let`s talk about this offline"
6. Tries to call room service from the bedroom
7. Congratulates your parents for successful value creation
8. Takes a half-day at the office because, "Sunday is YOUR day"
9. Talks to the waiter about process flow when dinner arrives late
10. Referred to the first month of your relationship as a "diagnostic period"

Leaders need to Lead in these downtimes

It is amazing to me how often when the times are not as good as in the past, leaders make some strange decisions . . . oh my, we need to cut expenses and "I" know which expenses to cut. The result is that short-term decisions impact long run revenue opportunities. Oh yes, short term bonuses might look good, but this is about the long term viability of the business and a contract with people who have worked so hard to build a business.

I have been through recessionary times in the past, my advice to new leaders is to gather the troops and tell them the straight story. The revenue in the future is not looking strong so we need to cut expenses in line with our revenue projections. So, we have two choices, what ways can we increase revenue without investments and second, where can we lower our expenses. The people closest to the clients and the actual daily work are the best to help provide insight into what might be revenue opportunities and where some expenses could be lowered. I have always been pleasantly surprised by the suggestions that really made a difference. My favourite one was from an assistant who had a great idea about saving money on shipping our products which ended up saving significant dollars. When I asked how come you never raised this before . . . the answer "no one ever asked".

Leaders! Don't crawl into your office and stay in the dark. Get out! Involve and ask your team what actions can affect short term results. Leaders lead in downtimes, but leading is also listening and involving the entire team!

Stop, Close your Eyes

Out running today, listening to Flobots' "Handlebars" and trying to figure out the lyrics . . . also thinking about what I have to be thankful . . .

It's American Thanksgiving Day on thursday .. .

Stop. Close your Eyes. (well, do after reading the posting . . . )

Take the time to think about what you have to be thankful for . . . I know I am so blessed and thankful for all that I have (health, wonderful spouse and family, friends, shelter, food on the table, a job, etc.).

So often, we focus on the things we don't have or are not right in our lives. This week, take the time to focus on the good things.

Similarly, as a leader or manager . . we focus on people's weaknesses and how to improve them, whereas we don't focus on their strengths and look for ways to leverage them . . . it is better (and usually easier) to leverage a strength then improve a weakness.

So, this week, focus on your "strengths" (i.e., things to be thankful) and set aside your weaknesses for a few days (I am sure they will still be there when you return).

And for those that are about to do year end performance reviews, have a discussion around the strengths and ways to leverage those to help the business in 2009!

Speeding Ticket

For the first time in almost 15 years, I received a speeding violation. I do have an excuse. I was on a new highway (on my way to a golf charity event BTW) and the speed limit went from 70 to 55 and I just did not see the speed reduction sign.

In most states, you can pay the fine OR take a defensive driving course and the ticket is off your record (both are practically the same price). Well being as competitive as I am, I want a clean record, so decided on defensive driving course. You can spend an entire weekend day at an training seminar or take it online. I decided "cool", I will take this online, no problem, be easy and wont waste an entire day of my life. I was wrong.

The online course was suppose to take 6 hours, somehow it took me almost 9 hours to do this online course. It just went on and on and on . . . you could not skip and each page was timed . . . it was totally frustrating. And I am not a happy camper. The other deal was that at the seminar you do not have to take a test, but online you do . . . so if you failed, you have to take it again. YIKES! Now, that is pressure.

The point of this is that as a leader (or anyone), sometimes a "course" (or decision) might seem easier when in fact, it might just be a more pain in the backside. The "grass is not always greener on the other side". Next time, I am just going to pay the fine.