Cyril Lecocq Blog

From Melodymasterplatts

I just read an interesting post from Seth Godin relating to someone wondering if it�??s possible to succeed and to stay clean.

In fact, I believe there will always be unethical people trying to succeed even if they have to consider unethical things. Just let these people live their life; this is not a good long term strategy anyway.

In fact, my father told me once: Cyril, do not be too nice (gullible). When I was younger I was considering everybody as nice. You travel, you meet people, you get older and you realize that mostly people would not hesitate to destroy you if they need it to succeed. Fortunately, some people have ethical spirit.

I strongly believe that we can succeed being respectful, honest and nice. Nice does not mean gullible, it means being listening to people, understanding, considering people as human. However do not be stupid. People easily forget that you were there for them. Live your life on your own and when someone really deserves your help, you will naturally feel it. If I succeed, I won�??t succeed alone, but people would have deserved it.

(Sorry no time to record a video ;))

I am currently reading an interesting working paper from Laurence Lehmann-Ortega, Business model: from buzz word to managerial tool.

As I am working on it, I still need time to completely catch this concept and I will probably complete these words.

Nowadays, it seems that traditional strategy concepts need to be reconsidered. In fact, environment is now on a perpetual change due to new information technology. Companies need pragmatism, flexibility and reactivity. It seems that a new strategy analysis unit is needed to face this changing environment on a realistic way. Nowadays, we cannot consider a global �??screenshot�?? of the competitive environment as it is changing all the time.

Business model could pertinently complete strategy concepts adding a customer-focused side to the theory (contrary to an environment-focused concept). Thus, we consider here the generated value for customers before considering competitors: customer is now central.

To make it short, we could describe business model as it follows:

Value proposition (products /services, customer segment) > Value architecture (resources, internal/external value chain) > Revenue model (cost structure, value capture)

To combine business model and strategy concepts (competitive analysis, key competences) permits a complete overview of the company. The manager is then able to consider the company�??s development guideline on the best way.

A successful manager has a transversal view of the company, considering each dimension: marketing, finance, production, administration… I would say that the hardest thing here is not to understand these concepts; it is to manage these concepts on an operational way.

Looking back on some events in my life, I decided to write a post relating to fear of change. In fact, the majority of people are afraid of change: my opinion is that they should dare to change things when it is needed.

I had once the opportunity to work for a French company in Vietnam. This experience was rewarding on a cultural side but not on a professional one. To cut it short, I had relationship problems with the manager and the point here is that I decided to bear the situation not daring to change things.

I have no regret, but I should have change things. I had the network to find another internship but I didn�??t do it. I was afraid of doing it: I was bound by this situation.

October 2008: same situation again, but I didn�??t repeat the mistake. I stopped my internship and now I�??ve found another one which meets my expectations. I am glad to have made this change happened.

All people are different and we can�??t be suitable for all type of company. In my case: I need a small group of enthusiasts to work in a smart and collaborative way to launch successful projects. I don�??t like hierarchical old school companies.

Some people may consider I am not patient, that is right, but not in a bad way: I need things to go fast, maybe an entrepreneur way to be right? Haha.

Just dare change and don�??t feel guilty about it: you are just different.

2009 comes with some changes on this blog. In fact, I decided to focus on my main interest: entrepreneurship.

No French anymore. It takes me time to prepare a French translation and unfortunately I don�??t have this time. You will find on each post a short video introduction, let�??s call that a video excerpt. I believe this will definitely give life and an additional human side to this blog.

It is so rewarding to meet new people, discuss and learn from them. People help me to make my own way through life, my own spirit among billion of spirits. Entrepreneurship is an adventure, and one day I will take part of it. Strategy, management, entrepreneurs�?? values, success stories… are my main interests.

To start 2009 by an inspiring quotation from Cecil Beaton: “Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play it safers, the creatures of the common place, the slaves of the ordinary”. As Kevin Roberts (CEO Worldwide of Saatchi & Saatchi), I believe it is important to be yourself. 2009 is yours and I wish you to have a year full of changes, surprises and happiness.

For some days now Seth Godin is accompanying me on my way to job. Well not the real Seth Godin I am currently reading the really interesting overview Tribes Q&A. In fact, this overview was written in a collaborative way by 156 people, inspired by Seth Godin and his book, « tribes ».

Seth Godin is the author of several famous business books in the world. Reading Seth Godin is a good way to complete your way of thinking even if it�??s important to develop your own way and not be gullible. To be honest, he sometimes inspires me in my thoughts.

I would notice the way of using really interesting metaphors (and I really like that), one example:

« [�?�] tend a tribe the way you would tend a garden. (And note the �??tender�?? feel of the word.) You cannot make plants grow. You can do everything else: plant, water, weed, shade, prune, clean everything. But plants grow or they do not, and you cannot do it for them.

It is important to recognize that different plants have different growing requirements. It is important to treat everyone fairly. In doing that, you may not treat them exactly the same.

As for weeds, they are only plants growing where you do not want them. Usually, you can transplant them to a more appropriate garden. Some, unfortunately, are invasive and pernicious and must be yanked. If a weed is hurting the tribe, it must be removed; do not hesitate. And then, as the leader, let the tribe know what you did and why. This too will build trust and strengthen the tribe. » (Tribes Q&A).

As I really enjoy reading this overview, I share it with you