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Shams,
Shells,
and
Charlatans
How
many
times
have
you
been
casually
waiting
at
a
restaurant
or
coffee
shop
for
someone
to
arrive
for
a
meeting,
only
to
suddenly
recognize
a
former
business
associate?
If
it
was
a
positive
experience,
you
gladly
meet,
greet,
and
chat
about
the
state
of
affairs.
If
it
is
someone
who
was
less
than
ethical,
didn't
follow
through
on
promises,
or
owes
you
money,
the
dynamic
is
completely
different.
Do
they
avoid
eye
contact?
Do
you
pursue
contact?
Do
you
want
to
ignore
them?
Do
you
want
to
confront
them
with
their
misdeeds?
What
happens
when
they
brazenly
walk
up
to
talk
and
tell
you
how
successful
they
are?
Recently
I
crossed
paths
(sort
of)
with
someone
who
backed
out
of
a
joint
event
a
year
and
a
half
ago
without
the
courtesy
of
actually
notifying
the
organizer
of
the
event.
This
person
didn't
cover
the
shared
costs
accumulated
to
that
point
as
agreed,
and
as
the
lead
presenter
for
the
event
left
a
gaping
hole
in
the
event
program
just
weeks
before
the
live
event.
The
even
bigger
issue:
the
person
didn't
see
anything
wrong
with
this
course
of
action;
s/he
simply
decided
to
do
something
else.
I’m
certain
you
have
encountered
people
who
roll
through
life
leaving
victims
by
the
side
of
their
road
to
success.
Some
are
simply
"careless"
and
so
self-focused
that
they
don't
consider
the
impact.
Others
don't
care
about
the
impact.
Still
others
have
it
as
an
attitude
or
practice
that
they
get
what
they
can
regardless
of
who
is
hurt.
Regardless
of
motive
(or
lack
thereof)
the
mayhem
they
wreak
on
those
they
leave
behind
can
be
significant.
The
financial,
operational,
and
personal
impact
can
be
long
lasting
and
far
reaching.
For
instance,
in
the
case
of
the
event,
the
organizer
scrambled
to
change
the
program
and
ensure
that
participants
still
received
their
money's
worth.
There
was
little
that
could
be
done
about
the
benefits
the
person
reneging
on
the
agreement
got
from
the
promotional
activities.
(Indeed,
while
it
is
tempting
to
take
out
ads
announcing
the
bad
behavior,
it
is
not
a
good
idea!)
Unfortunately
in
the
world
we
do
business
in,
all
of
us
at
some
point
will
be
victims
to
varying
degrees
of
people
and/or
organizations
with
less
than
stellar
behavior
and
conduct.
Recognizing
this
fact
of
life
means
establishing
ways
to
do
business
which
minimize
that
risk.
Here
are
ten
recommendations:
1.
Get
referrals
that
are
as
objective
as
possible
2.
Check
references
provided:
qualifications,
licensing,
and
other
credentials
3.
Seek
out
additional
references
from
information
on
Web
sites
or
other
sources
4.
Investigate
the
person
or
company
via
sources
such
as
the
Better
Business
Bureau,
Secretary
of
State’s
Office,
and
internet
research
5.
Start
small—use
the
vendor
for
a
small
project
or
job—to
test
their
ability
6.
Observe,
when
possible—be
there
when
the
work
is
done
7.
Get
a
written
agreement
or
contract
that
spells
out:
a.
Deliverables
b.
Specific
responsibilities
c.
Timing
d.
Quality
e.
Guarantees
f.
Payment
g.
Redress
options
h.
Means
of
contract
termination
8.
Check
to
see
if
the
person
you
talk
to
will
actually
be
the
one
doing
the
work
or
if
they
are
the
“sales”
person
9.
Speak
up
early
and
often
if
there
is
an
issue
10.
Document
the
resolution
of
any
issue
in
detail
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 Lea
Strickland, MBA, CMA, CFM, CBM, president and founder of F.O.C.U.S. Resources
(a business management systems consulting firm that addresses the total
business through financial performance), has over 18 years experience
in financial and operational leadership positions with various companies
including four Fortune 500 and Global 100 companies. She has worked with
established and emerging companies—private and public, US and foreign-owned.
She holds degrees from The Ohio State University (MBA—Accounting,
Marketing and Human Resource (Change Management)) and The University of
Charleston (Bachelor of Science—Finance and Business Management
with technical minors in Marketing and Accounting).
As a financial leader, Lea was instrumental
in obtaining funding from Deutsche Bank for a local technology growth
company. She is also credited for saving over $30 million for a manufacturing
operation and obtaining $97 million in funding for the expansion of that
same facility. Her client and industry experience includes audit, banking,
OEM automotive and tier one automotive manufacturing, electonics manufacturing,
consumer products manufacturing, software, industrial textiles manufacturing,
and many other industries.
In 2004, Lea was asked to be expand
her consulting practice into working with government grant and contract
recipients on compliance and financial control systems. The government
funding-compliance consulting focuses on small technology, bio-technology,
software, and bio-agriculture businesses transitioning from research and
development to full commercial operations.
Ms.
Strickland
was
also
asked
to
develop
an
“On-shoring”
program
to
provide
consulting
services
to
technology
firms
in
Europe
and
Asia
seeking
to
locate,
build,
and
operate
facilities
in
the
United
States.
These
innovative
tele-workshops
are
provided
via
telephone
and
Internet
to
companies
prior
to
their
establishing
a
footprint
in
the
U.S.
market.
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In
addition to her consulting services, Lea is a well-known and sought-after
speaker, expert panelist, workshop leader, and author on start-ups, micro-enterprise,
small business, financial systems, and business issues for companies of
all sizes. Since 2003, she has had over 200 articles published in journals,
newsletters, website expert sites, and magazines (print and Internet-based).
Her credits include:
Expert Columnist: Carolina Newswire, NC Journal for Women, Business
Leader Magazine, Local Tech Wire
Book: Out of the Cubicle and Into Business
Area/Topic Expert: Entrepreneur Magazine
Contributing Writer and Advisor: Small Business Technology Magazine
Lea has been honored with the several
awards including: Outstanding Young Executive in the U.S. (1989), International
Who’s Who of Professional Management (1999), and Who’s Who
of Executives and Professionals (2003). Currently, she is active in municipal
governance, serving on the Town of Cary Zoning Board of Adjustments (2001
to the present). She has served as an expert panelist and speaker for
the following community and business organizations: Council for Entrepreneurial
Development, Wake County (North Carolina) Community Colleges, Institute
of Management Accountants, Graduate Women in Business National Conference
(2002), Executive Women Club, Fast Trac Programs, Small Business Technology
Development Center (North Carolina)
In addition to her current client
list, Lea (together with other business and community leaders) donates
her time to establish affordable resource programs for entrepreneurs and
small businesses. She is also co-hosting the North Carolina Capital Markets
Exchange to aid emerging and growth businesses in obtaining growth capital.
“For Lea, it isn’t about
fitting the business to the method, it’s about finding the right
approach for the business.” - G. M., Electronics Manufacturer
Lea’s hobbies and interests
include writing poetry and short stories; reading; piano; community services—mentoring
programs; and painting (oils, acrylics, watercolor, and mixed media) landscapes,
seascapes, and portraits. She also enjoys spending time with family (especially
her two nieces) and friends.
 Lea
Strickland, MBA CMA CFM CBM
President & CEO F.O.C.U.S. Resources
104 Barcelona Court
Cary, NC 27513-4201
Main Telephone: 919.234.3960
Mobile: (919) 210-7171
Lea@focusresourcesinc.com
www.focusresourcesinc.com
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Upcoming
books:
Into Business Step-by-Step: Making the Key Decisions—Winter
2005
Government Grant Accounting – The Business Requirements
of Government Funding—Winter 2005
Vision, Strategy, Structure - Results—2006
The 360° Enterprise—2006 |
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