Monday, July 31, 2017

Embrace The New Virtual Organization World or Die By the Sword of Obsolescence

The New Virtual Organization World
It's a New Principled World, It's Virtual, and It's Organized



One of my late dad's favorite sayings was: "L'eau qui tombe goutte a goutte sur le fer finit par l'user." Loosely translated, "The constant drip of Water on iron eventually destroys it."  And every single time I pause to examine the retail industry's woes, dismal performance and abysmal state of affairs, that quote always comes to mind.  In this particular instance, Water being equivalent to "Fear of Taking Immediate Action."

However, that being said, I want to take that saying one step further and state:  "The constant drip of Salty Water or Acid Rain on Iron and Steel will greatly accelerate their destruction over time."
   
Thus when it comes to the (Iron and Steel) retail industry,  it is not simply Water (Fear of Taking Immediate Action) that it has to contend it, that time has long come and gone;  it is now, in fact, dealing with the constant drip of Salty Water and Acid Rain (Old Thinking, Warped Ideas,  Automaton Vision) on Iron and Steel.  As we all know, Salty Water and Acid Rain greatly accelerate the destruction of Iron and Steel.  

Therefore, absent a miracle in New Thinking, the total destruction and decimation of the retail industry, as we now know it, will happen much faster than anticipated by so-called retail industry pundits, innovators and intelligentsia.

So, let me go over the aforementioned constant drip of Salt Water and Acid Rain:

Old Thinking


Here is what I mean by "Old Thinking":  The longer you've been in an industry, the more difficult it is to see and understand the warning signs of impending doom and failure.  For the most part, people have a tendency to attribute these signs to the normal "bumps, bends and forks in the road" expression by James E. Faust and  to "others' failure to execute" - and that all that is required is to simply exert a bit of leadership by applying the necessary pressure (standard sticks and carrots) needed to hold others accountable for their failure to perform.


And when such pressure fails to meet financial projections,  then the Executive Leadership Team huddles one more time  in order to come up with another set of reasons for failure to perform and to announce a new set of measures designed to address the current situation.  Such measures inevitably include one or more of the following: 1) replacement of one or more key members of Senior Management or the Executive Leadership Team;  2)  across-the-board company layoffs and hiring freeze;  3) closing down of a number of facilities and locations;  4) reduction of company benefits to current and future employees; 5) downward revision of key performance indicators and projected financial results;  6) entice current and potential customers to get deeper and deeper into debt they really can't afford to pay back (e.g., get customers to sign up for private label company credit cards, bank cards, etc.);   7) hiring of change management consultants from leading consulting firms to advise them on how to adapt to the new competitive landscape.

And this same cycle repeats itself over and over and, before you know it, many years have gone by and the Executive Leadership Team begins to see the handwriting on the wall:: Your Time Is Up! :: and panic sets in.   At which point, the shareholders get into an uproar, begin to flex their muscles and clamor for a new CEO to come to the rescue of what is now a "nearly failed" company.  The former CEO is usually retained as or promoted to Chairman for a while and the new CEO is given carte blanche to execute under the now watchful eye of a reinvigorated and panicked board of directors.

Warped Ideas

Of course, once panic sets in and a new CEO is brought on board, the reign of "Warped Ideas" begins in the following sequence:

WARPED IDEA #1.    Knight in shining armor coming to the rescue of a damsel in distress.   

Once a company in distress reaches the stage where you have to bring in a new CEO, that is the equivalent of a cancer patient who finally decides to undergo aggressive surgery and chemotherapy treatment because the cancer has spread to the point wherein any form of holistic care or standard preventive treatment is futile and Death Comes Knocking at Your Doors.  In which case, it's not a question of IF but WHEN the final bell will toll for thee.  

Why is that, you might say?   That's because the success or failure of a company depends on more than just one man or woman.  It requires the collective effort of the entire Executive Leadership Team and Senior Management Team.  

The bottom line is this:  Besides the calming, soothing and cosmetic effect such move has on stockholders, investors and other stakeholders, in fact, there is very little a new CEO can do other than to try to stem the bleeding, and attempt to prolong the company's life by a few weeks, months and, by some miracle, perhaps, even a few years or decade.

Therefore, the purpose of a new CEO during such time of crisis is to come in, help you put your affairs in order, and to administer the last rites at your deathbed - and wish you a peaceful journey in the corporate afterlife.

Time to play the devil's advocate:  I am clearly aware that many of you, current and former retail CEOs and others,  will disagree with the above "bottom line" position and point to some recent spectacular, celebrated retailer rescue achievements made either by you yourself or some of your colleagues in the retail industry.

However, that being said, I hate to be the bearer of "bad news:"    Contrary to public opinion, it is exactly these so-called extraordinary retailer rescue achievements, when examined under a microscope away from the all the hype and smoke-and-mirrors, which serve to prove my "bottom line" position.

Retailer Rescue Achievement Example

Let's take Sears Roebuck and Co. as a good example:  

Arthur C. Martinez  is widely recognized and credited as the executive who rescued  Sears from oblivion during the 90's and put it on a solid footing as a going concern.   He joined Sears Merchandising Group in 1992 as its Chairman & CEO; then became Chairman & CEO of Sears Roebuck & Co. in 1995; and retired from Sears in 2000.

As I scrutinize Martinez's achievement, please note it is NOT at all my intent to belittle his remarkable accomplishments during his 8-year tenure at Sears since the company was in dire straits, a real mess and had its tentacles spread out all over the place.     Rather, it is my contention that despite his accomplishments, Sears was a patient in terminal mode who could NOT be rescued by anyone and that the most that any superhuman CEO could have done then, as I earlier pointed out in the above "bottom line" statement, was "to stem the bleeding, and attempt to prolong the company's life by a few weeks, months and, by some miracle, perhaps, even a few years or decade."  In which case, Martinez did, in fact, accomplish that miracle.

He did what any successful CEO would be expected to do during such time of crisis:  "to come in, help you put your affairs in order, and to administer the last rites at your deathbed - and wish you a peaceful journey in the corporate afterlife." 

As the facts soon bore out, that is exactly what happened within less than five (5) years after Martinez's departure and retirement from Sears.   Kmart, a company which had just emerged from bankruptcy on May 6, 2003 bought the venerable Sears on March 24, 2005 - not the other way around. Something that no one in the retail world could have predicted (before it actually happened).  This can only prove my contention that Sears was indeed in terminal mode when Martinez retired from Sears in 2000 - a fact that Martinez himself would have had to be painfully aware of at the time of his retirement; the same can be said for the new CEO Alan J. Lacy,  since he himself was also a long-time Sears executive insider and Martinez's right-hand man.

In the very last paragraph of David Floyd's article::June 8, 2017::in Investopedia: "Who Killed Sears? 50 Years on the Road to Ruin," the legendary Warren Buffett himself buttresses my "bottom line" statement. (No need to get distracted. You can read it later.)

WARPED IDEA #2.   Time to rebrand the company.    

That is the equivalent of putting lipstick on a pig and dressing it up or "just grabbing for straw."    In the search for quick-fix solutions to systemic problems, "rebranding the company" invariably tops every external major consulting firm's list of solutions for their clients.   The same goes for the company's Executive Leadership Team and Senior Management Team.

In fact, pause and try to answer this question:  Throughout your entire life as a decision-maker in the retail industry, have you ever encountered one consultant from one of these big consulting firms who did not include "rebranding" on their list of available solutions?

Invariably, these quick-fix solutions primarily consist of:  a new logo, new signage and billboards, new company slogan, new color combinations to reflect a new image, a nicer or flashier website, major store remodeling,  introduction of new product lines and labels, renewed focus on product quality and customer experience,  expensive Superbowl ad,  celebrity endorsements, etc., extensive public relations campaign and a year-round advertising effort to reflect the NEW ME image.    

After all, who wants to hear about "long-term" solutions to today's ailments?   Certainly NOT the investors, stockholders and other key stakeholders.   And as far as the consultants and corporate management  are concerned, they might be out of a job by the time these long-term solutions get a chance to begin to bear fruit.

Time to play the devil's advocate:  I am also clearly aware that many of you would scoff at my viewpoint  that "Time to rebrand the company" is a "Warped Idea" :: especially given the fact that it has worked flawlessly and accomplished so many wonders for you and others on so many occasions in the past.  

Again, I hate to burst your bubble:  These are NOT ordinary times.   Trying to rebrand the company for an existence in the "Brick and Mortar World" will NOT work,  as evidenced by the hundreds and thousands of retailers who,  despite their having made similar "rebrand the company" efforts,  are either still in a terminal state on their deathbed, are languishing in a comatose state with absolutely no hope for full recovery,  or have already bitten the dust and made the trek to the corporate afterlife - and are now nothing but distant memories.

Why is that, you might say?   That's because we are now living in "The New Virtual Organization World":: a world that Jeff Bezos clearly FORESAW and UNDERSTOOD  in terms of what that meant for the future of the retail industry back in July 1994 when he started Amazon from his garage.   A new world that we are all headed toward whether we want to or not.

About "The New Virtual Organization World"

What is "The New Virtual Organization World"?

It's a new world made possible by 1) the invention of the Internet;  2) the invention of the World Wide Web in 1989 by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland;  3) the invention of the first graphical, easy to use and install, and widely available "Mosaic browser" by  Marc Andreessen and fellow team members at NCSA (National Center for Supercomputing Applications at University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign) released in September 1993;  4)  Bill Gates and Microsoft's revolutionary "License the Operating System" business model which made it affordable and possible for the masses to obtain a computer and gain access to the World Wide Web; 5) the founding of the Virtual Organization Management discipline in 1997; and, last but not least, 6) a never-ending stream of innovation in internet technology and all the other sciences from individuals and entities all over the globe that is widely made available all over the internet.  

(Without the Virtual Organization Management discipline,  all you would wind up with is:  Virtual Chaos.)

The conflagration of all the preceding and recurring events and forces has set in motion invisible, powerful, invincible and unstoppable forces and entities which can be marshaled and organized on the Web (i.e., in a virtual environment).  Hence the reason for the name:   The New Virtual Organization World.    It's just another way of saying, "It's a New Principled World, It's Virtual, and It's Organized."          

A Brand New Platform for the Retail Industry

Whereas practically ALL major retailers of that era saw the Web as just a fad, another distraction, some new toy, another marketing touch point, a new digital brochure, a new communication platform, some sort of web-based Content Management System  or, at best, merely an extension of their brick and mortar entities and just an additional commerce platform,  Jeff Bezos was instead looking at a brand new world  for the entire retail industry unfolding right before his very own eyes: The New Retail World.

He saw the World Wide Web itself as the new platform for the entire retail industry and set about to realize his vision of this new retail world - a central pillar of The New Virtual Organization World.   A vision of a new retail world that he has not only realized in flying colors over the past 23 years but is also continuing to transform at breakneck speed on a daily basis, leaving nothing but carnage in its wake for today's "brick and mortar" retail world.   

The Greatest Visionary and Founder of "The New Retail World"

Which makes Bezos  "the greatest visionary and founder of the new retail world" in The New Virtual Organization World.  His place is cemented in the Pantheon of the Gods of The New Virtual Organization World (when it is eventually built).   Although if you were to ask Bezos a question about his vision of The New Virtual Organization World, I am positive he would reply, "What is The New Virtual Organization World?" 

WARPED IDEA #3.   Time to look for an exit strategy.   

There is nothing worse than being in the middle of a fight for you and your family's life  while, at the same time, looking for an exit strategy.    When you are fighting for your survival,  your only exit strategy should be:  to vanquish your opponent and be the last man standing.    That means, what do I have to do in order to be at the top of my game? Because anything less than that frame of mind (at this crucial juncture) is an abdication of your responsibility to your family.


What this means is that, the time to consider exit strategies should be when ALL IS WELL ON THE WESTERN FRONT and you want to include them in a comprehensive contingency COOP plan (continuity of business operations plan) or a strategic plan to maximize the return on investment to investors and shareholders :::: NOT when the survival of your company is on the line.
   
Time to play the devil's advocate:  I can imagine what's going through your mind right now this very second:  "There is nothing wrong, in fact it's a smart thing to do from a strategic standpoint, to consider all available options while you are engaged in a fierce battle - and that "figuring out an exit strategy" can be one of these things and it does not have to be mutually exclusive - and a "warped idea."

Again, I beg to differ:   When faced with a serious or life-threatening crisis, before you can figure out an exit strategy, you must first understand what you are really fighting for,  who you are really fighting against as well as their strengths and weaknesses, the nature of the real battlefield landscape, all your possible exit routes, and the tools that you have at your disposal to fight the good fight.  And the plain simple truth is this:  today's brick and mortar retailers  woefully lack those prerequisites for coming up with an exit strategy.  

Reasons for Today's Carnage in the Retail World

The current carnage and devastation that is now taking place in the "brick and mortar retail world" is exactly due to the fact that today's "brick and mortar retail world" has been completely blindsided  by events taking place in The New Virtual Organization World.  

To further compound the situation, these retailers are all reeling from the following:    1) They don't really know what they are fighting for ::  Is it just to survive?   Is it to maintain market share? Is it to increase market share in a particular market segment? Is it to expand into virgin territory? :: Can any single one of them answer that question with a great deal of clarity and a degree of certainty?      2)  They don't really know who or what they are fighting against ::  They don't understand that their opponents or adversaries or competitors are NOT in the "brick and mortar world."   In other words, they don't have a clue about the mighty forces in The New Virtual Organization World  that are arrayed against them and the real retail battlefield landscape. 

As strange and confusing as it may seem, this means that:  Macy's real competitor is NOT  Sears, J.C. Penney, Dillard's, Burlington Stores, Kohl's,  Target, Costco, etc., and vice-versa::  Abercrombie & Fitch's  real competitor is NOT TJX, Luxottica, Ross Stores, L Brands, Gap, Urban Outfitters, American Eagle Outfitters, Children's Place, Chico's, Aritzia, Guess?, Esprit, Giordano, etc., and vice-versa.

Hence the reason why they are so befuddled when asked about their prospects for the future, and all they can say is:  "We are now living in uncertain times - dealing with a very challenging landscape and, therefore, unable to predict any major changes in the foreseeable future."

Your Real Competitor

I already know your next question: If none of them are my real competitors, then WHO IS?

Here is the simplistic answer:  Any major retailer AND  every other small bit retailer (there are millions of them out there) in The New Virtual Organization World :: which, by definition, means "any NON-brick and mortar player" who occupies the same space that you do and vying for the same target market.   It doesn't matter how small they are today because when you really think about it:  one ant in your house is not a problem, but one million ants while you are sound asleep will make a meal out of you.   After all, AMAZON started out in 1994 as a small bit retailer working out of a garage.    

That is why Amazon, the Supreme Overlord of The New Retail World in The New Virtual Organization World is -- safely and at a healthy distance, left and right, coming and  going -- beating the hell out of all these retailers  in the "Brick and Mortar World"  who are themselves busy trying to compete with each other. 

As a matter of fact, most, if not ALL, brick and mortar retailers who have filed for bankruptcy during the first half of 2017 have stated the Amazon effect in their filings :: however, that being said, Amazon is just a convenient excuse for their lack of understanding as to WHY this incessant "brick and mortar retail" carnage shows no end in sight.   Even antitrust regulators are getting in on the "Time to Stop Amazon" chorus line.   However, as I stated earlier, the reason is simple: Today's brick and mortar retailers are clueless about the "real retail battlefield landscape."  So, let me proceed with an explanation.

The Real Retail Battlefield Landscape

Use your vivid imagination and think of the following:  

The New Virtual Organization World is located right out there in the middle of a deep and vast ocean. The geology of that area combined with the tectonic and centrifugal forces generated by the activities occurring in The New Virtual Organization World, including the activities of thousands to millions of retailers of The New Retail World, is causing a constant and tremendous amount of extremely powerful undersea earthquakes shooting upward a tremendous and explosive amount of force that we call "a tsunami." 

Being a tsunami, this means that the energy of that force stays deep below the surface of the ocean and travels through deep water at such an incredible speed that it's barely noticeable on the surface of the ocean.   (Therefore, due to the location of The New Virtual Organization World,  this means that ALL its inhabitants are safe and sound - they can't feel a thing.  For them, life goes on as usual.)

HOWEVER, as this energy gets closer to the shoreline, that's when things change completely and the tsunami reaches astronomical heights and destroys just about everything in its path.

What this means is that, for any ship or boat traveling within the shallow part of the ocean or docked along the shoreline,  as well as for everyone living or currently situated within close vicinity of-or along--the shoreline (i.e., the brick and mortar retailers),  by the time they realize it's a tsunami, it is too late for them to do anything about it.

As well, according to normal ocean weather patterns, Huge Waves or Rogue Waves will appear from time to time on the surface of the ocean.     In which case, the heavier and more modern the ship, the better protection they will have against the elements and the greater the likelihood they will be able to ride out the surface waves.  

Let us now move on to the brick and mortar world.

The Brick and Mortar World  is located right there within the vicinity of--and along--the shoreline and on the shallow part of the ocean.    There are millions of brick and mortar retailers doing business on land as well as on the ocean.

When the weather changes and the inhabitants of the brick and mortar world anticipate or notice the appearance of Huge Waves or Rogue Waves on the surface of the ocean,  the ship and boat owners normally anchor their ships and boats and batten down the hatches, and the inhabitants along the shoreline normally board up their doors and windows, and wait until things get back to normal.    

If you happen to be one of those modern behemoths (literally, figuratively or metaphorically speaking) weighing over 100,000 tons, the length of several football fields, hundreds of feet deep and wide, and able to cruise at amazing speeds, you can just continue to cruise right along without a care in the world.

HOWEVER, when it comes to the constant number of tsunamis that are being generated by the activities occurring in The New Virtual Organization Worldincluding the activities of thousands to millions of retailers within The New Retail World the inhabitants of the "brick and mortar world" are completely helpless due to the fact that, UNLIKE TYPICAL WEATHER PATTERNS WHICH ACCOMPANY REGULAR WAVES, HUGE WAVES, AND ROGUE WAVES, the tsunami operates in stealth mode, deep below the water surface, and by the time they (brick and mortar retailers) realize it's a tsunami, it is too late for them to do anything about it.  

They don't get sufficient advance notice that would allow them to take their ships and boats farther out toward the middle of the ocean and stay put until the tsunami has taken its course and done its damage within the vicinity of the shoreline.

And that, friends and colleagues, is the new retail battlefield landscape that you are dealing with.  And it is this lack of understanding which is impeding your numerous attempts and heroic efforts at trying to reverse the tides of retail doom and destruction which keep coming your way.

For Example:   

Executive Chairman of Abercrombie & Fitch Arthur C. Martinez (yes, the same executive who rescued Sears in the 90's) came out of retirement in January 2014 to lead this venerable retailer.  At the time of his appointment, the stock was trading at $38.47 and on the close of July 28, 2017 it traded at $9.83.

On the surface, the average analyst or investor would tend to attribute the stock's decline to Martinez's performance.   However, that is NOT at all the case.   They are--and have been for a very long time--making a tremendous amount of effort and are pulling out all the stops in order to reverse the decline.   

Here is some more interesting data to prove my point which came directly from their slide presentation at Jefferies 2017 Global Consumer Conference:  
"Since 2010, closed ~ 400 stores, remodeled 150, ~$400 M of CAPEX Investments"
It's just that the stock decline in the retail industry is a phenomenon that is happening  across the board and it will finally come to a screeching halt once the brick and mortar retail industry finally figures out who their real competitors are and the real retail battlefield landscape where the fighting needs to take place.   Until then, the carnage will continue as usual. 

So now that I have identified the root causes of your brick and mortar retail bloodbath misery, let us move on to the final ingredient of that Salty Water and Acid Rain  solution (Old Thinking, Warped Ideas, Automaton Vision) I mentioned at the very beginning of this paper.

Automaton Vision

That is what I call, "Throwing money and technology at a problem" as a viable solution.        I must admit that, in the past, I myself have been guilty of that unforgivable sin.  For some reason or another, the need to throw money in all directions and for technology upgrades or new technologies trumps the list of solutions to consider when an organization is in major turmoil.       These external consulting firms (or internal corporate stakeholders) will manage to convince the Executive Leadership Team or themselves, respectively, that such technologies will result in greater efficiency and productivity, improve the company's position relative to its competitors - and have a direct impact on the company's bottom line.

After all, who would object to the fact that advanced technology can indeed result in greater productivity?

The problem with that approach is this:   1) When you are in a desperate situation, the more money you have access to, the easier it is for others to convince you to try a new approach or solution.  As well, the more reasons you will come up with in order to spend it hoping that, if all goes as well as planned, this will be the answer to your prayers.  As the saying goes, "desperate people do desperate things."  2)  There is a HUGE difference between having access to new technologies and knowing how to make effective and optimum use of these technologies.

Here is a perfect example of what I mean by that:

Macy's, Montgomery Ward, J.C. Penney, Barnes & Noble, Sears, and Amazon ALL had access to the very same web technology that Jeff Bezos  used to launch Amazon from his garage in July 1994.   And 23 years later, look at the picture below:

AMAZON vs. MACY'S :: July 1994 - July 2017  
In July 1994,  Amazon had a ZERO market cap and yet, just three (3) years later, in May of 1997, Amazon had a market cap of $461 million. 
In July of 1994, Macy's market cap was over  $1 billion.  In May 1997, Macy's had an estimated market cap of over $2 billion.   
On July 26, 2017,  Macy's has a market cap of over $7 billion vs. $504+ billion for Amazon.  
AMAZON vs. MONTGOMERY WARD :: July 1994 - July 2017 
In July 1994, although there was no public trading market for Montgomery Ward common stock, its total annual revenues (as of 12/31/1994) were over $7 billion and it had a book value of over $687 million.  In May 1997,  Montgomery Ward was in the middle of preparation to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.   And by June 2001,  it was fully liquidated. ZERO Value. 
On July 26, 2017,   Montgomery Ward is defunct ($0 market cap) vs. $504+ billion for Amazon. 
AMAZON vs. J.C. PENNEY :: July 1994 - July 2017      
In July 1994, JC Penney had an estimated market cap of nearly $10 billion.  In May 1997 it had a market cap of nearly $12 billion. 
On July 26, 2017,  JC Penney  has a market cap of over $1.6 billion vs. $504+ billion for Amazon.  

AMAZON vs. BARNES & NOBLE  :: July 1994 - July 2017 
In July 1994, Barnes & Noble had an estimated market cap of over  $990 million.  In May 1997 it had a market cap of nearly $1.5 billion.  
On July 26, 2017,  Barnes & Noble  has a market cap of over $678 million vs. $504+ billion for Amazon.   
AMAZON vs. Sears  :: July 1994 - July 2017  
In 1994,  Sears had annual revenues of over $50 billion
On July 26, 2017,  Sears  has a market cap of over $945 million vs. $504+ billion for Amazon. 
You will notice that all these floundering retailers were once retail giants and luminaries, had a million times more financial and human capital resources than Amazon - a newcomer working out of his home garage,  and had the same access to the same web technologies which allowed Amazon to eclipse them all.    The difference being,  Amazon was empowered with NEW THINKING and knew how to make effective and optimum use of these technologies.     


NEW THINKING Is Required

Therefore, ALL retailers need to adopt NEW THINKING in order to avoid the constant tsunamis which are slowly but surely decimating the entire brick and mortar retail industry, as we now know it,  leaving nothing but ruin in their wake.

What is this NEW THINKING?

Now that I have identified for you your real competitors  and the real retail battlefield landscape, the ball is now in your court.    You need to either embrace The New Retail World within The New Virtual Organization World or continue to do business as usual and look for exit strategies.  

As a member of  The New Virtual Organization World,  your organization will be required to assign at least one executive (preferably you) to represent your organization on a permanent full-time basis and an alternate representative.   ALL new members are introduced to a collaborative environment which requires that they discard everything that they have ever learned about "brick and mortar retail" so they can begin this  NEW THINKING process.

The New Retail World within The New Virtual Organization World will NOT be providing your organization with retail consulting services nor will it be providing you with ready-made solutions to your current woes.   Nor would we ever consider such request in any way, shape or form.  Therefore, do NOT bother to ask since that is absolutely out of the question and NON-NEGOTIABLE.

Instead you will be part of a Collective Brainpower of Retail and Non-Retail Executives, which may even include your direct competitors, which will come up with solutions that will benefit ALL members of the team.    In fact, you are even encouraged to invite as many other retail and non-retail executives to join you.   You will learn to think and see things from The New Retail World standpoint within The New Virtual Organization World.  IT IS NOT the sort of environment where someone can come by strictly in order to steal ideas and exploit others - and then dash out the virtual doors.

What you will learn to do on your own, for your own organization and The New Retail World industry in general, will dwarf anything that today's most prestigious and priciest retail consulting firms could ever dream to know or provide.  In other words, you and your colleagues in The New Virtual Organization World will all be in a league of your own.

As well, although The New Retail World within The New Virtual Organization World has a great deal of admiration for Jeff Bezos and Amazon, we will NOT be trying to show you how to beat or become another Amazon.   Our knowledge goes way beyond that.
As the current CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch Arthur C. Martinez presciently stated in his 2001 autobiography:: The Hard Road to the Softer Side: Lessons from the Transformation of SEARS, "myopia is fatal. Think boldly about what business you are in, .... and how you will meet the needs of the customers of the next generation...success will not be driven by your board scores....They'll be driven by your character and your intensity, and by your willingness and ability to continue to learn."  
The bottom line is this:  WE ARE NOT THERE TO SHOW YOU HOW TO IMITATE.  WE WANT TO SHOW YOU HOW TO INNOVATE in The New Retail World within The New Virtual Organization World.      

How to Embrace The New Virtual Organization World  

Apply for membership in The New Virtual Organization World Consortium.   As well, read the following article I wrote back on Tuesday, January 4, 2011 :: Visions of the Future in a Virtual Organization World: Vision of Retail Department Stores and Shopping Malls  ::   This article does not even represent the "tip of the iceberg" in terms of what we have in store for you during your journey with us on the consortium.  It's just a start in the right direction.

Upon approval of your membership, I will be there to provide you with the spiritual guidance and philosophical direction you need (nothing to do with religion) in order to make sure that all parties are observing the proper decorum and proceeding in the right direction.   We do however expect you (or your representative) to do 99% of the heavy lifting in order to get things off the ground. 


As well, if you are the CEO of a leading retail organization, I also invite you to request an invitation  to join League of Extraordinary Virtual Organization Executives.   That way, you will get an opportunity to meet with me in person, face-to-face, shake hands and chat during our scheduled (voluntary) monthly excursions.  
      









About Author:   Pierre Coupet, CEO & Q of Virtual Organization Management is the founder of Virtual Organization Management Institute (VOMI), VOMI Virtual Organization AcademyVOMI Global Think Tankand Virtual Organization Recruiter:: founder of the modern virtual organization management and virtual organization recruitment disciplines pioneered since 1997:: founder of League of Extraordinary Virtual Organization Executives:: and Architect of THE NEW VIRTUAL ORGANIZATION WORLD Collection.

Stock Photo: courtesy of Pixabay and Unsplash


Copyright 2007-2023.  Pierre Coupet.  VOMI. Virtual Organization Management Institute. VOMI Virtual Organization Academy.  Virtual Organization Recruiter. VOMI Global Think Tank.  All rights reserved.  Cannot be  reproduced without permission.


Monday, July 17, 2017

A Global Debt Crisis of $217 Trillion Dollars:: The Solution Is Within YOUR Reach Now!

The New Virtual Organization World
It's a New Principled World, It's Virtual, and It's Organized




This is neither The Twilight Zone or an April Fools joke  nor are you in a dream.   Yes, you read the title of this article correctly!  

I know you are wondering, how in the world can that be possible?   So, before you "get all in a tizzy" or "get your nose all out of joint," I need you to calm down a bit and pay serious attention to the information I am about to disclose since I am already aware that,  although we are all currently living in a very archaic, primitive and barbaric world full of savages and you do not yet possess the intellectual maturity to understand how that is possible, you do however possess the intelligence to absorb and process the information and eventually make sense of it.   (Just to be clear, if you are a human being anywhere on this planet, YES, I am calling you a primitive and barbaric savage. You can now stop reading this article if you feel offended.)

For example, an Artificial Intelligence Machine (a Superintelligent Supercomputer) can perform calculations beyond our own imagination and accomplish feats normally relegated to the domain of the gods.   However, that being said, you must first feed it with the relevant information it needs to process and perform.  In which case, it possesses the intelligence but not yet the intellectual maturity to process, understand and arrive at a particular outcome.  

Alright, enough said and let's get to the nitty-gritty.

Life In a Civilized World Financial System

As we speak, this very minute and second and if you already possessed the intellectual maturity, you would understand the following:  

In a civilized world, humans have NO NEED for a financial system based on debt :::: Instead, the purpose of a financial system is to assign a value to human ingenuity and to reward performance.  In other words, if a person is extremely intelligent :: which is the case for every single human being on this planet unless certain human actions result in the birth-or development-of a human being afflicted with a "brain disease which affects the normal functioning of the brain" -  however, Mother Nature herself, The Creator, does NOT make mistakes :: but such person prefers to just sit back under a coconut tree, drink some delicious Barbancourt rum all day long, eat some delicious food prepared by others, and just fart around for the rest of the day - while everybody else is out there working their butts off and putting their amazing brain and ingenuity to work - then there must be a way to address this form of regressive, inequitable, abusive and exploitative behavior. Hence the reason for a financial system.  

In a civilized world,  a financial system cannot be used as a tool to determine who can work, what sort of work they can do,  who they can work with, how long they can work, what they can achieve, and the quantity, level and quality of resources they can have at their disposal in order to put their human ingenuity to work and accomplish amazing and otherworldly feats :::: Instead the financial system is used to encourage and incentivize everyone to use their human ingenuity in order to achieve their highest potential because a civilized society cannot afford to leave anyone behind and clearly understands this very simple principle: "technological superiority is the essence of godliness."   (Just in case you were wondering, godliness has nothing to do with religion or exceptionalism.) 

Why is that, you might say?   Again, it's very simple:  For every single person that you leave behind, the farther a civilized society falls behind and the longer it takes for it to achieve that technological superiority (and get closer to godliness).        

In a civilized world,  a financial system cannot be used  as a tool to determine who can provide an education, who can obtain an education, what kind of education, when a person can obtain that education, where a person can get that education, how much education, and the quality of education provided :::: Instead the financial system is used to encourage and incentivize everyone to get the most advanced and highest quality education in the world.  

Again it is for the same reason I have previously elucidated:  The more quality education we receive (not the bogus, bullshit, distorted and withheld information, and outright lies currently imparted across the globe), the more knowledge we are inclined to thirst for and accumulate, and the faster a civilized society can get closer to achieving that technological superiority (and get closer to godliness).

In a civilized world,  a financial system cannot be used  as a tool to determine who can provide healthcare,  who can receive healthcare, what kind of healthcare, when a person can receive that healthcare, where a person can receive that healthcare, how much healthcare, and the quality of healthcare provided :::: Instead the financial system is used to encourage and incentivize everyone to obtain the most advanced and highest quality natural healthcare education in the world; to be in 100% control of their health and well-being; to obtain the highest possible ranking on a Global State of Wellness Index;  and to understand the value of their natural healthcare contribution and state of wellness from a personal, national and global treasure standpoint.


Why the emphasis on natural healthcare?  What about all these hospitals?  What about the health insurance industry?  What about all these medical government programs?  Won't that put all these pharmaceutical giants out of business? What about all  these Ivy League, other prestigious and lesser-known medical schools around the world - won't that put them out of business?  What about all these medical research organizations and scientific centers around the world? What about all these medical device companies around the world?  What about all these institutional, relief and humanitarian organizations providing healthcare around the world?  What about all these lobbying groups which represent all facets of the healthcare industry - will they take that lying down and not fight you tooth and nail?    What about all these politicians who depend on that sector to get elected or for re-election - will they allow that to happen?   


I am sure there are a million more questions you could ask.  But let me stop you right there.  All these questions that you ask only serve to reinforce - in fact, prove - the point that we are NOT currently living in a civilized world.   Instead we are currently living in a jungle populated with very ignorant, primitive and barbaric savages.   

In a civilized world,  a financial system cannot be used  as a tool for financial speculation and manipulation of the global economic system, to gain hegemony or control over the development of other nations in whatever domain or sphere (e.g., military, economic, social, political, etc.) or to impose crippling sanctions on them :::: Instead the financial system is used to encourage and promote, first and foremost, a nation's  financial and economic stability :: a diversity of ideas and solutions to complex problems and unique challenges faced by all stakeholders in individual nations :: and a collaborative environment designed to ensure the betterment and prosperity of ALL nations.

Just in case you're dying to ask the question, "What's wrong with today's so-called highly sophisticated and most advanced global financial system?" Here is my answer, in a nutshell: prehistoric and pure trash - nothing but a children's game. If you currently hold a Ph.D. in Economics, congratulations on your achievement. However, that being said, in a civilized world, regrettably, a Ph.D. in Economics is not even worth the value of toilet paper.


In a civilized world,  a financial system cannot be used  as a tool for governments to monitor or control the conduct, behavior and activities of its nationals and businesses operating on their own soil or anywhere else in the world.   Nor can it be used as a means for generating revenues from their citizens and businesses or to view and monitor their assets and violate their privacy.  Nor can it be used as a means for implementing public policy, government dictates and directives, and law enforcement activities.  Nor can it be used to deprive, seize or withhold from individual citizens, businesses, or any other institutions operating on their soil or anywhere else in the world,  any of their financial and other economic assets through actions related to any of the following: prosecution or threat thereof; imposition of fines; unilateral, international or administrative sanctions; administrative or court-sanctioned judgments, asset forfeiture laws, or any other related detrimental actions :::: Instead the financial system (NOT a Constitution) is used to promote and ensure FREEDOM FROM TYRANNY::  the  freedom and equality of all citizens, businesses, institutions and government - and that each citizen,  business or any other institution operating on their soil has as much right as the government and that NO GOVERNMENT can have a monopoly on the use of any sort of intrusive FINANCIAL mandates and  activities or any other form of coercion in order to regulate the financial actions of its citizens and institutions anywhere in the world.   

Since you currently lack the intellectual maturity to understand how that can be possible, NOW or at any other time throughout not only your lifetime but also that of thousands of future generations, all I can tell you right now is that we'll have to redefine the purpose and function of government as well as introduce timeless and irreversible mechanisms designed to enshrine and ensure in practice the equality and rights of government, all citizens and their institutions.  (The hell with a meaningless piece of paper or Constitution which can be amended, revised, superseded, circumvented, interpreted in an infinite number of ways, or even abolished by a bunch of easily manipulated cowards, unprincipled leaders, and corrupt, primitive, tyrannical and barbaric savages.) 


The Best Part of It All

But the best part of it all is that, once a government, its citizens and businesses and other institutions become privy to the details about life in a civilized world, They Will ALL Have No Other Choice But to Embrace It With Open Arms!  

Why is that, you might say?  It's because the "civilized world" financial system ensures that no single party comes out a loser and rewards ALL stakeholders beyond their wildest dreams. 

The Solution You've Been Waiting For

Now that I have given you a deep insight into a "civilized world," I can now proceed to tell you where the solution to the current Global Debt Crisis of $217 Trillion Dollars lies:  The adoption of a "civilized world" financial system.   Which now begs the following questions:  1) How do we go about that?  and 2) How long would it take mankind to develop such "civilized world" financial system? 

Answers to Your Questions   

As to "How do we go about that?" you have already been exposed to the basic philosophy and underlying concept.  The New Virtual Organization World Consortium provides to all its members who wish to participate in this specific global project, a very basic blueprint for the development of the aforementioned "timeless" and "irreversible" mechanisms which must be put in place in order to enshrine and ensure in practice such "civilized world" financial system.   ALL Debt will be wiped out instantly and forever be banished into the annals of history.   There is a tremendous amount of work to be done and effort to spend, therefore, don't expect to just waltz in, grab and run.  

Although I am there to provide the spiritual guidance and philosophical direction (nothing to do with religion) in order to make sure that all parties are proceeding in the right direction, your nation or organization will still be required to do 99% of the major lifting in order to get things off the ground.  

As to "How long would it take mankind to develop such "civilized world" financial system?" it's really up to all the members of the consortium who are working on this specific project.   There are also many dimensions to this project.  

Country Dimension.  Each country can design and develop their own version of a "civilized world" financial system taking into consideration their current clout in the existing global financial system.   The lower their clout, the longer it will take them to develop a practical system which does not generate blow-back of tsunamic proportions from the (primitive and barbaric savages) powers-that-be.  

Local Incremental Dimension.   As well, this new financial system can be gradually implemented by such country on either a city, county, state or province, or particular region of the country-basis.

Dual Financial System Dimension.  Any country or association at the very top of the pecking order of the existing global financial system (United States, China, Russian Federation, European Union) can be part of a team involved in the design of a GLOBAL "civilized world" financial system  which does NOT care about any sort of blow-back from any of the other powers-that-be;  with the view that they maintain a dual financial system: 1) their existing financial system for the external world-at-large, and 2) their "civilized world" financial system for their own country or association; with the expectation that sooner or later, or gradually, as other countries begin to see with their own eyes the benefits of the new system, they will jump up and down with a great deal of enthusiasm and request to participate in the new system.  

In which case, time is not necessarily of the essence, and a great deal of time must be spent to ensure that the implementation of this "civilized world" financial system is carried out in a thoughtful, practical and orderly fashion.  

Pilot "City-State Enclave" Dimension.  Or individual countries can apply to implement VOMI's universal version in a pilot city-state enclave within their country  (an exclusive enclave of The New Virtual Organization World)  with an official status  similar to that of Vatican City or City of London; which is exclusively administered by the permanent members of The New Virtual Organization World Consortium.  In which case, such "civilized world" financial system  can be fully implemented within a 7-10 year period depending on a number of variables and other factors.

Next Steps

I look forward to your organization and government's participation and successful collaboration - and to a bright and civilized future for all of mankind.    Apply now for membership in The New Virtual Organization World Consortium.    

















About Author:   Pierre Coupet, CEO & Q of Virtual Organization Management is the founder of Virtual Organization Management Institute (VOMI), VOMI Virtual Organization AcademyVOMI Global Think Tankand Virtual Organization Recruiter:: founder of the modern virtual organization management and virtual organization recruitment disciplines pioneered since 1997:: founder of League of Extraordinary Virtual Organization Executives:: and Architect of THE NEW VIRTUAL ORGANIZATION WORLD Collection.

Stock Photo: courtesy of Pixabay and Unsplash


Copyright 2007-2023.  Pierre Coupet.  VOMI. Virtual Organization Management Institute. VOMI Virtual Organization Academy.  Virtual Organization Recruiter. VOMI Global Think Tank.  All rights reserved.  Cannot be  reproduced without permission.






      
  

Saturday, July 1, 2017

Africa Now Has a Choice: Rise Like a Phoenix or The Status Quo

The New Virtual Organization World
It's a New Principled World, It's Virtual, and It's Organized




I am often contacted for advice and counsel on Africa-related matters with respect to governance, geopolitics, review of unusual requests and demands from prospective US partners and investors, educational insight and economic development -  most of which I normally and gladly provide on a pro bono basis for a number of personal reasons, chief among them, friendship and the cursory nature of my involvement.   

However, that being said, lately I have found myself being contacted more and more not just from business and government quarters for counsel regarding the aforementioned but also to provide my expertise and play an active role in the promotion or development of various African investment projects and initiatives. I normally steer these individuals and organizations toward the various consortia (A Collective BRAINPOWER) associated with VOM Institute (VOMI) that are strictly designed to seamlessly embrace and accommodate such requests and engagements. And, as expected, this is where the trail normally runs cold and you hear a deafening silence.

A Big Disconnect


Why is that, you might say?   It's because the process itself baffles these individuals, businesses, organizations and governments since they are NOT accustomed to dealing with potential foreign partners or contacts within the sort of framework that VOM Institute provides: A collaborative consortium environment which affords ALL members and participants an astonishing level of transparency, sophistication, organizational structure, innovation, collaboration, discipline, dignity and results.

Moreover, the unique and priceless experience of being part of a group of innovators BRAINSTORMING and collaborating with each other  AS EQUALS in a virtual organization environment on proposed or potential investment projects; as well as the tremendous amount of (unexpected) The New Virtual Organization World opportunities that these consortia make available to them; is really very hard for them to fathom or absorb all at once.    

We are in fact giving these African government and business leaders an opportunity to be Part of A Collective BRAINPOWER  that will decide and propose standards for the development and future of  not only their country but the world at large for current and future generations throughout the coming millennia.   Members of a group of innovators and visionaries forging a new path and a new world: The New Virtual Organization World.   

They can't understand why I am really giving them an opportunity to receive a thousand (1000) times more than what they were originally requesting or expecting from me.    After all, they only know of One Approach (or Mindset) and One Pitch  (typical of people with a beggar's mentality) when it comes to dealing with the outside world:   
One Approach (or Mindset) :   We need Foreign Direct Investment  in our country (and Foreign Aid) in order to build our infrastructure, grow our economy, and provide for our people. 
One Pitch:   Our country is in a strategic location and very rich in raw materials, energy and mineral resources, cheap labor, etc., AND we need you to come and visit our country, meet with our government officials and business leaders,  and tell us what you want to invest in and what sort of economic cooperation you need from US in order to accommodate YOU.  
(You'll notice that their One Pitch states that the country is rich in just about everything ::location, natural resources, cheap labor, etc.:: except for BRAINPOWER.  Africans believe that the brainpower needed will come from the West because that's what they've been taught to think and believe from the day they were born.  Thus the reason why they place such a big emphasis on sending their children and professionals to Europe--primarily France and the UK--and the United States in order to obtain a so-called  first-rate, world-class education instead of focusing on investing in a world-class education and healthcare infrastructure for their own citizens in their own country.

Hence the reason they can't understand why I am giving them an opportunity to join a Consortium in order to be part of that Collective BRAINPOWER.
  
Obviously, we have a Big Disconnect which needs to be addressed in order for them to take advantage of the tremendous opportunities that these consortia have to offer.   Thus the reason for this paper since it applies to all African business and government leaders, and their peoples, who are striving to do their best or want the best for Africa.

Self-Acceptance of Africa's Public Image:  A Deeper Reason for the Big Disconnect   
   
With respect to Africa, I want to state, first and foremost,  that being an American and having always been subjected to a one-sided viewpoint of African society and developments in the American and Western media (e.g., extreme poverty, corruption, blood diamonds, child soldiers, mass murder, rape and pillaging, other crimes against humanity and trial of their leaders at The International Criminal Court, etc.), it became very important for me to conduct some extensive research on the current African political and economic climate as well as the overall landscape of the continent in order for me to understand the Deeper Reason for this Big Disconnect (i.e., why they were not rushing toward me with open arms and thanking both me and VOMI for being the very first American (if not foreigner) and institution, respectively, to make this sort of opportunity available to them).  

Based on my personal experience with "every single African" I have ever met,  I have never heard one single African tell me something positive about their country and institutions.  Nor have I ever heard any single one of them say anything that is contrary to what has been portrayed in both the global mainstream media and the media in their own country.  

They have come to accept [and believe in] their very maligned global image and,  during their very first encounter with any Westerner or European, have a tendency to immediately parrot the unflattering remarks and stereotypes that are almost always attributed to Africans and their government and business leaders;  and begin to quickly disavow any sort of association with these African scoundrels.  (Another  way of  letting others know that "Hey, these guys are really bad and corrupt, etc., and I am NOT like them.  I am one of the good Africans!)       

The Resulting Consequences of  this Public Image Self-Acceptance Can Be Disastrous

The price that Africans pay for allowing others to define them in such unflattering ways and also for accepting this very negative public image can be much more than they bargained for and very disastrous for both current and future generations.

Price #1.   A Damaging Blow to the Self-Esteem of Current and Future Generations of Africans. I have read email correspondence sent to my African  colleagues by these Westerners that were shared with me.  The sort of disgusting, offensivevery insulting and intimidating email that would cause 99.9999% of  Americans and Europeans to recoil in horror and immediately sever their relationship and business discussions with such "arrogant farts."   Yet, my African colleagues would ask me for advice on how to proceed with such individuals and organizations.   

That is the sort of behavior I would NOT tolerate from any member of our consortia and which would be cause for AUTOMATIC EXPULSION.     Moreover, even if my Zero Tolerance response toward such egregious behavior by these Westerners may not have much of an impact on today's breed of Africans who are accustomed to this sort of demeaning treatment,  nonetheless, I consider this sort of behavior very damaging to the self-esteem of future generations of Africans or any other human beings.   

Price #2.   It Destroys the Innovation Potential of Current and Future Generations of Africans.  It makes it very difficult for Africans, both young and old as well as current and future generations, to think that they too have what it takes to be able to sit at the global table; come up with revolutionary, fantastical and groundbreaking ideas and inventions that, heretofore, were considered "unheard and undreamed of"  or the stuff of science fiction and  the result of  unrestrained and surreal imagination;  AND  change the world.   

It makes it difficult for them to understand that neither the West, Europe, Asia, the Americas nor any other corner of the world has a monopoly on the capabilities of the human brain and that we (i.e., all members of the Human Race)  have only just begun to understand the power of the mind and that mankind's accomplishments to date are infinitesimal in comparison to all the marvelous and astronomical wonders which lie ahead for ALL of us.     

Therefore, today's generation of Africans need to understand that  they can no longer afford NOT to seat at the global table in order to BRAINSTORM, make the decisions and develop the technologies that will eventually impact them.    They can NO LONGER afford to take a back seat and WAIT FOR THE WEST and their former European Masters  to give them the green light when it comes to making decisions that will impact current and future generations of Africans and the continent.

And most importantly, Africans  HAVE NO NEED TO ASK FOR PERMISSION to seat at the global table.  (VOMI has made sure that all consortium members begin their journey and participation on a level-playing field.)   

I understand the current dilemma that all African business and government leaders face (as well as the mentality they are shackled with).   And since there are many wealthy Africans on the continent, just try this little experiment in order for you to understand what's really happening in your very own mind
Come dinner time, ask one of your household servants (if you have more than one) to join the family at the table.   That is all!    From the time you extend that invitation, follow that servant's reaction all the way through the end of dinner.   Just carry your regular dinner conversation, nothing out of the ordinary.  Just pretend your servant is just another family member.  
Here is the news that I have for you:  The way that your servant will feel and react IS THE SAME WAY that ALL Africans react when I invite them to the global table (to join one of our consortia) for the simple reason that they are NOT accustomed to sitting at the global table with their former colonial masters or the West and be part of the discussions that affect their future.   Dictates from the West? YES!   Imitate what the West is doing? YES!   Invent something  groundbreaking that the West has not yet adopted?  HELL NO! Not in this lifetime!              

The Future is Here for Africa:   VOM Institute has done its part.  It's now time for you to do your part. Stand up and refuse to accept and embrace the negative image, the personal insults and affronts to your dignity and national sovereignty.   Join one of our consortia.  If nothing else,  for future generations of Africans. They deserve better.      

Price #3.    It Normally Leads to a Case of Asking the Wolf to Guard the Sheep.   For example, I know of a number of African colleagues who have been swindled out of  millions of dollars by very slick and sophisticated Westerners and Western financial institutions who took advantage of them, treated them with total disdain and disrespect due to their naivete--and this myth--about Westerners.   

Here are many more examples of  Asking the Wolf to Guard the Sheep:  

  • Why would you want your former colonial masters to have control over and management of your country's currency - and charge you for it as well?   And hold 50% of your country's cash reserves in their bank account? This is insanity, insulting, international banditry, gangsterism, thug behavior, and extortion!   The Wolf loves to have the Sheep graze on his own territory. 
  • Why would you open up personal Swiss bank accounts in the West?   Do you really believe in all the secrecy "bullshit" you've been sold?  Do you really believe that these accounts are out of reach of intelligence agencies, governments, law enforcement, or anyone who may want to blackmail you or get some of that money back?  The Wolf loves for the Sheep to confide in him.
  • Why would you build private villas and mansions in the West?  Do you really believe that they are out of reach of governments, law enforcement, or anyone who may want to sue or harm you? The Wolf loves to have the keys to the Sheep barns.   
  • Why do you want to travel to the West to walk in these shopping malls with a big grin on your face as you shop for luxury goods that these Western intelligence agencies are keeping track of while they are building a file on you and keeping track of every move and purchase you make?  When it's time to demonize you in the global press, that's when you find out how  much information that they have on you (e.g., how much you paid for cuff links, what kind of watch you have,  what kind of caviar or smoked salmon you like, what kind of scotch or cognac or whiskey or vodka you like to drink as well as what kind of cigar you like to smoke and how much they cost, etc.).   With this information, they can figure out what kind of punitive sanctions they can put in place when it's time to put the squeeze on you (e.g., revoke your visa, No more caviar or vodka or cigar for you, etc.)  The Wolf loves it when the Sheep feel comfortable strolling on his territory.            
  • Why do you want a visa so you can attend these useless economic summits in the West where you have absolutely NO CLOUT?   You only go there to be part of the audience (just another potted plant) and so you can bring home some souvenirs from the West.  And while you are there, intelligence operatives are keeping track of every member of your country's delegation and building a dossier on you for future reference.  The Wolf loves to keep track of the Sheep Leadership. 
  • Why do you want to belong to the United Nations (the world's foremost and largest criminal organization) and spend millions of dollars every year to attend a useless General Assembly meeting where you have absolutely NO CLOUT?   The only countries there which have any kind of clout are the five (5) permanent members of the Security Council.   And the only country which has the REAL CLOUT is the United States of America (and Israel, by extension, since the Israeli Lobby controls the US government),  for the simple reason that the US does NOT give a shit about any Security Council resolution and can do whatever the hell it pleases - Security Council vote or not.  It can even bypass the Security Council if it knows that any of the 5 permanent members (i.e., Russia or China) will veto any proposed resolution.  For the most part, it will twist either Russia or China's arms and ask them to abstain from a vote instead of having to use their veto power - something that China and Russia go along with most of the time.  As well, the United States can apply unilateral sanctions on any of the other 4 permanent members of the Security Council.  The bottom line is this:  This is all bullshit and nothing but a big sham.  The United Nations has absolutely nothing to do with upholding international law, peace and security, or securing the rights of sovereign states.   Other than the United States, all the other members are nothing but lap dogs who are told when to get up and bark or when to sit and be quiet.    Therefore, your presence there only serves one purpose: It's an excellent opportunity for Western intelligence operatives to keep track of every member of your country's delegation and to maintain an updated dossier on them for future reference.  (That is the honest truth and I dare anyone anywhere in the world to prove otherwise.)   The Wolf loves to make the Sheep feel like an important member of the Wolf Pack.
  • Why do you want to spend millions of dollars on lobbyists just so you can have your picture taken with a prominent Western leader while you are shaking their hands and grinning your teeth?  These lobbyists are getting rich at your people's expense.  The point being, a picture with the President of the United States will not prevent the CIA or the NSA from destabilizing your country or trying to overthrow your government or outright assassinate you.  You can only fool your own people with that picture.  Ask Saddam Hussein,  Bashar Al-Assad,  or Muammar Gaddafi if I am telling the truth - they sure have already learned the hard way.   The Wolf is not there to protect the Sheep.   Being a Sheep means that you can be on the Wolf's menu at any time because you can never tell when the Wolf will get hungry.          
  • Why do you want to belong to all these Western institutions (A Den of Wolves) where you have absolutely no real say in the outcome of their meetings.  The most you can do is make a speech here and there (and either beg the West for More Foreign Aid or compliment them on prior aid given to your country) and take a few pictures with some of the members in attendance to post on social media such as Facebook, Linkedin, Google+, etc.  There is no such thing as Foreign Aid.   There is only "Foreign Transaction." To accept the use of the term "foreign aid" from any country is demeaning and an affront to the dignity of your nation and people.  The Wolf  is not there to provide aid to the Sheep.       
  • Why would you want to travel to the West for medical care and put your life in their hands?  Do you really believe in all this Hippocratic Oath bullshit and that these Western doctors are very ethical (much more so than your own countrymen) and have nothing but your best interests at heart?     Why not invest in your own country's healthcare infrastructure?   In fact, it is MUCH, MUCH less expensive than you think it is.   Don't you know that your complete health records are now in the hands of every single Western intelligence agency since they share files with each other?  Do you have any idea how valuable this information is in the right hands?   That is a huge security risk!   The Wolf is not there to keep the Sheep in good health. 
  • Why would you want to send your military officers to obtain their military training in a foreign country, including at your former colonial master's military academy?  What the hell is so hard to learn about military strategy and the use of weapons?  What kind of military tactics and strategy training do you think that your former colonial master is going to provide to your officers?  Don't you understand what the real implications are or can be?  (I won't go into details.)   The Wolf is not there to teach the Sheep how to defend himself.  
  • Why would you want to send your police officers to obtain their police training in a foreign country?   What the hell is so hard to learn about policing your own citizens unless you are a complete moron?   Even here in the United States, we have one of the worst policing records in the world.   A police encounter or call to police for assistance could result in the loss of your life.  We literally live in a police state.  Civil Asset Forfeiture means if you get stopped by the police for driving above the speed limit (it could also be because you have a license plate from another state in the USA) and the officer requests permission to search your car, or sees a bundle of something on your car seat and wants to know what's in it, and finds out that it is CASH and other valuables such as jewelry, gold or other precious metals, etc., he can legally confiscate your money and other valuables;  and you will need to appear in court to show proof that this money was not illegally obtained.   Is that the sort of policing you want to learn from your former colonial master or the most powerful nation in the world?   The Wolf is only there to teach the Sheep how to keep other Sheep in line before dinner time.
  • Why would you want to send your intelligence officers to another country in order to receive intelligence training?   Why would you allow any foreign government or intelligence agency to know the identities of your intelligence agents or operatives unless they have gotten caught red-handed and you need to bail them out?  Why would you want foreign intelligence agents operating on your soil with your permission - friend or foeRegardless of what you are told, who do you really think is the target of their intelligence activities?  (If you need me to tell you, you are either a moron or your brain is made out of mud.)
  • Why would you allow any country, including your former colonial master,  to have military bases  in your country if they are not actively involved in defending your territory during a wartime situation?   (And I don't mean a permanent  US military occupation force such as NATO disguised as some form of umbrella protection for US allies against bogeyman invaders.  The threat from the former USSR has long ceased to exist and it can even be said that the purpose of the former USSR was exactly due to the threat from NATO.  Europeans are not as smart as they--and many others--are led to believe since they are willing participants in the (benevolent) enslavement of their peoples.  All NATO countries are nothing but US vassals and you have to be downright stupid to believe otherwise.   Nor do I mean some fake Global War On Terror that is designed to be perpetual in nature - everlasting.  Terror will stop to exist when humans no longer exist - has anyone ever thought of that?)  The Wolf always welcomes the opportunity to have a Den of Wolves on Sheep territory.   
  • Why would you want any country to have control over your country's most critical sectors and infrastructure?  (That includes currency, agriculture, water, energy, communications, internet, healthcare, education, research, and defense.)   The Wolf  loves to be in full control of the Sheep - the more control, the better.
  • Why would you want any country to have any sort of input, influence, control, or even knowledge,  of  your method of country governance?  The method of Country Governance is every single nation's "Achilles' Heel."   Please note, there isn't a country or empire in the world which cannot be controlled, its leaders and people manipulated,  and their infrastructure completely destroyed once you have a 1000% understanding of that country's method of governance.  The former USSR, the former Yugoslavia, the former Sudan, the former Ethiopia, Rwanda, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zimbabwe, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria,  Yemen, Palestine, Ukraine, Venezuela,  and Haiti are excellent examples of this rule.  (China, Taiwan, Russian Federation, South Korea,  Iran, Turkey, South Africa,  Bahrain, Qatar,  Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Saudi Arabia are next in line if they don't take the time to quickly understand the importance of this golden rule.)    The only exception to that rule is a country or empire whose method of governance is not only based on "Principled Geopolitical Leadership" but is also governed by Principled Geopolitical Leaders.  At the present, no such country exists and there are no such world leaders and rulers who are in fact "Principled Geopolitical Leaders."  However, that being said, it's never too late to get started in the right direction.   (See "A Global Need for Principled Geopolitical Leaders" - it's a 4-hour long document, therefore, do not attempt to read it now and just bookmark it for future reference.)    The Wolf always welcomes the opportunity to find out directly from the Sheep how they operate so he can better plan for his next meal.     

As the above clearly demonstrates,  these African colleagues are busy running away from their African counterparts due to their well-deserved reputation for endemic corruption, incompetence, treachery and shortsightedness.   They are eager to engage in business, political, military and public policy dealings with their very sophisticated and so-called more enlightened  European or American colleagues.   In turn, these African colleagues themselves wind up falling prey to--and getting fleeced by--these "more enlightened and sophisticated" Europeans and Americans - only to become their latest victims.   That is the sort of problem that Consortium members don't have to worry about.  

VOM Institute Does Not Want to Be Part of the Problem

In light of the above-mentioned realities,  I don't want to be part of the problem which has plagued Africa since Europeans decided that Africa, being so beautiful (a sort of Garden of Eden) and possessing such vast amount of riches in mineral resources,  was theirs for the taking and to split up among themselves into colonies, and plunder at will, since Europeans possessed superior weapons and determination and, in fact, encountered "no effective and determined opposition."  

As Otto von Bismarck ::the first European leader to formalize the Scramble for Africa during The Berlin Conference of 1884–85 which resulted in the General Act of the Berlin Conference ("Congo Conference") ::remarked in his famous September 30, 1862  Blood and Iron ("Blut und Eisen") speech (although it was in reference to the unification of Germany and had nothing to do with Africa):  "The great questions of the time will not be resolved by speeches and majority decisions—that was the great mistake of 1848 and 1849—but by iron and blood."   

Nonetheless, this basic "iron and blood" principle which is adopted by virtually all powers in order to achieve political, economic and military ends is as old as time itself and not some sort of new revelation, application or invention.   However, that being said, today's problems in Africa (as well as anywhere else in the world)  cannot be resolved by "iron and blood."   Iron and Blood, as demonstrated since time immemorial and throughout the ages, is only a powerful drug that gives leaders and imperial powers a temporary sense of euphoria and invincibility, and leads to this horrible addiction accompanied by a tremendous amount of pain and suffering to both them and their victims, and which eventually consumes and destroys them all. 

Today's situation in Africa is really no different than the Iron and Blood colonization period. Independence is just an illusion and all African leaders are still beholden to their former European and other masters in the West, although they are given some sort of latitude  in terms of what they can do and how much they can get away with without incurring the full wrath of their real masters in the West.   
By "full wrath" I mean, either financial and economic sanctions to goad these leaders into submission or to starve their people or cause them serious hardships and force them to turn against their government ::  bribes to elected officials ::  military coercion (e.g., threat of a military coup or invasion) :: human compromise operations :: complete demonization of a leader or entire government in the global media ::  internal destabilization efforts through social upheavals (protests for "democracy, human rights, etc.", corruption probes, impeachments, etc. ) financed by INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES;  NGOs;  United Nations organizations who receive their orders directly from the West;  religious organizations and "humanitarian" groups ::   direct financial and military support to insurgent groups,  members of the political opposition, or members of the military, etc. (the "moderate opposition") ::  or referral to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity (don't laugh!).  
In case all else fails, then outright military invasion and the replacement of the current regime with a "democratic" government that understands and respects the well-being, needs and wishes of its "people" (i.e., their masters in the West).     The Blood and Iron principle is always ready to be put into application when all else fails.  
As stated earlier, none of these African leaders have any control over their own currency and they are all required, as part of the terms of being granted their independence,  to maintain an account at their former colonial master's Central Bank which they are NOT even able to audit

That is a Financial Crime and Corruption to the 1,000,000th (millionth) degree engaged by ALL these former colonial masters and yet African leaders are accused of being corrupt.  Furthermore, Every Single Western Business Interest in their country IS CORRUPT TO THE BONE and engaged in the full exploitation of their country and its people and yet African leaders are accused of being corrupt.    Every Single African Political Leader who dares to stand up on behalf of their country and people,  to take their former colonial master and these Western Business Interests to task or to negotiate mutually beneficial deals, they are either ASSASSINATED, persecuted through their own legal institutions, overthrown, or demonized in the global press and yet African leaders are accused of being corrupt.    And Every Single African Leader who understands the rules of the game (i.e., their masters in the West are more corrupt, criminal and murderous than African Leaders could ever be and that, in order to become a Leader AND remain in power in their country, they have no other choice but to be as corrupt and criminal) also gets accused of being corrupt.   
In other words, it doesn't matter which path an African Leader chooses, he just cannot win.  Do the right thing by your people and for your country, you will either be demonized, overthrown or assassinated.  Or be as corrupt as your masters in the West, and you will still be demonized, overthrown or assassinated when your masters in the West no longer have any use for you or want to replace you.  It's like "being stuck between a rock and a hard place."  It's like the pot calling the kettle black.
The bottom line is this:  Africans are no different than any other people.  They are NOT inferior or superior to any other people, race or culture.  They all want the very best for their country, people and families.  Contrary to what the world has been led to believe, including most Africans themselves, the problems the entire continent is facing really has nothing to do with its leaders.  THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE GAME that its leaders, peoples, businesses and all their other institutions THINK THAT THEY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PLAY. And as long as they keep playing THE GAME, they are going to keep getting THE SAME RESULTS.      

Therefore, the solution to the problems that Africa faces is NOT going to come from the West.   The West will always look at Africa as a beautiful Garden of Eden rich in energy and mineral resources that is ripe for exploitation.   The West will always wonder why Africans do NOT realize and appreciate the beauty of this land, all the wealth and riches they are sitting on,  and why they are practically giving it away to other nations for pennies on the dollar while most of their peoples are living in poverty.   The West will always wonder why Africans are begging for Foreign AidFinancial Aid,  Healthcare Aid, and Foreign Direct Investment from the rest of the world while they are sitting on HUNDREDS OF TRILLION OF DOLLARS in economic resources. The West will always wonder why Africa STILL BELIEVES that  the ANSWER to ALL their problems - moral, legal, financial, social, military, economic, technological, infrastructure, and institutional - lies in the West.      

The Solution Lies in the Sons and Daughters of Africa

Therefore, Africans need to stop inviting the West to come and save them: governments, business interests, NGOs, charitable organizations, humanitarian organizations, religious organizations, United Nations organizations,  banking and lending and other financial services organizations, etc., military trainers and advisers (believe me, the last thing the West wants to do is to show you how to beat the crap out of them in the event war breaks out - they are NOT stupid - they only want to teach you how to repress and kill your own people as well as those from neighboring countries when they give you the go-ahead to do so).   Instead, they need to start to believe that the gift and capability of the human brain  of an African is NO DIFFERENT than that of ALL other members of the human race.   

We are all members of ONE HUMAN RACE.   What we do with that brain that we have been given is really up to each one of us.  Most importantly, what we believe we can do with it IS THE KEY to mankind's progress and future.  Don't ever let anybody tell you any different.    THERE IS NO SUPERIOR RACE ON THIS PLANET.   To believe that there is a superior race of humans on this planet is AN OFFENSE AND INSULT TO OUR CREATOR (and I am not talking about religion)

What this means is the following:  Instead of asking others to come to Africa so they can build and invest in your country and PUT YOUR NATION IN DEBT and TOTAL SUBSERVIENCE while they are enriching themselves and a few Africans at your people's expense, you need to change course by asking Africans and All Other Members othe Human Race who are of good will to come and sit down at the global table (one of our consortia listed below) in order to DISCUSS and PLAN TOGETHER the future of Africa and realize the full potential of this beautiful Garden of Eden and its peoples.   You don't need to be told what's good for you and your people and what the West is going to do for you.

And that is exactly the sort of alternative and solutions that I and VOMI offer to ALL government and business leaders worldwide, including African government and business leaders, in the form of  The New Virtual Organization World ConsortiumVirtual Campus Dormitory ConsortiumVirtual Residential Community ConsortiumLeague of Extraordinary Virtual Organization ExecutivesVOMI Executive-In-ResidenceVOMI Virtual Organization AcademyVirtual Organization Recruiter, and VOM Institute (Virtual Organization Management Institute).

Africa Has No Need for Lenders or Investors

Africa has an abundant amount of economic resources that is enough to not only pay IN FULL for its projects but to also finance similar projects on both EUROPEAN and ASIAN continents.   

I already know what you are thinking:  Pierre must be delusional!  How can this be?  Where are we going to get the money from if we don't need lenders or investors?   Where is the professional expertise going to come from?  Where is the technology going to come from?  Where are the raw building materials and resources going to come from?  Where are the funds to pay the workers, laborers, builders, developers, engineers, scientists, and other experts going to come from?

That is the sort of normal reaction I expect from slaves who have been taken care of all their lives or who've always been led to believe that their masters are superior to them and only their masters can show them the way or do for them.  It's difficult for them to think--or even imagine in their wildest dreams--that they can get along fine without their masters.    And that, if they are willing to really put to work  this most brilliant and amazing brain that every single human being on this planet has been gifted with,  they can not only think way beyond the ignorance, stupidity, barbarity and primitive nature of their masters but also surpass their achievements by leaps and bounds. 

However, that being said, this is not a matter of waiving a magic wand and turning all Africans filthy rich, wise, scientific geniuses, and technological wizards overnight. This requires a lot of hard work, sacrifice, perseverance, and the willingness to do what it takes to go the distance or else you'll eventually give up and gladly and willingly run back into the arms of your masters in the West.  

In fact, your most determined opponents and detractors WILL BE your fellow Africans themselves. Africans will be used as pawns, stooges, imbeciles, morons, propagandists, useful idiots, spies, and assassins in order to subvert and destroy each other and  make sure that these African governments, who dare try to go their own way without their master's permission,  pay a very heavy price.   Your masters in the West will NOT let you get off from under their thumb so easily and will put up a good fight.   

The only thing I can assure you is that, IF YOU ARE WILLING TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, BE FAITHFUL TO YOUR CAUSE,  STAY THE COURSE,  AND FIGHT WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT WITH EVERY OUNCE OF STRENGTH IN YOUR BODY AND MIND, you will certainly win in the end :: and every single word I've said about Africa's possibility and its peoples will come to fruition.
     
Although I intend to be there and serve as a spiritual and philosophical guide to all of you (I am not talking about religion)  in order to distill the essence of the philosophical direction and concrete directions you need to follow in order to attain your objectives and achieve your ultimate goals, nonetheless, you will still be required to do 99% of the heavy lifting.  This is NOT going to be an Alice in Wonderland fairy tale, a breeze through the park, or a trip to Disneyland.         

In Conclusion

You will notice that the content of this document could be adapted to any group of people anywhere in the world.  All you have to do is substitute the word "Africa" with any other continent, subcontinent, region, country, or municipality in the  world   and substitute "the West" with whatever monopolistic group of bullies, tyrants, scoundrels, criminals, mass murderers or countries.  

The reason for that is simple:   This all has to do with the human condition.   All humans are the same everywhere.   This isn't really about racism or ideology or some battle between good and evil. Truth be said:  If the world were populated by only Caucasians who are all 6 foot-tall with blond hair and blue eyes, you could bet every dollar and cent that you now have in your pockets or your bank account that they would somehow find a way to differentiate themselves from each other and, somehow or another, wind up with one dominant group having hegemony over the other(s).   

That is the way they currently behave among themselves throughout all of Europe.  In fact, World War I and II are excellent outcomes of that human condition.  Sadly, World War III is about to erupt as well - that is, of course, unless the leaders of  Russia and China have an opportunity to read "A Global Need for Principled Geopolitical Leaders" in order to understand how to prevent this Armageddon before it's too late.      

As well, whatever we are currently accusing the West of, for good reason I might add, can equally be applied to Africans among themselves, without any sort of interference from the West or any other group of people. Ignorance, stupidity, prejudice, primitive mentality, and barbarity know no bounds and have absolutely no regard or preference for color.  To become a member of that club, all you have to be is: just another human.           

Next Steps

There are currently two primary and extremely significant global tables that I highly recommend to all African government and business leaders who want to invite other Africans and All Other Members of THE HUMAN RACE who are of good will to come and join them in order to DISCUSS and PLAN TOGETHER the future of Africa and to restore the glory and essence of this beautiful Garden of Eden and its peoples:   1) The New Virtual Organization World Consortium, and 2) League of Extraordinary Virtual Organization Executives.    

With respect to Africa and  The New Virtual Organization World Consortium,  immediately upon your receipt of membership approval,  you need to begin to invite as many other leading African business and government leaders to join you on the consortium in order to sit down at this global table to discuss and plan together the future of Africa.   At which point I will go into the details on how to proceed.    

With respect to Africa and the League of Extraordinary Virtual Organization Executives, it is strictly reserved to ALL current and former African Heads of State as well as ALL Chairman and CEOs of the largest global companies in Africa.   There is a total membership limit of 50 executives worldwide, therefore, all applicants will most likely be placed on a waiting list. As well, effective January 2018, the total global membership will be reduced to 20 members, making it the world's most exclusive and prestigious membership.

Africa Can Now Rise Like a Phoenix 

The bottom line is this:   For the very first time in over 600 years, Africa now truly has a choice:  It can either Rise Like a Phoenix from the ashes of  its colonial past and current condition or continue being subservient to the West and maintain The Status Quo.

Please note that the aforementioned solutions and procedures I have outlined are the only ways I can be of assistance to African business and government leaders  while making effective use of my time at VOM Institute.   If your government and businesses are unwilling to take these first steps, they are more than welcome to continue on their current path, albeit without my involvement and participation.

I look forward to your organization and government's participation and successful collaboration - and to a strong and prosperous Africa in the near and distant future.    









About Author:   Pierre Coupet, CEO & Q of Virtual Organization Management is the founder of Virtual Organization Management Institute (VOMI), VOMI Virtual Organization AcademyVOMI Global Think Tankand Virtual Organization Recruiter:: founder of the modern virtual organization management and virtual organization recruitment disciplines pioneered since 1997:: founder of League of Extraordinary Virtual Organization Executives:: and Architect of THE NEW VIRTUAL ORGANIZATION WORLD Collection. Contact directly  via CHAT.

Stock Photo: courtesy of Pixabay and Unsplash


Copyright 2007-2017.  Pierre Coupet.  VOMI. Virtual Organization Management Institute. VOMI Virtual Organization Academy.  Virtual Organization Recruiter. VOMI Global Think Tank.  All rights reserved.  Cannot be  reproduced without permission.