Michael Dell & 8 Ways to celebrate for more than a nanosecond

The title of this piece is also one of the most known mottos for the Dell Computer company. Micheal Dell, founder and chairman, is worth ~13 billion, and he feels there's no big secret to his success. He believes he has just applied and constantly improved on the principles he used to develop the company back in 1984.  A review of his characteristics and choices tells us a lot.

1) He has faith in his ideas.  Michael's father ideas of success urged him to become a physician, which led the teenager to enroll in biology as a pre-med student. Yet, his nose for opportunity enabled him to recogize how computer markets were growing. His curiosity and self-taught tech know-how had led him to dis-assemble his Apple II computer and find parts had different origins. He then devised a vision for a new kind of made-to-order 'supply and demand,' bought IBM PCs wholesale, greatly undercut the retail price while adding extra components to suit each customer. The more he believed in himself, the more he attracted lucrative opportunities.

2) He knows when to ignore naysayers . Michael initially downplayed his business ideas to his parents and friends. Before they'd drop into his dorm, he hid boxes in the bathroom which revealed his true passion. Early on, he learned different people had different ideas of success. Encouragement wasn't always forthcoming from people with little knowledge of his area of interest. By the end of his first year in college, his profits topped US $50,000, and this gave him the courage, will and means to drop out of college with a completely new success vehicle.

3) He invests in marketing . Dell moved his company, then PCs Limited, to a strategic shop front in Austin, Texas. During the first year at the location, his ability to cleverly promote the venture via various means resulted in sales of hardware worth ~$6 million. He proved that he didn't just get from others what he required from others. He also discerned which among his business practices and beliefs weren't working and he changed strategies to suit his company's evolution.

4) He focuses on doing what others do, only better. During the second year, he started building complete computers 'from the ground-up' for mail-order clients which enabled him to further personalize his service. Sales that year soared to $34 million, in part because Dell's IBM clone called the Turbo PC was half the price of a comparable IBM. His ability to offer hardware direct to customers enabled him to cut out middlemen and charge lower prices. He created a business where it wasn't necessary to keep much stock, which was key with part prices dropping.

5) He realizes he doesn't know everything. Even at 21, he remained humble about his fast track to financial prosperity. He accepts he is ignorant about aspects of business, and historically, has been unafraid to seek out mentors and hire people more experienced than himself. Even back in his youth, he chose to learn from every glitch, from client complaints about delivery time to lack of accessible staff. This prompted Dell to adopt benchmarks, including amazing client service and a 30-day money back guarantee with unlimited phone support.

6) He welcomes opportunities to improve . In 2001, a comprehensive, internal review of Dell corporation led employees to comment openly on their then, CEO. Michael Dell was surprised to learn he was perceived as "impersonal and detached." Staff felt he was disconnected from what went on around and beneath his office. Dell decided to embrace these comments right away. He made a video, directed to all staff, during which he would work to move beyond shyness and take steps to make himself more approachable by anyone on a regular basis. It worked!

7) He continues to innovate . Michael Dell never rests on his laurels. He doesn't base his future visions on his company track record for success. In fact, he supports a management style described as, 'two-in-a-box.' Executives are partnered with a person who challenges ideas, complements their skills and experience. Dell sets an example, partnered with Kevin B. Rollins, who works in a nearby office. While Dell plans the future, Rollins (12 years older) runs daily operations and reminds Dell to connect views of an unconfirmed future to reality.

8) He gives back to society. Dell and his wife established a "Michael & Susan Dell Foundation." Its a children's charity with projects and areas of focus to benefit future generations. It has an endowment of US $1 billion.  The Dells realize how sharing their financial success can promote increased peace, harmony and cooperation. They show all business success isn't always limited to power-quests or self-indulgence. What you have is perhaps less important than how you use it.

Justification of restriction

Parents dream of ‘healthy’ children, but societies are redefining what this means. An April 26th article in the Australian newspaper, The Age caught my attention. NSW judge Paul Conlon condemned physicians’ widespread diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and their propensity to medicate children from a very young age. Apparently, “ More than 264,000 prescriptions for the drug Ritalin were issued [in Australia] last year, compared to just 11,114 scripts written in 1992.”

Why suddenly medicate so many children? Might this reflect increasing numbers of parents deprive children of attention or, aren’t willing to deal with teach discipline? Might this reveal growing influence of drug companies on society? Judge Conlon explained he had, “ lost count of (numbers of) offenders coming before the courts who were diagnosed at a very young age with ADHD for which they were 'medicated.' “ ADHD has been set apart in poor concentration, distractibility, hyperactivity, impulsiveness and other symptoms that are age-inappropriate. If untreated, believers of the disorder feel it negatively affects learning, relationships and organizational skills.

A jump in medicated Aussie kids led me to research historic Australian populations that coincide with trends of medicated ADHD children. I discovered something shocking. Although the population rose from 17,099,900 (1992) to 20,810,069 (Jan 2007), which reveals a 10.2% growth rate, the fertility and childbirth rate actually decreased. Higher populations are based on immigrants who are often retirees. This suggests medicating ADHD in Australia increased 23.6 times between 1992 and 2006 without a coinciding increase in birth rate.

If you compare other national trends, a March 2007 study published by the university of Berkley, California, indicated the use of psycho-stimulant drugs to treat ADHD has more than tripled worldwide since 1993, challenging beliefs this neuro-developmental disorder is concentrated in the U.S. The study reveals, about “1 in 25 adolescents 15-19 is prescribed such drugs,” in countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Members are largely North American, European and Northeast Asian nations. While the U.S., Canada and Australia show higher-than-expected rates of ADHD medication use between 1993 and 2003, a selected country analysis also shows increases in ADHD drug consumption in countries including France, Sweden, Korea and Japan. What does this tell us? Should we be raising awareness of implications?

My insight into ADHD relates to my role as a university lab researcher in psychopharmacology for Ritalin studies in the mid 1990s. I also have a friend whose sister was diagnosed with hyperactivity and treated with Ritalin. In addition, I did considerable volunteering in psychiatric wards and community centers with the intention of pursuing psychiatry. My undergraduate Honors thesis investigated how popular culture, science trends and mainstream films, characterize and reinforce social stigma associated with multiple personality disorder (MPD) over a period of 30 years. Diverse experience built my multidisciplinary perspectives.

The drift to widespread diagnosis of ADHD in children echoes a disturbing trend recognized as the dangers of “chemical straightjackets” in Western countries. Diagnosis of mental illness evolves based on perceived advances in genetics and biochemistry, but also according to economic power dynamics.  Why is it experts involved in drug development/ marketing and prescribing physicians, expect growing trends of diagnosis to increase sharply? Both agree global costs for individuals and societies to medicate ADHD will also increase over the next decade.  Hmm.

Although the U.S. leads the world in ADHD medication spending ($2.4 billion in 2003), growth trends indicate that other countries are following in its tracks, according to the study. For example, global spending on ADHD medications increased nine-fold among OECD countries during the time period studied. This increase is largely due to the advent and availability of more costly and long-acting medications such as Concerta, Strattera and Adderral XR, among others.

Drug trade names may vary among countries, but the increasing use as a trend is similar. This situation prompts us to question whether widespread diagnosis of ADHD in children is really a symptom of serious imbalances in social, political, environmental, economic and other behavioral trends in society. To what lengths are we willing to go to justify imposed codes of conduct, and personal restrictions on anything from diet to etiquette? It's wise to ask yourself  who benefits from current trends, who defines them, and what do you have to gain or lose. How or why you justify restrictions on yourself is one thing, but what about on others?

Swallow a giraffe whole

If you're in transiton in your career, or considering what course to take in the next chapter of your education, it makes sense to review your priorities, your finances and also your values. It's also in your interest to remain optimistic about the future. Collecting information and reflecting honestly will help you transform your conditions into new commercial or other opportunities. On this note, its been said that 'to swallow a giraffe whole,' would be like reaching beyond what you think is possible.  Perhaps its time to to stick your neck out further like a gutsy giraffe?

1) Should you pursue a career you think you'll love at any cost? Every experience is a warning of what is to come, so you're better off not doing what isn't necessary. If you're only option is to borrow money to pursue further education, or to set up a business and you already have big debts, your future will be constrained, even if you think you'll enjoy what you plan to do. When it comes to expanding on education, more people are choosing to work days and take night courses to obtain credentials gradually, with less stress and less debt. Decisions about business ventures or other risks are best pursued only if you believe in you and can afford to lose if you fail. Each person has to make the decision that works for particular circumstances.

2) Where would you place more emphasis; on school, work, marriage, family?The choices you make are those which you will have to live with, along with any ensuing stress or emotional strain you do or don't learn to handle.  If your decisions will affect the lives of other people financially or emotionally, its wise to sit down together and evaluate the pros and cons of significant decisions. Your former choices aren't necessarily bad choices, but you need to reassess what would work or not work based on your newly revised priorities.

3) What part does an income play in your career choices? Whatever you do, you will benefit from exploring you interests and committing to pursuits you connect with. No amount of income will be enough if you haven't learned how to live responsibly. No void can be filled by hard work if you don't enjoy what you do either. I've met professionals who pursed careers and realized they're unhappy, but often chose not to change paths because of financial debts, being unwilling to admit mistakes, false pride, or confusion about options. Only you can know how influential money is in your career choices, and only you can decide whether you will choose to accept your present reality or leave it for another path. Each decision has its own consequences. What makes you feel good about yourself and your future?

4) How can a person take wise risks?If you had a choice to take a co-op program and didn't have to obtain a loan, taking the work grant might contrain you to work for the sponsor for a few years.  Yet, if you ran up huge debt during that period paying for school yourself, you'd constrain yourself for at least that time, working to pay it back. So much of life depends on what you'd consider responsible at a given time. No matter which phase of life you're in, whether you've been laid off, fired, or seek a new position, what works or doesn't work for you will be measured against your goals and expectations. Taking wise risks would not imply saying you desire one thing and choosing to pursue others. Heighten your awareness about what you do/did, how you can impact desirable outcomes, and make more informed choices.

Shake yourself senseless

To expand on your perception is to realize how limited your basic senses are; eyes, ears, touch, smell, taste. These senses add depth to your perceived world. What we see is interpreted by our minds and shapes reality according to our beliefs. You may have heard people see what they wish to see or, justify what they choose.

Yet, what about things that are invisible? In this existence, people will experience connectedness, mystery, and immeasurable points of view that defy description. If we pay attention to both the perceived and invisible worlds, our beliefs will create a more complete picture. We will grasp we're a part of everything. This can help you see beyond your ego, that may periodically control you.

On top of that, do you realize your values change along with your perception? They both change as your desires evolve, and the life you envision emerges. If you desire or covet things that appear to belong to other people, and you focus enough energy and will in this direction, you may justify what future you imagine and why you act to take it away from others. As you reflect on your life honestly, you may have done this before. It may have been the case of someone else's girlfriend, toy, candy, dessert, opportunity or another source of perceived happiness. What does your jealousy, rivalry and desire to steal that away tell you about yourself?

The concept of what is “wrong” may defy human senses. The word refers to where a person is “mistaken” or when a person is “immoral.” An action is mistaken (doesn't work) if you don't get your desired result. Whether an action can be described as ‘immoral’ is trickier, because social codes and laws vary widely, and what you think is 'right' or 'okay' changes based on you. You may say, "that person doesn't deserve to be happy as much as I do," or, "that girl is not good enough for him, and I'm better," or, "that person has more than enough, I'll take some for me," or, "I'm entitled to do whatever I want." You may have a selective (or absent) conscience.

What is all this implying? Perhaps its time you shake yourself senseless in order to determine your reasons for behavior that should make you feel uncomfortable. Why would you feel it necessary to take away from others what you don't have? What you've done is past. Yet, you can grow to better understand why you have been hurtful, unethical, insensitive, self-centered, under-handed or immoral. You have opportunitites to make amends with yourself and others, to learn lessons and plan differently in similar circumstances next time. It's never to late to change, or forgive. Jealousy has many causes. It tends to grow if left untamed. As you identify causes, controlling it will get easier. No one can change your life except for you.

The ultimate sacrifice

Through writing, I sense I'm motivated to explore and invite people to reflect on cultural ideas of selfishness. It's fine to believe you aren't a selfish person yet, if you're not well-acquainted with yourself, your beliefs and ignorance, you may be deluding yourself. Closer examination would require you to define your view of selfish, and with respect to whom. You may not yet even be aware of what you're giving up, for whom or why. Would that matter?

Writing is a vehicle you can use to discover whether you're concerned primarily with your own interests, benefits, and welfare or, whether you sacrifice yourself, your dreams and priorities, even completely, for others, maybe without realizing it. Your ultimate sacrifice is defined by what you deem is required to make you a better person. Reading your expressed thoughts may lead you to become more tolerant, more compassionate and less self-serving, but does it make you feel wiser or better? Would making choices in your interest, that develop or heal you, always be wrong?

Perhaps experiencing true love enables you to assess the underlying reasons for surrender. As you decide what you're willing to do to change the reality of your life, you also reframe desirable goals or claims. Love has the power to draw your attention to your beliefs, and makes it okay to recognize flaws in what you previously thought was important. You realize its okay to let go of limiting beliefs, to become more receptive to uncertainty and new experiences.

Writing is like a window into yourself through which you can peer and recognize the folly of your illusions, and learn to laugh at yourself and your perspectives. Only clarity created by self-love will enable you to discern who you always have been and what characterizes who you are. If you're fortunate to know anyone who encourages you to face your fears, to embace your talents, and who supports you through uncertainty, then writing serves as an added bonus to encourage you to be more open with yourself. Mortality also reminds us to make the most of limited time.