TUNNEY-SIDE-OF-THE-STREET

#31 August 1, 2005

Welcome to this week's message from the Tunney-Side-Of-The-Street. You are encouraged to share this with fellow workers, family and friends.

Well, how 'bout that? The NHL season will be back for 2005. The owners and players have settled their differences - differences that caused the first total shutdown of a professional season in the history of the sport.

And what was the crux of their differences? Size of the puck? Rink conditions? Uniforms? Nope, (you're way ahead of me) - money! Yep, that troublesome devil - money! Was there not enough to pay the players? No. Perhaps, not enough money for the owners to put on the game? No! PLENTY of money. In fact, to some people's thinking, too much.

It was a matter of who gets it and how much. The owners wanted a salary cap to control endless spending. The players said no way. It became a classic struggle. One that we have seen in professional sports before, and will see again. I first saw this struggle on the playground as a kid. We would argue whether - choose your poison - a) you were safe or out, b) the ball was fair or foul; c) the ball never got into the goal (hockey or soccer). And after a brief, always brief, argument someone would usually say, "Aw come on, let's get on with the game".

"Get on with the game". Too simple? Perhaps. However, with their need to "be right" or "avoid litigation", the NHL disagreement continued. Players went on strike or owners locked them out - whatever. They both lost! Both will never - repeat - never! - recoup their financial loses. Consider that. Never get back the money they lost! More than one billion in players' salaries - lost!

The biggest loss, however, were the fans! That dispute, greed, if you will, has turned them off. Oh, eventually the fans will return, because they love the sport - the game itself. I remind corporate America as I speak to their conventions across the country - the customer always comes first. Customers, like fans, can be very fickle. They have a "What will you do for me today?" philosophy. Since the minimum players' salary will go up 143% from $185,000 to $450,000), why not reduce admission prices - say 15%? Would that be too costly?

The NHL - owners and players - put their wants, their demands, and their interests ahead of their customers. Shame on them.

Will you keep your customer's needs first and foremost?

Look for my new book
It's the Will, Not the Skill
Principles and philosophies of success

For more information about Jim Tunney, go to www.jimtunney.com

ARTICLE TAGLINE FOR JIM TUNNEY, Ed.D., CSP, CPAE

Copyright © 2003 Jim Tunney. All rights reserved.
You can visit Jim's website at http://www.jimtunney.com

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