Olivier Blanchard posted these to his Facebook. I like this a lot:
Here’s to troubled brands making smarter decisions in 2014 (and giving themselves less self-inflicted PR black eyes.) How to not find yourself in RIM’s position this year in five easy steps:
1. Stop hiring people who look good on paper but bring nothing to the table.
2. Stop promoting people who look good on paper but bring nothing to the table.
3. Stop believing your own press, your internal cherry-picked numbers and your lame mission statement derived goals. They’re all BS. Burst your own bubble and come back to the real world. It’s your only chance at getting a second chance.
4. PR and marketing can’t cover for crap products and service. The problem isn’t “the economy.” Stop finding excuses. Fix your shit.
5. Replace people who look good on paper but bring nothing to the table with smart, competent, creative outsiders. At every level of the org but especially at the top. They’ll inject new insights, ideas and know-how into your organization, and trust me when I tell you that you need that more than anything.
Read his post for context, but it’s not necessary. Good advice straight up. Especially the “FIX YOUR SHIT” part. Seriously.