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When Talent Doesn’t Matter: Business Advice from a Pool-player

My long-time business partner, Dr. Erich Longie, is a very experienced pool player. Today, we were discussing a business decision where someone had to choose between two potential employees. One was exceptionally talented but not particularly ethical – nothing terrible, mind you, like stealing out of the cash register, or sexually harassing the interns –…

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Are Blacks and Hispanics too Lazy to be Statisticians?

I am at the Western Users of SAS Software conference this week and just like the Joint Statistical Meetings, SAS Global Forum and SPSS Directions, there is about as much diversity here as at the Republican National Convention. I brought this up here and at two other meetings I attended. Each time at least some…

Why the cool kids won’t hang out with you: A guide to mentors

Many years ago, when I was a young MBA student, we were all advised to find mentors who would help our careers.  However, I found that many people I was interested in were not particularly interested in me. That was disappointing and irritating.  After all, I believed I was a smart, hard-working person and I…