"How to be the Perfect Executive"

The Weekend Australian Financial ReviewMar 31- April 1 2007, pg. 18 & 19

"Until business leaders find a better word, the catch-all soft skills will be used to evoke these intangible human resources. Andrew Horsley, president of the Graduate Management Association of Australia’s NSW chapter, completed his MBA in 1979: the year the Sex Pistols disbanded and protests against the Fraser government were in full swing. In comparison, he observes, the young are often more motivated by material gain than lofty ideals. This, he says, translates into an unslakeable thirst for management education. Today there is a myriad of ways in which a young business person may gain exposure to business principles and the idiom of business. What was once seen as arcane and remote is now readily available via the internet, seminars, business management courses, visiting gurus and advanced management programs. Ongoing professional development is often required by many professions. The uncertainty now associated with any job makes it incumbent to have relevant qualifications should you be contemplating a move. The MBA helps mitigate the risk in job change and career advancement. No longer is it enough to say that you have an MBA from a smart or prestigious business school. While an MBA might help you obtain your second and third job; your subsequent jobs will come down to performance on your previous jobs." Of course, when it comes down to job performance, there are two qualities that never fail to impress: promptitude and energy.