Jim Finkelstein

See full bio & more information at http://www.fusethebook.com/, or http://www.futuresense.com/

MY LIFE

What a wonderful ride! The lenses I have looked through include being a parent, husband, friend, Big Brother, YMCA camp counselor, entrepreneur, child psychology and economics major, soccer referee, book author, movie producer, non-profit Board member, singer and actor, start-up company domain expert, and above all, a learning member of and contributor to the communities in which I have lived. I have been a Fortune 500 executive, a CEO of a subsidiary of a publicly traded company, a partner in a major accounting firm, a coach, a consultant and an employer.

MY INSIPRATION

Call me a dreamer or a perpetual fixer, but I believe people can be happier at their jobs and organizations can be more effective at what they do. I want this thing called work to be more fun and more engaging. I am a student and a leader of people and organizations. Understanding what motivates people and what melts their butter pays off as a consultant helping people in business move the meter. For me, work is about blending my business side and my helping side. And I believe in efficiency and common sense. Speed of Thought, Speed of Action and Speed of Results™ is my mantra.

MY INTEREST IN THE COGENERATIONAL WORKPLACE™

As a Boomer, I work with Millennials -- my son, my web designer and several people on staff at my consulting firm, FutureSense. As a young man, I worked with both adults in planning Model Congresses and with kids in being a unit leader in camp. At Trinity College (CT), I published research on the effectiveness of adult/child companionship (the Big Brother program). Throughout my life I had great advisors. As an adult, I have been a coach (to both of my sons), a mentor, a board member, and have worked extensively with older and younger people. I have always spanned the 18-80 age frontiers. I've tapped the power of the Cogenerational Workplace™ and want to help other organizations and people do it too. That's why I wrote FUSE and launched THE FUSE PROJECT.

MY PERSPECTIVE

Books on generational stereotypes bother me because they miss the point. They focus on why we can't get along. If we focus on similarities (and there are many) instead of differences, I believe we can achieve true collaboration and ignite the power of the Cogenerational Workplace™. And it matters more now. Boomers aren't retiring, seniors are returning to the workplace and Millennials want in. We need to play better together in the corporate sandbox longer.

MY ORIGINS

My first summer job as a counselor and unit leader at YMCA Camp Becket (MA) taught me why excellence in communications, building a foundation of solid values, and having fun is essential to effective collaboration. I had a chance to test my theories at The Wharton School where I went to get my MBA to go into Social Work. I sat in my jeans and a t-shirt surrounded by classmates in business suits all wanting to go to Wall Street and discovered my love for organization development and coaching, counseling and consulting.

MY COMMUNITY

Working with kids and shaping their world lights me up. I went to Trinity thinking I'd become a Child Psychologist. Nowadays, I get my fill of helping kids through coaching. I've coached soccer and basketball and been a team manager. My younger son's soccer team won State Cup twice. I wear my referee uniform many weekends, officiating at high school and youth soccer matches. Yes, it keeps me young (and in shape)! Over the years I've given my time to community Boards - YMCAs, independent schools, soccer clubs and music organizations. My wife and boys have been very involved in Guide Dogs for the Blind and I have started a foundation to assist young talented soccer players with the scholastic side of their life.

ASK JIM

Do you have employee engagement, development or leadership problems that are intractable and detract from your core business? Jim is expert at skillfully and confidentially resolving the thorniest organizational people problems, and has an excellent success rate at the highest levels of the organizations he serves.

Contact Jim Finkelstein at jim@futuresense.com, 415-453-1514 (office), or 415-302-5805 (cell) for details about scheduling a session today!