Robert Nardelli Got $210 Million in Cash - What?

Coming out of the holidays, I think I like it better being oblivious to all in the world. I stop paying attention to the news and focus on what is most important- friends and family. However; it's hard to live in a bubble completely unaware of what's going on in the world.

Like....

Robert Nardelli got Two Hundred and Ten Million in cash, stock and options to get fired. For those of you who do not keep up, in the world of CEO's, that is about Twenty-Five times what a Fortune Five Hundred CEO earns. What the heck.

Now, when I HIRE people work work, I ask them why they feel they are worth what they are asking. I ask about past experiences, and what they feel they can bring to the table. I don't care about what their co-workers make, or what they think they need to make because their wife is pregnant or whatever. Business is business. Since when does the world offer people money to QUIT?? Although, I must say...I am jealous of the man who can convince someone:

Hey, I can run your company better than anyone else, stockholders will love me and their profits, but incase they do not, pay me X dollars and I am outta here! No questions asked.... What major companies need to ask themselves is who is approving these stupid deals? HR? Was Robert Nardelli really that great? Not in my humble opnion.

Back when Kmart was going under Chuck Conaway was hired because he had a proven track record in rebuilding and reorganizing, but what he and his vice presidents did most, is play golf and entertain. Now, obviously business is conducted everyday in this manner, but for the millions they paid this guy, I can think of at least five people who would have done it for half the money and been just as good at it! In what way, you ask? They would have went in and eliminated the vice presidents and put more people in the stores working, because what pisses you off most when you go to Kmart? There's never anyone to help you and if there is, they are slow. This is the true problem that Kmart suffered. Not that it's shelves were not as stylish as Target, or their prices were not as low as Wal-Mart. It was that, no matter what time of day you went, there was only one or two cashiers working, the customer service line was always ten deep, the shelves were not stocked with sale items, and returned merchandise was constantly put back on the shelf and sold as new. So what did they do? Sink the money into entertaining, cause, seriously, that will help! This is your plan, more entertaining? No wonder they let Mr. Conaway go, with of course, his hefty severance package. Now any good business man could tell you this is not the way to make money.

These great deals to the proven CEO, who a few years later is let go, with his pockets lined in our money, because someone has got to pay that, and it will not be the stock holders, it will be the consumer as the price of everything in the store goes up, just a bit.

When a ten or twelve dollar and hour employee gets let go they do not get Five Hundred Thousand Dollars....it's just not logical. So why do the guys at the top? Let's get back to the ethical and real way business should be run!