I want to be a well-rounded Human Resources professional and considered attending SHRM’s annual conference — especially since it’s hosted in my hometown (Chicago).
When I found out that Lionel Richie is going to be there? Oh man, I decided to book early.
Tuesday Night Show Featuring Lionel Richie
June 24, 8:00 p.m.
Sponsored by: Liberty MutualYou can comb through the incredible statistics surrounding Lionel Richie’s amazing career and still miss something. You can factor in the nearly 60 million albums sold, the five Grammy’s, twenty two top ten hits, an Oscar for best song, A Golden Globe Award, a treasure chest of People’s choice and American Music Awards too numerous to count, and a discography of albums and singles that navigate an emotional landscape that only a few writer/performers have ever truly captured-and still not see what many see to be the key to his incredible music legacy. From his days with the Commodores to embarking on a solo career, Lionel Richie has always been a force to be reckoned with. Never afraid to infuse different music cultures to his music, Lionel churns out hit after hit, garnering numerous prestigious awards for his tremendous musical integrity and talent.
Some of his hits include, “Say you, Say me,” “We Are the World (Written with Michael Jackson)”,”Hello,” “All Night Long,” “Truly,” “Endless Love,” “Lady,” “Still (The Commodores)” and “Three Times a Lady (The Commodores).”
I make this solemn promise — I won’t be the same HR Generalist after seeing Nicole Richie’s dad in concert.
(H/T to A.Lo who totally knows she wants to attend the SHRM conference with me.)


{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Laurie,
Now that’s what I call a good SHRM conference!
Mr Richie is a genius – all night long etc. Clearly a song about a highly motivated workforce…. that work all night long IMHO?!*
This title even gets a mention in ma book alongside ‘in the heat of the night’ by Imagination!
I hope I can persuade the CIPD that they need Prince at their next UK HR conference! ;-((
Very best
Peter
I can’t believe they failed to mention “Dancin’ on the Ceiling”. I bought that 45 LP in the 4th grade. Ah, the memories.
hello, (future employer) is it me you’re looking for?
i’m truly … truly in love with the prospect of working with you.
i’m stuck on you, and i will do whatever it takes — i’ll even work all night long.
if you hire me, i’ll be dancing on the ceiling.
say you: “the job is yours if you want it.”
say me: “when do i start?”
Peter – I think you need to contact SHRM so *you* can perform.
Wench – Not. One. Of. His. Better. Songs.
Col – This awesomeness of yours never ends.
Laurie,
I would not wish to show Mt Ritchie up!
((((((****()))))))
It might well be worth a go though – after all I teach HR strategy on an MBA programme.
HR institutes in UK would not consider such a bold move.
Love the HR implications which are (clearly) built into his songs and which you have carefully flagged for those that had not noticed LR’s HR obsession!
One more: Enless Love – about becoming an ‘HR employer of choice’
The consultant formerly known as Peter Cook
We recently provided Lionel Richie Inc. with a multi-factor, covariant, longitudinal analysis of potential routes for creative expression in close alignment with the organization’s strategic objective co-dependency framework. This appearance at SHRM is in accordance with Action Category 5, Paragraph 13, Sub-clause 3 in the Objectives Section of his Strategic Deployment Plan.
We are honoured to see Lionel Richie Inc. benefiting from our consultancy and would be pleased help you too, by tendering a statement of work for our “Solemn Promise – Be a Different HR Generalist” (
Bad Consultant,
Funny that. I listened to the same Lionel Ritchie album and concluded that he was seeing his soul in a complex adaptive system which had suffered information overload and as a multiple consequence (but not cause) was heading for a highly probable (at least 6 sigma) communication breakdown. I would recommend non directive gestalt therapy at the Tavistock Institute, where the consultants do not talk to you at teabreaks ( and where the streets have no name).
Failing that, he should play the piano.
Nice ta meet ya, hope you guess my name.
Peter Cook
http://www.academy-of-rock.co.uk
I’m sorry that I didn’t respond to this note sooner, Bad Consultant. I was attending Math Is Not The Enemy: Budgets and Business Acumen for HR Professionals.