Yesterday the Boston police arrested a “seemingly normal, ideal guy” who was a Boston University medical student, calling him a predator: the Craigslist stalker.  Philip Markoff, a young man not even 30 years old, has been charged with identifying women on Craigslist who advertised massage services, going to their hotel room, binding them, and robbing them.  One of these victims was murdered, and Philip Markoff has now been formally charged with that crime too!  By all accounts of friends and associates, the news of Markoff’s arrest came as a huge, totally surprising event.

So often, or so it seems, that is the way of predators and mass murderers: people describe them in positive, “normal” terms and are shocked to learn of their hidden agendas and secret life.  How many such criminals have I passed on the street, shared the same flight with, or been introduced to at a party?  I’m not sure I want to know the answer.  I have always been grateful to not be clairvoyant…to read minds might make one as nutso as those criminals.

So how do we protect ourselves (and our loved ones) from these veiled monsters that do not fit our stereotypical, mind’s-eye image of a killer/predator?  In my opinion, the best way is to be absolutely conscious of what we are doing and where we are; we must be cognizant about staying out of harm’s way.  Just don’t go there in the first place…avoid places and situations that have any potential for disaster…and go no place alone where a potential for harm exists.  It is as simple as thinking clearly, taking sensible precautions, and not being impulsive.

Here are some more insightful tips I received in an email recently:

Crucial

At all times, be aware of these things to do in an emergency situation….

1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body.  If you are close enough to use it, do! 

2. Learned this from a tourist guide: if a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM…Toss it away from you… chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse.  RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back taillights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy.  The driver won’t see you, but everybody else will.  This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc.  DON’T DO THIS!  The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go.  AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.  If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF!  Repeat:

DO NOT DRIVE OFF!  Instead, gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car.  Your Air Bag will save you…if the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it.  As soon as the car crashes, bail out and run.  It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:

• Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back seat
• If you are parked next to a van, enter your car from the passenger door.  Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.
• Look at the car parked on the driver’s side of your vehicle, and the passenger side… If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out.  

IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs.  Stairwells are horrible places to be and the perfect crime spot.  This is especially true at NIGHT!)

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN!  The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; and even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ.  RUN, preferably in a zigzag pattern!

8. Many of us are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP!  It may get you raped, or killed.  Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well-educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women.  He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked ‘for help’ into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

9. Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her ‘Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.’  The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over.  The policeman said, ‘We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.’  He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby’s cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby’s cries outside their doors when they’re home alone at night.

10. Water scam:  If you wake up in the middle of the night to hear all your taps outside running or what you think is a burst pipe, DO NOT GO OUT TO INVESTIGATE!  These people turn on all your outside taps full blast so that you will go out to investigate and then attack.  Stay alert, keep safe, and look out for your neighbors!

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April 21st, 2009 | Tags: interests, love, protection, service, thought | Category: Mental Preparation, Uncategorized |  Email This Post | Leave a comment

To imagine the evolution of our country as if in a personal mental slideshow, each image beginning slowly, and progressing ever faster to today – including the construction, destruction, pollution and population – is as dizzying as the nausea of extreme inertia, pulling down in a whirlpool within a cesspool. Technology makes our planet smaller, numbers are ever larger, and danger is much closer; we become a little numb, somewhat desensitized and distant. It is a natural defense mechanism, a way to cope, lest we become mad within the chaos. The rollercoaster does not stop and let you off until the ride is over…and nobody can know when the ride is over. It is impossible to be extremely naive in our times.  Yet in our numbness we tend to practice dumbness.

I marvel at the ignorant stupidity of that intelligent species called mankind. There seems a duality in every corner of the reality of the human condition. We have recorded history and enjoy the wisdom of hindsight, yet we ignore our hard-learned lessons and repeat every mistake; we tend to know what is right, yet we do not always choose it; we can put on a military uniform, enter into combat, kill dozens of other humans, destroying their homes and families, then come home in that same day, stroke the cat, display the gentleness of sensitive understanding to our loved ones, and get on our knees and pray, believing we have done God’s work. We can justify any behavior, yet some actions are punished while others commit the same crimes and are not. We profess happiness in a mal-contented existence. And, for every “composer” in the world, there is a “decomposer”.  No, I do not excuse myself. I am guilty by association, yet remain obligated by unspoken forces to participate in the fabric of society. To tear this cloth, attack the status quo relentlessly, or divorce myself entirely – even if it may be ultimately correct in the scheme of the cosmos – is a sin, punishable by such terms as “crazy”, “lunatic”, “outcast”, whacko”, or “recluse”.  I am continually amazed, yet never shocked and surprised. I ride the last car of the coaster, resisting the g-forces, trying each day not to practice hypocrisy, and I watch… speaking only now and again.

Here we sit in yet another time of self-inflicted crisis, together and apart. Our economy has taken a nosedive. We have choices and we have the advantage of historic knowledge. Will we know the right path to take and do what is right? Is there indeed one “right” path that leads to economic recovery, or might there be more than one right answer? Our economy is an extremely complex system, and therefore it seems logical that the solution is also complex. Three items, however, I think are crucial to the resolution: 1) we must not panic and thereby worsen the situation, 2) “united we stand and divided we fall”, and 3) we must put as many people back to work as possible. Panic tends to cause paralysis. Also, many of us may disagree with our reasons for making war, yet we still support our troops. We may not agree with everything our chosen leader is doing to heal our economy, but it makes more sense to band together in support, than to attack, find fault, and divide our country. For my contribution to positive change, I built a website: EconoDude.com.

I often think of the analogy of the two bike riders.  Both of the bicyclists’ narrow front tires become trapped in a groove of the pavement, their balance is disrupted, and they are both about to fall. The first cyclist is overcome with fear, looks in the direction of the fall, and crashes. The second, more experienced rider does not panic. She knows that she must look away from the direction that the bike wants to fall, and thereby correct her bike.  She does not crash. From experience, she has applied useful knowledge.

Let me be candid. I am a struggling entrepreneur, philanthropist, writer, and professional hotel manager who has been “unemployed” since mid-September. I have a family to support. While my dream is to make Turrell Enterprises successful (www.turrell-enterprise.com), my foremost need is to locate a career position in my professional line of work: hotel management. Some prospective employers might say – in light of my ambitious dreams – that I may not make a solid commitment or not be around for long. The reality and truth is that if they are willing to invest in me, I am willing to invest in them. My daughter loves her school, we love our home in central Massachusetts, and in this economy our house is not worth what we paid. Additionally, like so many millions of other good people, our credit rating is now damaged due to my extended unemployment. These factors negate the possibility of relocation. On the entrepreneurial side of my endeavors, if you visit the link above, you can see that I have solid concepts. Currently I lack the contacts and capital to realize those pursuits, yet I remain tenacious. I have just built EconoDude (www.EconoDude.com), in the hope of positive contribution to our ailing nation, and I operate two blog sites: www.KissOfTruth.com, and www.ProtectionDude.com. I keep busy and ever hopeful. Again, like so many millions, I just need a break. The g-forces of my personal rollercoaster pull particularly hard right now. I keep up the good fight.

My father has said many wise things to me. One item in particular stands out. He said: “The only way I know of to change the past is to make the future what the past could have been.” He used the word “change” in a metaphorical sense; of course he knows that the past cannot be changed in the most literal sense. Those words still mean so much to me and I work hard to be worthy of them. I now have a similar saying: “The only way I can change the world is to work on changing my own little corner of it.” Thanks, dad, I’ll carry on.

My intent in this piece of writing has been to speak of the swirling mass of national evolution and time, how our human condition affects our actions, to mention our shared current economic situation, and then to demonstrate – by revealing a piece of my own frustrations – how we all share a reality of struggle in common. Further, as I conclude these thoughts, my prayerful wish for you (my reader) is that your reality – your little corner of the world – gives you more of what you want, need, and dream about.

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March 19th, 2009 | Tags: balance, business, change, destructive, econodude, economy, fear, frustrated, future, giving, hope, ignorance, intelligence, invest, love, nation, prayer, success, technology, thought, unemployed, unemployment, war | Category: Consistent Action, Flexibility, Goal Setting, Mental Preparation, Motivation, Research and Development |  Email This Post | Leave a comment

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March 6th, 2009 | Tags: business, communication, econodude, economic crisis, economy, hope, integrity, jobs, nation, plan, responsibility, success, unemployment | Category: Consistent Action, Flexibility, Goal Setting, Mental Preparation, Motivation, Research and Development |  Email This Post | Comments (5)

Unemployment rates in the nation are above 7.6%! That is the highest since the early 70’s. That means that nearly eight out of every 100 people are out of work. That is an astounding number! Each and every day there are more reports of layoffs from the biggest – and seemingly most secure and solid – companies in the United States. And the number of unemployed continues to grow at an alarming pace. And like all accidents and life-changing events, it is not real until it happens to you! It is unwise to believe a layoff cannot happen to you. Be prepared by being proactive in making yourself more valuable to your employer; consider these five ways to increase the likelihood of keeping your job:

1) Do the Unexpected: Surprise your boss by going beyond the expectation level of your job. This takes conscious effort to add a little something extra each time you complete (or take on) a task, or accept a little more responsibility now and then. Will this increase the expectations your boss has of you? Perhaps, but it will definitely add to your value. Even the smallest of chores can make a direct difference: Clean up the break room, change the water bottle on the cooler, or straighten up the supply cabinet. You get the idea.

2) Read, Educate, Learn: Continuing your personal education is one of the best endeavors you can undertake in increasing your value in the workplace. Read a trade journal that relates to your work; read motivational materials; read self-help books; read a manual. Challenge yourself to read five sources of material related to your work industry every month. You never can tell how this material will be useful, but it nearly always gives you a distinct advantage.

3) Be a Mentor/Create a Mentor Program: Helping others is one of the best ways to help yourself. Take the initiative to create a mentoring program for your workplace, or simply pick someone less experienced, and become a mentor to that person. Encourage your peers to serve as mentors as well.

4) Find That “One Thing” That Can Make a Difference: Is there something at work that has interested you but you have not checked it out? Well, what are you waiting for?! Is there something at work that has always confused you, or that you do not understand? Again, what are you waiting for? Is there something constructive that you have thought about in the past that would be useful, or make everyone’s work easier? Do you have an idea that might just contribute in a new way? Write it out as a proposal, take it to a trusted and respected friend or coworker for more input, then fine-tune it and present it to your boss! Challenge yourself to come up with just “one thing” that you can take on, and make it your own! This will be most impressive!

5) Create and Achieve Your “Personal Resolutions”: Here are three steps you can take right now that will “re-invent” you into a more valuable asset to the company (and to yourself):

a. Think “Inside the Box”: Imagine you have just received a package from the sky and inside this awesome box was a listing of your interests, aptitudes, and skills. Imagine that also inside that box was a second list that applied those interests, aptitudes and skills, turning them into real and tangible actions and tasks that you could do. Imagine exactly what you would find in that box, and then make those two lists. For now, don’t concern yourself with editing the lists or being too critical; these lists were inside a box you mysteriously received that came from the sky…these were written by a higher power that knows you as well as you know yourself, so these lists are honest and clear.

b. Make New Goals: For this you will need complete solitude and quiet. Think of this as not merely writing goals, but think of this as a goal-setting workshop: this requires taking it in steps: 1) study the lists you have made; goals should be items that channel your interests, and make use of your particular aptitudes, and skills. Goals are not merely “what” you want to achieve”, but should include “why” you want each goal. Finally, don’t limit these goals to just your work; include new physical, social, and family goals, and so on, 2) put your goals down on paper and keep them with you, looking at them each and every day, 3) review and test each goal by asking: “Why do I want this goal and what will it give me? Have I indeed been completely honest and true? And 4) rewrite your goals as necessary and remain flexible in your approach.

c. Make a “Plan Of Action”: Setting goals means nothing without a plan to achieve them. Let’s take a simple and common example: You have a goal to get in shape and lose 20 pounds. That is an admirable goal, but it must have a separate Plan Of Action associated with it: “I will lose twenty pounds and get in shape by eating much smaller portions, eating healthy, low calorie snacks (like raisins), and doing aerobics and weight lifting for 30 minutes every weekday, taking the weekend off.” Your Plan Of Action is a detailed accounting of exactly HOW you will achieve your goals.

d. Keep These Goals Personal: Of course you may want to share with your significant other, or closest friend, but be careful: leave yourself room to be flexible and adjust your goals as necessary to achieve the correct goal using the correct plan of action. Also, being humble is great. It is much better to have people notice “the new you”, then to have talked about your goals beforehand, setting a given expectation. You – and nobody else – should be the judge and jury regarding how well you have made and achieved your goals.

We all know that ultimately there is no crystal ball that allows us to see what’s coming, and no certain magic that will prevent that pink slip. It makes excellent sense, however, to plan ahead and to be proactive in making yourself even more valuable to your employer. The time to protect yourself is right now, no time to waste.

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February 9th, 2009 | Tags: challenge, change, education, Flexibility, giving, goals, idea, interests, job loss, job security, keeing your job, keep your job, Motivation, nation, plan, protection, respect, responsibility, success, thought, unemployed, unemployment, value | Category: Consistent Action, Flexibility, Goal Setting, Mental Preparation, Motivation, Research and Development |  Email This Post | Leave a comment

For you my loyal readers in commemorization of January 20, 2009…a most special day for this great nation:

Dreamer, Dancer, Deliberator: Preacher, Pugilist, President

By Kurt Turrell
January 20, 2009

Dawn has broken and the day is new. Draw ye near, I’ve a story for you. A chronicle of three, yet a legend of one; the account of greatness, of perseverance like none. ‘Tis some notes on history, of bravery and vision, yet a journal of today, of new hope arisen.

Captured in the media of black and white, pleading: “I have a dream…” he championed what’s right. His was a time of turmoil, of division and pain; though he stood in defiance, peacefully sane. A natural leader of mankind, a symbol of free; he taught peaceful awakening, about we, not me. An accidental martyr, and man of divinity, King is the first of an inspirational trinity.

“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,” after Liston fell Clay became Ali. A unique poet, elite fighter, and true athlete; his domain beyond the ring still knows no defeat. Muhammed the entertainer, Ali the wartime conscience of a nation; he was a thinker, a stinker, an unwitting proponent of emancipation. Whether a rumble in the jungle, or the draft of Uncle Sam, uncompromising principles guided the man. He shook up the world; he stood tall; he spoke strong; making violence a ballet, proving all doubters wrong.

Now another has come, the third man of this bit. A legacy begun, “Yes we can” was a hit. Given the helm of a nation, during a storm beyond measure, he has already become a national treasure. He is careful and deliberate, he is thoughtful and smart; though politics is his stage, humanism is his art. We look on in awe, with renewed hope, and anticipation; we look to this special man and a fresh administration.

Yes dawn has now broken and the day is brand new. A glimpse of three heroes I have shared with you. As we walk down the path of our generation, we must pass this new hope to every nation. Though King is now gone, Ali got to see, the inauguration of change, in a new land of the free.

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January 21st, 2009 | Tags: athletes, Barack Obama, change, freedom, Heroes, hope, Martin Luther King, MLK, Muhammad Ali, nation, Obama, peace, politics, principle, race, thought | Category: Mental Preparation, Motivation |  Email This Post | Comments (1)

Ready or not, another year has come.  We are born, we grow up, we make choices, and we become a product of our interests.  The absolute truth is that each of us builds our own reality – our own successes and failures – within the limitations of our environment, our individual abilities, and what is reasonably possible.   So often, however, these “limitations” are unknown, or only become evident over time.  So we speculate about what is reasonably possible, we allow our interests and character to shape our abilities, and we end up accepting our environs, or we make a conscious effort to change it.  Much more could be said about each of these limitations, but I want to speak about personal truth, about being honest within our hearts and minds about our resolutions and our resolve.  The onset of yet another year is the time to reexamine our interests and resolve for truth.

Self-honesty is the starting point of all success and abundance.  One of the most assured failures I know of is dishonesty.  We commonly think of New Year’s Resolutions in terms of weight loss goals, quitting smoking, a better relationship, and so on.  In my opinion, you increase your chances of successful resolutions if you toss out what seems to be your obvious needs, and commit yourself (by yourself!) to an annual evaluation – a personal interest survey – and then a goal setting workshop.  It is more useful to understand WHY you want changes before resolving WHAT to change.  The truth and honesty of your underlying motivation – your real interest or reason why – determines the strength of a resolution and the chances of enjoying success and avoiding a failed resolution.

So try a new approach to a New Year.  I challenge you to do a personal interest survey.  Here’s how:

• Get to an alone place with no outside influences; this should be a place that is quiet, as if you were going to meditate
• Put yourself in a positive frame of mind or wait until the time is right…a time when you are not hungry, angry, lonely or tired
• Think about what activities interest you…what turns you on!
• Think carefully about where you are and where you want to be
• Make an uncensored/honest list of your current interests even if you think you already know
• Don’t worry about the order of these interests and their importance right now (you might be surprised at what is on the list and what order you initially placed them in)
• Study each one again and ask yourself good questions:
  • Why am I interested in this, or is there a deeper reason for my interest?
  • Is this interest something I can do? (if unsure, the answer is yes)
  • Have I listed all my interests without hesitation, reservation, or censorship?
• Now try to prioritize these interests in terms of importance

Now, based upon your current interests, be creative in planning your resolutions for 2009.  For example, if you desire a certain weight loss goal and in past years you enjoyed swimming (and it remains an interest), then incorporate swimming into your weight loss resolution.  Use your current interests as motivation, creative impetus, and leverage on yourself.  Let your current interests help shape your resolutions.

If you have been honest about your interests, and have based those interests in what is possible, then the resulting resolutions should be realistic, attainable, and rewarding.  Best wishes for a great 2009!

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January 7th, 2009 | Tags: challenge, change, environment, goals, interests, Motivation, New Year, New Year's Resolution, New Year's Resolutions, plan, productive, success | Category: Consistent Action, Flexibility, Goal Setting, Mental Preparation, Motivation, Research and Development |  Email This Post | Leave a comment

Almost one out of every ten jobs in the United States is related to the auto industry.  That is a staggering statistic!  As of this week, the American Auto Industry CEO’s from “The Big 3” (GM, Chrysler, Ford) are threatening that if a bailout for their failing corporations is not granted, the country will likely fall into another Depression era.  I cannot begin to express how angered I am over this situation, because NOBODY has really spoken about the core issue: what are the true and absolute reasons the American Automakers are in need of being bailed out?!  The true and absolute reason can be summed up in one short phrase:  decades of greed have lead to shortsighted decisions and actions for which they are now facing consequences.  We should heed (and should have heeded) some lessons from the Japanese and from the warnings of the scientific community.  Let me explain.

Virtually everyone has been aware for several decades that the reality of fossil fuel is that it is a finite (non-renewable and ultimately limited) energy resource and that fossil fuel causes serious long-term environmental damage (as well as health damage).  For at least three decades, the powers that be (including our political leaders and the huge corporate CEO’s) have known the dangers and limitations of fossil fuel dependence.  Additionally, the automakers in America have known for a long time that foreign car builders – especially the Japanese – were (and still are) building much better quality vehicles that are more efficient and cost-effective to produce.  And right now, although even the Japanese automakers remain in large part committed to fossil fuel, the result is that they are not facing immediate financial peril.  They are, in fact, expanding and growing.

The news media speaks of corporate jets as an illustration of greed, but does not touch the deeper issues within the previous paragraph. The news media speaks of the autoworkers losing thousands of jobs – and correctly portrays them as victims – but does not relate these job losses to the reasons stated above.  Greed is shortsighted and nearly always the enemy of responsibility and long-term accountability.  The men in those corporate jets understand the ultimate value of their company is a direct function of its stock value and vice versa.  To make a huge and lengthy investment in radical change – even if it’s the responsible and ultimately profitable thing to do – cuts into profitability and therefore corporate value.  It is (and was) more “feasible” (in the short run) and simply easier to continue along the same path of greed and corporate complacency.  It is always more profitable to avoid the huge investment of proper change.  It was simply judged as too expensive to be responsible to the consumer and the health of our planet.

Aside from building quality products, Japanese industry is famous for finding solutions and fixing problems, as opposed to placing blame and identifying scapegoats.  Blame is useful only to identify the source of a problem and therefore understand the potential for a solution.  The blame for the American Auto Industry failure rests squarely on the shoulders of the decision-makers and big business brokers of the past three decades, including (and especially) the most current ones who have been fully armed with all the necessary information and tools, but have elected to stick with the status quo.  Okay, so it does no good to dwell on those responsible, so let’s fix the problems!  I believe that the first part of fixing the problem is to remove those responsible, not because they are to blame, but because solutions cannot be entrusted to them.

And so what will happen if bailout funds are granted?  Without radical changes in business philosophy and the building of responsible, quality products, the carmakers will only delay failure for a short while.  Do we trust these CEO’s to use the funds wisely and “rescue” their companies?  No!  The perceived risks of radical change are too immense to allow for greatness; they cannot be pioneers in a new age because of greed and fear. 

What they should do that makes sense today is what they should have done in past years that would have made sense!  Imagine an American car company in the 1970’s or even the 1980’s deciding to copy the best aspects of Japanese production methods while simultaneously taking the absolute lead in researching, developing, and producing alternative fueled vehicles and hybrids!  Imagine that same company launching a media marketing / advertising strategy that produced emotional campaigns to explain to the American public what they are doing and why.  Imagine that these ads played on the American consumer’s sense of patriotic American product purchasing and exciting innovation, coupled with voicing a deep concern for the future of our planet and future generations.  Wow.  I imagine that such a company would be kicking-butt right now.  Or, perhaps it would have spurred the other car companies to follow suit!  Okay…is it too late to try this?  I don’t know for sure, but I hope not.

Sometimes the tail can wag the dog.  A strong and innovative American Auto Industry could put intrinsic pressure on American petroleum companies to develop feasible ways to produce necessary alternate fuels and supportive energy strategies for new, responsible vehicles.  By making only hybrid and alternative-energy vehicles that are as attractive and affordable as any other vehicle, and by using news and advertising media to explain and influence consumers, American petroleum companies would be forced to change and adapt to this new consumer demand.  Further, by using an “up-front” approach to inform and influence buyers, stock prices and company value might increase, as opposed to slipping, even if short-term profits are impacted by the implementation of change.

It is my opinion that any bailout funds that are given to American Automakers should be used for generous severance packages for the workers as well as re-tooling the skill set of this workforce.  Help these valuable workers find jobs in responsible companies!  Let the American car companies fix their own problems or fail!  Hey, if I start an irresponsible business and it begins to fail, should my company be bailed out?  Sorry, but that’s not the way of our free enterprise, capitalist system; our system is intended to reward strength, foresight and innovation, not weak, short-term, irresponsible decisions and lack of progressive action.  Sorry, but if you snooze, you lose!

Bail out the American Auto Industry?  Get real!

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December 4th, 2008 | Tags: American Automakers, anger, auto industry, auto industry bailout, auto workers, bail out, bailout, business, change, depression, Emotions, future, greed, hope, invest, philosophy, politics, productive, responsibility, risk, value | Category: Consistent Action, Flexibility, Goal Setting, Mental Preparation, Motivation, Research and Development |  Email This Post | Comments (1)

I have been “unemployed” (hey, I still work very hard!) for months and so our family faces the holidays with absolutely no funds.  Many millions have recently lost a job, or remain unemployed.  Many millions have faced or are facing home foreclosure.  Businesses are suffering or failing.  The stock market has plummeted.  Our economic status is depressing at best.  We all know the score.  It may indeed be an unusual holiday season for millions of Americans.  In spite of our hardships, with some effort we can seek to have a successful holiday season.  Here are a few suggestions.

*  Carry on the Thanksgiving Spirit through the holidays (and all year): realize what you have to be thankful for and notice more of those things

*  Do not allow humility to become humiliation: although the current conditions may have humbled you, never allow your circumstances to be humiliating

*  Never lose hope: recognize the signs of depression in yourself and those in your life and take steps to reach out for help and to help others

*  Watch for the opportunity to help and “love” another person: seek a chance to help someone, especially someone you do not know personally

*  Contribute to those who are less fortunate in whatever way you can: contributions to others create win/win situations

*  Decorate for the holidays with as much joy and holiday spirit as you can muster: try to make it a great Christmas Holiday by keeping normality

*  Be creative in finding and making gifts: if you cannot afford to buy gifts, perhaps you can make them through your own creativity and talent

*  Do not carry any expectations of other people and do not be disappointed if someone has “forgotten you”…make no judgments of people

*  Keep in mind that the spirit of giving is the most important aspect of the holidays

The holiday season tends to be overly commercialized and expectations of ourselves (and perhaps of others) tend to be high.  We should not judge others for their actions or lack of action in these hard times.  Thankfulness, giving, selflessness and love are the heart of the season and we should act exactly as such.

In this time of widening hardship, let us all practice the motto: “When we all give, we all live!”

Happy Holidays!

From Kiss Of Truth and Turrell Enterprises

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December 3rd, 2008 | Tags: business, Christmas, depression, economic crash, economic hardship, economy, ful holiday, giving, hard times, Holiday Season, holidays, hope, love, success, tough times | Category: Flexibility, Mental Preparation, Motivation, Uncategorized |  Email This Post | Comments (2)

For the thirty-plus years of my adult life I have watched, read, and learned – albeit somewhat passively – about our national and world economy, the politics of big business, the exclusive world of money, and how it all fits together to affect each of us.  But a few days ago, while watching more economic bad news on the television, my teen looked at me with an inquisitive voice and said: “I don’t understand…if all this is based on confidence, perception of value, and speculation…why are we in this mess and how does it all fit together?  Can’t we just print more money?”  Oh boy, thought I, where do I start?  Explaining the complicated components of the economy – in fact the world of money – and why we are in a recession and our economy is failing is not such a simple task. 

Rather than fumbling around with a lengthy dissertation on macro and microeconomics, I thought better of it and stopped.  I wanted to somehow give her an answer that she could get her brain around quickly.  So I spoke about the underlying reason for our national and international financial perils…greed.  I explained to her that it is the concentration of greed – and the want that we all have to live beyond our means – that has hurt us all.  We are picking up the tab for our greed.  I explained to her that I personally want to blame the big corporate CEO’s, the super rich, and the Wall Street executives.  But the foundation of greed upon which our woes are set extends all the way to each and every consumer; we have lived beyond our incomes through the invention of credit.

Coincidentally, following this conversation with my daughter, I picked up the September 29^th issue of Time magazine – that I still hadn’t been able to get to – and there, on page 32, began an article entitled: “The Price of Greed.”  The article confirms the point: “…in the end, almost all of us, collectively, are going to pay for the consequences.”  And a bit later on the same page: “When greed exceeds fear, trouble follows.”  The article goes into strong detail as to the specific details that contribute to our economic troubles (and I will ask my daughter to read this fine article). 

The news story we watched that prompted my daughter’s questions was about the American automakers asking for some of the bail out funds.  I admit to a bit of extra angst on this matter.  The auto industry is like the deliberately rebellious son who commits a crime, then finds religion and repentance too late.  For decades we have been warned about pollution, the damages to our environment, and the need to migrate away from fossil fuels…but greed determined decisions; it was short-sighted greed that kept the American car makers from taking the lead by making better cars than Toyota, and new, environmentally conscious products.  No fear; the auto makers have always been confident that consumers will buy (and trust) whatever they make.

The same goes for “the environment” (which is related in many ways).  I put this in quotes because we speak about the very air we breathe, our sky, and the ground we are pulled to as if it is a possession, like “the house” or “the television” or something detached from our person.  Sure, I know that it’s just a label, a common term, a way to address an issue…but in my mind, it’s so much more than “the environment”…it is our very lives, the reason we are alive…it is us, more than us.  Anyway, as I said, the same goes for the environment; we have been warned and known for decades about the effects of pollution, the impact we humans are having on our planet, and the need to migrate away from fossil fuels…but greed determined our decisions.  It was easier to not incite fears in the masses, and largely ignore this exponentially growing problem in favor of greedy consumerism, and the intrinsic pollution of our disposable economy.

Perhaps between the Time article and the assistance of her parents, our daughter may come to understand a bit more about our collective condition.  But understanding is only the start.  As she prepares for a successful adulthood, my hope is that she will act in responsible ways and seek to promote responsibility in others.

The (September 29^th) Time magazine article aptly concluded: “Coping in this new world will require adjustments by millions of Americans.  We all will have to start living within our means – or preferably below them.”  To this I would add that unregulated Capitalism must be tempered by lessons of the past; we humans have a responsibility to our planet and to each other to heed the warning signs, shy away from allowing greed to determine action, and take consistent action based upon (and within) that responsibility.

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November 24th, 2008 | Tags: business, confidence, economy, environment, fear, foundation, greed, hope, ignorance, money, nation, perception, politics, recession, responsibility, success, thought, value | Category: Consistent Action, Flexibility, Mental Preparation, Motivation, Research and Development |  Email This Post | Comments (1)