AliveAndKickN

Horsehockey!

Taco Bell Diet, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Cheerios - what a bunch of horsecrap.  Think about it - eat 1250 calories/day of anything and you'll lose weight, even Taco Bell.  At least Taco Bell is willing to say the words "these results are not typical" whereas the Cancer Treatment Centers rely on the tiny words in the corner of the page, perfectly willing to parade hope in front of those who seek it.  A colleague of mine went to their Philadelphia location with pancreatic cancer.  After getting an initial boost of hope, he soon died.   Once again, Center for Science in the Public Interest is at the forefront of getting policy changed.  Companies may someday actually have to tell the truth, or at least be limited on the nonsense they can spew. 

The talking heads can't help but talk about the underwear bomber.  What went wrong and who's to blame?  Seriously, once again, in a world of a gazillion people, there's bound to be a few morons at any given time trying to blow someone else up.  In reaction to this, we'll invade Yemen next, and revise the entire airline security program, costing billions, and truly doing little to alleviate the problem. 

Diversity. Trust = Behavior over Time

Before we discuss the recent topic of my leadership program about Diversity, I was pleased to see that PSEG has announced a $700million plan to install solar panels on public places such as schools, municipal complexes, telephone poles and more.  Yes, you've seen me recommend this, but I'm not sure if it had any influence.  I agree with the CEO that a more unified national program needs to be rolled-out, not just piecemeal. 

Anyway, to Diversity.  When most think of diversity, they think about color, potentially ethnicity.  We discussed virtually everything, ranging from color, age, financial, religion, disability, gender, geography, and even intelligence.  We had panelists from the Korean community, the Hispanic community and the Muslim community.  Obviously the panel could have been expanded in a multitude of ways.  All three communities stressed education and entrepreneurship.  Only the Korean representative felt that their community wasn't seeing discrimination lately.  All felt the new Federal Administration would bring better relations.  All face challenges in getting people involved in the political process, as often adults are working more than one job, and there is still distrust of authority. 

Generationally, our workforce is divided into four categories, which is a first in history.  The Veterans born 1927-1945 makeup 10% of the workforce.  They plan for rainy days and work at one job for life, as they grew up in the Depression/WWII age.  The Boomers born 1946-1963 are the workaholics and consumers, and they makeup 50% of the workforce.  Generation Xers born 1964-1979 distrust government and corporate America, as we've seen too many people screwed.  Xers were the first group to really see divorce, and they value the balance between work and life, making up 25% of the workforce.  Generation Y makes up 15% of the workforce.  Those born after 1980 are not followers, seek diversity, are totally wired, and believe it or not, think parents are cool.  In addition, GenY is about to inherit the savings from GenVet.  

During the discussion, so many people cited anecdotal components of their lives - parental upbringing, friends, bad experiences, etc.  My summary is sort of simple - Our personality is guided by our experiences, plus the shocks that occur in between.  Dinners around the table, wisdom from family, harsh words when you're out of line, and everything in between.  Throw in loss of loved ones, near-death accidents, lay-offs, and other shocks to the system.  Leaders see the personalities in others, empathize with them, and understand why they feel the way they do.  In the end, there still has to be a common goal, and we need to find it.  

I'd love to think that mankind is similar to a forest.  Trees help the stuff below it, and vice versa.  Unlike the forest however, people do have that utmost of human nature, self-preservation (selfish often).  

I'm considering putting together a youth soccer team of multiple towns with multiple backgrounds.  I'm coaching anyway, I don't care about winning/losing, and it's an experience to remember for the kids involved.  It's a work in progress, so we'll see.  

Last weekend was the "Genteman, Start Your Engines" program urging men to get screened early for various diseases, including cancer.  It was sponsored by the Bergen Cancer Coalition.  I'm curious of the number of attendees.  Maybe we'll have an event closer to me next time.       

Recommendations please!!

We had our day of reflection in Bergen Leads yesterday.  Among the discussions about what we've seen so far, the assignments were given out for the end of the year projects.  My assignment is to look at ways to save money through best practices and shared services in education.  An obvious way is through energy reduction - good for the planet, good for the wallet, nobody gets fired.  After that, I need to start interviewing education personnel for ideas.  Group purchasing, shared administration, partnerships with municipality services, outsourcing services?  Where to invest to save later?  Where to cut without reducing quality?  Is state money available? 

I discussed the idea of sharing recreational sports services with the local newspaper today.  I pointed out how on any given weekend, parents like me have 2 or more games on Saturday, 2 or more games on Sunday, and that on average, helicopter parents spend 17 days/year in cars driving to and from stuff for their kids.  Let's see how that flies.   

The life of an elected official.

Labels (#7 of Many)

Think about the words being thrown in this election cycle, and then think about their meaning and/or message.  Think about the steroetypes associated with the words, and then decide for yourself what they mean.  Liberal, Conservative, Clean Coal, Alternative Energy, Reformer, Service, Pork, Privilege, Crusader, Genocide, Waste, Lobbyist, Politician, Hero, Spin, Volunteer, Pundit, Rights, Infrastructure, Security, Nation.

Today I received an email from the organization www.wecansolveit.org.  According to their email, ABC would not air their ad, which is obviously contradictory to the fossil fuel ads, touting things such as "clean coal."  You could say I was "fired up" when I heard this.  Now, most of the time I don't bring up the subject of global warming, since it's an unknown (in case God exists, we pray; in case global warming is real, we pollute more?).  Usually I talk about energy in terms of cost-effectiveness and return-on-investment.  The economics are simple.  Reduce energy usage and costs go down (this summer, when we stopped driving, prices at the pump came down somewhat).  Use other forms of energy generation and costs go down.  So who benefits from the pipe dream that is clean coal?  So who benefits from "spin" making other fossil fuels look good?  There is no "over there" anymore, where we can somehow dump our waste. 

In a world of a gazillion people, there are bound to be a handful at any given time, in any given place, that want to do harm to others.  Keep the WMDs away from those who would actually use them, but national security cannot just mean military.  My vision of national security is an emphasis on global equality, so the have-nots are fewer and the desire to inflict overall pain is lessened.  Anybody notice questions or debates about global poverty?  Oh, I forgot they don't vote, and they are perceived as a cost-base.  The closest question I heard was whether healthcare is a right or an economic privilege.  In addition, national security must include taking steps to reduce the potential for global catastrophe, which is something that could occur to millions of coastal communities should the seas rise.

Not to worry, supposedly a third of all the mammals on earth may become extinct within our lifetime.  It's only the balance of nature, not something nearly as important as pork and lobbyist affiliations, or even steroids in sports.  

Any reformers out there, or have the pundits scared them all away?               

Leadership 101

The last two days were the beginning of my leadership training program.  So much to discuss, and never enough time.  We completed profiles and surveys, and discussed a myriad of topics.  According to my answers to the questionnaire, I'm a High D, but a close second was a High C.  In other words, I want results, but I also like accuracy.  I'm ok with conflict, but I need to work more on organization and systems.  I will say that the results are somewhat flawed as it is mostly based upon the work environment, of which I really don't have much.  It's mostly me and my clients.  Anyway, we started off with some team-building.  Each group was asked to create the ideal community on a sheet of paper, but not allowed to speak.  Some took initiative, while others watched.  I was pleased with our drawing and the teamwork, but I was disappointed that I forgot a wastewater treatment plant and a farm.  Otherwise, the mixed-use "community" looked pretty good.

So why do our elected officials (please don't call them politicians) get corrupted?  Theories abounded, including time in office, party bosses, campaign finance needs, character, and in NJ's case, the lack of a NJ tv station minding the fort.  Since I seemed to be the only one of the group running for election, I offered my own input - salaries of elected officials are not enough to warrant leaving a full-time job for the most part.  Local council and mayors make a few thousand, state legislators making about forty thousand.  Then I threw out a potential scenario - I've been in business for myself for eight years.  I've gotten healthcare and energy deals over the years with a variety of clients - before I was involved in politics.  The group said it shouldn't be an issue.  But what about a few years from now, assuming I achieve success?  Will I be the topic of the newspaper cartoons someday?  We'll see.

So as leaders, what are some suggested ideas to remember?  First, know your history.  In 1870, Bergen County had 11 large towns.  Now we have 70.  From 1870-1920, the US decided to transform from an agrarian society to urban industrial.  In 1970, Bergen was 97% white, and 3% black.  In 2000, Bergen was 81% white, 8% black, and 11% Asian.  Latino numbers were not available.  15% of the people are uninsured.  Growth has been exensive in the gold coast areas near Edgewater and in the northern county areas, such as Mahwah.  For all intents and purposes, Bergen is fully developed.  Manufacturing continues to decline, agriculture is negligible at best, but health and professional services are on the rise.  Only 15% of the workforce commutes to NYC, but of the 85% non-NYC workers, 90% of them drive in a SOV (single occupancy vehicle). 

Now, as a post-industrial suburban nation in a global economy, we need to decide what we are going to do.  One of the biggest issues to address is the image of suburbia.  The happy young white middle class family with little kids just isn't the real case anymore.  According to our discussions, NJ needs to recognize its identity, identify suburbia for what it is, and realize that shared services will be necessary for survival.  I imagined myself standing before a half a dozen local municipal governors pitching the concept of sharing services, including public transportation and more.  Scary, but not entirely outlandish.  I was reminded that efficient is not always effective, and identity is important.  Economics 101 says people are unique and we want the best, the superlatives.  But needs come first and the red corvette comes later.

So what's most important - individual or greater good?  To be continued.    

      

...But Don't Label me as a Fruit

For the initial meeting of my leadership program, Bergen Leads, we are to pick a prop that shows who you are.  Tentatively, I have chosen the apple.  I tend to look at things from multiple angles, so what can an apple represent?  At its basic level, it's a source of nutrition.  But think about it from an environmental standpoint (how it's grown and how it's discarded), a financial standpoint (labor, price, distribution), and from a political standpoint (right vs priviledge).  I have a week or so to decide, so I may change my mind. 

Good article on Dot Earth about how individual conservation measures tend to focus on one species or project, and how we need to think about life in the future from a more broader scheme.  How will we interact with other species?  Walls, fences and national parks?  The numbers can be staggering, but with cooperation, much can be accomplished.  Look how well Standup2cancer did.  Multiple TV networks, multiple cancer diseases, all one purpose - $100million raised so far. 

Here's a different thought.  Remember the conversation about how there are about 30 million people living between Baltimore and Boston?  What about 20 years from now?  30 years?  50 years?  When the mid-Atlantic/New England shoreline houses some 50 million people, what happens when a Hurricane Ike makes landfall around NYC and hits the entire group? 

It should be about the bike

:As someone who went through cancer, and has had family see me through some tough days, I felt compelled to read Lance Armstrong's book "It's not about the bike."  Without ruining it for those who did not read it, the book essentially talks lovingly about how Lance Armstrong's wife got him through his testicular cancer.  Obviously since the book came out, he and his wife separated, and based upon the media, it appears to have been his choice.  Fine.  He does good work with the wristbands and raises money for cancer and other various charities so we can let it go.  I think within the last year or so, he launched a line of bottled sports drinks and bars, etc.  The ads say that if you are tired, consume his stuff, and you will somehow no longer be tired.  Fortunately or unfortunately, since this is America, you are allowed to say whatever you want, as long as it doesn't claim to cure anything.  So, at a time when bottled water is taking a beating in the press for it's impact on the environment, and the cost per ounce, Lance and his financial backers come out with this.  Today's headline was the last straw for me.  Apparently, at a time of drought and hundred degree weather in Texas, 330,000 gallons of water was used at his house, and he wasn't even there.  I guess it was for the grounds. 

I'm constantly telling my kids "just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should."  Again, this is America.   

   

Anyone can be a predator, can't they?

CNN ran an ad this evening from the Darkness to Light organization, essentially targeting youth coaches as potential sexual predators.  As a coach and administrator of multiple soccer teams and programs, I initially took offense.  All of our coaches take necessary certification courses and do background checks.  But then I went to the web site.  The percentages are there.  But what do the hard numbers point to?  Are we talking about coaches, clergy, teachers, relatives?  My off-the-cuff memory has a greater percentage of clergy being in the media as predators, as opposed to coaches.  Check the video and the numbers for yourself.  For a change, I'm still at a loss for words.

What if...My Best Job Function was as a Father?

I've decided to go where few bloggers have dared to go.  Last night I stood in front of an audience of fellow soccer coaches and parents, and announced my idea to help people who maybe can't help themselves as much as we can.  I'm not sure if I said anything coherent, and I'm not sure if the clapping afterward was because my ideas were good or because they were trying to get out in time for the NCAA basketball tournament.  Either way, the "goal" is to raise money for two organizations that use soccer as a medium for helping others - Grassroots Soccer that helps raise AIDS awareness in Africa and Street Soccer USA, an organization in Charlotte that helps the homeless and disenfranchised.  In addition, I've decided to run for town council.  So far, only two of us are running for two seats.  I think the latest CNN poll has me tied for third with Brooke Shields, who hasn't lived in town for years.  I better make sure I don't attend any radical sermons anytime soon. 

I guess I'll find out if any of my rantings has had the desired effect.  Be careful what you ask for.  If I fail, I can always go back to being dad...and work.  My 12 year old thought the attached video was poignant (maybe he didn't use that word, but I like it).  As he gets older, I'll take any input he offers.  Today, he preferred me dropping him off at religious school early, as opposed to stopping at my office to take care of some business first.       

Labels (#6 of many)

My wife and I had the rare opportunity to visit Barnes and Noble for the first time in a long time, as we usually purchase on-line.  But since we were in the area, we stopped in.  Just as I find the aisles in the supermarkets unbalanced, I found BN to be as well.  How many self-help and cookbooks are really necessary?  After finally getting past all of the "for Dummies" and "Idiot Guides," I found books on energy, science, wildlife and gardening in the back near the clearance racks.  I was hoping to find a "Better energy policy for Dummies" guide, or maybe a "Idiots guide to good agricultural stewarship."  Unfortunately, neither of those appear to exist.

This spring, my oldest son is playing soccer for a new coach, as I am taking a backseat to head coaching.  In talking politics with the coach, he proudly proclaimed himself as "conservative as they come."  I honestly don't know what that means and since it was in the middle of the game, I didn't want to discuss or debate, but I was tempted to ask him if he thought that a tree-hugger was a conservative or a liberal.  Conservatives seem to proclaim themselves as the keepers of National Security and of responsible spending.  Tree-Huggers espouse energy efficiency.  Independence from the constraints of foreign oil IS national security.  Reduced energy usage IS smart financially.  I'm guessing that's not what he meant however.

By the way, #s 1 and 2 children haven't stopped nagging me to get more lunchables since my failed experiment last week.  Today they wanted to stop for food on the way home from soccer.  It didn't matter what it was, as long as it wasn't homemade.  In the end, I held my ground, and they were very happy with the chicken piccata and brown rice I made.  #3 child came home from a birthday party today with a great party favor - a flower pot with seeds and kids gardening tools.  Way to go, whoever's birthday it was.  We planted the tomatoes, but we'll hold off on the pumpkins and sunflowers for a while still.