Obama Goes Toe-To-Toe With Stephanopoulos On “Tax Increases”

Posted by John Park on Sep 20th, 2009
2009
Sep 20


Is this a TAX Increase or not???


If the Government forces me to purchase something via a MANDATE, how is this not a tax increase?  How will this effect small businesses everywhere?


Chime In. Let me know what you think.




Until Next Time…



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How should employers deal with Swine Flu?

Posted by John Park on Apr 30th, 2009
2009
Apr 30

swineflumask

 
I’ve been reading quite a bit lately about labor laws, compliance posters and OSHA standards. This is due to our newest client, AllInOnePosters.com, one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of HR Compliance Posters.
 
Along with that thought process, I started to investigate how business owners should be dealing with the current and possible Swine Flu pandemic.  As employers or heads of companies, you have an obligation to make sure your workplace is properly and accurately dealing with this possible cause for great concern.  At the end of the day, it’s all about being ready to protect your employees and being in compliance with any state or federal standards.
 
I came across this great article about the issue on OCRegister.com, our hometown newspaper.  You might find it extremely informative about how to deal with the Swine Flu pandemic in the workplace.  Here is an excerpt.
 
 
For most employers, protecting their employees during an influenza pandemic will depend on two basic approaches: emphasizing “common sense” hygiene (cleaning hands and decontaminating surfaces) and practicing “social distancing.” Social distancing means reducing the frequency, proximity, and duration of contact between people (both employees and customers) to reduce the chances of spreading pandemic influenza virus from person-to-person.

Employers may take additional protective measures, including engineering changes, procedure changes, and requiring the use of personal protective equipment, based upon the specific occupational exposure risk of their job tasks and work place. Use of respiratory protection (respirators) and barrier protection (facemasks) may be components of a comprehensive plan to prepare workplaces for an influenza pandemic, but employers must comply with applicable OSHA standards.




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Has commiserating become a national pastime?

Posted by John Park on Feb 26th, 2009
2009
Feb 26

 
I am vowing to omit the following word from my vocabulary for 1 full week.
 
ECONOMY
 
 
And, I will start immediately after this post goes live.
 
These days, it’s hard to escape the constant doom and gloom of the economy.  At every turn, there is some statistic to reemphasize over and over again how weak the current economy is.  If you believe everything you hear (especially from the 24hr news channels), you might even think that we’ve entered in to the abyss with no hope of return or survival.
 
I’ve also observed and probably have participated in a growing phenomenon.  Commiserating about the economy has become a national pastime.  I would say this is especially true in the workplace.  Instead of talking about sports, last night’s TV show or some hot new gadget, we seem to be finding solace in each other’s misery.  In fact, I’ve never been around so many econ majors in all my life.  All of a sudden, everyone has some crazy statistic supporting why the whole world is coming to an end soon.  After months of this nonsense, I’ve finally decided to do something about it.
 
Well… Enough is enough!
 
As a business owner, embracing this negativity which often turns in to stress and anger is especially dangerous.  I am not saying to deny what is happening.  I am just asking… how does it help to constantly dig deeper in to the abyss in a business setting.  As leaders of our organizations, we must work diligently to create a culture that does not fall prey to the recession for all of the wrong reasons.  Leading by example is one of the strongest characteristics of a leader.  Somewhere along the path of your life, you might have met a cold-calling CEO or you might recall the scene from Patton when the WWII general stood directly in the path of an on-coming German fighter plane with only his pearl-handle pistol in hand.  We remember these things for a reason.  Give your employees, team members and clients a reason to not only remember you but to be inspired by you.
 
Here are some ”Red Flags” to look out for in your business setting.
 
1)  Stop the internal commiserating around the water cooler (coffee pot).  Help them change the subject.
 
2)  Discourage the passing of “economic doom” propaganda in the business setting.
 
3)  Train your employees and team members on the negative impact of commiserating with clients.  This is a big one.
 
4)  And most importantly, don’t use and accept the economic condition as an automatic scapegoat.  Sometimes, a marketing idea didn’t pan out because it was just a bad idea.  Sometimes, you didn’t get the deal because you just did a poor job in the sales process.  NOT everything is the fault of the economy.  If you accept this scapegoating from yourself and from your team, you will find your business deteriorating over time even when times get better.
 
Say it with me “I will no longer use the economy as an automatic scapegoat for everything that goes wrong in my business.”
 
If you’re up to it… take the vow with me.
 
Starting now — GO!


“Each golden sunrise ushers in new opportunites for those who retain faith in themselves, and keep their chins up.  No one has ever seen a cock crow with its head down.  Courage to start and willingness to keep everlastingly at it are the requisites for success.  Meet the sunrise with confidence.  Fill every golden minute with right thinking and worthwhile endeavor.  Do this and there will be joy for you in each golden sunset”  Alonzo Newton Benn

The Recess Ends — a nation back to work

Posted by John Park on Feb 12th, 2009
2009
Feb 12

therecessends

 
Today, I want to tell you about a couple of young guys from my adopted hometown of Irvine, CA.  The two brothers Austin and Brian Chu are driving across the country in their beat-up minivan in an effort to produce a documentary about the current recession devastating our country.  They are basically doing this on their own dime and are getting some serious press for their worthwhile objective.  They are young, full of energy and probably still idealistic enough to get it done right.  Check out their web site.  And if you can spare it, make a donation.  Any amount will do.  It will pay for some gas or maybe their next greasy meal at some diner in the middle of the country.
 
In Austin’s own words…
 
From January 24 to April 30, I will visit the major, most impoverished cities in the United States, from Los Angeles to New York. I will interview everyday Americans: rich, poor, black, white, etc. I will interview students, families, and single adults. In addition, a large portion of the story will be the voices of both small businesses and large corporations. Businesses are shutting down and laying off. Recently, Sharper Image shutdown all major operations; DHL is closing down all domestic operations; Citigroup laid off 53,000 jobs; Chrysler shutdown their plants for a month. And I got laid off on December 5th, 2008. I subsequently applied for unemployment for the first time on December 8th, 2008. We all share a common story– I am going to capture and share that story.


Visit The Web Site — http://therecessends.com/


Economic Stimulus Package — Pork List or Needed For Jobs?

Posted by John Park on Feb 8th, 2009
2009
Feb 8

oldtv

 
Well, here is a select list of what is included in the hotly debated Economic Stimulus Package.  This particular list is based on what the Republicans and the Democrats cannot agree on.
 
There is probably a good and valid reason for every one of these programs.  I believe the question is about timing and the purpose of this bill.  I thought the purpose was to create immediate and sustainable jobs.  What do you think of this list?
 
The one that jumped out at me was the $650 million to save those people still using old analog TVs.  I wonder how many new TVs you can buy with that money instead of buying the soon to be outdated digital converters?  Hmmmmm… I don’t remember anyone giving me a credit or money when my Beta Tape Player became obsolete.
 
I also love the 248 million to buy new furniture for the Department of Homeland Security.  What are they sitting on now?  Wait… Don’t answer that.


As you review this list, keep in mind that every dollar we spend now will be passed on to our children and grandchildren for generations to come.  We won’t even let our kids out the door without gloves or a hat.  And yet, we seem to be turning a blind-eye to the massive debt we are throwing squarely on their shoulders.  Did I mention that our lead creditors will be countries like China?
 
 
• $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen, a near-zero emissions coal power plant in Illinois that the Department of Energy defunded last year because it said the project was inefficient.
• A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film.
• $650 million for the digital television converter box coupon program.
• $88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship).
• $448 million for constructing the Department of Homeland Security headquarters.
• $248 million for furniture at the new Homeland Security headquarters.
• $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.
• $400 million for the Centers for Disease Control to screen and prevent STD’s.
• $1.4 billion for rural waste disposal programs.
• $125 million for the Washington sewer system.
• $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities.
• $1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion.
• $75 million for “smoking cessation activities.”
• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges.
• $75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI.
• $25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction.
• $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River.
• $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas.
• $6 billion to turn federal buildings into “green” buildings.
• $500 million for state and local fire stations.
• $650 million for wildland fire management on forest service lands.
• $1.2 billion for “youth activities,” including youth summer job programs.
• $88 million for renovating the headquarters of the Public Health Service.
• $412 million for CDC buildings and property.
• $500 million for building and repairing National Institutes of Health facilities in Bethesda, Maryland.
• $160 million for “paid volunteers” at the Corporation for National and Community Service.
• $5.5 million for “energy efficiency initiatives” at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.
• $850 million for Amtrak.
• $100 million for reducing the hazard of lead-based paint.
• $75 million to construct a “security training” facility for State Department Security officers when they can be trained at existing facilities of other agencies.
• $110 million to the Farm Service Agency to upgrade computer systems.
• $200 million in funding for the lease of alternative energy vehicles for use on military installations.
 
List Source: CNN
 

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