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
 

WHO IS LOOKING OUT FOR SMALL BUSINESS?

Posted by John Park on Feb 4th, 2009
2009
Feb 4

 
Forgive me while I go on a tirade.
 
As you know, federal, state and local governments are suffering from major budget woes.  In CA, the franchise tax board (State IRS) is sending officials door-to-door to investigate if small retailers are properly collecting sales taxes.  Yes, they are going door-to-door to penalize small businesses and to levy heavy fines in cases where they might be operating as a retailer without a reseller permit.  Of course, they seem to be starting in lower income cities and in cities with a high-density of immigrants where tax codes might be difficult to understand or wade through.  The bright officials in CA have decided that this is a really good way to collect some revenues by kicking the small businesses while they are down.
 
When I learned of this, I was just outraged.
 
I really believe the “idiot level” of the federal, state and local governments have hit new heights in the past 6 months.  I don’t know any other group of people that can do more to stimulate an economy than small businesses.  I am referring to business with less than 25 employees—the real small businesses.  Every owner I know will almost immediately invest back in to their businesses whenever extra funds become available.  Small businesses are the “unsung heroes” holding this faltering economy together.  In essence, they are the duct tape. 
 
As idiots give other idiots billions of dollars of our tax money to companies on wall street and to the banks only to see them go on luxury retreats and to spend a million dollars to decorate an office, I am just astonished at the level of incompetence of our elected officials.  By the way, let’s not forget it’s these same companies who got us in to this mess in the first place.
 
In the meanwhile, small business owners work from dawn to dusk, 7 days a week, trying desperately to stay afloat.  They aren’t asking for bailouts.  They borrow from credit cards, ask their small staff to take pay cuts, cry quietly as they have to fire someone they consider family and their offices are decorated with a mix match of left-over furniture from luxurious places like Ikea and Staples.
 
WHO IS LOOKING OUT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES?
 
Aside from the campaign trail video clips at some pancake restaurant, small businesses are pretty much being left alone to fend for themselves.  It’s kind of like how the smartest kid in the class gets the least attention from the teacher.  I think it’s fair to say that our officials have no idea what is going on in “real” small businesses.  We certainly shouldn’t be looking towards the SBA for help—the most useless organization in government.  For example, the news was all over the fact that the auto industry suffered a 50% decline in sales last month and mentioned the closure of auto dealerships across the country.  Of course this is bad news but the auto industry does not operate in a bubble.  What about the janitorial service who used to clean these local dealerships?  What about the diner next door who used to serve lunch to all of the employees of the dealership?  What about the guys who used to install the add-on stereo systems?  What’s happening to these businesses?
 
Instead of spending almost a trillion dollars in pork to grow the government, how about doing something meaningful and substantial for the “real” small businesses?
 
Here are some off-the-cuff ideas.
 
1)  Give 10,000,000 small businesses with less than 25 employees a pre-paid credit card for $10,000.  It would only be offered to businesses that have been around for at least 1 year and the card can only be used for a pre-approved list of vendors or product types (business expenditures). Cost = $100 Billion
 
2)  Loosen the rules for small businesses with less than 25 employees to be able to do business with the federal government.  These rules are cumbersome and have criteria many small businesses cannot clear like years in business, revenue minimums and initial filing costs.  Cost = Practically Nothing
 
3)  Offer no interest/unsecured loans to small businesses with less than 25 employees.  Have the businesses prove a track record of profitability.  Cost = Much less than the money we loaned to the auto industry and wall street
 
 
Do you have any good ideas?  Believe me… they need some good ideas.
 
 

The Death of Capitalism in a Presidential Election Year

Posted by John Park on Oct 18th, 2008
2008
Oct 18

Abraham Lincoln Pro Capitalism

 
In this year of 700 Billion Dollar bailouts, 85 Billion Dollar loans to companies that like to spend 500K on company retreats, and possible write-offs of loan amounts speculative homeowners willingly signed for because of greed and envy: I can’t help but fall back on my true to the core capitalistic principles.  The fact that our politicians are now taking the lead from financial market decisions made in Europe might have something to do with it as well.
 
Both Barrack Obama and John McCain have abandoned CAPITALISM for an election.  In a Capitalistic Society, some will fail and some will succeed based on decisions made by individuals and because of market conditions (Timing).  Government should implement policies to grow these principles and afterwards, GET OUT OF THE WAY.  Government should not serve as a deterrent to failure.  Without failure, success cannot exist.
 
Now, you know how I REALLY feel.  Would you expect a Biz Crusader to have any belief other than the above?
 
As an example…I would like to offer you a few quotes from another Biz Crusader.
 
 
“Property is the fruit of labor…property is desirable…is a positive good in the world. That some should be rich shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another; but let him labor diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built.”
 
“The prudent, penniless beginner in the world labors for wages a while, saves a surplus with which to buy tools or land, for himself, then labors on his own account another while, and at length hires another new beginner to help him. . . .  Many independent men, in this assembly, doubtless a few years ago were hired laborers. . . .”
 
 
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
 
 

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