Four Benefits for Kayaking

We live busy lives and have busy schedules. So busy that many of us get stressed out and have a difficult time finding ways to relax and slow down. Getting out of the office and engaging in an outdoor activity has multiple advantages for busy professionals. Kayaking is an excellent sport that offers three major benefits that include fitness, stress reduction, outdoor recreation, and cost.

Fitness: Kayaking offers a strong upper body in addition to cardio advantages. Consider the amount of effort it takes for your upper body to move the paddles from side to side. As you push yourself through the body your chest, arms, abs and back get a workout. Your heart rate will increase and this will further your cardio goals.

Stress Reduction: Physical activity and spending time in the outdoors holds benefits for stress reduction. People seem to improve their outlook on life when they reduce their stress levels in a way that further develops their outlook on life. Engaging in activities like kayaking on a regular basis can keep you productive.

Outdoor Recreation: The great outdoors are a big part of our lives as a human species. Engaging in outdoor activities helps you to appreciate the world in which we live. The more we involve ourselves in nature the more we appreciate the environment and seek to help it flourish.

Cost: The cost of kayaking is relatively cheap. You can rent them for around $10 an hour, buy one for under $400 and get a used one for under $150. If one plans on engaging in the sport on a regular basis they should consider finding a used one to purchase.

Will Social Security Really Go Broke 20 Years?

According to a government report recently released the Social Security trust fund should be broke in 20 years. This means that it is protected in the long run but will begin to underfund the needs of senior citizens. The analysis conducted by the government is beneficial because it gives us some time to start finding solutions.

While I have not seen the actual details of the analysis I do wonder if Baby Boomers and potential new revenue from Mellennials are calculated into its projection. A few of the reasons why Social Security is going bankrupt is because the large Baby Boomer expenditures based on increasing health care costs and age were not replaced by Generation X.

However, Mellinnials are very large group of 75.4 million, when compared with Baby Boomers, who are 74.9 million, thereby allowing for an increase in Social Security funds. A large percentage of Baby Boomers will be passing away over the next decade and with only a small Generation X to take money out of the system it might see much higher revenues when compared to expenses

Perhaps these calculations are already added or perhaps they have not been fully factored in. I do wonder if it is possible that Social Security will not only not run out of money but could possibly be fully funded starting a decade or so down the road. The tides in eligible workers that can pay into the system are increasing and this should, if it already isn't, be calculated into the projection.

IMF Predicts Low Growth and Offers Advice

The IMF projects that the U.S. economy will grow a measly 2.2% citing concerns from the global market and internal political structure within the U.S. Their analysis cites complex risks but not too many specific large risks beyond China and British/EU dynamics. They do offer some advice that revolves around more around the fundamentals of the economy.

Considering the small but still important risks the economy face they have some level of justification for their assessment. Off the top of my head I can say China's stimulus, EU/England departure, ISIS, Russian/West relations issues, and conflict in the Middle East are partly responsible. However, I don't think the analysis is complete.

Most of these items are only partly responsible for slower growth but don't completely determine the projection. There are some positive things that are moving the U.S. in the right direction. Unless something major does happen it is suspected that the World Bank and IMF are low in their projections. Perhaps not by much, but still low unless the bottom falls out through a major event.

The IMF does make some solid suggestions such as increasing infrastructure, boost earned-income tax credit, minimum wage and closing corporate tax loopholes. Infrastructure improves overall competitiveness and acts s a stimulus. Earned-income tax credit and corporate tax loops are part of the same need to reform taxes. Minimum wage is a highly debatable and contentious issue.

Understanding How Employees Are Motivated

Employees have many motivations and desires that keep them moving each day. Each has within them something that pushes them to accomplish tasks within their lives. Sometimes these motivations are simply money while at other times they could be something more. Knowing what motivates an employee can make the difference between an average and a steller performer.

Consider what an organization would be like if it was full of highly motivated and energetic employees. It would be great, people would get things done, and the organization would be zooming along. The problem is that this is fantasy land and doesn't truly happen in real life.

People hide their motivations, don't believe they can accomplish them and then bury them with layers of other issues. They are difficult to detect and understand. However, with time and with a watchful eye it is possible to start picking out patterns of how people act on issues.

For example, someone who is motivated to move up the ranks within an organization will generally take on new projects, jump in front of the line, be super excited about getting recognition. A person seeking more freedom and independence will want projects they are in charge of, don't want much interaction with their boss, and will seek to set their own course.

It takes time to determine what your employees want. It is possible to do this when you watch what they are doing, where they emphasis their skills, and how they act and react to situations. Once you have found the basic motivations you can then allocate assignments and work in a way that furthers the organizations needs and raises the employees satisfaction.

Feds Still Expect Slow Economic Growth

Federal Research Chairman cites uncertainties that will make them cautious on raising interest rates. In testimony to Congress she indicated the potential fears as they relate to EU, China, and the domestic economy that make raising interest rates quickly over the next few years less likely. It is expected that growth will stay under 2% countering the need to raise interest rates.

The purpose of raising interest rates is to make borrowing money more expensive and in turn slow down the economy. A big question people ask is why would someone want to slow down the economy? There is an optimal growth point where too slow is not good and too fast is not so greater either.

Let us say that the economy is zooming along at 10%. You would find inflation rising, wages would stay behind, and people would not be able to keep up with increasing expenses. Most of the country would be employed but there would be significant labor shortages. The ideal rate is somewhere between 2 to 3.5% with an inflation rate of 2%

When the economy is sliding along at a slow pace we will soon find that raising interest rates are counterproductive to the needs of economic encouragement. Cheaper money means that companies can borrow on a commercial level and then invest in their businesses and operations. It also means consumers can get a good rate on buying houses and products to keep the economy going.