People Have a Hard Time Seeing Past Problems-Think to Resolution!

People with problems are often consumed and overwhelmed with those problems. It bothers them, takes up their time and soaks up huge aspects of their life. When these problems are really big they influence just about everything in their lives. I raised two boys, went to school full time and worked, dealt with income/loss, and every other aspect of the game of life. I'm not immune to life's problems. Over the years I developed a strategy that helps me put current actions in alignment with future vision in a way that leads to higher outcomes. 

That is right...focusing on what a resolution looks like helps to keep everything else in perspective. It also helps us see past our problems to constructive resolution.  

We are often consumed by the here and now and it blinds us to what is more important and that is how the problems get resolved. I'm going to use a friend as an example here. Due to her previous marriage and relationship her and her ex husband owe the IRS money and she struggles with balancing her bills. The bills are more of the symptom of an internal need that impacts choice.

Of course most of us struggled with money at one point or another. It doesn't matter if you are rich or poor. When your rich you just deal with big numbers. Many who we considered rich are more rich in debt then they the show us. Debt is a hedge to the future and when you are not able to produce now to cover your expenditures you have a problem. Money isn't the issue...its what causes those choices is the issue.

Continuing on...this person has a hard time seeing how her behavior compounds her problems. She needs to feel special because of her poor background (completely normal belief from that background) That need impacts the status symbols she buys and the need to look as though she is doing very well. Such beliefs impact everything in her life from her purchases to her dating choices. It is hard to choose against an item that temporarily alleviates the felling of "less than".

It relates to something called neuroeconomics. Neuroeconomics helps to explain how purchasing behaviors are choices deeply embedded in the subconscious decision-making matrices. Most of us are not able to see how our deeply embedded perceptions of self in a wider world impact our choices long before they actual make a conscious choice.

Most of us carry these childhood beliefs into adulthood and then relive them over and over without critical review. The problem is more concerning when people are destructive because they lack this self-awareness. If you were ever on the receiving end of hate based behaviors you know how deep seated these beliefs actually are (Hate based behaviors are deep and boundaries are unimportant to internal psychological traits and cravings.)

Almost no insight into how their need to feel special and "worthy" impacted choices over money, children, life, hate and bigotry were deeply rooted in feelings of loss and abandonment. That unconscious assumption played out in how they deal with others who are different or who challenge their assumptions about life. Whether we are talking about buying habits and/or in-out group dynamics most of us have little clue why we do what we do (The notion that most behavior is unconscious and out of our awareness). 

Self-awareness rises over our lives if we pay attention to that little voice that says we should understand before we judge. What we see isn't always what is actually happening. We have to understand the situation based on logic and the deeper emotional mechanics of the actors involved. Perhaps the one who everyone likes to blame (i.e. the scapegoat) is the one who wants the most helpful positive outcome that leads to greater awareness of why such behaviors occurred in the first place (Getting through the psychological barriers). 

Looking out a year after resolution is the eventual goal. It won't always work out that way but having a longer term goal does help to minimize the fog of emotions when engaged in conflict. It provides a reference outside of the situation that leads to better decision making in the chaotic situation. To reach those goals one must enact steps and it is those steps that become action behaviors. Thinking beyond the crisis means aligning present action to future outcomes. Seeing past yourself and past your needs leads to higher levels of decision making. First responders can envision the outcome during a crisis to make decisions and people can do the same for business or their personal lives. The mechanics are the same. 

Letter Concerning Queen City Shipwreck to Delta County Michigan Area Museums & Historical Societies

 As a team of divers and explorers we searching for the Queen City shipwreck that sunk around 1875 near Ford River Michigan. As of date, we have conducted one dive to practice working together and checking on our equipment. You can watch that video HERE. We decided as a team we are going to reach out to some of the local historical societies and museums to see if they would have any preliminary interest in curating any artifacts we find. Thus we are trying to set up and understand the general permit and curation process once a shipwreck is found. 

Yes we are diving enthusiasts and are doing this for in part because we are enjoy the sense of adventure but also we are also trying to use our skills to help the local community through contributions to science. The work we do is to help raise awareness of underutilized Delta County Michigan as an investment and adventure tourism region as well as the general importance of its historical significance as a shipping location in the global supply chain (Maybe it can be again someday when we find a way to find value for regional industries selling overseas). I'm also a business professor and take some interest in the academic aspects as well as knowledge of commerce supply chains from that era (physical vs. virtual economic platforms). 

I drafted a letter that will be sent to historical societies/museums within a certain range of Delta County Michigan. The letter has multiple purposes....

1. Any research resources they have on the ship. 

2. Raise awareness of our work and how it elevates history/science education. 

3. Find a historical society/museum that can offer their expertise and curate any findings. 

4. To explore other intellectual, financial, and equipment resource opportunities. 

The map I used in the email shows the generic region we are searching. We are not giving up specifics but just showing where with a quick search you can see that the records indicate it sunk somewhere near Ford River. Where specifically is at is part of our research.....and we will keep that private....:)

President Trump and Joe Biden Conduct Town Halls 10-15-20

 If your watching the election news and want to catch up on the latest and greatest you may want to watch.......

President  Trumps Town Hall 10-15-20.....

Joe Biden Town Hall 10-15-20.......

Thoughts on President Trumps Speech at NY Economic Club

President Trump discusses the economy, vaccines, trade deals and much more. For the purposes of this blog I'm more into the economic side. He said we are going to have a great 3Q. I also believe this is possible but I'm not really anything special when it comes to economic projections. I'm just dabbling with an economic theory of transactional clusters that might do a better job of incorporating digital GDP and new virtual employment. Technological adaptation and changing of American habits can have an impact on online purchases, services, etc... (There is going to be some need for changing our regulations and policies to better protect business and consumers from overreaching marketspace policies but that ultimately they trail blazed some of what we need for a digital transformation.)

Yikes...I keep blabbing! Ultimately....if its true that his administration indicates there 3Q will be a great economy and then early next year better...I would like to know the logic they are using. Two different ways of looking at the same problem and coming to a similar conclusion is interesting. That would be cool. My theory isn't politics...and it doesn't have anything to do with supporting any particular candidate. What I want to understand is if my model can predict a market change, upswing, or economic activity. It almost seems like I'm getting closer to creating a wider digital framework.

As with all theories it borrows from many other theories like Creative Destruction, Theory of the Firm, and Social (Virtual and Physical) Social Networking to explain innovation and digital development. You can read more about it HERE in its working draft work. I'm not an economist by trade but do have a doctorate in business and some understanding of how science works. So I think I'm doing a descent job of integrating lots of different resources and research. I'm not saying I am the "authority" on the topic in any way, shape or form. 

I digress...

President Trump does mention regulations and treaties. Yes...I think these are important. We want regulations that make sense but not those that hinder business without providing any real benefits to society. Purging old regulations and creating new ones helps in better managing the nation and keeping us up to date so we can compete on a global scale. We have lost some of that competitiveness over the past few decades as China rises and we become accustomed to thinking "within the box". 

Changing treaties is also important when we can use our leverage to get a better deal. To truly have a powerful place on the market we want to updated our digital networks and put ourselves at the center of the global supply chain. This means we want the U.S. to be innovative and pro entrepreneurial activity in a way that leads to higher international investment, universal law (that applies equally across different races/religions, and a higher and more enlightened society that helps people become life long learners. 

You can watch the video below....

 

Uber Surge-Fair? The Need for Additional Transportation Options

I'm waiting at the San Diego Airport ready to hail Uber. I like Uber and have used them a lot over the years to get around a big city without finding parking. I have tried Lyft from time to time but typically stick with Uber out of habit. However, a recent incident made me think about using Lyft a little more often as something to check before I press the order button on Uber. Surge pricing looks bad for business and can be a turn off for customers.

I wasn't sure if there was Lyft at the airport or otherwise I would have checked my options. In this case, Uber said the driver is 4 minutes away and what the price would be to get to Mission Valley $22. I clicked the button and it spun for about 50 seconds and gave me 15 minutes wait time and a surcharge raising the price to $31. I clicked wait for next drive and each time I pressed the button it got more expensive. 

I'm not sure I agree with that system because it has happened to me a couple of times. I click the button thinking the driver is close and once I do the time changes to something much longer and often at a higher price. One time I had 3 different drivers cancel after making me wait for each one. Once I clicked cancel because the driver was taking too long by sitting in the same spot for about 10 minutes (not sure what they were doing) and I was charged $5. 

The surge charge is a little like going into a grocery store and because they are low on apples they changed the price from fifty cents on the display and once I wait in line and get to the cashier they tell me it will now be $3 each (supply and demand). Sure I can choose not to buy the apple but I really need that apple to make an apple pie. If this happened very often I would likely seek options because I want to trust the places I shop.

There are differences between Uber and the grocery store. I can go to any grocery store in the city but I don't have a lot of options for hailing a ride. When you become top dog in the environment you also have to think about your overall responsibility to ensure you are following common standards of ethical business. Changing the price and allowing drivers the opportunity to cancel because they can make more money on another ride just doesn't sit right when cabs have gone out of business and there are not a lot of options.

It almost looks like bait and switch.

I guess in a world where there are lots of different options that is fine and I will just vote with my fingers. However, in a world where there are few options you are a captive audience and thus forced to pay the exploitive price. I think in this case, the only thing we can do is vote with the one option available Lyft. For the next month I will seek to click Lyft first to change my habits so that I can ensure that there is some consequence to what appears to be exploitive behavior. 

I still love Uber but I realized that without competition we are at the mercy of a single company that seeks to maximize its profits. If all the buses, cabs and competition were put out of business would we still be protecting the consumer while serving the public? Competition and variability are important for improved ethical performance and price. Act selfish...people walk!

I asked for the surge money back. I will let you know if they give it back. 

What the IMF is Right and Wrong About on their Economic Projections for the U.S.?

 I'm reading through the IMF World Economic Output. The U.S. is projected in 2020 to have a -4.9% GDP  contraction from the 2.3% in 2019 and then a 4.5% GDP expansion in 2021. You can read more about it HERE.   From the report you have the impression that the pandemic was completely destructive but that there should be an increase of over 2.2% improvement over 2019. 

First, let me say that I suspected that there would be an increase in 2021. Perhaps overall there is a decline in 2020 but that we start to adapt and we should see serious increases in Q3 and Q4. I think there will be an under projection by the IMF for the 2021. 

One of the reasons why this happens and how it doesn't completely apply to the U.S. is that we were already starting a transition to a more virtual economic existence and its impact on Digital GDP before Covid. The pandemic forced us to adapt faster. 2023 and 2024 will likely be marked improvements as investment to the U.S. return and technology takes precedence.

There will naturally be a dip in 2020 as we deal with the pandemic but as investments increase we should see a very strong early 2021 in the first 2 quarters. So along with my theoretical ramblings I expected a stronger recovery at the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021 back in April/May of this year and the need for Digital GDP in late 2019 just prior to the Pandemic.

I'm kind of curious if I will be close. Not exact but if the trends work that way form an intellectual exercise. 😜

Lets see what happens! You can read a few articles on adaptation below....

GDP Contracts 1st Q of 2020-Is It a Short Lived Shock and Digital GDP Recovery?

How the Economy Might Change After COVID-19?

Digital GDP on Government's Mind. Can We Maximize Growth Through Cluster Development?

 

John James and Democrat Incumbent Gary Peters Are Neck-n-Neck in Michigan

 I took a brief look at the pole conducted by NY Times through Siena College Poll. HERE.   You will find that they are 43% to 42% and this is a neck-to-neck race. We should understand that 1% is well within the margin of error (4.3%) for the poll. Total participants are 614 likely voters. This means they are equal from a statistical sense and its open to anyone still. We can also say from the pole that Peters appeals a little more to minorities but there are plenty of traditional supporters around John James. Typically I would like to see 1000 participants but I have also struggled to gain that level as well. 

https://int.nyt.com/data/documenttools/miwi1020-crosstabs/b0a09cd1cd0048df/full.pdf

Radicalism in America: Who do the Laws Protect Anyway?

 Radicalism is growing in American and we must ensure we have the laws in place and the moral will to stand up against abuse. We try and we seek to apply the law where it is beneficial but often it is subjective in its application and its eventual result. National leadership should start thinking how laws are applied universally to protect American citizens from radical intimidation and coordination. As I age I realize the importance of trying to do what is right with the most integrity I can must (Yes I make tons of mistakes because I'm human).  

I'm not stranger to radical aggression. I have a Muslim sounding name and two black children. You would think this wouldn't be a problem but for many it is a big problem and they have no issues with seeking to exploit those differences for personal gain. The laws have not always been applied fairly. 

The laws are designed with good intent but its application is often difficult to decipher. I'm a conservative that runs my own course because I know the blindness by which many people live. While I hope to someday have support for a more political run, our nation needs people like me now more than ever. We need people who don't fit the stereotypes we have deluded ourselves with for so long.

Being conservative to me means follow those basic religious values such as charity, kindness, love, and even strength to ensure we make a better world. If I disagree with someone's opinion and/or lifestyle I have a responsibility to respect and cherish their life. I have often not received that myself and there have been few that would do the right things without first checking in with their friend's value systems.

I have for a while known the benefits of kindness, resilience and strength. 

Laws are tools we use to maintain peace and a moral purpose in life. If someone is viewed differently than us, we often have no problem prescribing all that is not good to them. At the same point, if someone is seen the same we have no problem giving them the halo effect and attributes they do not deserve.

I spend my time helping orphans, writing about what I believe is right, and engaging in science. My life has been devoted to making the world a better place. My life and childhood came from a very dark place where love was absent and aggression in one form was constantly present. 

I do not necessarily blame those people for some of the diagnosed, and undiagnosed, mental health disorders they face but will continue to stand against adversity (of which some was criminal and life threatening). They have taught me that most people will follow and few will lead. The ones we think are leading are often just saying the same rhetoric their followers want to hear. 

The laws have been subjectively applied in many of these cases. Whether we are discussing child abuse or extremism as that seen by the attempt to abduct a governor the goal is always to force one's will on another person. People spread rhetoric, encourage violence, steal, make inflammatory statements, and the list goes on. 

I have also learned that such people will almost never see themselves at fault for anything. Extremist hate behavior is based in serious depravity and the need to overpower others. There is no stopping them without the use of law. They are not guided by moral principle in so much as they are afraid of being held to account or losing some street credibility to people who are as ignorant as them. 

I've also seen where the laws that were intended to do well don't apply to certain people who are viewed in a non-traditional light. While I may have a Muslim sounding name I actually view myself as more of a Catholic-Muslim-Jew (No offence to those who find offence in everything) that believes in the core values shared by the three great monotheistic religions (Don't stop there...I have also read some things on Hinduism and Buddhism and found wisdom there). 

While I plan on getting more involved in politics I cannot say that the politicians would accept me. I likely would have little support because I'm not radical enough and I'm not willing to lie to mislead people to vote for me. I'm Republican by economic philosophy and Democrat with the willingness to be help my common man and accept the natural differences in our species. 

What I find most disturbing is that rational centralist behavior is becoming increasingly rare while the pressure to be a radical is high. I have Right and Left friends and they are always the most intelligence, smartest, people in the room while everyone who disagrees is an idiot! Go figure....I took an IQ test and and an evaluation as was seen as having high intelligence...yet I'm not smart enough to understand the logic of what they are saying. 

Going forward I want to become more involved in politics as a voice of reason thwarting radicalism in all its forms. I also want to do more to help our nation's economy and those who are suffering. When it comes to bigotry and hate crimes there should be zero tolerance across all aspects of our society. It isn't about values...because I have very American values...it is about allow ignorance to fester in unquestioning crowds. Likewise, I'm working on climbing Mount Everest (no idea if I will actually do it but I plan on going to Denver this year to start training this winter) for justice. Justice for the kids that were not protected from abuse, justice for good Americans that were subject to hate crimes, and most of all justice to the American people who need leaders that are willing to stand up for a basic value system beyond self-serving rhetoric. We are moving into a new world and it will become more apparent that the way things were in the past will not be that way in the future. We need more Americans with central American values. 

Ex-Service Members Charged in Governor Whitmer Kidnap Plot

Marines and service members make vows to protect their nation from enemies foreign and domestic. Some believe those values are for a lifetime and some feel they are only relevant while in the service. While we may or may not like this or that elected leaders we have an obligation to protect the democratic institution that our people have chosen to guide them. It shows you that radicalism is a human problem and not specific to any race or religion. We may even disagree with a specific policy but we must respect that people had an opportunity to disagree and vote on topics without taking arms. I respect systems that work...and democratic institutions that help our republic draw in as many stakeholders as possible. 

Small Manufacturing Innovation Steps-Escanaba Polo Mallet Company

One of the challenging aspects of making polo mallets is the ability to find straight shafts. The crooked ones are easy to find and you can obtain them in bundles for around $1 per pole. Out of a bundle of 30 shafts there are 1 or 2 that are usable. The alternative is to buy perfect shafts that by the time you pay for the shaft with shipping it is around $40 which makes them very expensive. Because straight shafts are getting harder to come by Escanaba Polo Mallet Company went on the hunt to experiment with alternative methods of obtaining increasingly rare straight mallet shafts. 

Experimentation allows for businesses to adapt and better meet market needs. We know that our customers want straight shafts and while we pick out those that are the straightest they are not perfect. While our customers accept little bends in shafts in the polo industry the experimentation lead to a much straighter shaft that many other supplies don't have. 

Here are a few steps to micro-manufacturing experimentation that anyone can do for themselves. 

1. Define Your Problem: Lack of availability and excessive cost of straight poles. Find a way of correcting crooked poles.

2. Understand its Value on the Market: Offering straight poles raises the value of the product from an aesthetic and performance purpose. 

3. Review Current Information/Methods: Look at your library, online, and experts on ways to straighten poles. The more you know about the different methods the better you can define yours. 

4. Experiment with Different Methods: I have tried a few ways such as steaming, weighting, soaking, etc... some worked but they were too slow of a process. I needed something easier without lots of bulky equipment.

5. Test the Finished Product: I found what worked and was able to straighten poles. To ensure structural quality I used and tested the poles. What I found was that there was no noticeable difference. 

6. Be Open to Customer Feedback: Just because you liked what you did sometimes customers don't. I sent out my first straightened mallet and asked the buyer to let me know what they did and didn't like about the mallet. I'm opening my lines of communication and keeping in close touch with customers to build relationships. 

Escanaba Polo Mallet Company is a good works start-up that makes American made polo mallets and gear and supports charitable organizations for orphans and child enrichment. https://www.escanabapolomallet.com/