What about the burning of the Quran

Image via WikipediaI found myself investigating the very core of my values when I heard about the pastor in Florida who is advocating an international day of burning the Quran.  At first I felt a strong disapproval, then slid into a feeling of agreement.  I started to feel as if "they" feel "they" can burn our flag, our Bibles, our books, why are "they " so upset about burning theirs? Isn't this about equal treatment?  You disrespect me, I disrespect you!  But wait!  Isn't our culture one which sets us apart from others?  Isn't our tolerance for your belief and for you to practice your religious beliefs a value which sets us apart?  Isn't it also our intolerance to actions which damage or cause injury to others as they practice their religion make us who we are?  I believe it is.  I believe our core values are the ones which set us apart from others.  I think the majority of us believe anyone is entitled to observe their faith and religion as they wish as long as it does not cause any type of harm to anyone else.  Alexis de Tocqueville in his book Democracy in America published in 1835, saw in America a balance of liberty and equality for individuals as well as community.  He observed the notion of Christianity and liberty so intimate in our lives that one cannot be conceived without the other.  He stated America is one of the freest and most enlightened nations in the world.  He stated this in 1835!  Burning books is not the answer.  We Americas have a high tolerance for many people and many beliefs.  We voice our disgust and anger at flag burnings and destruction of religious artifacts.  However, we don't join into that type of barbaric and uncivilized behavior.  Its what makes us who we are.  Its what makes us Americans.  Its what puts us above the fray.  Book burning is not the answer and past history has proven this fact.

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United Stgates Postal Service - not all it says it is!

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     I recently sent a gift card to some friends in New Port Richie, Florida from the US Post Office in Newtown, CT. and asked what would be the safest way to send it as well as a US Passport I needed to send for renewal.  The Postal workers said, Certified Mail so I could track it.  So, I did.  They put it in an additional postal envelope, I signed some documents and off they went. 
     Fortunately the Passport made the cycle without a hitch.  The gift card did not.  I got into a semi heated discussion with the Postal clerk about the tracking (the tracking system said it hadn't even left the facility yet) and they said, "We can guarantee you its not here."  I obviously asked how, and they said that every piece of certified mail must go out the same day.  I then obviously asked, where is mine.  They said not here.  So, you can see where this is going.  Logically if their system says it hasn't moved and they said it because it hasn't arrived at the receiving location and having checked the receiving location, its not there, I would think the Newtown CT post office must still have it.  But, they say, "No." 
     Ok, I will play by the rules.  I wait 30 days, file a complaint.  The Newtown Office responds to the complaint by basically saying, it's not their problem.  I then call the USPS Consumer affairs people and Mathew, call sign BIOFKO on April 28th states I will have a response within 2 business days.  I call again today (May 11) because I have not received any response, which I think I have given then sufficient time to respond...well over 2 business days.  So, after talking to the Consumer Affairs people at their hot line they say that the only thing that is really trackable is express mail.  Hmmmm, interesting...  So, in reply I reaffirm what they are saying is that registered and certified mail guarantees nothing unless you send it express mail.  She says yes.  So get this...WE ARE ALL PAYING FOR THOSE EXTRA SERVICES WHICH GUARANTEE NOTHING.  And they wonder why they are losing business and customers. 
     In short, the trusted USPS is not longer to be trusted and our reliance on their commitment to service and wanting us to feel sorry for them for being underpaid and overworked, well, for me, that is just gone out the window.  I will pursue this as far as I can.  Its about trust and responsibility and ethics at this point and I am not giving up.

How much will you pay for your drop down oxygen mask?

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US airlines have been complaining about profits and loss of revenue and are thinking about innovative ways to get more money from their customers. The interesting thing is that they are driving their customers away with the petty way they are trying to save their business. We have some advice for the leadership of the major airlines companies and an easy way to increase customer traffic.


If you travel, and I am sure many of you have, you can almost recite the flight attendants messages, "...in the case of an emergency masks will automatically drop from above. Put your mask on first and then help children or others with theirs." The reason you do this is because if "you" are not panicking you will be able to help others later. If you don’t, you're out cold and then you add to the amount of victims. This is fairly sound reasoning and logical. So, why not charge for the use of the mask? The major airlines could take the leadership role and charge everyone $5 for potential use and make billions. Then, once they have forced them to pay for the mask...make the oxygen optional and charge for that too. Ok, you're probably thinking, what does this have to do with overall business strategy and being profitable? Actually quite a bit.

First and foremost, think about what airlines have forced their customers to do. First, you get charged for checking your baggage. This results in people packing carry on bags to the hilt and bringing with them on board. The result is less lost baggage, as recently reported by the major airlines, but increase in airline departure delays because of the need of more time for people to shove and push their way around while clobbering you in the head to get their bag into the overhead bin. And, flight attendants have increased their personal claims for back injuries helping to lift those heavy carry on bags. And what does the airline do, charge for carry on bags. Logically, I think, they are charging for a condition they created as well as problems in getting people seated so they can depart. This just doesn't sound fair to me.

Fixing the problem isn't as difficult as it may seem. It takes innovative leadership, an understanding of local culture, specifically US culture, and the presence of mind to think innovatively. Has it dawned on any of the CEOs that Americans will pay for quality service, for being treated with respect, and for comfort?

The plan: Allow for free bag check-in up to 50 lbs, per adult, regardless of the amount of bags. Allow for only one carry on per person and have it be a specific size, no exceptions. Preferably this should have a maximum size of the typical overhead sized carry-on, again no exceptions. Increase the cost of the ticket to a reasonable level that would cover the current add-on charges. Now, add some leg room, and offer a few amenities for free such as soft drinks and water. I can almost guarantee you will fill flights, you will gain customer loyalty, your customers will speak highly of your brand and your customer base will increase. I think it’s fairly obvious your ROI will be exceptional. Or, you may want to consider how much airline CEOs are willing to pay for their own oxygen masks.

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Steps to turning around the economy

Economic recovery is right in front of your eyes. I’ve been having a number of discussions with my colleagues and other business associates in regard to the state of the economy. As we discussed our economic dilemma and ideas for fixing it, it became as obvious our formula for an incredible turn around was fairly simple. I am sure there will be many skeptics and naysayers. However it should be obvious after I make my point that we, the taxpayers have the answer at hand. And, by the way, we are actually paying for our own current demise. Shocked? You should be. Ok, let’s think about where we are and let’s think about the leaders we elected to run this country, our country.


All of our huge government projects are paid for with our tax dollars. I am assuming you are not surprised. The fact is we all should have a say into how those dollars are spent. We all should be writing and calling our elected officials and demanding if they spend our hard earned tax dollars we demand it gets spent on American manufactured products created by American labor using American materials. Yes, it may be more expensive but think of the long term effect on the state of the economy. We end up keeping our US citizens employed at our factories and bringing home an income and spending it locally and thereby invigorating and revitalizing the economy. Sounds simple, doesn’t it. Well, it is. It doesn’t require a person with a degree from Harvard in Economics to ascertain keeping your money flowing in the local economy will make it stronger and you life much better.

Ok, here is what you need to do. It only requires you to take some action. All you need to do is demand, yes demand, your government to only spend your money on contracts which are filled by companies that employ US workers, using US materials and products made in the USA. Accomplishing this will easily solve our economic crisis. Paying foreign countries for materials, equipment, products, supplies, and a myriad of other things does not help us and will not solve the problem. Its time to turn the time and buy things only made in the USA.

Memphis - Some southern R&B and history to boot - WOW!!!

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 I recently had the opportunity to warm up in the Shubert Theater on Broadway to be part of an inspired, spirited and heart pounding presentation of Memphis. Chad Kimball delivered a performance that was able to make you tweak up your listening skills to fluidly hear that Tennessee twang and be part of his life. He was credible, likeable and more importantly, believable in his portrayal of Huey Calhoun, a person of limited academic training and knowledge but with a vision and passion for music in an era when Black soul and rock and roll were deemed as being subversive and not proper. Damn that, full speed ahead. The audience gets drawn into this historic reflection of things many of us lived through. To see the evolution on stage and the stereotypical conflict of White and Black, especially as it applies to a relationship is still eye opening and maybe for some...not understood. And maybe, even hopefully, a younger generation needs to be told of this conflict because it no longer exists. Wishful thinking, I'm sure. There is a lot of reality in this show and sometimes some discomfort in facing demons of the past. However, Chad Kimball's incredibly voice and the magnificence of Montego Glover is overwhelming. Montego, as Felicia, is talented, confident, and artistic and her inner, as well as outer, beauty adds a scintillating spark to the cast. Well done! What a great day to be in New York, in the winter, in the Shubert, in an audience which has the privilege to hear this incredible cast. If you're looking for great music, a wonderfully romantic story and some dancing that will make you jump out of your seats...see Memphis.

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Does AVATAR have a hidden message, or are we just introspecting?

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The hot topic today seems to be about the hidden messages in AVATAR. I've seen this wonderfully technologically advanced and visually overloading movie and I didn't find anything hidden at all. That is not to say there isn't a message to take away, or things to think about, or no more than the moral messages from the other blockbuster movie with a message BLINDSIDE . So, why is there all this hoopla about the movie? Personally I am overjoyed it may have caused people to think about conservation, the environment, military might, mercenaries, invasion of indigenous peoples, flower, fauna, the planet and yes the incredibly rare and needed ore called unobtainium (get it...it's unobtainable, except on Pandora). As I walked away from the movie I too had feelings of remorse of how we, the US culture treated our Native Americans. Ok, I admit, it wasn't me, but to think about how people from another continent invaded, yes invaded the western hemisphere for their own gratification. You can call it what you want, but the natives owned their own land and it was taken from them. The natural resources were used to whatever means were desired. Also, this was with total disregard to the natural balance of things. Reviewing past history, we know the end results. I think this has struck a very sensitive cord because it may have forced us to take a look at ourselves in the very largest perspective of looking at ourselves and what we, the human race has done. You can make all sorts of excuses or rationalizations, but we all know the reality of our actions. If you take the time to sit back and think, and ponder, and observe, and really reflect, you can make your own conclusions, and you will. History teaches us many things and all we have to do is learn from it. The stronger, bolder, more aggressive beings seem to always want to overpower, rule, and control the weaker...does this sound familiar? The weaker indigenous peoples seem to understand the importance of the balance of nature. They appear to be in touch with the important elements of life. I could list significant times in history where this is repeated, but you should know those. I did have the opportunity to do a field study of the American Indians while a student at Wayne State University in Detroit and learned a lot about our Native Americans and how they understood the balance of nature. I also learned about myself and walked away with a new different perspective. Knowledge will do that. Additionally, I could list many many movies with similar messages, such a Dances with Wolves, Last of the Mohegans, Lawrence of Arabia, Little Big Man, even Brave heart. The story line is the same. Good versus evil. Weak versus strong. Ideals and Culture clashes. If AVATAR stirred up some hidden feelings, biases, or political discoveries ....good. I think it worked because we are all talking about it. 

Need cultural insight?  Contact http://www.globalcoachingandconsulting.com/  

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Job Satisfaction?

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I heard a hot news item this morning as well as read about it on a number of news sites where researchers from the Conference Board found "only 45% of workers were happy with their jobs, dropping from 49% in 2008."  An interesting point is the Conference Board research group concluded that the recession was only partly to blame for the drop.  Ok, paint me pink and call me Dumbo, but I am thinking someone received a grant to compile this survey and will probably do another which will find some obvious results.  As a person who recieved the 'Blue Boot' from IBM in February of 2009, I can give some first hand insight into the uninviting job market.  Yes, yes, I know, from all the experts and motivators and career coaches (me now being one of them), I have heard about networking, meetings, being motivated, positive and maintaining or increasing skills.  Yes, they are all important.  However, when you are scrambling to pay the current bills, you pretty much will do whatever it takes to get some revenue flow.  Ok, what does that have to do with job satisfaction?  It has everything to do with job satisfaction.  Think about it...when a person takes a job to gain revenue to pay their bills they have pretty much taken a landslide to the bottom of Maslow's hierarchy and are focused on survival.  They may not like the job because it is just that...a job.  Not a career.  Not a exceptionally enligthening experience.  Not a step to self actualization.  It's a means to and end.  So, surprise, surprise, surprise.  Job satisfaciton has plummeted.  Duuuhhhhh!!!  I don't agree with the experts in their view of productivily falling because of this.  People are afraid and will work to stay employed.  I believe productivity will start to fall when the economy really starts to turn around. 

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At that time, workers will have more choices which they see as being career oriented and with growth potential.  They will leave their currect jobs and move out and on to better opportunities.  You don't need to pay high priced researchers to discover these things, its pretty much common sense and maybe being "street wise".  I think what you will find is it becomes a Leadership issue and a problem with people Management.  If you have these workers who are dissatisfied, as a leader you need to find out what motivates them and what skills they bring.  Capitalize on those and you  won't lose the talent or edge you may have in the market.  Your employees are not just numbers, or as in IBM mumbo jumbo 'resources'.  They are people.  Treat them accordingly and your return on your investment in them will be tenfold.  Because, you see, all these studies, findings, and research is about...people.

For help for your organization see http://www.globalcoachingandconsulting.com/

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