January 8, 2024
Good morning!
We have survived the 36 darkest days of the year, almost 10% of the days.
The Swedish IKEA stores are going boutique; no longer will you need to walk a mile to purchase one container or a dish towel.
We are buying more cars than ever, but driving less, at least cumulatively.
It’s not much less, maybe 2% or 3%.
And, the reason for more new car purchases than ever in history? Wait for it, wait for it… more people. (U.S. Transportation Dep’t.)
General Motors sales up 14% — Honda sales up 33%.
- Watching Jacques Pepin I was reminded of one of the better pieces of advice ever received:
- Buy the best ingredients and then don’t screw them up! (John Thompson in 1976)
- We are often distracted by bright lights, fast-moving shiny objects, miracle cures, skirmishing squirrels, and guaranteed results.
- The reality is, as you know, success is usually a result of small, steady steps completed day-by-day, along a directionally correct path.
- It’s hard work, rarely results in explosive fireworks, requires discipline, persistence, perseverance, and most of all: Vision to begin with.
- If you want to get somewhere you have to first figure out where it is you’re trying to get.
- There is much to enjoy in the latest edition of The Smithsonian, January-February, 2024
- In addition to the fascinating cover story, learn about the attempts to save the turtle, now even in Minnesota with its new Turtle Protection Law.
- Remember when it was somewhat of a thrill, and a rare occurrence, to be asked your opinion?
- Nowadays we’re asked for our opinion about everything; e.g., “Tell us about your experience pumping gas into your car.”
- The ever-present surveys have resulted in assessment overload.
- The place where I get the oil changed in my car literally begs, “If you give me anything less than a ten (out of ten), I might lose my job!”
- Wow!
- According to Zumbrun (2023), participation in surveys connected to the U.S. Department of Labour has dropped by as much as 30% over the last decade.
- Meaning, there are fewer data to extrapolate and with which to make predictions… we are simply tired of responding — and so we don’t.
- And some who respond do so with purposefully false or misleading answers. IOW, people are sick and tired of being asked their opinion.
- A young woman at Babson College has developed and is perfecting an application to encourage, develop, and sustain healthy relationships in the work place.
- The entrepreneur is receiving recognition and support beyond campus as business and professional leaders work at solving the virtual vs. in-person challenges.
- And, conclusions differ, but it would appear the in-person advocates have a slight edge in the productivity side of things; much more to come on this topic.
- Who appointed the Clutter Police — and how did they get so much power?
- Who decides clutter is clutter — and it’s bad — and non-clutter is good?
- The real estate industry remains affected by the lingering and palpable effects of the COVIDs.
- Hybrid work is here to stay, leaving offices under-occupied and forcing companies to adapt.
- A reimagining of real estate may mean downsizing and reconfiguring spaces.
- A lush green landscape awaits business owners — if they plant the right seeds now and optimize their resources. (McKinsey, 2024)
- “Which is more important, the destination or the journey?” “The company.” (Norbury, 2021)
- There is a tendency in the vernacular to refer to the United States system of government as a democracy.
- And of course, that’s wrong, it was never a democracy and was never intended to be a democracy.
- It’s a republic, which is another way of saying, representatives who are responsible to The People function as the government.
- Ben Franklin’s now-famous response to Elizabeth Powel’s question: “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?”
- “A republic, if you can keep it.” (Franklin, 1787)
- There is a common expression having its roots many centuries ago: Perfect is the enemy of good.
- Is there any such thing as a perfect government? Franklin and others thought not — and so let’s settle for a good one, or for one that is likely to be better than other forms.
- Here is a portion of that speech Ben made to G. Washington (Chairman) and the others assembled in Philadelphia on that September day:
- “In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution, with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a General Government necessary for us, and there is no form of government, but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered; and believe further, that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government…. From such an assembly can a perfect production be expected? It therefore astonishes me, sir, to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does…. Thus I consent, Sir, to this Constitution, because I expect no better, and because I am not sure, that it is not the best.” (Franklin, 1787)
