Time is Catching Up

It always does.  Decisions for short term comfort have long term consequences. Sometimes these consequences are unseen, but often consequences are ignored because the immediate gain is calling now. The extra desert becomes added weight year after year.

We don’t save enough for the future because of debts for cars, vacations and over priced schools. We underfund our retirement and underestimate how long we will live. Few of us imagine the health care challenges of old age in our twenties.

Central Banks over stimulating liquidity for too long has resulted in inflated asset/property values. Stocks and real estate are reaching record highs. Very low interest rates have businesses doing financial engineering stock buy backs, instead of investing in growth. Stock prices to earnings get inflated.

Politicians make promises like generous pensions or health care, and then underfund them because of budget shortfalls. Eventually they cannot be fully paid and retirees suffer. Government debt has doubled twice over the last 20 years. Many cities and states are going bankrupt. Will the Federal Government follow them?

Voting for the politician who promises more services. Taking money from others sounds good. But your taxes go up when the cost is more than “The Rich” have. Instead the taxes fall on the working class.

CEOs accept outrageous raises, while employee salaries are limited or employees are laid off for outsourcing. Companies move new production to different states to get incentives, leaving employees behind. It feels good to be recognized for your leadership. But employees struggle to pay bills and/or leave family & friends behind to find work.

The solution is taking responsibility. Not just for yourself. Take responsibility for family, neighbors, and strangers. Inside your community and in the outside world.

Cut spending now and keep saving for hard times that always come. Balance your budget. Pay off debts. Buy insurance. Review options and make uncomfortable choices.

Advocate for less fortunate. Keep people safe from scams. Service to others comes with leadership. The world is connected. We have to help people, and accept help when we need it.

Together we can find ways to improve or manage situations.

Communicating in Presentations

It is easy to get up and start to lecture. President Obama was known for lecturing during his press conferences. But facts and opinions are not necessarily communicating.

It is easy to fall into thinking you have to tell everything during a presentation. All the details and history may bury uncomfortable facts, but is not communicating.

Communicating is thinking about your audience.

Who is going to be there?

What decision needs to be made? (Reason for meeting)

What information do they need to have to make their decision?

You communicate when you make it easy for the audience to learn, ask questions, discuss and decide.

Turning 60

As a teenager decided to live to 100, and when that seemed too common - raised it quickly to 120. So am I now middle aged? Mom’s statement comes to mind, “It is not the Age, it’s the Mileage.”

The writer in me wants to reflect and deliver something profound. Not coming to me despite a long weekend. However here are my best decisions.

1. Live within My Means

Income has not stayed consistent in my manufacturing / entrepreneurial career.  Chose an affordable house instead of stretching. Have an emergency fund, and can pay off mortgage in 12 years versus 30. Low debt and savings make life easier.

2. Contribute to 401K

Took the match when I started, and raised my donation rate 2% with each raise.  After 6 years have 4 times the average retirement savings of my age group.

3. Keep Learning

Since graduating college have studied computers, CAD, project management, writing, and real estate. Read experts on other topics to keep my mind sharp. Talking with teenagers to seniors keep me engaged.

4. Time for Fun and Enjoyment

Love weekly volleyball games, going to small groups, reading, running or hiking. Watching good basketball & football games, and parties are welcome.

Don’t believe that you can have it all. Don’t believe wealth or skill comes without effort. Don’t believe “This Time is Different.” Don’t believe there is a balance to life. Life is always unexpected challenges. Adapt and change is required. Good attitudes and faith will get you through change.

BTW also have an Aging System you can use -- Denial J

Fear and Decisions

Have you been talking with someone who is angry and not making sense? Their decision process is all emotion, and they are full of emotion. They could be angry with your company, angry at someone else, or angry with you.

How about when someone does not want to make a decision. They talk about the issue. They ask advice. They express opinions. But they definitely don’t want to commit. Not now.

What drives this behavior is simple. They are afraid. Afraid of making the wrong decision, afraid of failing, afraid of paying too much, afraid of losing, afraid of change, afraid of success, or afraid of anything.

We are just like these people under pressure. I fear making the wrong decision. I don’t want to lose. We are flawed. Our knowledge has gaps and bad information.

Take a deep breathe. Ask for more time (few things need the answer now). Set an appropriate deadline.

How important is your decision? If you are at a restaurant, most things on the menu will taste good. Likely it is not life or death, and if it is you have to rely on your training.

Second, be human. None of us is perfect. Start taking some action. Revise the question. Define the problem better. What are your constraints? Can we bypass one? Are there more options? There is always another way.

Most good decisions come from choosing with what you know. Not waiting for more information.

“Patience is not an absence of action; rather it is timing. It waits on the right time to act." -- Fulton J. Sheen