Pandemic Labor Day

What an unusual Labor Day. 8.8% unemployment. U-6 unemployment including discouraged, marginally attached and part time is 14. 2%. Middle class who normally earn enough working visiting food banks. 4 in 10 are new clients. Those who use to help others, now need help. Newly unemployed or underemployed depending on their industry. Others may be working remotely the office.  Feels weird during the pandemic.

Parents are trying to figure out how to best educate their children, remotely or in class? How do you pay the utilities, rent or mortgage? Will they lose their home? Where can we live? Small family landlords providing affordable housing are worried they will lose properties, years of work and their hard earned money invested for their future. May see apartments converting to condos based on housing demand.

Stress on people is much higher this year. My suburban/rural county overdose deaths are up ~20%. If you feel lost or desperate, call for help. [800-273-8255 or text CONNECT to 741741] Those of us in faith know God still loves us. But we admit stress this year.

Unemployment is designed to help workers for ~6 months replacing only ~30% of prior income until you find work. Today’s uncertain world may mean many months to 2 years unemployment, taking jobs paying much less, or forced early retirement.  Unhappy both political parties cannot come up with a way to replace 70-80% of people’s income.

People who are unemployed are still as valuable as before. Successful leaders and entrepreneurs will figure out how to take advantage of the available talent to grow their business. If you are looking for a job, you have to get creative. Find your most valuable talents and skills to transfer to another industry. Gig work may have to carry you through. Downsize your home or live with roommates to lower costs.

One college friend has been searching nationwide for opportunities in his industry. In 3 month he had 2 hiring manager interviews. He is getting more interest as safety manager than chemical process engineer manager. What experiences or skills do you have that are in demand by other industries? Research where hiring is happening and see how you can help.

Be thankful for the work you have or had. Tell stories how relatives or you survived past crisis’s. Grew up with stories how my grandparents thrived during the great depression, and how hard it was for neighbors they fed. Remember former coworkers, friends and family. Reach out and remind then “This too will pass”. 

In a year or two the economy will be growing briskly. Very optimistic about where we will be in 5 years. But getting there may involve pain. Enjoy the holiday weekend.

New York Times - Minivans at the Food Pantry

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/03/us/food-pantries-hunger-us.html

What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

This question is usually answered with a job or a wish. Fireman, Teacher, Nurse, or what someone in our family does. Truthfully we are so young we don’t know what it means.

One parent is looking to give up her Chairmanship. Her young son tells her he can take over. “I set up the chairs every week.” Different meanings are lost on us.

“In general we are least aware of what our minds do best.”

–      Professor Marvin Lee Minsky, MIT AI Lab

Professor Minsky studied intelligence and want to develop thinking machines to act like humans. The complexity of intelligence is our mind can learn several different ways. We observe, smell, interact, manipulate, taste, experiment, love and experience. All at the same time. Look at people interacting with their pets. How complicated are the behaviors of both human and pet?

Further our brains handles health functions like breathing, digesting and waste without much conscious thought. We pull back from hot, avoid predators, entertain others, and navigate around by distance, direction & landmarks in a complicated world. A Artificial Intelligence machine like that will require building lots different skills, and integrating them all to be like a human.

Often talents pop out and we wonder where did that come from? Why am I the only one who knew the answer? How come no one else understood him? Why didn’t they know what she meant? My favorite - “It was easy. Anyone could do it.”

We sometimes get mentors who recognize our talents and start to lead us. Often we muddle through and struggle what to do. You are far from alone. Often wonder what should be doing with these different gifts I have.

The hell of life is we are born for greatness. But we neither know why, or what our talents are. Finding out may take our whole life.

Happy hunting, and share what you learn.