it’s in the eye of the beholder

Chapter 23 of the Chandogya Upanisad says “Abundance is happiness.  There is no happiness in smallness.”

In today’s world we’re fed a steady diet of scarcity.  It makes us feel small and helpless.  This sense of scarcity makes us fearful and unhappy.  It doesn’t have to be that way.

We live in a country with an abundance of resources, an array of natural beauty rarely found in one country and a resourceful, entrepreneurial populace that finds ways to thrive in any situation.

Yes, we make mistakes.  Yes, there are people who delight in reminding us of those mistakes.  Yes, there are even those who enjoy feeding our fears, our sense of scarcity.  Yet there is one thing these people can’t do, they can’t take away our right to choose where we focus our attention.

Despite the challenges we’re facing today, we still live in a country that other countries emulate; that other countries look to for leadership; that attracts immigrants from all over the world because they view America as the land of incredible opportunity.

Are you going to view the present economy through the lens of scarcity or the lens of abundance?  It’s counter-intuitive, but if we see scarcity and act accordingly we create scarcity, fear and unhappiness.  If, however, we see abundance and act upon what we see we create abundance, wealth and great joy.  The choice is yours. 

Remember, perception is, indeed, the precursor of reality.  We create the reality we see.  Let’s thumb our noses at those who wish to rob us of our happiness.  Let’s make sure that we’re looking through the lens of abundance.

Here are a few questions that can help you ignore the raucous cry of those who spread doom and gloom:

Has there ever been a time when our country hasn’t recovered from the mistakes it made?

Has there ever been a time in your life when what you needed failed to appear when you needed it, not wanted it, but needed it?

Isn’t it true that the seemingly bad things in your life have been accompanied by some valuable insights?  Isn’t it true that many things that, at first, appeared to be bad were actually blessings in disguise?

Don’t let others rob you of your happiness.  See the abundance that exists and you’ll see the opportunity to create even more.  It’s the path to great joy. 

Share your stories of abundance with our readers by posting your story as a comment.  You stories will help others to see the abundance in their lives.

By the intensity of the followers

A little over a month ago, the St. Louis Rams made the decision to release Scott Linehan from his post as head coach.  The decision was difficult because the Ram’s ownership admired Coach Linehan’s character and values

In the early weeks following Jim Haslett’s ascension to the role of head coach we saw a dramatic turnaround in the team’s performance.  The fact that the results have waned recently (yesterday was a disaster that, fortunately, I missed) indicates that it wasn’t all Coach Linehan’s fault, which most of us suspected.  Nevertheless the change in intensity during those early weeks was palpable.  What made the difference?

It’s having a leader who is the right fit for the organization.  I am not denigrating Scott Linehan’s skill as a coach.  He has enjoyed great success before and will again in the right organization.  

Coach Linehan’s approach to football was not aligned with the way the Ram’s team was built.  The Ram’s players and organization enjoyed the moniker “the greatest show on turf.”  The team was built for speed and aggressive (some would say risky) play.   That requires a team with swagger - the confidence to believe that you will win even when a high-risk play goes wrong. 

Swagger and high-risk are not terms that people ascribe to Scott Linehan; methodical seems a more apt description.  It’s easy to see why neither the Rams, nor Coach Linehan, enjoyed success during their association.

It’s counter-intuitive, but when choosing a leader, make sure that his/her style is aligned with the organization’s. 

Let me know what issues you’d like addressed.  Send an email to dale@furtwengler.com.

A view of the possible

Recently a number of my clients have asked me how long it will take the economy to rebound.  My answer is “more quickly than most people anticipate - 12 months, 18 at the outside.”  They’re as surprised by the confidence in my voice as the time frame.  Why am I so optimistic about the future?

1. I’m an optimist by nature.  My experience is that things show up when I need them and I believe that’s true for all of us.
2. People will be saving to rebuild liquidity in the next few months.  This will help ease the liquidity crisis and make it easier for banks to lend.
3. We’ve experienced the earthquake and severe aftershocks.  The aftershocks we’re feeling now are diminishing, as is the cloud of fear.
4. As the cloud dissipates, people see possibilities and act upon them quickly.
5. Human beings are acquisitive by nature.  As soon as the fear subsides and we’ve rebuilt a modest liquidity cushion, we’ll begin spending again.
6. Spending triggers profits and investment.  It also creates jobs.
7. Additional jobs means more spending, more profits and more jobs.
8. Purveyors of doom always underestimate the general public’s will to thrive.

It’s counter-intuitive, but our worst fears are seldom realized.  That’s why I’m confident that the rebound will occur more quickly than predicted.

If there are topics you’d like me to address, send me an email at dale@furtwengler.com.

What’s the alternative?

I was about to rail, again, at the media’s irresponsible reporting.  They couldn’t wait to report last Friday that Sony and Samsung were expecting significant declines in profits for the next quarter or two.   

The emphasis was on the decline, not on the fact that both companies are still profitable, still generating positive cash flows or that the projection was only for a quarter or two.  When fear is rampant on main street, this kind of reporting is criminal.

On the same day, a 10-second sound byte announced that the 15^th province (15 of 18) in Iraq was taking over responsibility for policing itself.  Why didn’t we hear about numbers 2 through 14?  Why weren’t the press congratulating the Iraqis on the significant progress they’ve made or giving the U.S. military kudos for its role in this achievement?  Is it too much to ask that our media help rebuild relations between the U.S. and other countries? 

This is the path I was about to take when it dawned on me how successful my last effort had been.  It achieved nothing.  Then I asked myself “What can I do to help people on main street during this time?”  Immediately, the serenity prayer came to mind.  I share its opening with you now.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

I cannot quickly change the media’s approach to reporting, if at all.  I can, however, offer you an antidote to their poison - the serenity prayer.

It’s counter-intuitive to realize that we can only control our own behavior.  That the stock market losses being reported are only paper losses until we actually sell.  That it’s our choice whether we allow the purveyors of fear access to our psyche.  The serenity prayer is your shield.  Use it well and often.

Please forward this message to friends that you know are especially troubled by the current economic conditions.  It may just afford them the peace they seek.  If you have suggestions for other ways I might be of service during these challenging times, let me know that as well.  You can reach me at dale@furtwengler.com.

 …lies in youthful minds.

A week ago my wife and I took an extended weekend to go camping with her sister and her husband.  They had their 4 year old granddaughter with them.  Our campsite was replete with hickory nuts.  We weren’t sure whether or not our grandniece had ever seen a hickory nut so we brought her over to our site to show them to her.

 It was fun to watch the excitement on her face as she discovered nut after nut, all the while inquiring why we had so many and they didn’t have any at their campsite. 

After the newness of this discovery wore off, she said “Would you like to buy a hickory nut for a $1?”  My wife and I began negotiating with her.  With a sigh of exasperation she said “Just pretend.”

As adults we’d taken her request literally, when she was pretending.  How often do we close our mind to possibilities because we’re too literal?  What do we forego because we no longer “pretend.”  A great deal, I’m afraid.

If we think about concepts like the law of attraction, goal setting and achievement or success in any form, what do we need to do first?  The most successful among us tell us that they visualize the result.  They see the result in their minds before they embark on the path of making it a reality.  In essence, they’re pretending that is already exists.

It’s counter-intuitive, but leaving behind the “childish” world of make believe prevents us from enjoying the things we truly desire.

If you have a favorite story from a child in your life, please send me an email at dale@furtwengler.com so that we can share it with The Invaluable Leader readers. 

When is it most effective?

 What do the Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis Colts have in common - great head coaches.  Tony Dungy is the head coach of the Colts.  His protégé is Bear’s coach, Lovey Smith.

Both display an intensity that is palpable - you can feel it.  Yet neither is prone to emotional outbursts, denigrating players or the use of foul language.  Indeed, announcers regularly cite them as true gentlemen of the game. 

Their quiet demeanor isn’t a lack of passion for the game or winning.  Quite the contrary, they are both very focused, results-oriented individuals who expect a great deal from their players.  These coaches aren’t devoid of emotion; yet they are able to guide their players through the emotional ups and downs of momentum changes during the game.  What makes these coaches so special?  How can they be so successful, yet so quiet in their demeanor? 

Their players say that both men inspire them to higher levels of performance, yet both let players know, in no uncertain terms, their displeasure when they’re not performing to their capabilities without emotional outbursts.

It’s counter-intuitive, but quiet intensity is more powerful than emotional outbursts because of the reaction it generates.  A basic law of physics says that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.  In other words, emotional outbursts trigger reciprocal outbursts. 

When emotions are triggered, logical thinking takes a holiday.  The mind cannot perform both functions as once.  Conversely, calm communication invites calm, logical consideration of the information provided.  If you want to use your intensity to its greatest advantage, follow the examples of Tony Dungy and Lovey Smith, present your thoughts calmly.  Those around you will enjoy the experience and achieve better results.

If there are topics you’d like me to address, send me an email at dale@furtwengler.com.

A trillion dollars

This past week Congress passed a $700 billion dollar “recovery” plan designed to renew confidence in the banking system and among bankers themselves.  Add that to previous bailouts and we’re rapidly approaching a trillion dollars.  My guess is that we’ll exceed that number.

I won’t go into a lengthy diatribe about how we got here.  Placing blame is always an expensive activity - one that slows the progress on fixing the problem.  From the news reports and analysis by various Washington journalists, it seems that the plan to make home ownership possible for a greater number of citizens (a worthy goal) began in the Clinton administration and has been perpetuated through the two Bush administrations.

Unfortunately, everyone thought this was a good idea and no one asked “What will happen if…?  The executive branch didn’t ask, nor did Congress, the Federal Reserve Board, SEC or any number of other regulatory agencies.  There was a complete failure in the system of checks and balances that should have prevented this debacle.

The question is “Will Congress, once again, trust the executive branch and these regulatory bodies to implement this recovery plan well or will they set parameters to protect the American taxpayer?” 

I hope that they will be the first to establish some checks and balances into the system rather than trusting that others will do so.  It’s counter-intuitive, but trusting others to do things we’re not is a prescription for disaster.  If Congress doesn’t want to contend with more emergency actions, it needs to set guidelines for the implementation of the recovery plan.

If there are topics you’d like me to address, send me an email at dale@furtwengler.com.

Not likely.

Charlotte and I came back from vacation just in time to hear of yet another bailout.  Neither of us reads a newspaper or listens to the news while on vacation.  Quirky? Maybe, but vacation is a lot more fun that way.

Upon hearing the news, the Charles Dickens quote “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” came to mind.  The second thought was - how prophetic!  Was Dickens a prophet?  Not really; he’s simply a student of human nature.

We always live in the best of times and the worst of times.  Life is beset with both great joy and great challenge.  This time is no different.  Yet, one thing remains the same - the indomitable human spirit. 

It’s counter-intuitive, but during these trying times we’ll find people:

• helping one another weather the challenges they face
• returning to values overlooked because we’ve been moving too fast
• enjoying simpler pleasures of days past
• dealing with today’s economic challenges as we have in the past - effectively

Yes, we’re going to experience some pain with these economic challenges.  We’re also going to discover ways to deal with them that will allow us to recover more quickly than the press might lead us to believe.  It’s our nature to thrive in the face of adversity. 

As we look ahead, let’s look with the eyes of belief - belief that we will not only survive, we will thrive.  We will thrive because we possess the will, knowledge, intelligence and creativity to overcome any challenge life presents.  We will thrive, because we have an indomitable human spirit.

If there are topics you’d like me to address, send me an email at dale@furtwengler.com.

Or simply different consumers?

With all the price pressures we are experiencing, the inevitable question is “Will we become more intelligent consumers?” 

Of course, this presumes that we were not making good buying decisions before.  Is that the case?  You decide.  During periods when we were enjoying our highest income levels, we viewed time as our most valuable asset.  When the things we bought broke, we disposed of them.  It wasn’t worth our time to fix them.  Similarly, we didn’t “waste” our time carpooling, we were already losing huge chunks of time to the commute.  We chose suburbia, in lieu of city dwelling.

With the outsourcing of work, both nationally and internationally, many of us (including the best educated among us) have experienced a diminution in income levels.  The result is that we’re taking a harder look at how we spend money.  Does this make us more intelligent consumers?  Not really.  It’s simply a reflection of changing conditions.

Our failure as consumers comes from our inability to recognize and adapt to trends before they become crises.  It’s easy to point to Washington - to our elected officials, the lobbyists, the big money contributors - and say it’s their fault that we’re in this mess.  The reality is that they are merely reflecting our wishes.  If you are looking for evidence that proves my point, we need simply look at Hillary Clinton’s and John McCain’s earlier willingness to temporarily lower gas taxes for the summer travel months.  

I’m not willing to let politicians skate on their contribution to the problems we face.  They should have the personal strength to tell us that we’re misinformed when we ask for things that aren’t in our best interests.  Having said that I am not willing to lay these problems solely at their feet.  We, as consumers, need to put more pressure on our elected officials to make wise choices, even though it may cost us more in the short run. 

My Dad was an automotive mechanic.  He impressed upon me that maintenance is always less expensive than repair.  If we had pressured our elected officials to be more aggressive in establishing fuel efficiency standards, in setting and enforcing lower speed limits, in using fuel taxes to increase the price of gasoline for the express purpose of making alternative sources more attractive, we wouldn’t be experiencing gasoline prices as high as they are today.  Our roads wouldn’t be in such a constant state of disrepair.  We wouldn’t be suffering the commute times we do today.

We can see similar results from the subprime mortgage fiasco.  The American dream of owning our own homes prompted our elected officials to embark upon a program designed to make homeownership more affordable.  The Fed jumped on board with some of the lowest interest rates in 40 years.  The result has been devastating for millions of us. 

Health care is another arena in which our poor consumerism has resulted in many people not being able to afford health insurance.  I know that I contributed to this problem, more so in the past than I do today.  When my wife and I had healthcare coverage through her employer, we never questioned the tests the doctor suggested.  When she left that employment and we replaced that coverage with our own, we suddenly began to question the doctor.  The first time I explained to the doctor that I had a high deductible and would be paying for these tests myself, he eliminated half the tests without batting an eye.  I could have helped keep healthcare costs lower by being a more intelligent consumer earlier.

It’s counter-intuitive, but it’s our short-term view that makes us poor consumers.  If we want to become more intelligent consumers we need to take a longer-term view of how are our actions today contributing to the potential for higher prices in the future. 

We need to act on that view by putting pressure on our elected officials to make better decisions.  Our lack of activism contributes to our lack of intelligent choices. We live in the one country in the world that is established to allow its people to control their own destinies, yet we do nothing with this power.  Let’s become more intelligent consumers, let’s pay attention the long-term trends and put pressure on our elected officials to act wisely on those trends.

If there are topics you’d like me to address, send me an email at dale@furtwengler.com.

…but what role does it play in future success?

At the risk of being labeled a political pundit (this is the third blog in a row based on the current presidential election), I’m struck by the enormity of the debate over who has relevant experience.

Personally, I think experience is overrated.  Certainly it has value, but experience doesn’t necessarily prepare us to deal with the future.  I could bore you with countless tales of experiences I’ve had in which I learned valuable lessons only to repeat the same mistake. 

There is no pride in that admission, simply recognition of the fact that I’m human and, as is the fate of all human beings, I occasionally need to learn a lesson more than once for it to stick. 

If not experience, what then should we be looking for in our presidential and vice-presidential candidates?  The ability to think! 

It never ceases to amaze me how some people can be successful in any arena in which they choose to operate.  General Electric is a fine example of what I mean.  To rise to the top echelons in General Electric, leaders must demonstrate the ability to be successful - to continuously improve results - in diverse businesses, in varying market conditions with very different technologies at work.

GE’s leaders succeed because they’ve trained their minds to see similarities in diverse situations, not because they’ve had “relevant” experience.  Indeed, people who have spent the majority of their careers in one field, often lack the ability to see anything but normal industry practices, while those who move beyond their specialty are able to craft new and exciting approaches to whatever challenges they face.

How does all of this relate to you?  Whether you’re choosing a person to lead this great country or filling a position in your organization, look first to the person’s demonstrated ability think, then at their experience.  You’ll make better choices.

It’s counter-intuitive, but critical thinking will trump experience every time.

If you’re getting tired of political commentary and would like me to address a different topic, send me an email at dale@furtwengler.com.