2005: Nostalgia: Differences as An Asset: Dialogue as Strength

My sister, Susie, is an executive in a large firm in a large metro area. On their website, one of the strategies written about is "Leveraging Our Differences" to achieve corporate success.

I teased her about this saying, " Susie, I normally leverage my assets, not my differences." " Well'" she replied, " That is exactly the point," "They are assets." She went on, "Our market is folks who speak 10 languages from all over the world. We need every bit of difference in our staff just to deliver our service in an understanding way. So, differences are a strength for us, and a key way of seeing ourselves."

Over the past couple months on this blog, we have had an open discussion and it has revealed differences, some deep, some not. The differences can be seen as strength or weakness. The open discussion can be seen as strength or weakness. I see both as strength and salute those in the city, such as Mr. Connors, who have engaged citizens in the dialogue. I salute those citizens who have participated. Now we need each one to tell one more person so the discussion can grow. And the strength can grow. Yes, kinda like weight training

"Riding With the King":

Some time ago, my brother, Denis, introduced me to the John Hiatt version of the BB King song, "Riding with the King." There sure are lots of versions of the song and you can see many of them on Utube.

In Panama City Beach, Florida recently there was a planned movie photoshoot at an upscale, very upscale walkable neighborhood, and the owners of the hotel there mentioned it to us that we might want to come to be extras etc. for the shoot. Wow. What an opportunity.

It was the event that never happened. Nobody showed up. There I was left to pose with Elvis...just the two of us to carry on the party.

It left me with the notion that walkable neighborhoods cannot be faked. There has to be an essential need for people to live in community, and not just an offshoot of some real estate con.

Most of the folks at our condo area were from Minnesota and Canada--hence I switched to my Minnesota hat. There are lots of parties for both Badgers and Gophers in Panama City----It was somethig I was not expecting.

What is your Cost Basis? For Education? For Energy?

Energy: Stocks; Reflection: What is your COST BASIS?"
Every family that is going through the "Graduation" process this spring, has to reflect on the "Cost Basis" of that achievement-----this is always noted in the graduation speeches...and maybe the grads know what is being talked about, but surely the parents do...all the sacrifice...all the loans to be paid back...and all the hopes to be realized ...maybe...

The very same thing is present in energy----Do you know what the COST BASIS of a stock your have held ...well....forever...is? It is not enough to say to the IRS that you do not remember....trust me....you do need to know. DITTO for ENERGY ----

What is the cost basis for the first therm of nuclear energy? ANSWER---we do not know yet.

In Difficult Times.....Cut

In difficult corporate times, one of the first categories of expense to be cut is travel and entertainment....the theory is....in times of difficulty....sacrifice is necessary...and then when profits have returned....THAT will be the time to celebrate...and not before.

In some cultures...such as government cultures...this rule is not followed...and the custom of entitlement makes those employed blind to the plight of the general population. Employees feel they are entitled to the perks they have always had...and the paid donuts...and the travel...and all the extras. After all...did not John Maynard Keynes himself say that it was up to government to "fill the gap" during difficult times..and what better gap than donuts could there be??

Thus cutting the budget pertains to others, not themselves....thus...they don't get it when regular folks say "Cut the donuts!!"...Make a note of it.

In review...it does appear from an intense analysis of our own family travel pattern, during the crisis times, there is an intense desire to get away for a break, and rather than travel less.... the numbers appear that we are traveling ....more. So---it is the reverse Travel and Entertainment rule.

If you know someone who has cut....write.

Make the Party

Over forty years ago, living the good life with two recent college grads from the University of Minnesota, I learned a lesson I have never forgotton.

We were getting ready for dinner when the phone rang...someone was having a party....address given....

When my roomate got off the phone, I asked:

"Who is going to be at the party? What's the deal?"

Rich just smiled and said:

"You do not understand...we have been invited to a party..and who will be there does not matter...We will make the party....that is what we do."

I never forgot it. When you are a leader, you run at the front of the pack...you set the pace...When you are going to a party, you make the party, you do not just attend and collect status points.

Thanks Rich.

Hymns and Psalms of George Wollinger now on Podcast

A variety of the Psalms and Hymns of George Wollinger are now on podcast. Click on the post.

Audio: Sermon of the Week: Fr. Kevin Dooley: 1/9/2011

Audio; Sermon Of the Week: Fr. Kevin Dooley: 1/9/2011: The Baptism of the Lord

Favorite Sermons of Fr. Kevin Dooley

Compilation of Some of my favorite sermons and psalms of Fr. Kevin Dooley of St. Paul's Church, Evansville, Wi. 53536

Audio: Sermon of the Week: Fr. Kevin Dooley: Dec 19, 2010

Audio; Sermon of the Week: Fourth Sunday of Advent: Fr. Kevin Dooley: December 19,2010

Audio: Sermon of the Week; Nov 28, 2010

Audio; Sermon of the Week: Fr. Kevin Dooley: First Sunday of Advent; November 28, 2010: Be Alert, Stay Awake

Audio: Fr. Kevin Dooley: 11/07/2010

Audio: Sermon of the Week; Fr. Kevin Dooley: St. Paul's Church: Evansville, Wi

Audio: Fr. Kevin Dooley: October 31, 2010: Tax Collector

Sermon of the Week: Fr. Kevin Dooley: St. Paul's Church, Evansville, Wi. "The Tax Collector"

Audio; Sermon of the Week: Fr. Kevin Dooley: 9/5/2010

Audio: Sermon of the Week: Fr. Kevin Dooley: Sept 5, 2010; St. Paul's Church, Evansville, Wi. "Unless you hate your father and mother?".....

Audio: St. Paul"s: Fr. Kevin Dooley: August 29,

Audio; Sermon of the Week: St. Paul's Church; Evansville, Wi: Fr. Kevin Dooley: '
A lesson in High society and the rules of the Kingdom

Audio: Sermon: Fr. Kevin Dooley: 8/22/2010

Audio: Sermon of the Week: Fr. Kevin Dooley: 8/22/2010: "Lord, Will only a few be saved?"

Reflection: When Everyone Agrees

Remember the last time you sat down at the dinner table and had a full discussion with the entire family about an issue...any issue. Yes. There were differences...and sometimes surprising ones.

Some years ago, in the small book on the Traders Little Book, I wrote a post on "Differences" and how they are essential to markets...and how I learned that at the ripe old age of 40. (Click on the post for the post.)


In the area of politics, I remember the old news show "Meet the Press" with Mr. Spivak or Tim Russett. One of the remarkable things about the show was the differences that were examined, and how any pandering for unanimity was always shown to be phoney. Differences were what mattered.

I have come to a conclusion about this. That in the normal world, folks differ---and the difference is healthy...and if you are ever in a meeting where everyone agrees...there is usually a ballet going on....ya...a little like "Strictly Ballroom". After all, if everyone agrees on Wall Street....such as "It is going to the moon"--they are always wrong....That is mania.....the sellers or shorts take care of that....Differences make markets...that is the way of the world.

Here is the bottom line...In any political process, if the goal is to make it so there is no disagreement...something is very wrong with the process itself...no correction can occur for error...there is no listening going on....For efforts that have listening sessions where no listening occurs...there is a problem waiting to show itself.

"Vanity, Vanity, Vanity"--Empty,Empty, Empty": Audio: Fr, Kevin Dooley: Sermon of the Week: 7/31/2010

Audio: Sermon of the Week: St. Paul's Church: Evansville,Wi : 7/31/2010: " Vanity, Vanity, Vanity--Empty, Empty, Empty"

Audio; Fr. Kevin Dooley: HS Graduation Mass: 6/7/2010

Audio; Fr. Kevin Dooley: Sunday, June 6, 2010: St. Paul's Church: Evansville, Wi: "It's not Just Instruction....It's a Challenge"

Audio; Fr. Kevin Dooley: 5/23/2010

Sermon of the Week: Fr. Kevin Dooley: St. Paul's Church: "Being in the Zone"

Audio: "What Love Looks like"

Audio: Sermon of the Week: Fr. Kevin Dooley; St. Paul's Church: "What Love Looks like"