I could never do this.

Never.

But it's really cool.

And from the homeland.

The Information Diet

This post is dedicated to Karsten since this is a mantra he preaches.

Fight on.

Medicare entitlements

This NYT article discusses possible changes within the Medicare program that has some support from both sides of the table.

I don't know how the US will deal with the Medicare issue in the future. Something has to be done and there might not be a 'best plan' that everyone will agree to.

Of course, the longer we (collectively as a nation) wait, the fewer options will be available in the future. Sounds somewhat familiar...

True Dat

Painfully true: Forget Shopping, Friday Is Update Your Parents' Browser Day!

(Shamelessly stolen)

TiO2

Interesting article ("The Future is Gray") about a huge find of Titanium Dioxide, but more importantly, the inflationary cost of the material.

I think that we take a lot of our daily life for granted, and hope that the powers that be (regulators, manufacturers, retailers, re-sellers, sales teams, etc.) are somewhere along the line looking out for us. Do your own research, but some things you have to trust (you hope that there isn't any arsenic in ketchup for example).

Interesting all the same.

Money - the Graphic

Do you want some perspective on how much a dollar is versus a trillion? Go HERE.

Quickly.

It will blow your mind.

I don't know if I could build something like that because there is so much else I would want to add to the picture.

Cool.

Detroit May Run Out of Cash Next Month

That doesn't sound like good news.

Of course mentioned are other cities across this great nation of ours that are also likely in trouble.

I don't know what the solutions are - at least that are going to please both sides of the coin. Public employees are going to feel the pain in any resolutions, and everyone is going to feel the pain in the wallet as taxes have to go up.

Continue to prepare and keep an eye out for the changing landscape.

Up and out...

New Era of Oil and Gas Exploration

On the plus side, this should be good for employment and for the state and local coffers. On the downside, depending on which side of the isle you sit for this, is the fracking etc. and the environmental factors.

Market factors rejoice.

If you have the money...

There was a time when I was obsessed with a Ferrari (308/328) and drooled over the thought of owning one. Well, a wife and two kids later, it's still a dream, but priorities have shifted.

Either way, check out the 458 convertible.

Also, I thought that I would have a Jag XJS to 'commute' so the bad weather wouldn't ruin the 328's interior. Well, looks like I don't even had to do that with the new Jag XKR-S.

That's right, the kids won't fit in the back...

Postal Service reports massive $5 billion loss

And that's not the worst of it. The loss would have been $10.6 billion (!!!) if a bill postponing a $5.5 billion (!!!) payment for retiree health benefits had not been passed.

Trust me, I love the fact that I can pay $0.44 to send a letter to Southern California (or the next town over), but it's unlikely that it actually costs that. I'm guessing that $0.44 doesn't even cover the labor to pick up all the mail in the drop box.

Does this service go away? Does the cost need to reflect reality? Could it ever?

I don't think that I would want to be an employee there as there are some really had decisions that are likely headed their way.

Superhydrophobic Coating

I'm not sure that everyone will be amazed at this as I was, but there are some really smart people out there doing some amazing stuff with science.

I think this bodes well for the future...

The End of the 40-Hour Workweek

I don't know if this article is the anti-Tim Ferriss or just the reality of a marketplace with high unemployment and scared employees and companies. Thoughts?

I know that since I've started working, there hasn't been a check-in / check-out time, a lot of it was work until what needs to get done gets done. This has meant weekends and late nights at times. Work/life balance is somewhat a myth. Now that might be because parts of what I do are in the service industry. Part might be because I am the boss (in some ways), but my clients and customers have expectations that need to be met, and that doesn't always confirm to the 9-to-5.

Just thoughts.

Conditioning Distraction

Keeping our mind still and in one place.

Doesn't sound too difficult does it? Try sitting alone in a room by yourself with nothing else but your thoughts.

Observe those thoughts (non-judgmentally) and recognize just how wandering your thoughts can be.

Why is this important? Well in today's Internet, Facebook, Twitter, Email and RSS Feed world, we have subconsciously conditioned ourselves to be distracted.

By engaging in this ongoing distraction or constant thought interruption we are subconsciously forming habits.

This "distraction habit" has been formed over the course of years and result's in creating difficulty to focus on any given task for any extended period of time which then makes it additionally challenging to be productive.

Wikipedia defines Meditation as any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit.


I may give mediation a try with the desired out come of increased focus (seems like a worthy habit to create)... That is if I can keep my self from being distracted =)

For Karsten

This graphic is 100% for Karsten.

A penny for your thoughts...

Interesting post looking at the value of the coins you carry in your pocket (or most likely, store in a jar on the kitchen counter).

I know it's not 100% possible to go to plastic money (aka credit cards), but wouldn't that just be cheaper?

Guess I need to go look through the kids piggy banks and make a trade...

U-G-L-Y

The graph above is really scary.

Not good.

Income Mobility

Here is a link to the earnings mobility of US households over a seven year period. I thought it was interesting to note that the majority remained in their current quintile over the period recorded, but that there was movement in all directions (up and down). The bell curve is evident, but I would like to know who went from the lowest to the highest (residents in medicine? Recent college grads?) and vice versa (retiring executives?).

Swimming, swimming, keep on swimming...

Rise in Medicare Premium Is Lower Than Predicted

It looks like the premiums for Part B will be lower than expected, especially because of the increased in Social Security benefits. Looks like you will get to keep more of that paycheck increase.

Urban Farm Pods

I haven't researched the details on nutrient values etc. about this program, but here is an article about farm pods in downtown Atlanta (by my old stomping grounds) and their thoughts on expansion.

Very innovative.

Google's Get Online Program

It looks like Google is partnering up with other small business oriented companies to provide free / inexpensive tools to get them online (obviously using a lot of the Google interfaces).

Apparently Ohio is already online (with rollouts expected throughout the next few months).

Brilliant!

Remember, do no evil...

College costs climb, yet again

My discussion with clients has been to project inflation within higher education to be about 7% (+/-) a year. From this article, it looks like inflation is a bit above that this year. I guess something more for the OWS crowd to discuss.

Here is a follow up Article from Onlineuniversities.com that does a great job of detailing this fact.

(http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2011/11/15-surprising-side-effects-of-rising-college-costs/)

Income Stagnation

Very interesting article about a possible macro explanation regarding income stagnation within the US workforce.

Of course this doesn't bode well for Social Security, but that's another story.

Funny interlude

Ok, I'm not at all into scary movies, slasher flicks or haunted houses. But I do like a good laugh. So laugh at the reactions of visitors to this haunted house.

Medicare: How much more will they cut?

That's the scary headline from a CNN article (and series) focusing on the current budget crisis on top of the Medicare and entitlement issues in circulation.

Bottom line from the article - higher taxes, higher supplemental payments (if you are 'rich'), higher Medicare Part B payments (again, if you are wealthier), lower benefits and possibly an increased age when you can start receiving benefits.

Of course the best way to beat the system is to be extremely healthy.

Why don't you find that Yoga/Pilates/Nia instructor now and partner them up with a nutritionist. That'll show them...

You've got Raises...

We'll see over the next few days/weeks what the final impact is, but it looks like the Fed's are providing a COLA this year for Social Security recipients. Of course they are likely to increase the amount each individual will pay for their Medicare.

With the decrease in what workers are paying into the Medicare system (the 200bps less last year and this year), I wouldn't be surprised if the $106K ceiling goes higher.

Tough choice for future generations.

Choice, the next most important thing

After much mental deliberation, I seem to note that one of the major difference's between those who achieve (by any reasonable measure) and those confined to mediocrity, is what they say and whom they say it to, (the frequency of this) and what element of next action or follow up takes place. Not surprising it comes down to time and choice

Escape physical profession's (like professional sports) this is what differentiates the vast majority of us, what we say, to whom we say it and most importantly what do we do next. Is there appropriate meaning full follow up (action).
The choice of what to do next, is really a question of what to invest (the most limited commodity) (time) in doing.

In the "new economy" (transitioning from the industrial age) where manufacturing is no long the leading source of employment, we are frequently empowered with the freedom of choice within our roles.

The majority of the time people aren't telling us what to do next as well we aren't performing 1 remote function or responsibility. What to do next is now the key, no longer is it simply faster & better, its what is important, what will matter. Faster and better of something meaningless becomes... meaningless.
In the "new economy" you should be considering adopting the entrepreneur's mindset (regardless of your employment).

In the moment, what is your skill set at being able to decipher, from all that has to be done, what the next most important thing to do is?

How do you improve the skill set necessary to recognize this?
A considertion may be starting with itemizing what you do and deeming what is important and what is not. www.rescuetime.com can be a great tool to assist with tracking what you do.
Once you've tracked and determined what is and isn't important the next question to ask is, have you structured your day to maximize what is important?

Google calendar and the ability to utilize multiple overlapping calendars can help you structure ideal daily routine over-top of your actual work calendar. (color coat, reminders, its great)
Finally, do you have the self-awareness/discipline to stay focused and in the moment, consciously realizing you are drifting or allowing yourself to be consumed by rote regular/meaningless tasks. Can you set your environment to limit distraction?

These are behaviors worth pondering as the mastery of this can be the difference.

Spit Take

If you understand the above picture you are a nerd. I guess that's why I blurted out laugher when it came across my screen.

Don't Rely on the Government

It looks like the long-term care component that the federal was trying to create to spread around the costs has been pushed aside. As the article states, the "program has critical design flaws that can't be fixed to make it financially self-sustaining"

Nice intent, but the issue of a public long-term care solution seems to be a bit more complicated that first blush.

Take care of this privately, don't rely on the government to try and create this plan for you.

I Love Evernote

Can Evernote's software make you smarter?

Karsten introduced me to Evernote a while back and I love it. I have copied in hundreds (actually 544 as of this morning) of articles, clippings and personal notes that are all search ready for me to recall information.

I have passed this along to others and all have thanked me for sharing.

Here's your chance to get on board the Evernote train.

Actual Email of Advice to a Business Owner in Auto/Marine Business

One thing that I think is critical w respect to marketing and branding is creating an "experience" ala Starbucks (which is why they sell $4 coffee), its not so much coffee as the experience and feelings they conjure.

So good question's to ponder is what is the "experience" you want to deliver to all (company name) clientele (regardless of its marine or auto). Again what makes a remarkable mechanic and remarkable experience?

What do you strive to have them say about the experience they've had hiring you?

When they come into the shop, is there coffee and soda available, TV, couches, magazines etc., how are they greeted?What is the decor (organized inviting) or dirty disorganized? (not sure if this is as applicable in your field but would be different for sure).
People probably come to the shop expecting to see a shop, but if you wow them it can create buzz, either through environment, service, follow up etc.

As a consumer but ignorant to working with auto/boat repair, I think one of the frustrations people have is it (at least to me) resembles the experience of going to the vet (you don't know enough to know whether what they are telling you actually has to be done).

Armed with this knowledge, going into relationship's knowing that without explicit trust, people may naturally have these reservations (what can you do to ease them or remove that concern?)

How to do that is no easy challenge and for you to best decide but that alone may result in increased introductions to your service  (it may simply be empathizing with their concern or issue (knowing there going to have to spend $ they did not plan on, possibly over-explaining what is wrong, having a testimonial book or letters displayed in lobby from satisfied customers to build further credibility & trust etc).

On the "experience" front, how cool would it be to have a detail shop component of (company) and if you get your car worked on there its detailed before you pick it up.

You might get someone who does this to set up shop where you are at and work something out  by subsidizing him being there or he can advertise his details by conducting them on your clienteles but this would be creating an experience, people may simply come to you because they know they get a detail)

Simply sending holiday cards and birthday cards to existing clientele thanking them for business is more than 95% of auto/boat-mechanics take the time to do. I have never received a thankyou card or holiday card or birthday card from an auto-shop. You can do this via email to save on cost.

Sending them a quick thank you for your business card after you've done a job is an easy differentiator. Following up with the phone call to survey their experience and satisfaction show's commitment to creating a good experience etc.

Fool Me Once...

If you are promised above average guaranteed returns with little or no risk, especially over a short period of time (unless you are a loan shark or payday lender - for example, the APR for a 14-day $100 loan in Ohio is 390%), it's likely that there may be something that is not 100% on the up and up.

Just warning you.

Recovery

This ties into my comment from yesterday. The jobs picture and unemployment continue to be ugly.

Good Morning

Who says money can't buy happiness! I'm thrilled.

First Eagle

It's nice to see that a few of my current recommendations/holdings are recognized in this article from Morningstar (and using a similar analysis).

Mortgage Interest Rates

If you are in the market to buy a home (or refi), there has never been a better time with interest rates falling below 4%.

Well, that's if the bank will lend you money (i.e. you have a job, haven't switched jobs in the past 2 years, you are not underwater on your mortgage - didn't buy your home 3-4 years ago, you know the secret handshake).

Good luck.

Not good news

The unemployment issues continue to amaze me. It seems that jobless claims are not really reported as urgently as I would expect. This week has claims back or 400,000 which is now the 26th week in a row with claims over 395,000!

Even worse, 1.6 million people have now dropped from extended benefits (99 weeks) in one year - these are people who likely have little hope of finding a competitive job having been out of the work force for 2 years.

Continue your education and provide value to your fellow citizens. Look for positions (even on the side) where you are the one making your employment decisions or become indispensable to your organization (which may never be 100% possible).

Look up and out, not down and back. Push forward.

Thank You

Yum

This article on Dealbreaker reminds me of a challenge that I discussed (but never executed) when I lived in Boston.

I always wanted to know if it was possible to eat one item from each stand in the middle building at Faneuil Hall.

Think of it as a foodie pub crawl.

I had made up all these rules (i.e. only one drink allowed in each of the four sections), but I was a broke college student and didn't want to have to explain to my parents why I had spent over $200 in an afternoon of eating.

I don't think that my wife would let me attempt that challenge. Maybe it's a suggestion for Adam Richman (a Emory alumn who was there at the same time as my wife).

Reality Present

The past only truly exist's in our mind's (its gone over), the future only exists in our anxiety and is not yet real.

BTW on the future - consensus doesn't belong in science nor investments as the future is too unknown and consensus never has much staying power in these fields.. The earth is round not flat, we go around the sun not the sun around us. (I think =). Always be somewhat skeptical of consensus too  many variables.

The only reality is the present. You are not your thoughts, if you make it habit to be present in the present your concerns diminish substantially and your enjoyment/happiness tends to increase (pending your surroundings)

This is why people enjoy immensely, athletics, nature and traveling. During these times it is natural for their senses to be heightened to a level in which they are forced to be in the present.

The situation does not permit them to dwell on the past nor worry about the future. They are free to simply be and experience. Such is the popularity with meditation

Since our brain lacks an off-switch we are conditioned to be in this zombie state of past/future thinking if we do not non-judgementally observe our thoughts and consciously decide how we should feel about it and choose to feel different if it suite's us. That doesn't mean necessarily that we need to choose to be happy, sometimes its perfectly legitimate to be pissed off.

Not an easy thing to do but a habit worth working to develop.

You cause how you feel... external circumstances contribute but you choose, its always your choice, choose wisely..

Carpe Diem: The Guy Who Built Bill Gates' Garage

Saw this article last week - Carpe Diem - Quote of the Day on Guy Who Built Gates' Garage

Cause and effect on overdrive (on the part of Elizabeth Warren). I'm thankful for the many out there that have enabled my success over the past 40+ years, but I would like to believe that I've had some hand in it.

I think that correlations have increased over the years, but I'm not about to give up my journey to take/create a path if one isn't paved for me.

You shouldn't either.

Continuing Education

With RSS readers/feeds available via Google Reader, seek out mentor's/professional's/mavens in your industry or otherwise and subscribe to their blog/newsletter if they have one. Filter your RSS feeds however you choose and create a quasi-real-time continuing education feed from the leaders in your industry.... people creating change.

Confident Indifference

Confident Indifference:  I am unequivocally certain and unapologetic that my service can help and will add value though I am indifferent as to whether you want that help. Its up to you to decide....

What's Next

Yesterday I discussed the issue with not paying appropriate credence to the positive aspects of the future and the unknown which we are virtually incapable of understanding. This morning Seth Godin had an excellent/timely post about the "new economy and  the permanent recession". See article here "the-forever-recession". He is spot on in my opinion, the only concern is will the masses be able to adopt to the realities of the new world or will it serve to divide further the masses (the future will tell).

Another great quote related to the certainty of uncertainty was by Johnathan Fields via the Zen Habits blog authored by Leo Babuta the quote resonated with addressing the anxiety/fear of the unknown.

The other side of uncertainty is opportunity

See article here "Zen Habits".....


Knowing is half the battle doing is the other half and the harder half.

Eternal Pessimism

Fascinating this digital age of real-time information everywhere which seemingly the media takes full liberty to extrapolate every slice of negativity to the end of the world. (Hence Eternal Pessimism).

This heightened sensationalism serves to stimulate the emotions resulting in viewership and the coveted ratings which equals sales revenue.

What is missing from these apocalyptic projections is paying appropriate credence to the unknown.

History is littered with examples of our inability to accurately predict the future.

Through the rear-view mirror the world has only been permanent advance marked by periods of temporary decline. This appears to correlate nicely with the advancement of humanity.

Excited for what's next (especially what will be the employer of the general masses)...

Unemployment vs. Demographics

Might it just be that the advancement of technology coupled with the end of industrial age will fit nicely with demographic trends, in that if 9% of the population is unemployed but a vastly higher percentage will soon be 65 trending to 70 and retiring...... the reduction of available working age people might serve to drop unemployment? This could/will take many years but should be a consideration.

Consolidation of Information

After years of RSS Feeds/Tim Ferris/Zen Habits/Seth Godin/Lifehacker its been a whirlwind of insistent information feed. Short-cuts to efficiencies and business strategy and life.

Time to consolidate/synthesize and execute an authentic belief system delivering value to the masses. Simplicity - Complexity - Simplicity

Less is more (to frequently said not adequately pursued) remove attachment to physical things, seek to quite the mind, observe your thought's without judgement, learn to control your subconscious, time is the most valuable commodity, 80/20 everything, Parkinsons law, batch-process, filter... leverage technology, delegate, systematize........Think...

Knowing is half the battle.. doing is the other half and harder half.

More to come