Musings from George

Splash? Buzz? How does it pay?

jaquette — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 06:54:08 +0000

What does a press release really accomplish? Why do we spend so much time and energy to create “buzz” that is inherently hard to measure? When I create a blog that has Romney and Perry in it, I’ll get a bunch of irrelevant hits (people who are sorry to have landed on my blog). But that is exactly the aim of many press releases, and PPC investments. Why? What search term brought you here? I know all six people who read what I write, so I apologize if you don’t deserve that. But who are the twenty people who visited my site when nothing changed for three months? Really?
George

Politics, Christie, Romney and the field

jaquette — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 06:30:30 +0000

It feels odd to read about the Republican debates with a detached amusement, rather than with any real concern or interest. Chris Christie endorsing Mitt Romney … four days after Saturday Night Live mocked exactly that event… seems too weird to take seriously. Watching one conservative ‘savior’ melt down after another is just too easy to celebrate, while the true Milquetoast candidate (reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milquetoast) takes on the mantle of leader conjures up visions of fake elections, fake choices, and cognitive dissonance.
We the people say that we want less government, while demanding more services. We don’t want to pay taxes, even though we pay the lowest percentage of our incomes out of all Western economies (yes, even Greece pays a higher effective marginal tax rate than we do). Yet we want to project our power around the globe, beat our chest about our military (we spend more than the rest of the world combined on ‘defense’), and we complain about crowding in our schools.
We are due for a wake-up call. People around the world work harder than we do, they pay higher taxes than we do, and they are waiting in line to attend our colleges and universities. They are willing to try very hard to have what we take for granted, and the times are changing. They may get what we have, and they may create it at home rather than moving here to have it.
America is still number one in so many ways that it is humbling to list them: best military, biggest economy, most effective business environment, most transparent government, best educational system. But we are blind to our weaknesses, and they are equally real: biggest deficit (dollars, not per cent), slipping educational accomplishments, and declining investment in infrastructure (roads, R&D, education).
Who can turn it around? Certainly not Rick Perry. Obama is stuck, at a time when he controls two branches of the government. We vote for paralysis, and we have it. My advice is that we actually tell our representative government to work together, rather than reflecting our personal dysfunctions. Make us brush our teeth and take our medicine, rather than promising us candy we can’t afford. I’m tired of the BS of pushing bills onto the next generation, and I am more than willing to pay my fair share.
Real suggestions: tax us at least as much as Greece is taxed. Bring our soldiers home quickly — not rashly, but quickly. We should evacuate Okinawa, leave Rammstein, vacate Turkey … it is a new world, and drones are more effective than aircraft carriers. Land one on the latest Chinese launch, with a message: don’t f**k with us. Game over.
I love America, I am a proud American, and I just wish we could debate real issues (and not HPV vaccinations or the “death tax”). Let’s grow up and fix our country, rather than pushing it off to the next generation.

George

Oh yeah. Obama

jaquette — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 00:04:55 +0000

I have to admit that I really enjoyed the President’s presentation at the correspondents dinner. He eviscerated Donald Trump in a masterful way, worthy of a Saturday Night Live skit. He turned the birther movement into a stillborn movement in one slick jujitsu move, worthy of his intelligence and education. Where is _that_ Obama now, with Boehner painting him into a corner and Pakistan making a mockery of our billions-plus investment?
I read too much, and I read the wrong things. Somehow I can listen to AM radio, read the NY Times and Times Magazine, occasionally ingest Vanity Fair, and still read the occasional book (“The Irony of Vietnam — the System Worked” is sitting on my nightstand table!)
I hope that Obama can grow into the leader who challenged the status quo in 2007 and 2008. I fear that Obama has become weary of the fight exactly when we need someone willing to sacrifice nice for effective, to trade the country’s future against his own political future, and to do the right thing simply because it is the right thing. Taxes have to go up, benefits have to go down, and subsidies have to disappear over time (yes, even ethanlol). We have to bring our soldiers home, we have to accept that other countries will do what we have done (nuclear weapons, navies included) and we have to be honest about our friends — Pakistan is a rotten friend, and we are in too many fights defending Israel. I believe in projecting strength, and I am proud of my nephew who served three terms in Iraq — but I am anxious to get out of no-win situations defending people who don’t like us and fighting people paid by our “friends”. Obama scored a knockout against Osama, and needs to refute all in Pakistan that supported him. Start by cutting off our $3 billion lifeline — seems easy enough to get their attention.
We could do a lot of good in the world with 150,000 armed volunteers — but we are not doing it in Iraq or Afghanistan. Let’s help Mexico and Sudan, and see where the chips fall in Afghanistan.
George

How does anyone blog daily?

jaquette — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 23:49:57 +0000

So much has happened since I last blogged, and somehow the world has continued to turn and everything is working well. A few thoughts…
- I have done a lot of volunteer work in my life. I have been a Boy Scout, I have worked (paid) for the Youth Conservation Corps digging hiking trails for the public, I have volunteered as a coach for a high school team, a college team, a T-ball team and a youth soccer team. I have taught reading lessons in K-5, mentored high school kids in chemistry, and did the equivalent of Junior Achievement for a high school on the wrong side of the tracks.
I have fed the homeless (many times). I have built houses with Habitat for Humanity (many times, many places). I have given money to charities since I first earned a living wage — not 10% of my wages, but enough to get into the Leaders Circle or the Founders Circle or the … you get the point.
People assume that I must feel saintly because of this, and assume that I am affecting many young lives in a meaningful way. But I don’t believe that, and I don’t like anyone assuming that I believe that. We each give what we want to give — time or money. We give what we want to, and should not make any assumptions about the way people feel about receiving it. I can barely remember my elementary school teachers’ names, let alone any one lesson — so why should I assume my twenty hours tutoring Rafael are going to change his life? Why should I assume that playing water polo for me for four years in Enumclaw shaped anyone’s life? I don’t. Why do others assume that my footprint or fingerprint would be so strong, when I don’t assume that??
We who volunteer do it because we like people. We like even homeless people, or kids from poor homes and bad neighborhoods. We do it for selfish reasons — I like winning a game, and I take some pride in the fact that these kids knew nothing about water polo / baseball / soccer when I started with them. I will not win a World Series, and I am not looking for the next Derek Jeter… I am simply happy to coach my son’s team and to see kids get better. I am honestly happy to lose a close game rather than win a game that isn’t close.
Short summary: don’t assume I am doing good things because I am a good person, and don’t imply great results. I do what I do because I have fun doing it, and where I can I hope that people around me are having fun too.
Homework assignment: go out and volunteer. Comment on how it made you feel, and what impact you feel you have had. Picking up trash by the side of the road is fine, but buying dinner for the guy who isn’t allowed to go into McDonald’s is much more rewarding. He won’t bite you, and he will be grateful. Don’t give him five dollars to buy something you wouldn’t buy — buy him a Big Mac, and know that the calories are actually good for him. Really, I did that — wearing a suit and working for McKinsey. I may not be your typical volunteer, but I promise you there are many opportunities to do what I do and to feel good about it.

George

Doing good things through technology

jaquette — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 20:57:01 +0000

A good friend at MIT asked me if I could help her raise money for a good cause. She has only asked me for help a few times in my life, so I am inclined to do a lot to help when she asks. If you are reading this, it’s probably because you know me and I am asking you to consider what you have done to make the world a better place today, this month, and this year. If you haven’t done what you wanted to, or what you could have done, consider enabling her to help people build better lives through technology — her life’s passion.
Her direct request:
Each year since 2007, dozens of people from all over the world and all walks of life have come together at the International Development Design Summit to create technologies and ventures that improve the lives of people living in poverty. Many IDDS participants come from such communities. This year the 5-week event will be held in Ghana, where diverse international teams will collaborate with villagers and local artisans to design and develop technologies and business models for projects that will increase the productivity of small-holder farmers, improve the health of children and youth, provide clean energy solutions and generate income for micro-entrepreneurs. To guide the effort, top teachers from institutions such as MIT, Olin College of Engineering, Colorado State University, and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, as well as experts from design firms such as Cooper Perkins, Design Continuum, and IDEO volunteer their time and resources to mentor the teams through this process.
IDDS not only focuses on developing sustainable technologies and ventures during the summit, but we also seek to have a lasting impact by empowering participants to become designers and create innovative solutions in their own communities after returning home. It is through the generous contributions of organizations such as yours that we are able to offer this program. We have already reached $110,000 of our total goal of $250,000, and we ask that your organization consider making a contribution to support this year’s program. Contributing to IDDS 2011 will also support the growth of IDDS in 2012, when we will expand to hold regional summits in multiple locations around the world. Tangible benefits are achieved with donations as little as $5,000; a full project team can be funded with a donation of $25,000. If you would like to explore further, please check out www.iddsummit.org or email us at info@iddsummit.org. Thank you.

The Peter Principle

jaquette — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 01:18:00 +0000

It is a phenomenon that all big companies experience. Employees continue to grow and advance, moving up that career ladder, right up until they can’t. They don’t usually stop at a level where they are superstars, but rise one rung higher to where they are average or below average. This is the Peter Principle, and I have seen it play out at several big companies. It correlates with the growing pyramid problem, where an employee finds that as the company grows tiers are inserted into the pyramid above him / above her … so the relative distance from power (and riches) grows, while the relative distance to the front-line individual contributor remains the same. Often these inserted tiers are populated from outside, by people who have had the right title and experience … but were effectively underperforming because they rose above the point that they were superstars.

How do we better balance corporate organizations? Flattening organizations seems like a great idea (as Google does), but it only works if you have exceptional leaders in every chair … and most companies don’t. Informal leadership (program managers, technical leads) can do a lot of good but only if someone is giving them the charter and the power to make a difference. I really like growing organizations, but no one likes dealing with the Peters who may be in over their head or the aspiring managers who have never managed. Growing self-aware leaders takes time, and requires that they want feedback and listen and react to it.

I believe that managing requires a blend of coaching (knowing what people are good at, and putting them in roles / positions where they can succeed), communicating (telling people what they are good at, and what they need to work on), and listening — your guidance only matters if an employee hears you and wants to change. Mark Twain’s quote comes up frequently for me: “Don’t try to teach a pig to sing. It doesn’t work, and it annoys the pig.”

George

Provocative

jaquette — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 05:20:04 +0000

All right, it looks like we (those at the top of the economic pyramid) are getting a tax break! Whoo hoo! Except that I think I am taking this tax break at the expense of the very same children that I am coaching, and from my very own children. I think that I am taking this tax break from the soldiers fighting in the Middle East, and their children.
What exactly am I going to do with the payroll tax reduction? I already max out my 401K, take advantage of the mortgage interest deduction, and have no short-term debt…so I guess like other wealthy people I will save this money. What would happen if I gave the same $2000 away at a BART station tonight? It would be spent four times by Friday. I think that might be a better way to get the economy restarted.
I had such hopes for Obama. And I still think he is smarter than I am, and that he is right. But I would sincerely like to see him sucker-punch Boehner on this and force a straight-up vote — tax breaks for the middle and lower class only, or NO BREAKS. Face him to “man up”, as a Republican would-be Senate candidate called out … put the hypocrisy to a vote.
Where is Sarah Palin on the deficit? I guess it’s a “bond to nowhere” that our kids have to pay off.
Aaaaarrrrgh.
George

Going to Abilene

jaquette — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 09:23:43 +0000

Worth reading: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abilene_paradox

When a group makes a decision, there is a real danger of agreeing to something that no one really wants to do … doing something simply because it is acceptable to everyone, but really isn’t the first choice or even a positive decision for most. A classic example is trying to get a group to agree on a restaurant, where one proposal after another is rejected because one person doesn’t want to go there … so the mediocre choice that NO ONE would make turns out to be the only one that NO ONE bothers to reject. So we all end up at Chili’s, when a great sushi restaurant around the corner would have delighted ten out of twelve people in the group.

I have made that mistake, and stuck with plans that were made before all the information was available. I am also committed to avoiding this mistake in the future, and am making the necessary mental adjustments to make it work. Tickets to ANYTHING are not an obligation to go … they are an option to attend, if it still seems like something worth doing. A commitment to a social event has to be reconsidered as time passes — skipping a party without advance notice is rude, but changing your mind a day early is still acceptable. Make the call and take the hit, rather than going to something you wish you weren’t at.

My kids have made me proud lately, and it’s a weird collection of behaviors that I appreciate. A happy good morning (which some of my closest college friends never mastered), a quick grin and knowing smile, and a willingness to sit next to me (or on me) count for a lot. Our son is learning to read, and takes pride in what he can do. Our daughter can speak Chinese, and is the last one you would expect to burst out into Chinese song in a group of her peers. They tease and love each other, and it affirms for me our decision to have two kids closely spaced in age.

Total right-turn, but I am facing the decision about whether our daughter should play T-ball next year. Her birthday enables her to play in the earliest year — her brother, who is a natural athlete, was born in June and consequently was at the oldest end of the range of kids when he played. The reverse situation would have been great (he plays with older kids all the time and holds his own), but the real situation leaves me wondering if I need to hold our daughter back / wait a year to sign her up. I know that many parents face this decision about kindergarten, and I don’t mean to sound flippant about it… but I just don’t know if she would enjoy the game or thrive on the team that I coached last year (for my son). No idea how it will play out right now. Will keep you posted

Thanksgiving has come and gone. It is one of my favorite holidays, because the premium is on family and food and not on presents. A very close friend from college came to town, and we had a mini-reunion to celebrate. A key topic that came up was what it means to be successful. I like my life, and consider myself successful, but I have not made the millions that some friends have made and have no prospect of an early retirement (okay, truth be told I don’t want to retire) … but how do we define success, and isn’t it about more than money? I shared the quote I thought was Ralph Waldo Emerson defining success (boiled down: making a difference for the better), but there is a bigger question out there as to how others perceive our success vs. the reality of succeeding. Heavy.

Late. Tired. Sleepy. Be good!

Charity and giving back

jaquette — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 17:21:45 +0000

I started to write this post at the end of 2008, and didn’t finish it. For much of my life I have participated with charities, and have tried to do some good along the path of my life. I have been in Big Brothers (Todd, you were an awesome kid!), tutored third graders with Yes Reading (now named Reading Matters), tutored high school kids through BUILD, and have been on the board of a parent-involved pre-school in under-privileged schools in our neighborhood through Family Connections. I have built houses with Habitat for Humanity, and have built trails with the Youth Conservation Corps (yes, I was paid for the last one… first time I had taxes withheld from a paycheck, and I was 16 years old). I have been a volunteer coach for a college team, a high school team, and now for T-ball and youth soccer.

The common wisdom at non-profits and charities is that 5% of the people do 90% of the work, and 10% of the people give 90% of the money. It is not about ability or capacity, because the people doing the volunteer work are often the busiest people and the ones giving money are often not the wealthiest. There is something innate about giving back, about caring for others, that is not “human” in a real sense but is more personal. Why do some give so much (time and money), and many give nothing at all? Books have been written about the topic, and I am certain that I don’t have the short answer to the bigger question, but it is worth pondering.

As a country, the US gives more aid to other countries than any other nation. But as a percentage, we are not the leaders. And as for what we give, we often use our international charity as a foreign policy extension rather than as a thoughtful gift aimed at achieving the greatest impact. Giving our surplus wheat to people in Africa is a classic example of giving someone a fish, while teaching them that it is not worth fishing. We should be building fertilizer plants in Africa, and giving away seeds, rather than delivering food that can be stolen or highjacked by the most powerful warlord in any given region. We should be exporting dam-building technology to Pakistan, rather than airlifting plastic tents to the flooded plains. We should be eradicating malaria worldwide (rathole diverison here: when I heard Bill Gates speak back in business school, I never thought I would be typing “You go, Bill!” twenty years later. What a great way to make your life meaningful — build a fortune, and do something truly noble and impactful with that fortune. Good on ya, Bill!), and making AIDS something that everyone knows about, takes prevention against, and can get treatment for.

Some religions have the concept of tithing, whereby a fixed percentage of your income goes to the church. We have a diluted form of that, whereby the governments collect money from all of us and re-distribute it to some of us (and to others, outside of our country). But what do we owe others? How much should we give? Should we give time and money, or should the wealthy give money and the unemployed give time? How should we value it? Should it be tax-deductible?

We all know some people who do much for others. Take the time to say “Thanks” when you can.

George

It’s been a long time

jaquette — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 17:07:50 +0000

So much has happened since I last sat down to write something for myself, under the guise that it is for others. Most people who know me don’t read this, and many who read this don’t know me, so it really is just for me. Perhaps some day my kids will read parts of my blog and laugh (“gee, remember when people had to type and they sometimes typed it wrong!”)
What prompts me to figure out my login all over again, and to spend some cycles typing? A telemarketing call with an “Unknown” caller ID — a hot button for me. I have started handing all 877- or 800- numbers to my four-year-old daughter, as she enjoys those conversations more than I do and she is oddly more thoughtful about participating in political surveys (“Why yes, yes we do…”)
The number to avoid is 415-835-5534, which is a telemarketing research firm somewhere in the Bay Area (San Francisco or Marin). Unfortunately I do answer calls from that area, since some of my family lives there. I would like to propose a national amendment that some low threshold of complaints about calls from a particular firm would result in an injunction against that firm from making phone calls. I would also like to pass an amendment that political robo-calls be banned. Just because they have the right to free speech does not entitle a political campaign to put it on my answering machine. So when you get that phone call from James Research, just put the phone down and let them blather for $0.08 or so… it’s their dime, so to speak. If you have a four-year-old handy, that’s even better because it confuses the caller and amuses the child.
Okay, real topics. Poor Obama has been beaten like a pinata for doing the best he could with the hand he was dealt when Bush departed like an eight-year-old dead fish. Yes, he did get huge majorities in both houses of Congress and a large popular mandate so he should have been able to make big change. But he also inherited a cratered economy with several of the country’s biggest companies in bankruptcy and a financial system teetering worldwide. He inherited a unified Republican obstructionism that I hope some day is punished for doing stupid things like voting against bills that help everyone, and voting as a bloc because they are afraid to stand up to “leadership”. Leadership by obstruction is not leadership, it is the absence of leadership — cowardice.
I’m helping to coach a bunch of six-year-old boys, and it has been instructive for me. Just as it took me four weeks to figure out that I could not get five-year-olds to focus on T-ball, it took me four weeks to accept the fact that some kids have more fun when they are NOT focused on the ball, and that many kids are there to play with their friends rather than to improve their game. Signing up for a league where equal time for all kids, and anyone can sign up, is different from coaching a high school team where everyone wants to win and the score matters. We do not record the score when six-year-olds play, and the snack after the game or practice is just as important as the actual skills that are built. For this brief period in life, it doesn’t matter who wins and there is no reward for being better so having fun is a fine metric to focus on.
My son enjoyed the game last week more than any other he has played in. Yes he scored, but he also passed the ball to his friends. He knew players on the other team, and was just as happy to see them as he was to see his own team-mates. He’s good, but it was more important last weekend that he was happy. So I need to learn that lesson myself, and enjoy the game rather than caring about the score. It’s a start.
I’d say more soon, but I have 18 months of silence to belie that. I hope everyone is doing well, and also would love to hear from anyone who actually reads this.
Remember, tele-research is for four-year-olds. Voting is a right and a privilege, and I hope everyone votes. I like www.cruzvote.com if you are in California.
Be good!
George