“You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call ‘failure’ is not the falling down, but the staying down.”

Mary Pickford
1892-1979
Silent Era Film Star and Co-Founder of United Artists Studios

Wisdom from Oscar

WSJ Columnist Peggy Noonan recently reflected on the life of Oscar Hammerstein, who with his writing partner Richard Rodgers reinvented the Broadway Musical in the 1940’s and 1950’s. In a brief recent column Noonan recounts an interview that Hammerstein gave to CBS News legend Mike Wallace 60 years ago. Noonan relates Hammerstein felt that “liberals and conservatives do need each other, and the right course can sometimes be found in the tug between them.” Thank you, Peggy Noonan, for sharing this….and thank you Oscar Hammerstein for your  wisdom.

The After 40 Effect

The importance of emotional intelligence has been documented for years. However, there are some very important traits that, while required for success, don’t have a visible effect on one’s career until later in life. This short HBR blog post outlines research that identifies the three personality traits that SIGNFICANTLY affect lifetime earnings, but only after 40.  Do you have them?

The Ten Commandments of Good Decision Making (Part 1)

In a recent conversation with one of my members, we were discussing their new management structure and leadership team. I expressed my concern that it appeared that the management team was set up as a democracy rather than as a benevolent autocracy. My experience has been that teams need leaders, and leaders need to make the final decision, no matter the concensus of those he or she leads. My experience is supported by Gino Wickman, author of Traction and developer of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). Here is a recent blog post on the subject that reinforces our mutual opinion that management by consensus is not a good way to go, as Thou Shalt Not Manage by Consensus is Commandment Number One.

12 Hilariously Wrong Technology Predictions

Baseball great Yogi Berra in one of his famous quips remarked that ‘It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” Before you make your next bet (on technology or anything else), take a moment to reflect upon these 12 Hilariously Wrong Technology  Predictions  made by scientists, inventors and other “thought” leaders of their day. What can you learn from their mistakes?

Econ Recon: Your Kids and Great Depression 2.0

Brian and Alan Beaulieu have been predicting a modest pullback in the economy later this year or early next, and with their record it doesn’t pay to bet against them. However, they are best known for their longstanding warning of a Great Depression in 2030 that will be equal or greater in intensity than the one of the 1930s. If you read their book Prosperity in the Age of Decline   you have access to strategies to help you prepare.    

 But what about your kids?  Will they be ready?

In a recent entry on the ITR Economics blog, Alex Chausovsky offers “Five Ways Your Kids Can Prepare for the Great Depression of the 2030s.”  Great advice…and plenty of time for them to get ready.