The Colonel, The Joy of Bricks and other Tales….Elephants First….Econ Recon: If It’s Not One Thing, It’s Another…. The Other Half of Gratitude….

“There is one day that is ours. Thanksgiving Day is the one day that is purely American.”

 O.  Henry
(1868-1910)
American Short Story Writer
Author of “The Ransom of Red Chief” and creator of “The Cisco Kid”

 The Colonel, The Joy of Bricks and Other Tales

Question:  What do Colonel Sanders, Legos, Ted Turner, Hazardous Material Trucking and IKEA have in common?

Answer: Instead of just football and basketball this week, may I recommend some great articles from yesteryear about each of these topics in a special business section in the New Yorker Magazine? I suggest you check out the magazine’s “Business In The Archive” for these stories spanning the past forty-five years.

Elephants First

Our mothers made us eat our liver and our vegetables before we got dessert. Too many C-Level people forget this valuable lesson. They avoid problems– the proverbial “elephants in the room” – and enable their subordinates to do the same.

Vistage Speaker, Consultant and former CEO Jim Alampi has some great suggestions in this regard. Find out why he says Great CEOs Deal With ‘Elephants’ First  What are the elephants you and your team are pretending aren’t in the room?

Econ Recon: If It’s Not One Thing, It’s Another

We’ve spend several years worried about inflation, now the media and some economists are warning of de-flation. Economist Brian Wesbury isn’t worried about either. In one short page you can find out why he thinks that “Deflation Fears are a Distraction” and what the real problem is.

The Other Half of Gratitude

Thanksgiving has always been a day for gratitude for what we have; but it may be that our list is incomplete. Could it be that we should be thankful for some things we don’t normally account as blessings? You’ll find a list in this poem, “Be Thankful.” It might have you looking at Thanksgiving differently by Thursday!

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and weary,
because it means you’ve made a difference.
It’s easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

 ~Author Unknown