It is what it is: a jittery economy reacting to a financial mess. The only consolation is that perhaps our generation will develop the kind of character that was cultivated out of our parents when they went through The Great Depression. They became known as "The Greatest Generation."
On the other hand, to deserve the term of "greatness" in a positive sense, like that generation that birthed us "Baby Boomers," they had to endure. Indeed, the situation did not make them, it revealed them. What will our generation be revealed as? We'll soon find out.
In a couple of hours, both Houses may approve a "bailout" with a $700 billion injection into our now fragile U.S. financial system. The stock market will reacted positively in the short-run according to most experts, but will it hold its gains? And will confidence return?
But all these questions probably beg the real question that should be asked: "How'd we get into this mess in the first place, and who's to blame?" Main Street America is going after the suits on Wall Street, while economists and market observers caution us to save the accusations for later, ... "let's restore some confidence asap, reallocate some assets, quickly put some limits on executive compensations involved in the rescue efforts, and help the common man avoid foreclosure." Well said. But all you partisan politicians, do you really think the common man will approve anything that is labled a "Bailout"? Doesn't anybody have the competence and courage as a Leader to market and sell an idea creatively? (that's a blog entry for another day!)
For those who have long memories, however, the question of "Who's to blame" will soon be answered. And the unpopular reaction may be that we all are to blame, ... yep, all we Americans. How unpatriotic to blame us all? Well, probably an exaggeration, but it's surely so much easier to point the finger and forget that there are three pointing back at each of us.
- As leaders in business, have we not supported excessive executive compensations because of how these "leaders" cut costs and add to the "bottom line"?
- How about our passionate pushing for results with regards only for achieving short-term bonuses from high volume production that may not be in the consumers' interest (i.e., no down-payment, variable interest loans for the eager, cocky, but unqualified; other products for those who cannot afford them.)
- Has not Wall Street and our obsession with corporate growth precluded decision-making that could have developed our organizations for the long-term, birthing a crazed desire for results now at all costs?
But, Joe, isn't it all about NOW? That's some of the stuff you write and speak about!
You are correct: It is all about now. But greed, envy, jeolousy, gluttony, entitlement, striving, ego-centic leadership, inadequate management skills, hero-worship, and a unspoken distain for TRUTH is what we've been seeing at so many levels of the once-great American society. And now we are paying for it.
Do I have hope that we'll make it out of this financial debacle? Yes, I do, ... but it will take change. Americans have been there before, and we've sacrificed and saved before.
But this change thing, Joe--change what?
I think we have to change our attitudes of mind:
- No matter who we are, give up the right to be right.
- Become more competent in what we do.
- Look for the good in others, and don't take advantage of them, but rather help them find their magnificence.
- Get into the other guy's shoes. There is no time for sympathy, ... it's EMPATHY we need now.
- Yes, do your job as a CEO, Director of Sales, President of the United States, Superintendent of Schools, Football Coach, ... but understand that what you are building is going to crumble if you put yourself or your interest group before the common good. You might earn a bonus, a victory, or a championship or two, but in the end it will all fall apart. Sure, you'll have your savings account, boat, or Caribbean retreat, but the ones who know will not forget how much you really did for yourself, and not the common good.
Joe C., this is hardly a solution to a problem which may be as eventful as The Great Depression.
Yes, you're correct. But don't kid yourself if you think it doesn't start with each of us and the extent to which we hit the profile of the self-centered, charismatic performer I hinted at above. Yep, "Performers" are not "Leaders", and it's more of the latter we need. And don't forget, the best Leaders are those "faithful in the little things." The pseudo-leaders are shooting stars, and too many of us have signed up for the short-term. For the great Leaders that will take us out of this, it won't be about short-term gain any more, but rather about creating a triumphant long-term future for the common American.
The one thing we may have forgotten over the time we drove ourselves into this mess is that great Leaders serve the common man, they don't take advantage of him. To the extent that common man was abused, that is the extent to which we have a problem.
Remember what Abraham Lincoln once said: "GOD MUST LOVE THE COMMON MAN, BECAUSE HE'S MADE SO MANY OF US." Did our business leaders and each of us in our quest in striving for success, ... just forget about serving the common man? If so, according to Lincoln, we've taken advantage of the HIGHEST POWER'S PRIDE AND JOY. Hmmmmm! Just maybe each of us in Leadership positions have forgotten about the little people. If so, no wonder we're in such a mess. Yes, maybe we're all to blame.
I know, where are the solutions, Joe? They will come--solutions are ideas, and they're many. But the results will not be achieved until we truly refocus our attention on serving others, ... so that we may finally qualify as LEADERS.
Speaking of past Presidents, by the way, my Dad and Father-in-law were big FDR fans. I understood he was their guy during the Big War. But perhaps my two blue-collar heroes appreciated something else about the late Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Perhaps Rocky Cervasio and Angelo Corino respected their President for his courage to speak the Truth, no matter how unpopular. Take a look at what FDR had to say about The Great Depression in 1933 in his inaugural address:
"The rulers of the exchange of mankind's goods have failied, through their own stubborness and their own incompetence, have admitted their failure, and abdicated... Faced by failure of credit they have proposed only the lending of more money. Stripped of the lure of profit by which to induce our people to follow their false leadership, they have resorted to exhortations, pleading tearfully for restored confidence. They know only the rules of a generation of self-seekers... Practices of the unscrupulours money changers stand indicted in the court of public opinion, rejected by the hearts and minds of men. The money changers have fled from their hight seats in the temple of our civilization ... We may now restore that temple to the ancient truths. The measure of restoration lies in the extent to which we apply social values more noble than mere monetary profit. Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. The joy and moral stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase for evanescent profits ..."
Gee, what a coincidence. I remember another great Leader getting upset about "money changers."
Once again, this once great country has not learned from history. FDR was a rare leader who spoke the UNPOPULAR truth. The common man loves the truth. Let's glance back to leaders like this to fulfill our own destiny: Becoming Leaders who others will follow. But maybe we all first have to admit that many of us have become mere ... "MONEY CHANGERS."
Signing off---Joe Cervasio, ... just like you, examining himself, trying to be a part of the solution in satisfying America's great need for LEADERS, ... NOW. Get that right, and the details of this $700 billion thing will fall into place.
Comments