President Barack Obama, in his first State of the Union address last night made jobs a number one priority and asked the Senate for a job bill incorporating what the House has already proposed. In the details below the headlines, President Obama spoke about creating new "green" jobs and talked about lots of construction, railroad, and nuclear jobs. He did not say much about jobs for the experienced middle manager who won't have a new job to go to nor an old job to go back to. Small Business can do much to create new jobs and the proposals of the Obama administration for Small Business are no where near as clear as the ideas for construction and energy jobs.
President Obama stressed that he wanted to support Community Colleges--they will play a critical role in helping adults adjust to new jobs.
A key area for growth for small businesses is for independent consultants with change management and training backgrounds to network in order to work with emerging technologies and to create the job training new employees will need for these jobs. As they do that they can look for contracts or grants from the Federal government to provide appropriate training to help people step into these new jobs as they are created.
Steve Jobs, in promoting the new iPad, spoke about many of the innovations Apple has provided since 1976. This kind of technology could well be the baseline for new training initiatives and for education in K-12, community college, and university systems.
Showing posts with label economy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label economy. Show all posts
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
The Relationship Between Inflation and Unemployment in the Economy--Animal Spirits Revisited
In their book, Animal Spirits: How Human Psychology Drives the Economy and Why it Matters for Global Capitalism, George Akerlof and Robert Shiller show the relationship between inflation and unemployment. As we move into this second decade of the new millennium, unemployment in the USA is still at 10%. Inflation is relatively low (no social security increase for cost of living for 2010). According to the book, zero inflation leads to an increase in unemployment. When the economy works toward full employment, a nominal amount of inflation--with effective limits and safeguards set by the government--can be expected.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Animal Spirits, the Economy, Attitudes and Business Opportunities
A few days ago--in the last decade--I wrote a post looking at animal spirits and the influence of human psychology on the economy. (I am now on chapter 11 of the book and it is worthwhile to read and/or listen to.)
Five of these animal spirits are confidence, a sense of fairness, corruption, money illusion, and stories. As we now enter the new year and the new decade, we can look for a change in how businesses look at the world. Confidence was shaken in 2008 and in 2009.
Many businesses can be poised to take on new business opportunities if they develop a willingness to trust and can find trusted advisers to assist them in exploring the opportunities for change.
Those of us who are in business to provide coaching and consulting services to other businesses are now challenged by the evolving animal spirits of the new economy. What, for example, are the right fees to charge for professional services? If we charge what we used to charge, many businesses who could use the services will not think they can afford them. If we reduce our fees to help businesses experiencing a lower profit-margin, will they realize that these are not our standard fees and, instead, are value-added fees to assist them to grow their businesses and to take advantages of new opportunities?
Attitudes in both business and schools are often resistant to outside coaching and consulting. Our fee structures are not the same as those many decision-makers are used to. Some schools develop relationships with local universities or community colleges and work with their faculty and graduate students. Businesses may have a few trusted advisers they know from their circles of business contacts.
While social networking groups such as LinkedIn may offer opportunities for new connections, referrals and personal networking seems to be the most trusted source for new insights.
We are still evolving into this second decade of the new millennium. The concept of animal spirits is important in terms of being aware of the influences of human psychology on business and the economy and in helping professionals working in this economy to have insight into business direction and new business opportunities.
Five of these animal spirits are confidence, a sense of fairness, corruption, money illusion, and stories. As we now enter the new year and the new decade, we can look for a change in how businesses look at the world. Confidence was shaken in 2008 and in 2009.
Many businesses can be poised to take on new business opportunities if they develop a willingness to trust and can find trusted advisers to assist them in exploring the opportunities for change.
Those of us who are in business to provide coaching and consulting services to other businesses are now challenged by the evolving animal spirits of the new economy. What, for example, are the right fees to charge for professional services? If we charge what we used to charge, many businesses who could use the services will not think they can afford them. If we reduce our fees to help businesses experiencing a lower profit-margin, will they realize that these are not our standard fees and, instead, are value-added fees to assist them to grow their businesses and to take advantages of new opportunities?
Attitudes in both business and schools are often resistant to outside coaching and consulting. Our fee structures are not the same as those many decision-makers are used to. Some schools develop relationships with local universities or community colleges and work with their faculty and graduate students. Businesses may have a few trusted advisers they know from their circles of business contacts.
While social networking groups such as LinkedIn may offer opportunities for new connections, referrals and personal networking seems to be the most trusted source for new insights.
We are still evolving into this second decade of the new millennium. The concept of animal spirits is important in terms of being aware of the influences of human psychology on business and the economy and in helping professionals working in this economy to have insight into business direction and new business opportunities.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Animal Spirits: How Human Psychology Drives the Economy and Why it Matters for Global Capitalism
In exploring Audible.com today I came across the audiobook Animal Spirits: How Human Psychology Drives the Economy and Why it Matters for Global Capitalism by
George A. Akerlof and Robert J. Shiller.
I am still exploring the book and find it very interesting to use the filter of "animal spirits" to explore recent changes in the world's economy. These concepts address issues of confidence, among others, and how that plays out in terms of unemployment and the economy as a whole.
I am looking for personal insights that I can use to guide my own responses to this economy.
I am still exploring the book and find it very interesting to use the filter of "animal spirits" to explore recent changes in the world's economy. These concepts address issues of confidence, among others, and how that plays out in terms of unemployment and the economy as a whole.
I am looking for personal insights that I can use to guide my own responses to this economy.
Monday, November 30, 2009
"Cyber Monday"--the Monday after "Black Friday" (for Shopping)
Today is "Cyber Monday"--the Monday after "Black Friday" (for Shopping) (that is, the day after Thanksgiving in the USA). This was "self-proclaimed" last year as the equivalent day for Internet shopping as "Black Friday" is for retail "brick and mortar" stores.
Sales have been promoted over the last few weeks--both in physical stores and Internet stores--and retailers are "letting out the stops" to encourage purchasing any way they can convince shoppers to buy.
I shop regularly via the Internet when I have something that is offered in that medium. Cyber Monday did not influence me to make any purchases and the ones I'm making now are my routine purchases that I would be making regardless of the day or promotion.
The media is tracking "Black Friday" and "Cyber Monday" and reporting the ups and down in shopping compared to last year. The economy is still having its own ups and downs and there will be more demand for the available dollars than there are dollars.
The "best buys" and "steepest discounts" don't have much meaning if you cannot use the money for shopping the "latest and greatest" (in whatever form it takes.)
Sales have been promoted over the last few weeks--both in physical stores and Internet stores--and retailers are "letting out the stops" to encourage purchasing any way they can convince shoppers to buy.
I shop regularly via the Internet when I have something that is offered in that medium. Cyber Monday did not influence me to make any purchases and the ones I'm making now are my routine purchases that I would be making regardless of the day or promotion.
The media is tracking "Black Friday" and "Cyber Monday" and reporting the ups and down in shopping compared to last year. The economy is still having its own ups and downs and there will be more demand for the available dollars than there are dollars.
The "best buys" and "steepest discounts" don't have much meaning if you cannot use the money for shopping the "latest and greatest" (in whatever form it takes.)
Friday, November 27, 2009
Black Friday--Start of "Official" Christmas Shopping Season in the USA
"Black Friday"--the "official" starting date of the Christmas Shopping season in the USA is the day after Thanksgiving. Retailers prepare for that date because, historically, sales on that date put the retailers "in the black" (on the positive side of the ledger) for the year--rather than being "in the red" (on the negative side of the ledger).
With the economic downturn in the USA in 2009, retailers have been concerned. Some opened on Thanksgiving and some have been pushing "Black Friday" sales earlier than the official "Black Friday" to make sure consumers bought merchandise in their stores rather than finding them somewhere else.
Shoppers participate fully in the event, sometimes camping out in the parking lots before major retailers until they open their doors at special hours set aside for "Black Friday" shopping. Smaller amounts of merchandise on special sales are expected to be made available this year, making the competition to get the desired product at the best price even keener among consumers.
Though many items may be on sale, many consumers, experiencing the economic downturn directly, may not be in a position to take advantage of the sale prices until their personal economies become more stable--putting the consumers "in the black" in their own ledger books.
I didn't shop today, though I was in and around shopping areas. I did not see the crowds the media had led me to expect and it was a beautiful, sunny, day--a little cool (good to be indoors) with little traffic congestion on the roads.
I shop online for many things and go to discount stores and membership shopping clubs (Sam's Club and Costco) for many of the things I purchase for gifts and for personal use. I'm not rushing to spend money this year and my gift budget will be for smaller items than in prior years. "Quality over quantity this year" is a good perspective to have.
I did hear my first Christmas music for the year. I'm glad I like the music because I'll be hearing it until December 26th, 2009.
With the economic downturn in the USA in 2009, retailers have been concerned. Some opened on Thanksgiving and some have been pushing "Black Friday" sales earlier than the official "Black Friday" to make sure consumers bought merchandise in their stores rather than finding them somewhere else.
Shoppers participate fully in the event, sometimes camping out in the parking lots before major retailers until they open their doors at special hours set aside for "Black Friday" shopping. Smaller amounts of merchandise on special sales are expected to be made available this year, making the competition to get the desired product at the best price even keener among consumers.
Though many items may be on sale, many consumers, experiencing the economic downturn directly, may not be in a position to take advantage of the sale prices until their personal economies become more stable--putting the consumers "in the black" in their own ledger books.
I didn't shop today, though I was in and around shopping areas. I did not see the crowds the media had led me to expect and it was a beautiful, sunny, day--a little cool (good to be indoors) with little traffic congestion on the roads.
I shop online for many things and go to discount stores and membership shopping clubs (Sam's Club and Costco) for many of the things I purchase for gifts and for personal use. I'm not rushing to spend money this year and my gift budget will be for smaller items than in prior years. "Quality over quantity this year" is a good perspective to have.
I did hear my first Christmas music for the year. I'm glad I like the music because I'll be hearing it until December 26th, 2009.
Monday, August 31, 2009
The Business of Getting Noticed by the Right People
In the 2009 economy in the USA, much time on the internet is invested in trying to get noticed by "the right people." Who are the "right people?" That depends on the goal. If I want a job, I want to be noticed by people who are hiring. If I am looking for contract work, I want to be noticed by the people who are looking for someone to fill the contract. If I want to find consulting work, I want to be noticed by organizations who would like to use me as a consultant. Sologig.com and Fulcrum Network both focus on identifying opportunities for contract or consulting work.
How do we go about getting noticed in this age of social networking? We post resumes to job boards, fill-out profiles on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and other locations. We create web sites, blogs, create podcasts, put out promotional pieces on YouTube--and hope for the best
Many people are in the business of helping people get noticed. In fact, there are almost more people trying to help others improve their resumes than there are people hiring for jobs.
We do need to get noticed by the right people--for the right reasons--and for the right "investment" of our time and energy.
How do we go about getting noticed in this age of social networking? We post resumes to job boards, fill-out profiles on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and other locations. We create web sites, blogs, create podcasts, put out promotional pieces on YouTube--and hope for the best
Many people are in the business of helping people get noticed. In fact, there are almost more people trying to help others improve their resumes than there are people hiring for jobs.
We do need to get noticed by the right people--for the right reasons--and for the right "investment" of our time and energy.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Reading Challenge--Step "Outside the Box" and Make a Difference with Me in K-12 Education
"The Economy in 2009"‐‐at a time when students are graduating from high school reading at a third or fourth grade level, when employees need symbols on keys to enter sales at fast‐food restaurants, when beginning employees and students entering community colleges cannot read the textbooks, manuals, or follow written instructions well enough to be successful at their jobs, teachers are laid off in droves.
Many teachers who are not yet tenured and who chose to come to teaching as a second (or later career) to make a difference for students often command higher salaries due to education and, in districts already operating "in the red" are let go by some school districts and not hired by other school districts.
Beyond that challenge, many interventions designed to help struggling readers improve reading skills are not proving successful enough to produce a quality change in students' abilities to read. Research indicates that many students who have problems reading often engage in off‐task behavior and bring others off‐task with them so not to have to compete in academics. Schools invest money in "positive behavior intervention and support" (variations of discipline and rewards) rather than in helping students build solid social‐emotional skills appropriate to their grade levels and use "off the shelf" interventions to build reading scores (not necessarily skills or habits). (See http://joelmonty.wikispaces.com/research
for several research articles which support these claims.)
For the last six years I have been one of those multiple‐career teachers, working with English language learners (ELLs) in K‐12 school districts in Kane County Illinois. I have gone back to school to meet state requirements for teaching and completed a post‐doctoral Master of Arts in Teaching in May, 2008, then
took 15 graduate hours during the summer of 2008 to obtain state approval as a bilingual (Spanish) teacher and as a Teacher of English as a Second Language. I earned my doctorate degree in 1992 in adult education and human resources development. Before stepping into the K‐12 classroom, I had been a teacher of adults since 1968 (starting as a volunteer with the American Red Cross). I had designed innovative programs provided to employees of businesses and corporations in North and South America, Asia, Europe, and Australia. I had also been an organizational change consultant for organizations around the world for more than 40 years.
Most recently I have been focusing on the ongoing problem of below‐grade –level reading among middle school students and beyond. While prevalent among ELLs and students whose families are in the lower economic categories (receiving free or reduced lunches), it is more widespread than that. My research and practice have led me to explore a technology‐enhanced approach which had established a good track record in the 1990s and has even greater application today, leveraging the new technology. I am referring to the use of audiobooks and eAudiobooks (which can be downloaded to iPods and MP3 players) to encourage reading and improved academic performance. (See http://joelmonty.wikispaces.com/research for an article and a presentation on this subject.)
Today, at the beginning of the 2009‐2010 school year, I am looking for school districts who would like to partner with me to introduce this approach with small groups of students, teachers, and librarians at the middle school level and above.
This is a time to step “outside the box” and to find a way to support something new that has the potential to make a real difference for K‐12 students and employers and future families in this country.
If you are ready "step outside of the box" to work with me to meet this challenge, please let me know. The website linked to the title of this blog entry takes you to the project page for DrM‐Resources and this is the “Providing Access to eAudiobooks and Audiobooks to Improve Reading and Academic Performance” project.
Many teachers who are not yet tenured and who chose to come to teaching as a second (or later career) to make a difference for students often command higher salaries due to education and, in districts already operating "in the red" are let go by some school districts and not hired by other school districts.
Beyond that challenge, many interventions designed to help struggling readers improve reading skills are not proving successful enough to produce a quality change in students' abilities to read. Research indicates that many students who have problems reading often engage in off‐task behavior and bring others off‐task with them so not to have to compete in academics. Schools invest money in "positive behavior intervention and support" (variations of discipline and rewards) rather than in helping students build solid social‐emotional skills appropriate to their grade levels and use "off the shelf" interventions to build reading scores (not necessarily skills or habits). (See http://joelmonty.wikispaces.com/research
for several research articles which support these claims.)
For the last six years I have been one of those multiple‐career teachers, working with English language learners (ELLs) in K‐12 school districts in Kane County Illinois. I have gone back to school to meet state requirements for teaching and completed a post‐doctoral Master of Arts in Teaching in May, 2008, then
took 15 graduate hours during the summer of 2008 to obtain state approval as a bilingual (Spanish) teacher and as a Teacher of English as a Second Language. I earned my doctorate degree in 1992 in adult education and human resources development. Before stepping into the K‐12 classroom, I had been a teacher of adults since 1968 (starting as a volunteer with the American Red Cross). I had designed innovative programs provided to employees of businesses and corporations in North and South America, Asia, Europe, and Australia. I had also been an organizational change consultant for organizations around the world for more than 40 years.
Most recently I have been focusing on the ongoing problem of below‐grade –level reading among middle school students and beyond. While prevalent among ELLs and students whose families are in the lower economic categories (receiving free or reduced lunches), it is more widespread than that. My research and practice have led me to explore a technology‐enhanced approach which had established a good track record in the 1990s and has even greater application today, leveraging the new technology. I am referring to the use of audiobooks and eAudiobooks (which can be downloaded to iPods and MP3 players) to encourage reading and improved academic performance. (See http://joelmonty.wikispaces.com/research for an article and a presentation on this subject.)
Today, at the beginning of the 2009‐2010 school year, I am looking for school districts who would like to partner with me to introduce this approach with small groups of students, teachers, and librarians at the middle school level and above.
This is a time to step “outside the box” and to find a way to support something new that has the potential to make a real difference for K‐12 students and employers and future families in this country.
If you are ready "step outside of the box" to work with me to meet this challenge, please let me know. The website linked to the title of this blog entry takes you to the project page for DrM‐Resources and this is the “Providing Access to eAudiobooks and Audiobooks to Improve Reading and Academic Performance” project.
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