It Was The Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times

I thought of this from A Tale of Two Cities this week. These are challenging times. Man's greed is consuming more and more people from poor leadership and unethical business practices and desire for things to keep up with the Jones.....while it is very tough it is still a wonderful time to be alive and it is a matter of perspective. Take time today to encourage someone you know has lost a job. I have been there and it is so appreciated and the right thing to do.
Most jobs aren't in the paper, but through networking.
This past week in a leadership class I teach went listed the challenges we face today in the world. After the list was made of job losses, lower wages, doing more with less-I pulled out my list from five years ago and read it to the class and the list was almost the same. The point was to let them know that there have always been times like these, yes this downturn is deeper and there will be another in 10 years. What will be interesting is by that time all the baby boomers will be totally out of the economy and we will have a severe labor shortage.
Chattanooga's addition of VW is a blessing for the area and right now estimates are around 1500 jobs making cars, 26 vendors locating plants in and around the area bringing 2500-5000 jobs and then 2500-5000 jobs to help with that from schools to everything else. TVA will be needing I hear about 2500 people in about five years.....and much more. This area will have alot of growth after this downturn.
What you don't hear alot about is how do we prevent another? and keep your eye on inflation. It is ok now but we will need to watch and gauge it.
By all means limit your time watching the regular media discuss this. Especially local telepromoter readers...they have no clue to business and will depress the heck out of you.

Here is a great article this week from USA TODAY that has a business teacher pointing out some things all leaders need to remember:

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/01/ask-the-dumb-qu.html


Now to A Tale of Two broadcasters. I am thrilled to see this week that Vin Scully, voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers was named best Sportscaster of All Time this week. He is a gift to the game and one of the great things about having XM Radio is listening to him in the summer. You feel like you have known him your whole life. I thought it was really neat that when Major League Baseball Network launched they had Don Larsen's perfect game on from 1956 and Vin Scully and Mel Allen called the game....wow....wow...."how about that?" as Mel would say. Here is the story:
http://sportsblogs.latimes.com/sports_baseball_dodgers/2009/01/vin-scully-name.html



Then to Charles Barkley who had to take a leave of action for being drunk and soliciting in Old Scottsdale, AZ. Here is the opening with Ernie and Kenny this week:



Ernie Johnson: "As you can see from the shot, we are missing a member of this panel that you normally see, and that being Charles Barkley. ... You all have heard what went on, and Charles has got some personal issues, and legal issues he's got to take care of. He's on a leave of absence from TNT at this time. And, I mean, we love Charles. He's our buddy. Everybody on this crew does. And there are times you'd like to rear back and give him a kick in the butt, which is one of those times right now. But also we support him every step of the way."





Kenny Smith: "I agree with you Ernie, I think the one thing -- I don't know if the biblical term is correct, but there is a chaotic moment, or a chaos moment, where you either you believe or you don't believe because something happened in your life. I think Charles is at one of those moments where -- how is he going to be remembered? How is he going to be remembered, as someone on the ancillary things, or the substance of who he really is? And from what we know -- a great guy, great heart. Giving, caring, understanding. But when you go through these cycles, you can be remembered for something else. And he's bigger than that, he's bigger than this, and it's the time now for him to get to this moment and grow, and move on, and be something better. And we look forward to seeing that."





Ernie Johnson: "At some point, we will have Charles back here. Until then, we just wish him the best."

Charles Barkley has been talking, partying, betting and living life full out. The problem is that he has no one to show him or hold him accountable. So he is out of control. This incident will show you if he is teachable. I personally think every man is. Charles needs to decide if this will be the incident that takes away alot of his income or will it be something even worse? He is has always been in the batters box and due for this and it is no surprise. He was a great NBA player but he doesn't know everything. None of us do.......it is a journey....Pray that Ernie and Kenny's Christian influence can help him.

Next blog on the UAW. Great article this week so come back and we will discuss.

*Live each day full out. Understand that in the Christian life challenges are normal. How do you react to them? How do you help others think thru questions? Are you encouraging others?
Until the next blog, may you seek the Lord in a fresh new way and just be silent and listen to Him and let Him know if you are upset, confused, worried and distraught. He already knows that and is just waiting for you to ask Him to help. Remember His ways or not our ways. But his love and grace is everlasting. .............