Small Business Lending Fund vs Clean Energy Fund?

The Small Business Job Act created a $30bl fund to capitalize small business through community bank loans.  The DOE's loan guarantee program   is a fund to assist clean/green energy business's with  loan guarantees for certain renewable energy systems.   Both programs have merit.  Both could create much needed jobs and economic expansion.   Both programs were enacted by the Obama administration.   Then why was one created with tight restrictive rules and regulations and one with loose almost non apparent rules and regulations.

 The Small Business Lending Fund, set up last year with $30 billion to help banks jumpstart lending, disbursed a mere $4 billion and is to expire.  The DOE's program subsidise nearly $11bn in loans.  The Small Business Fund was a nightmare for community banks to get approval, while the DOE's fund was issuing funds easily and even to losers like Solyndra.  

This comparison begs the question why in our current economic mess would we restrict capital to small business and freely give it to green energy?  Small Business has and will all ways be the engine of the US economy.  What are your thoughts on why the programs were put in place in this manner? 

Privatize the Post Office.

As the White House puts together another bailout, this time for the US Postal Service, isn't time we open the discussion to privatize the post office?


With annual revenues of $70bl the Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe warned senators Tuesday USPS could post a $10 billion loss for this fiscal year.   USPS's losses are trending up, as defined by the 2010 Annual Report.  The USPS is plagued by union issues outlined by The New York Times and other issues outlined by The Washington Post.  In this article Senator Joe Lieberman voiced his support, suggesting, “We should be writing more passionate letters to those we love.”  and  Senator Claire McCaskill  suggested that USPS should mount a national advertising campaign promoting the value of printed mail.


With $70bl in annual revenues it's not about generating more revenues or re-branding a failing business, it's about cutting costs.  It is time we consider selling the postal service, possibly to companies who earn profits while delivering packages and mail. maybe FedEx or UPS.


What are your opinions on privatizing the postal service?  

Leadership in Balance

Leaders set the standard for there organizations.  Their emotion's especially those regarding results or production must stay in check, leading with a balance.  Balance is understanding your staff/employees/subordinate's reaction is strongly influenced by the manner you react.  Justin Menkes states, "One of the most critical tasks leaders have in today's stressful business environment is to channel their emotions and reactions in a way that does not hinder their people's progress."  


I am not saying be a robot, just control your emotions.  They are watching your reaction to the results and if that act is overly positive or negative, where or how you can react to better or worse results is defined, they will follow that lead.  Yes, lead with a positive optimistic attitude and reaction, remembering stability and consistency matter.  React as though the results can be better or could be worse.  Stay in balance.       

 

Direction for the Economy.

As Washington awaits the newest version of President Obama's economic plan, WE the People are feed up with strapping chains of indecision placed on our lives and business.
Just look at the data released in the past week:

1. Unemployment rate no change at 9.1%.
2. The National Association of Credit Management (NACM) index revealed the index of unfavorable factors fell to contractionary levels.
3. Restaurant operators reported softer same-store sales and traffic levels; Operators’ outlook for economic conditions fell sharply.
4. Institute for Supply Management™ Manufacturing Business Survey Committee stated that the overall sentiment is one of concern and caution over the domestic and international economic environment, which is affecting customers’ confidence and willingness to place orders.

All of this and other released information point to one glaring fact, no direction.  Ronald Reagan's "It's morning again in America." highlighted the good, it made us believe in our abilities of that day and in the future.  It gave us direction.  

What the politicians must understand is business has a pulse, business is people, and the people who own/operate the business need to believe in today and the future.  When Washington defines the direction We the People will produce prosperity.

Is Success Your Goal?

This morning reviewing, my social media channels, I noticed a post on Facebook by Harvey Mackay  regarding goals.  His statement triggered my thoughts to Earl Nightingale. 

The use of goals is the means of placing your mind and focus to the path of success.  Earl Nightingale stated   "People with goals succeed because they know where they're going."   Believe in yourself and goal.  Know deep in your mind, your subconscious, that you will achieve.  Concentrate, nourish and repeat the goal.  The intensity of your belief in the goal will drive you on the path to success.  

Along the path fear and obstacles will emerge, leverage these into opportunities.  Keep the focus on the goal, do not allow your mind to be tempted by fear or obstacles.  Your mind will move with the current dominant thought, stay focused on the goal and all ways be positive. 

Earl Nightingale's belief  - You get what you think about most of the time and you become what you think about most of the time.  Think about your goal, Think about success!

Honesty by Technological Verification

Twenty eight years ago when I entered the hospitality industry lie detection was a required instrument to fish through your staff to find the unworthy employee, I.E., the truth.  Most times the detection would not fester out the individual who was being tested, rather that person would rat out a co worker.  


Now with the technological tools provided by the internet, social networks, plagiarism detection software and information exchange algorithms we are all subjected to instant information verification.  This expedition is not just a tool to check down the ladder
of the business hierarchy, it allows the verification up the ladder; where C-level to the 
board room's credentials, proposals and presentations can be instantly proven.  
Included in this has been President Obama's virtual polygraph exam.


Per Michael Schrage blog  -  "But the real revolution emerging is not the greater transparency of a LinkedIn here and the statistical significance of a "lie detection" algorithm there; it's their linkage, fusion and aggregation."
Interesting that as we have advanced, we still just seek the truth.   

Control Your Personal Brand by Haney Sweda

Yes, you have a personal brand.  Everything you do or do not do has an impact on your brand image.  Take control of our personal brand, if you do not, you risk the peril of others defining the who, what, why, where and how of your life.  


Remember you are the brand, be confident, positive and all ways present yourself professionally.  You never know who may be watching and listening.  That person you impressed at the grocery or the department store may be a potential client, job interview or your child's future teacher or principal.   The fact that you held the door for others to enter; or that you gave up a parking space; or how you introduce yourself; or your reaction to an adverse public situation, all of these define you as a brand.


With the internet and social networking, everything, regardless of location or setting, will impact you personally. Start by Google-ing your name and review the results, you may be pleased or shocked.  Anything posted to the internet or social networks about you is there forever, so be careful in what you post, say, do or what other people post say or do with your name or photos.  Stephanie Fierman's  class and the summary of the class at The CMO Site on personal brand guarding, detail specific actions to take to control and guard your on line brand. 

Be you, but remember you are the BRAND!