Good Morning,
Diane & I like to go out to restaurants to eat several evenings per week. No, this isn't about food. We like to strike up conversations with wait staff, management, and owners. Me, strike up a conversation? Come on now. Not shy little old me.
Right now, much of the conversation ends up being about the inability to find good staff that is willing to work. Many pre-Covid staff do not wish to return to work. Why? Because with increased unemployment benefits and healthy stimulus checks, they can live comfortably staying at home, going to the beach, or on other personal endeavors. The message: We are rewarding those who do not work to earn their way through life and provide value to society.
As major investors, demand immediate results, what happens to a long term strategies? Executive compensation is dependent on, not long term, but short term results. What is the likely result here? It seems to be: Do what is needed to meet the immediate objectives and paying little attention to the consequences moving forward: tomorrow will take care of itself. Is this, really where the rewards should be?
Even education seem to be more focused on graduation rates and correct percentiles than whether students have learned and are able to successfully apply that learning in the world once they leave. Too many are encouraged to seek an education in things they, at a young age, like rather than what will allow them to be successful in life. What is the reward of obtaining a degree in a field where there is no demand?
If we want future generations and our way of life to survive well into the future, we need to make sure we are rewarding the important and not the expedient, what feels good, or what sells. This nation was founded on basic honesty and hard work. For the most part, throughout history, these things have been rewarded.
Do we still believe they are the keys to success? If so, is each one of us doing our part, in our every day lives, to reward them and call to task those who chose not to?
Jim
