The Professor of On-Purpose
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This early morning I was greeted by an e-briefing from US Senator Nelson of Florida. I've watched this whole health care debate with a measure of sadness over a divided country that is bickering and back biting over issues when fundamental societal shifts are being missed. All are well intended, but all are missing the mark.
If you want to cut to the chase on my take on the current reality, skip down to the last paragraph after my response to Senator Nelson.
Here is a link to the Senator's full letter. Here is the Senator's opening line for brevity:
Dear Kevin,
Most of the calls and mail coming into my office these days are from constituents worried about health care. Regardless of where anyone stands on the specifics of this issue, I think we all can agree the current system is unfair, too costly, and needs to be fixed. [bold is my emphasis.]
I wrote back to my Senator:
Dear Senator Nelson,
Thank you for serving our country to the best of your ability.
The opening premise of your e-brief, "I think we all can agree the current system is unfair, too costly, and needs to be fixed." is not correct. Please do not presume to tell me what I believe.
"Fairness" is not a constitutional right. Even little kids understand that uniqueness presents certain advantages and disadvantages. In short, unfairness is inherent in life. The rights we have are to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," not fairness.
Regarding healthcare, "fair" is that anyone can walk into a community hospital in this country and be given extraordinary care. That is the goodness of the community put in place decades ago, not to be legislated by the federal government. People taking care of people provides genuine care. Let the private and religious sectors continue their long history of caring for the sick, needy, and homeless.
"Too costly" relative to what and who decides? What costs are being considered in the calculation? Our country offers everything from free clinics to premium health care. People decide where and what sacrifices or expenses are necessary, not government. Insurance is not a right, but a benefit offered by many companies. Let's give people incentives to get good jobs or start businesses that use health care to attract and retain good people. Let's reward right behavior.
Finally, "fixing". The government's top down approach on social matters is never a fix. The founders framed the country so government moves slowly. Jamming through this health care reform legislation is irresponsibility. The Great Society didn't work. The "Great Healthcare System" won't either.
Please get back to the people's business of governing, defense, and upholding the Constitution you swore to protect. Today we have remarkable enemies who would do us harm. Please protect our borders, reduce our government spending on unconstitutional programs, and learn to be content governing less rather than more.
The marketplace with government officiating works wonders. When the government both officiates play and participates in the market, then the game ends. We all lose. KISS: Keep It Simple Senator! Please govern by legislating the boundaries of society and stop interfering within them.
Be On-Purpose!
Kevin W. McCarthy
CEOOn-Purpose Partners, LLC
There, I've gone on record with Senator Nelson and here in my blog.
One of the key long term observations underlying my response is the fact that government over the last 50 to 60 years is stepping into the "brother's keeper" business. By stepping into the theology of society government is creating a non-denominational, secularized, unsanctioned, state religion.
The church has been marginalized in the process. Yes, a new religion has been birthed. People turn to the government for help instead of God and God's people. But government is flawed; God is not. Expedience invites us turn to the flawed instead of the flawless. In the long run, the true cost is loss of ourselves, our hope, and our potential. Government should not be in God's people's business, but God's people do belong in government if for no other reason than to keep the lines of government and church distinctively sharp and clean cut.
In the debate happening in Washington, DC, this alarming trend to a "new state religion" is being lost in the day to day incremental movement and weakening of all our religious institutions. Admittedly, the church is inept to fight tithes against taxes. Ironically, God requests only 10% for his church, while the Government seeks to tax up to 50%! (Does that say that God is five time more effective and efficient than government?)
I would love to hear your comments. This whole debate here in the US has startling implication around the world. Is government moving into the God business too much? Tell me your thoughts.
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The SCI FI Channel has changed its branding. Check it out with this link.
At On-Purpose Business Advisors we inevitably end up in branding because of our core work on business design and strategy. Branding is one of the first external expressions and places to create alignment with customers.
I had to laugh when I saw the new name. SCI FI says it all. Syfy – what does that say? There are 
some names you just don't need to change. That said, a logo update would certainly be in order, but to change the name at this point to Syfy is just plain stupid. Perhaps they have some magic hidden up their sleeve with this new name. I sense someone got paid a great deal of money to develop a new look and name. Unfortunately, the emperor's new clothes made it through tight-lipped committee after committee for approval.
The new logo makes me think this is a Styrofoam cup business, a paper company, or a pharmaceutical conglomerate with some made up name due to some chemical compounding. Certainly not an edgy science fiction television channel.
The good news is the execution on the web site is stunningly well done in terms of navigation, look, graphics, etc. They've kept the traditional purple (outer space?) for highlights. There is a lot there and they manage it nicely. So kudos to the team that took what was probably given to them and took it boldly where few have gone before.
For now, all I can do is sigh, fyi.
Be On-Purpose!
Kevin
I wanted to have a purpose. This was the front page headline of the March 18, 2009 Orlando Sentinel. The article by Kate Santich, a staff writer, portrays how people out of work are making the positive decision to volunteer more and are finding surprising rewards.
Dr. Ivan Misner, the founder of BNI (Business Network International) says, "Givers Gain." Having invested a couple of hours with me on the telephone on two separate occasions, I can tell you this man lives his motto.
To the people featured in Ms. Santich's front page article – Larry Szrom, Janet Morris, Claudia Mayes, and Yesennia Cruz, I must give a tip of the hat for taking their job loss and turning it into someone else's gain. Yes, givers gain. What they are sowing is returning to them in fresh ways.
So thanks Kate Santich for some great reporting, sharing these personal stories, and seeing good in the midst of loss. Thanks to those featured in the article for providing hope, inspiration, and direction for those frozen due to a job loss and financial stress. Those featured express a virtue of being an on-purpose person – service.
Be On-Purpose!
Kevin
Watch The Good Life with Ken Mikesell and Barbara Beck. 
Kevin's interview airs on March 2nd & March 5th at 7:30AM, 12:00PM, 3:00PM, & 8:00PM on station WTGL.
The Good Life is on channel 45 in the Central Florida area. For Brighthouse customers, tune in to channel 19.
For those not in Central Florida, you can see the interview on WTGL's web site after the episode airs.
Many of us who are business owners get invited to serve on boards. We're used to running things, not governing via policy through the CEO (for profit) or Executive Director (not for profit). The role of being a director is deeply misunderstood by most of us who serve on boards.
Recently, I was quoted in the following article in California Executive. Perhaps this will shed some light on your board involvements.
Now More Than Ever, Company Boards Must Respect Boundaries
Be On-Purpose!
Kevin
"The Financial Bailouts" have me thinking and pondering, Why do I find them so, frankly, offensive to my senses?
I can argue this from the viewpoint of being a capitalist and free market
advocate. The debate can be political in terms of government and
policy – conservative and liberal. Certainly, there is an economy at
risk argument that is being made along with the loss of millions of jobs.
I read, listen, and watch "the experts" debate the issue eloquently on both sides and I find myself caught in the middle of which way to go. All of the above enter into my opinion.
In the end, I've decided that the Bailout is just plain wrong. What Dr. Spock did for parenting with his no spanking approach, government is now doing to society. The United States is a nation "By the people and for the people…." Unfortunately, we've become a nation afraid to spank our children. What Dr. Spock did to parenting, government is now doing to our nation.
Dr. Spock made valid points, but there is a larger context to parenting. There's something important to a child's development to have an authority in their lives who sets and secures appropriate behavior boundaries. It prepares the child to be a more responsible and contributing independent adult. A parent like a government needs to carry a full arsenal of options including the power of a good whack on the bottom.
As we hear reporters and politicians speak in terms of "taking the military option off of the table" it is Dr. Spock in the Congress. Now the generation of Dr. Spock is running the nation as if it were their household – Democrats and Republicans alike.
Consequences
The Concept of Consequences has been decimated. Simply, this states that a person is responsible for the results of his or her actions. If I stick my hand on wet paint that is clearly marked as wet paint, then the natural consequence is I get paint on my hand. Cause and effect.
Unfairly and sadly, sometimes we suffer consequences that are not the direct result of our doing. Two relatives' careers with Arthur Andersen ended because of the Enron scandal. One worked in Boston, the other in California. Neither had any business dealings with Enron or the Houston office of Andersen, yet they paid the price as the result of the actions of others. Curve balls come at us in life.
Consequences are often thought to be negative (punishment), but there are also positive consequences. Study hard, get good grades, enroll in college, graduate, and gain greater opportunities in life. This typical cause and effect pattern is predictably preached by many a parent. Consequences for our actions are something we are supposed to learn as children. It helps us grow into mature and productive adults.
As a nation, perhaps, it is a season of reflection and consequences. Money is never the answer to a problem. It is simply an easy salve to apply, a seemingly quick fix that fails to deal with the fundamentals. The "Me Generation" – of which I'm a part – needs to suffer the consequences of our avoidance to deal with the hard truth of overindulgence for decades. Abundance has lulled us into apathy and complacency. We're masters at avoiding the consequences of our actions.
Popeye the Sailor Man's fat friend J. Wellington Wimpy taught all too many of our generation the use of credit. To anyone who would listen, Wimpy offered, "I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today."
Like overindulged brats fattened by our parents, our due is coming. Tuesday, dear Mr. Wimpy, has arrived and the bill is due. Our character needs to be strengthened or our country will be lost. I believe in the Spirit of America to face, survive, and improve. We need a season of pruning and leaders who are willing to make the tough call.
From the ashes of Wall Street or Main Street, the U.S. economy will rise again because the character of its citizens will rise to the occasion. Trust "We the people" to get it right, to pay the price, to be creative, and to make the most of a time such as this. Given the challenges to freedom arising in the world today against them, the banner bearers of liberty may very well need this time of preparation if truly "Liberty and Justice for All" is to survive.
Let Wall Street and the Automotive industry go into bankruptcy. Let home borrowers who overextended themselves lose their homes. From out of pain and suffering, comes humility and wisdom which are more precious than gold. We'll all be better people and a better nation for it.
Be On-Purpose!
Kevin