tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42760190799425417372024-03-13T04:11:02.926-07:00Keep The ChangeThis is the blog for John Perkins of Keep the Change Solution-Focused Consulting. I am based in Seattle, WA. Clients appreciate the value I add to their understanding of the complexities of their relationships. I assist them in discovering fresh means of managing ambiguities around roles, authority and procedures.John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-68779978065028036202020-04-20T09:20:00.000-07:002020-04-20T10:08:33.103-07:00Letters on CeaseFunding to Secretary-General & French President<div style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: -webkit-standard; text-size-adjust: auto;">
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<span class="c15" style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">Letters I mailed today. </span></div>
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<span class="c15" style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">_______________________________________________________________________________</span></div>
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<span class="c15" style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">Seattle, WA 98105 USA <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="c2" style="font-size: 18pt; font-weight: 700;">John Perkins, PhD</span></div>
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<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">April 20, 2020</span></div>
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<span class="c3" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt;">Hon.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Secretary-General António Guterres</span></div>
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<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">℅ Office of the Spokesperson</span></div>
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<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">United Nations, S-233</span></div>
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<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">New York, NY 10017</span></div>
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<span class="c3" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt;">Re: Global Ceasefire</span></div>
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<span class="c3 c19" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt;">Dear Secretary-General<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Guterres:</span></div>
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<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Thank you, thank you, thank you for your call for a Global Ceasefire on March 23. Let me share a quote and my suggestion for a larger scope to this appeal.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
<div class="c6" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">I am reminded of President’s Dwight D. Eisenhower’s words about the looming military-industrial complex:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
<div class="c9 c13" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1; margin-left: 36pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
<div class="c8 c18" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 10pt; text-indent: 36pt; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="c3" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt;">I suggest that the Global Ceasefire agreement include a clause for a<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="c1" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">Global Cease Funding</span><span class="c3" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt;">. Global Cease Funding means every nation suspends their military spending and uses that enormous amount of resources generously to support health care services, the building of homes, meaningful work projects, and forums for cooperation and sharing. Or in 3 words:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="c1" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">living, life, and love</span><span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></div>
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<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Nós podemos fazer isso,</span><br />
<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>
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<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700;">_______________________________________________________________________________</span></span></div>
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<span class="c15" style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">Seattle, WA 98105 USA <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="c2" style="font-size: 18pt; font-weight: 700;">John Perkins, PhD</span></div>
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<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">April 20, 2020</span><br />
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<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Hon. M. Emmanuel MACRON</span></div>
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<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">President of France</span></div>
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<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Palais de l'Élysée</span></div>
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<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">55 rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré</span></div>
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<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">75008 Paris</span></div>
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<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">France</span></div>
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<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Re: Global Ceasefire</span></div>
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<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Dear President Macron:</span></div>
<div class="c9 c10" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; height: 11pt; line-height: 1; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
<div class="c6" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="c3" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt;">Thank you for supporting UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s March 23</span><span class="c3 c7" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: super;">rd<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">call for a Global Ceasefire. Let me share a quote and my suggestion for a larger scope to this appeal.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
<div class="c6" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">I am reminded of President’s Dwight D. Eisenhower’s words about the looming military-industrial complex:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
<div class="c9 c13" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1; margin-left: 36pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
<div class="c8 c18" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 10pt; text-indent: 36pt; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="c3" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt;">I suggest that the Global Ceasefire agreement include a clause for a<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="c1" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">Global Cease Funding</span><span class="c3" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt;">. Global Cease Funding means every nation suspends their military spending and uses that enormous amount of resources generously to support health care services, the building of homes, meaningful work projects, and forums for cooperation and sharing. Or in 3 words:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="c1" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">living, life, and love</span><span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></div>
<div class="c8" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.5; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 10pt; text-size-adjust: auto;">
<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Nous pouvons le faire,</span></div>
<div>
<span class="c0" style="font-family: "palatino"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-41996844323813296612020-04-11T21:35:00.001-07:002020-05-10T07:45:13.723-07:00Crowdfunding Woes 1This will be an open series as I "think while blogging" about trust, communication, intent, and everlasting fulfillment in our brave internet world.<br />
<br />
I have 2 remaining Indiegogo campaigns I backed. Do I frame them as <i>failed</i> or <i>fraud</i>? Which way I land, for myself and many
other backers, means a lot. For example, one project has a
backer-launched Facebook page claiming the project is a 'fraud' and
pooling our wisdom as to our best next steps. <br />
<br />
I think what I'm
finding in the legal and business reviews is interesting both personally
and for all of us engaged over the internet with people we haven't met
asking for our money. Thus, I start this series.<br />
<br />
I
tallied the crowdfunded projects we've backed: maybe 8. Five 5 came through. Of the 3 outstanding, 2 teeter on the failure/fraud <pwa class="pwa-mark pwa-mark-done pwa-span-hovered" data-pwa-category="spelling" data-pwa-dictionary-word="highwire" data-pwa-heavy="false" data-pwa-hint="Unknown word: highwire" data-pwa-id="pwa-523311B39CEE3764E1B2CBDDFC0D1FA6" data-pwa-rule-id="SIMPLE_SPELLING" data-pwa-suggestions="high wire~high-wire">highwire</pwa>. The other has a high chance of delivering.<br />
<br />
One of the best
projects was a high-tech scanner built by a team in Hong Kong. Really
well done and thought out.<br />
<br />
Before I joined <pwa class="pwa-mark pwa-mark-done" data-pwa-category="grammar" data-pwa-dictionary-word="Ebay" data-pwa-heavy="false" data-pwa-hint="Missing comma after subordinate clause" data-pwa-id="pwa-8816C08AE74D8234F839E1C2B50169CC" data-pwa-rule-id="SUB_CLAUSE_2" data-pwa-suggestions="Ebay,">Ebay</pwa> I read several articles. They impressed me with the care they took to understand "trust"
between people exchanging money for goods who have never met and didn't
share social networks. Mostly, they've gotten it right.<br />
<br />
Kickstarter and
Indiegogo have run in the opposite direction.<br />
<br />
From my experience, crowdfunding is a legal jumble. It will feel like these <pwa class="pwa-mark pwa-mark-done" data-pwa-category="spelling" data-pwa-dictionary-word="blogposts" data-pwa-heavy="false" data-pwa-hint="Unknown word: blogposts" data-pwa-id="pwa-BBBC78C5C2668EB6FF5E60080E85D079" data-pwa-rule-id="SIMPLE_SPELLING" data-pwa-suggestions="blog posts">blogposts</pwa> are, too, as I track my own developing clarity in public.<br />
<br />
Here I find a story from <i>The Guardian</i>: How eBay built a new world on little more than trust<br />
by John Naughton.<br />
<br />
Right off, I take issues with "little more than trust." Trust is HUGE. It is the first hurdle we all cross before we reach for our wallets.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-28715413605394302532017-02-28T12:04:00.000-08:002017-02-28T12:04:01.337-08:00After Meeting Review (AMR)Had one of those <b>nuanced conversations</b> with a co-facilitator once
that left me with more to ponder about my deepest understanding and
attitudes about what I do. I love those types of talks!<br />
<br />
People gather into a small group—we might call it a team, a board, a
task force, a commission. With great attention and sometimes with the
aid of a facilitator they compile <b>Noble Norms</b>. These have other
names such as Group Rules, Team Rules, etc. but all of them seek to
establish the basic behavioral understanding of the group. This becomes
some type of Group Law.<br />
<br />
And then the group goes about conducting its business. As groups seldom designate a <b>Group Cop</b> or <b>Group Judge</b>,
how will this collection of peers raise concerns should one or several
members believe a Group Rule has been violated by another member? If
adjustments cannot or will not be raised, the Group Rules become
meaningless and people act willy-nilly. This might be fine, or might
begin a vicious cycle of destructive behaviors.<br />
<br />
There's a <b>Group Learning</b> answer and a <b>Personal Comfort</b>
answer. At the Personal Comfort level, the suggestion is that the
disturbed member draw the violating member aside after the meeting and
address the norms violation. This doesn't distract any of the other
members from the ongoing business at hand, the two can handle it, and
life goes on.<br />
<br />
The drawback to this approach is that the other members may not be privy
to any resolution, what was resolved, and any remediation of the
relationship. Let's say our team has eight members. One person jokes
about an obscure grammatical mark that another member couldn't find on
her keyboard. Everyone laughs at the joke and carry on with their
business.<br />
<br />
Afterwards the keyboardist talks to the joker.<br />
K: You know, it hurt my feelings when you joked about my not finding
the m dash on my computer. Actually, I don't think it's there to be
found, and I tried.<br />
[Note: there are three dashes used when writing' the hyphen "-" the
shorter "n" dash: –, often used for separating terms and the longer "m"
dash: —, used to separate clauses.]<br />
<br />
J: Ah, what's your beef? I had trouble finding it as well. I didn't even know the difference myself until grad school.<br />
<br />
K: Well, I didn't appreciate it.<br />
<br />
J: Oh, the m dash isn't such a big deal. Two dashes work fine.<br />
<br />
K: Not that, well. Oh, never mind.<br />
<br />
J: Oh, You think that was a put down?<br />
<br />
K: Yeah.<br />
<br />
J: I didn't mean anything by it. We have had had our own struggles to learn grammar.<br />
<br />
K: Okay. I guess.<br />
<br />
When we approach the same norm violation from the view of <b>Group Learning</b>,
we have a different attitude among the members and a learning by
everyone. Group Learning implies that everyone, that is all members
attending the meeting, appreciate that a norm was violated in a group
meeting context (the very arena for Group Rules) that one member made
note of it, and that <b>appropriate acknowledgments and adjustments</b>
will be made to self-educate members on how that Rule is to be honored.
(One reason this language is so convoluted is that we are not used to
speaking of the nuances of collective learning and understanding, so the
language lacks expressive power in the sense of short words or phrases
that get to what I mean.)<br />
<br />
Every group seeking to <b>improve</b> needs stated times where members
reflect on personal and collective positive contributions to the group's
cohesion and work as well and what had detracted from group success.
The <b>After Meeting Review (AMR) </b>perfectly serves this role. Search on the more common term <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=after+action+review&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8" target="_blank">"after action review"</a> for articles to read about this concept.<br />
<br />
Basically the AMR is adapted from procedures used by airline flight crews and forest firejumpers after their shifts for <b>Group Reflection and Learning</b>. Because it's immediate and the concerns have just a single instance (are therefore <b>smaller</b> than if a member 'collected' violations only to dump them all at one time on the Group), the meeting can be very <b>brief</b> and highly <b>effective</b> for learning. Recall that our childhood "lesson" about hot stoves were quite brief yet <b>survive</b> within us to this day.<br />
<br />
Back to our keyvboardist/joker situation. Picture a group of eight. The
facilitating member reminds the group that they need to conclude with
the customary after meeting review. After a round of every member
sharing something they contributed, our keyboardist speaks up:<br />
<br />
K: It might not seem a big deal, but it hurt my feelings a little when
you joked about my not being able to find the m dash key combination.
Writing has not been easy for me, I did the best I could with my
section. I had hoped for something closer to praise for even finishing
it, not jokes about a silly m dash!<br />
<br />
Member 1 (Joker): I didn't mean anything. I myself had no clue about m dashes until grad school 5 years ago.<br />
<br />
Member 2: You know your section was great. Sorry about laughing about the m dash thing.<br />
<br />
Member 3: We may all sometimes feel anxious about our writing, thanks
for reminding us to be more supportive. You did do a great job, by the
way.<br />
<br />
Keyboardist: Thanks.<br />
<br />
In this <b>Group Learning</b> context the whole group learned (and all
had laughed at the joke) that it hurt a member's feelings to joke around
with her about that. It was sensitive for her, but <b>not yet a big deal</b>,
even her comment included a joke about "silly m dashes." And that's the
point, this discussion happens when nothing is a big deal, except the
chance to <b>learn together and sustain a bond.</b><br />
<br />
This way to <b>Group Learning by Group Reflection on Group Rules </b>doesn't
seem natural much less doable and so is resisted at the conceptual
level. In practice, a group quickly gets the hang of it, and can
actually <b>feel the Learning taking hold</b> as it improves at the next opportunity based on feedback given during the after meeting review.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>GUIDELINES FOR AFTER MEETING REVIEWS (AMR)</b></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The Army's After Action Review (AAR) is arguably one of the most
successful organizational learning methods yet devised. Yet, most every
corporate effort to graft this truly innovative practice into their
culture has failed because, again and again, people reduce the living
practice of AAR's to a sterile technique." — Peter Senge</blockquote>
<h3>
<b>Purpose and Benefits</b></h3>
The <b>After Meeting Review (AMR) </b>is a specific variant of the After
Action Review (AAR). The main difference is that the AMR brings team
attention to the specific details of how it conducts its meetings. The
AAR can have a much larger scope and help a team take a retrospective
view of its activities and results. The AMR is the specific case—AAR the
general one. <br />
<br />
Not only the Army, but firefighters, forest fire jumpers, commercial
airline flight crews, air traffic controllers and some surgery teams use
AAR to learn, share their personal perceptions of what occurred during
their shift, and find ways to adjust<br />
their exceptions and behaviors (learn) to improve performance. <br />
<br />
The habit of predictable and consistent use of AMR benefits teams by<br />
<ul>
<li>Sharing perceptions and feelings <b>immediately</b> after the meeting while it's fresh in team members' minds and everyone is still present.</li>
<li>Providing a time for a nonjudgmental, <b>equal status review</b> of
the team's actions. The least senior and most senior team members have
equal participation and status during AMR's. The same applies, too, for
the highest status (the "leader") and the lowest status team members. </li>
<li>Building <b>confidence</b> across the team that members will take appropriate actions at the appropriate times.</li>
<li><b>Aligning</b>—by discussion and comparing experiences—separate member perceptions into a common team perspective on events.</li>
<li>Providing a formal time for <b>clarifying team communication</b> and reducing conflict.</li>
<li>Activating, honoring, and respecting "<b>team rules</b>." </li>
</ul>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>The When and How of AMR</b></span></h2>
<b>When</b> The AMR should review the actions of the team near the end
of a meeting. What is discussed, of course, depends on what happened.
Usually, expect an AMR to take five minutes or less. Vary the comments
as necessary; take longer when required by circumstances. <br />
<br />
<b>How</b> Creating a set sequence for comments helps the team use this time well. <br />
Sample sequence:<br />
<br />
<i> Begin AMR</i> (See notes after the end of these steps for additional explanations.)<br />
<ol>
<li>Facilitator: “Two things I did well this meeting were A and B.” </li>
<br />
<li>Notetaker: “Two things I did well this meeting were C and D.” </li>
<br />
<li>[Team members} “I (we, the team) helped our meeting today by E.” </li>
<br />
<li>Facilitator: “One thing I (we) could improve on for next time is F.” </li>
<br />
<li>Notetaker: “One thing I (we) could improve on for next time is G.” </li>
<br />
<li>[Team members} “One thing I (we) could improve on for next time is H.” </li>
<br />
<li> Other comments for improvement (from anyone).</li>
</ol>
<i>End Sample Sequence</i><br />
<br />
<b>Notes for Step(s):</b><br />
<b>1-3. </b>Allowing the facilitator, recorder and members to offer
their own positive self-evaluations begins the AMR on an upbeat. It also
avoids one member “volunteering” to be the team “evaluator” or
“expert.” If a team member is practicing a skill for the first time,
this offers them a chance to share some of their pre-meeting anxieties
and satisfaction with how well matters turned out. There’s a limit of
two as a way to help members constrain how much time they take speaking.<br />
<br />
<b>4-6.</b> Similar principle as noted for the first three steps, this
time team members volunteer where they may improve. It works because it
is self-chosen, achievable, and preserves of the speaker’s self-esteem.<br />
<br />
<b>7. </b>Whenever possible, it is best for team members to phrase
suggestions in neutral or positive language. “We took 20 minutes on
check-in today” may be enough for team members to be reminded that
meeting time is short and to offer briefer check-ins at the next
meeting. This is preferred over: “Because of our long-windedness we
spent too much time socializing at the beginning and had to rush through
some important items.”
John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-21672632924529541992017-02-28T11:26:00.002-08:002017-02-28T11:59:45.171-08:00After Meeting ReviewHad one of those <b>nuanced conversations</b> with a co-facilitator once that left me with more to ponder about my deepest understanding and attitudes about what I do. I love those types of talks!<br />
<br />
People gather into a small group—we might call it a team, a board, a task force, a commission. With great attention and sometimes with the aid of a facilitator they compile <b>Noble Norms</b>. These have other names such as Group Rules, Team Rules, etc. but all of them seek to establish the basic behavioral understanding of the group. This becomes some type of Group Law.<br />
<br />
And then the group goes about conducting its business. As groups seldom designate a <b>Group Cop</b> or <b>Group Judge</b>, how will this collection of peers raise concerns should one or several members believe a Group Rule has been violated by another member? If adjustments cannot or will not be raised, the Group Rules become meaningless and people act willy-nilly. This might be fine, or might begin a vicious cycle of destructive behaviors.<br />
<br />
There's a <b>Group Learning</b> answer and a <b>Personal Comfort</b> answer. At the Personal Comfort level, the suggestion is that the disturbed member draw the violating member aside after the meeting and address the norms violation. This doesn't distract any of the other members from the ongoing business at hand, the two can handle it, and life goes on.<br />
<br />
The drawback to this approach is that the other members may not be privy to any resolution, what was resolved, and any remediation of the relationship. Let's say our team has eight members. One person jokes about an obscure grammatical mark that another member couldn't find on her keyboard. Everyone laughs at the joke and carry on with their business.<br />
<br />
Afterwards the keyboardist talks to the joker.<br />
K: You know, it hurt my feelings when you joked about my not finding the m dash on my computer. Actually, I don't think it's there to be found, and I tried.<br />
[Note: there are three dashes used when writing' the hyphen "-" the shorter "n" dash: –, often used for separating terms and the longer "m" dash: —, used to separate clauses.]<br />
<br />
J: Ah, what's your beef? I had trouble finding it as well. I didn't even know the difference myself until grad school.<br />
<br />
K: Well, I didn't appreciate it.<br />
<br />
J: Oh, the m dash isn't such a big deal. Two dashes work fine.<br />
<br />
K: Not that, well. Oh, never mind.<br />
<br />
J: Oh, You think that was a put down?<br />
<br />
K: Yeah.<br />
<br />
J: I didn't mean anything by it. We have had had our own struggles to learn grammar.<br />
<br />
K: Okay. I guess.<br />
<br />
When we approach the same norm violation from the view of <b>Group Learning</b>, we have a different attitude among the members and a learning by everyone. Group Learning implies that everyone, that is all members attending the meeting, appreciate that a norm was violated in a group meeting context (the very arena for Group Rules) that one member made note of it, and that <b>appropriate acknowledgments and adjustments</b> will be made to self-educate members on how that Rule is to be honored. (One reason this language is so convoluted is that we are not used to speaking of the nuances of collective learning and understanding, so the language lacks expressive power in the sense of short words or phrases that get to what I mean.)<br />
<br />
Every group seeking to <b>improve</b> needs stated times where members reflect on personal and collective positive contributions to the group's cohesion and work as well and what had detracted from group success. The <b>After Meeting Review (AMR) </b>perfectly serves this role. Search on the more common term <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=after+action+review&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8" target="_blank">"after action review"</a> for articles to read about this concept.<br />
<br />
Basically the AMR is adapted from procedures used by airline flight crews and forest firejumpers after their shifts for <b>Group Reflection and Learning</b>. Because it's immediate and the concerns have just a single instance (are therefore <b>smaller</b> than if a member 'collected' violations only to dump them all at one time on the Group), the meeting can be very <b>brief</b> and highly <b>effective</b> for learning. Recall that our childhood "lesson" about hot stoves were quite brief yet <b>survive</b> within us to this day.<br />
<br />
Back to our keyvboardist/joker situation. Picture a group of eight. The facilitating member reminds the group that they need to conclude with the customary after meeting review. After a round of every member sharing something they contributed, our keyboardist speaks up:<br />
<br />
K: It might not seem a big deal, but it hurt my feelings a little when you joked about my not being able to find the m dash key combination. Writing has not been easy for me, I did the best I could with my section. I had hoped for something closer to praise for even finishing it, not jokes about a silly m dash!<br />
<br />
Member 1 (Joker): I didn't mean anything. I myself had no clue about m dashes until grad school 5 years ago.<br />
<br />
Member 2: You know your section was great. Sorry about laughing about the m dash thing.<br />
<br />
Member 3: We may all sometimes feel anxious about our writing, thanks for reminding us to be more supportive. You did do a great job, by the way.<br />
<br />
Keyboardist: Thanks.<br />
<br />
In this <b>Group Learning</b> context the whole group learned (and all had laughed at the joke) that it hurt a member's feelings to joke around with her about that. It was sensitive for her, but <b>not yet a big deal</b>, even her comment included a joke about "silly m dashes." And that's the point, this discussion happens when nothing is a big deal, except the chance to <b>learn together and sustain a bond.</b><br />
<br />
This way to <b>Group Learning by Group Reflection on Group Rules </b>doesn't seem natural much less doable and so is resisted at the conceptual level. In practice, a group quickly gets the hang of it, and can actually <b>feel the Learning taking hold</b> as it improves at the next opportunity based on feedback given during the after meeting review.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>GUIDELINES FOR AFTER MEETING REVIEWS (AMR)</b></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The Army's After Action Review (AAR) is arguably one of the most successful organizational learning methods yet devised. Yet, most every corporate effort to graft this truly innovative practice into their culture has failed because, again and again, people reduce the living practice of AAR's to a sterile technique." — Peter Senge</blockquote>
<h3>
<b>Purpose and Benefits</b></h3>
The <b>After Meeting Review (AMR) </b>is a specific variant of the After Action Review (AAR). The main difference is that the AMR brings team attention to the specific details of how it conducts its meetings. The AAR can have a much larger scope and help a team take a retrospective view of its activities and results. The AMR is the specific case—AAR the general one. <br />
<br />
Not only the Army, but firefighters, forest fire jumpers, commercial airline flight crews, air traffic controllers and some surgery teams use AAR to learn, share their personal perceptions of what occurred during their shift, and find ways to adjust<br />
their exceptions and behaviors (learn) to improve performance. <br />
<br />
The habit of predictable and consistent use of AMR benefits teams by<br />
<ul>
<li>Sharing perceptions and feelings <b>immediately</b> after the meeting while it's fresh in team members' minds and everyone is still present.</li>
<li>Providing a time for a nonjudgmental, <b>equal status review</b> of the team's actions. The least senior and most senior team members have equal participation and status during AMR's. The same applies, too, for the highest status (the "leader") and the lowest status team members. </li>
<li>Building <b>confidence</b> across the team that members will take appropriate actions at the appropriate times.</li>
<li><b>Aligning</b>—by discussion and comparing experiences—separate member perceptions into a common team perspective on events.</li>
<li>Providing a formal time for <b>clarifying team communication</b> and reducing conflict.</li>
<li>Activating, honoring, and respecting "<b>team rules</b>." </li>
</ul>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>The When and How of AMR</b></span></h2>
<b>When</b> The AMR should review the actions of the team near the end of a meeting. What is discussed, of course, depends on what happened. Usually, expect an AMR to take five minutes or less. Vary the comments as necessary; take longer when required by circumstances. <br />
<br />
<b>How</b> Creating a set sequence for comments helps the team use this time well. <br />
Sample sequence:<br />
<br />
<i> Begin AMR</i> (See notes after the end of these steps for additional explanations.)<br />
<ol>
<li>Facilitator: “Two things I did well this meeting were A and B.” </li>
<br />
<li>Notetaker: “Two things I did well this meeting were C and D.” </li>
<br />
<li>[Team members} “I (we, the team) helped our meeting today by E.” </li>
<br />
<li>Facilitator: “One thing I (we) could improve on for next time is F.” </li>
<br />
<li>Notetaker: “One thing I (we) could improve on for next time is G.” </li>
<br />
<li>[Team members} “One thing I (we) could improve on for next time is H.” </li>
<br />
<li> Other comments for improvement (from anyone).</li>
</ol>
<i>End Sample Sequence</i><br />
<br />
<b>Notes for Step(s):</b><br />
<b>1-3. </b>Allowing the facilitator, recorder and members to offer their own positive self-evaluations begins the AMR on an upbeat. It also avoids one member “volunteering” to be the team “evaluator” or “expert.” If a team member is practicing a skill for the first time, this offers them a chance to share some of their pre-meeting anxieties and satisfaction with how well matters turned out. There’s a limit of two as a way to help members constrain how much time they take speaking.<br />
<br />
<b>4-6.</b> Similar principle as noted for the first three steps, this time team members volunteer where they may improve. It works because it is self-chosen, achievable, and preserves of the speaker’s self-esteem.<br />
<br />
<b>7. </b>Whenever possible, it is best for team members to phrase suggestions in neutral or positive language. “We took 20 minutes on check-in today” may be enough for team members to be reminded that meeting time is short and to offer briefer check-ins at the next meeting. This is preferred over: “Because of our long-windedness we spent too much time socializing at the beginning and had to rush through some important items.”John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-66384295143204944462013-04-15T16:05:00.000-07:002013-12-30T19:03:36.791-08:00Question "Charity"<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">"Charity" isn't working, and it never was designed to end socially or collectively resolvable suffering. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">There. I've said it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Yes, I dare to question the ideas about charity that have infused themselves into
our societies and culture. I know, major religions take great and noble stands on the necessity for the "better off" to give charitably to the "less well off." They have gotten things crossed. The ideas and practices about <i>charity</i> prevents us from reorganizing ourselves into better ways to coexist with one another.They are in the way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">I will frame my comments by responding to Josephine Lowell’s definition of charity. I need to say up front that I admire Lowell a great deal and appreciate that her
heart was well schooled by her abolitionist parents. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">In her 1884 book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Public Relief and Private Charity</i>,
Lowell gives 4 facets to her definition of charity (pp 88-90)—</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“1<sup>st</sup>. It must be voluntary.” She notes that the
exchange of material resources resulting from the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>use of force may transfer property from the wealthy to the
poor, but it’s not charity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“2<sup>nd</sup>. It must be free in another sense. The
person to whom we exercise charity cannot have an acknowledged personal claim
upon us.” For Lowell, relationships like parent-child, or employer-employee establish
channels of service and support that cannot be labeled charity. Often there’s a
duty implied, and charity and duty don’t mix; one is supposedly voluntary and
free and the other has shades of moral obligations. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“3<sup>rd</sup>. Charity must go further than kind
feeling—it must be kind action—it must accomplish good to the object of it. No
amount of good feeling can convert an injurious act into a charitable one.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“4<sup>th</sup>. Charity must be exercised towards a person
in inferior circumstances to those of his benefactor. We cannot be charitable
to our equals—in the sense of the word with which we are dealing.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: normal;">Let’s let Lowell sum up her argument: </span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
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</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Charity then, as I define it, must be a voluntary, free,
beneficent action performed towards those who are in more destitute
circumstances and inferior in worldly position. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“By this definition, all official and public relief is put
outside the pale of charity, since it lacks the voluntary element.”</div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
She is not the only thinker to focus on the voluntary, giving side of this exchange. The 13th century Jewish Rabbi and
doctor, Maimonides, posits 8 levels of Giving. <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(The word </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tzedakah</i> is the Hebrew term for justice or righteousness. It is
often translated as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">charity</i>.)
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd; tab-stops: list .5in;">Giving
an interest-free loan to a person in need; forming a partnership with a
person in need; giving a grant to a person in need; finding a job for a
person in need; so long as that loan, grant, partnership, or job results
in the person no longer living by relying upon others.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd; tab-stops: list .5in;">Giving
tzedakah anonymously to an unknown recipient via a person (or public fund)
which is trustworthy, wise, and can perform acts of tzedakah with your
money in a most impeccable fashion.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd; tab-stops: list .5in;">Giving
tzedakah anonymously to a known recipient.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd; tab-stops: list .5in;">Giving
tzedakah publicly to an unknown recipient.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd; tab-stops: list .5in;">Giving
tzedakah before being asked.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd; tab-stops: list .5in;">Giving
adequately after being asked.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd; tab-stops: list .5in;">Giving
willingly, but inadequately.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd; tab-stops: list .5in;">Giving
"in sadness" (giving out of pity).</li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzedakah">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzedakah</a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All of Maimonides' levels imply voluntary giving, simply in more variety that Lowell dealt with. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The rest of this post will take a closer look at Lowell’s
first point: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It must be voluntary.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I picture 2 people, Ms. A who is feeling in a charitable
mood, and Mr. B, who is feeling in need of help. Ms. A certainly has an option
to provide some or all the help Mr. B needs, and can do so voluntarily. Mr. B’s
condition may not be so voluntary; in fact he may be in extreme distress. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By addressing only one side of this exchange, Lowell
overlooks that charity involves at least two people, or two parties. It may
also involve the tax collector, and this third element introduces the
possibility of the person offering the charity, Ms. A, may want to benefit from the tax
write-off. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the other hand, Mr. B may have claims on his income which
he seeks to avoid. His hard-up, hard-luck situation may be more
a voluntary choice than entirely the result of circumstances. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Somewhere in the middle is the psychology of both those that
offer and those that receive. Lee Stringer in <i>Grand Central Winter</i>—his memoir of life on the streets of New York City—captures in a brief sketch this dance of motives and actions. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Stringer had been working the subway cars, selling a weekly newspaper sold by homeless people to earn a few dollars. <style>He<!--
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div.Section1
{page:Section1</style>He had made his pitch but did not get any sales. Before departing, a woman wishes more people would buy a
copy to “help the homeless.” He offers her a complimentary copy. She refuses,
because he could “sell that.” Stringer writes: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“This
gets me slightly ticked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“’I
may be on the street,’ I tell her. ‘But if I couldn’t give something to someone
every now and then, wouldn’t that make me poorer than I am?’" … </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He pleads with
her to take the paper (“all kinds of things riding” on it, he notes.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She instead digs out 97¢ for the paper, “there you go,” she says
triumphant. “<i>But it’s her victory alone</i>.”(Emphasis added.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She goes into the next car and leaves the paper for him before
she exits. He finds it when he enters that car.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was her "victory alone" because the shadow side to Lowell’s feeling that charity must be
voluntary is the sense of shame, humiliation—even stigma—that the recipient may
experience. Is this what was Stringer hints at by his side comment that "all kinds of things were riding" on <i>her</i> accepting <i>his</i> offer of a free paper?</div>
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</div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the spirit of never critiquing something without offering a
suggestion, I would rewrite Lowell’s first point to read: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">People have multiple
motives for giving and accepting help. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Somehow I personally have always intuited this feeling of
shame from receiving assistance. As a tutor at a youth center in New
York, I often encountered middle and high school students who knew they needed
help but felt uncomfortable that they needed it! After we had completed any
necessary paper work, I would ask them, “What are you going to teach me?” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This caught them off-guard as they felt they were “empty”
or "broken" and had to be “filled” or "fixed" with the understanding or knowledge that tutoring
offered. To be asked to teach something back right away established our relationship as
one that was closer to being one among equals: I knew a little more about
composing an essay and was happy to share with them—they knew more about things like Chisanbop
(Korean method for doing math calculations using your fingers) which I wanted them to share with me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">If we can get past hidden motives—it isn’t charity if<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>there’s a mutual give and take. </span></i><br />
<br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Comments? </span></i><br />
<br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Comment 4.29.13 </span></i><br />
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1388458953799_2347">
Interesting area to be
exploring. I remember reading somewhere that there is a great
difference between when you are giving from your abundance or giving
from a place requiring some level of sacrifice. I found that
provocative.</div>
<div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1388458953799_2348">
<br /></div>
Penny<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></i>
John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-19981297262099034672013-03-02T10:15:00.002-08:002013-03-02T10:15:48.729-08:00Write Down what you Spend, Save, & Share!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PlfDTJK9uLw/UTI45LznDgI/AAAAAAAAAEk/VYzOdDX2B-c/s1600/d4blogger.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PlfDTJK9uLw/UTI45LznDgI/AAAAAAAAAEk/VYzOdDX2B-c/s1600/d4blogger.png" /></a></div>
It's a form. A basic form. Write down the month, day, what you bought, the amount the purpose you put the money to: <u><b>Sp</b></u>ending, <u><b>Sa</b></u>ving, or <b><u>Sh</u></b>aring. The last column is for a memo or note. Basic—8 columns.<br />
<br />
The challenge is consistency: writing down every expense, every time. Cash, check, card, even the spare change or dollars handed out to panhandlers (check the share column).<br />
<br />
That's it. It works. The question is can you work it so it works for you!<br />
<br />
Look what some bloggers have posted on this technique if you don't believe me.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">From:<a href="http://www.primeparentsclub.com/2013/01/14/doin52-week-3-track-what-you-spend/" target="_blank"> Prime Parents Club </a></span></b></span><br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">#DoIn52 Week 3: Become More Aware of What Your Family Spends</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For our third week in Do In 52, we want your entire family to become more aware of what you spend in one week by tracking it–<b>all of it! </b>So,
grab a notebook and an envelope for each family member who is old
enough to spend and get at it. Just have people log what they bought and
the amount.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The rules are easy:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Save a receipt or write down in your notebook every single thing you spend money on for seven days straight.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Spend $120 at the grocery store? Write it down. Spend $20.01 at the gas station (come on, we know you go over when
trying to stop on the .00 mark), save that receipt. Pay the electric
bill? Log it. Buy a pack of gum at the school event concession stand?
WRITE IT DOWN. (Yes, we are totally serious.) Order an Amazon book that
auto-bills your account? Yep, you have to track that, too. Anything that
comes out of your personal funds, you need to track it for the week.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Part of the reason that people have such a
hard time with budgeting and saving money is that they don’t realize
exactly what they’re spending, especially on little things that can add
up fast. At the end of your seventh day, collect all the receipts and
notebooks from everyone and add it up. We’re pretty sure that you’ll
find some corners you can cut immediately, and then probably some things
you can work on longterm.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So … get to tracking!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-------------------------------<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="color: red;">From: <a href="http://blog.readyforzero.com/readyforzero-budgeting-spreadsheet/" target="_blank">ReadyforZero</a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">One thing that I’ve personally found is that if I force myself to enter
my spending daily or at the very least 3-4 times a week, I really feel
the pain if I enter something that I know is bad for my budget or if I
go red in a category. This helps me make smarter purchasing decisions
and avoid over spending. Alternatively, it feels great when I do make my
budget for the month or only ‘stray’ within a few dollars. It’s almost
like a game that helps me accomplish my goals.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
-------------------------------<br />
So, get started, keep it quick and manageable. At the beginning don't worry about getting every expense recorded, just focus on building the habit of writing a note or sitting at the computer with receipts and bills.<br />
<br />
The more mindful, the more moneyful!<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-88418020335626507382013-01-20T11:34:00.001-08:002013-01-20T11:43:53.419-08:00Pay Down Higher Interest Debt First<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BSY-4DMdQ6Y/UPwp7lpRf4I/AAAAAAAAAEE/_VxhiffftOg/s1600/c+from+abcdpptx.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BSY-4DMdQ6Y/UPwp7lpRf4I/AAAAAAAAAEE/_VxhiffftOg/s640/c+from+abcdpptx.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b>
<span style="font-size: large;">Look at the illustration carefully. If, as <span style="background-color: white;">Sheri O. Zampelli </span>says paying interest is like buying nothing, you buy more nothing over time with higher interest.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If, for example, Abe and Abby, twins, take out separate $1000 loans in July of 2012 by using their credit cards to get tickets and rooms for a long planned family reunion. Abe's card had a 20% interest on the unpaid balance, and Abby's card charges her 10%. Neither of them will make more purchases on their cards until these are paid off.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Both of them will pay a $20 minimum payment each month, at least at the beginning.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>When will each loan get repaid and how much interest will that cost? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">To answer that it helps to have some basic concepts in mind. All loan repayments have two parts: the <b>principal</b>, meaning important or main part, is the amount borrowed. The most principal Abe and Abby will pay back is $1000 because that's the amount they borrowed.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The other part is <b>interest</b>: an extra amount returned to the lender (the credit card companies) for advancing money to the borrower. This area is where lenders can really put a hurting on borrowers if there are no reasonable caps or limits on the extra they can charge. Excessive interest is called usury. Communities either by custom (only charge high interest to outsiders), culture (our people never take advantage of anyone), or law (charge more than the law allows and the government will shut you down) declare what amount of interest is reasonable. The creative greed of lenders then find ways to get around those limits. And so the merry-go-round works.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The important thing to remember is <b>as long there is an outstanding principal the lender will add interest. </b>But as soon as that amount is repaid, the lender is "made whole" and the loan repayments end. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Back to Abe and Abby. <i>In a little over 5 years Abby will have her 10% loan paid off, and have incurred $299 in interest, for a total expense of $1299. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Abe will continue to pay for <i>an additional 4 years</i> on his 20% loan and <i>pay $1168 in interest for a total of $2168 for his original $1000 charges. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I will share some links if you want to learn more, especially if you have multiple loans at different rates. But first, a couple of <span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">warnings</span>. You may see from time to time a blogger say a payday loan "is designed for quick access to cash but not for long-term use," or words to that effect. Don't believe them! Payday loans are a trap and the lenders want you to use them long-term, though you think you're only needing their "help" for 2 weeks. They are not a help to "underserved" communities because the profits leave the community, and even the wages paid are to people who often live elsewhere than the poor communities that are the targets for these storefront lenders.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Another <span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">warning</span>: some of the articles discuss finally paying off the principal loan amount like its the only point of emotional or psychological happiness. Think of the ritualized moments in plays and movies where people burn their mortgage agreements after the house is finally paid off.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The thing is, <b>we can set our own interim success markers!</b> I like to compare this power we always have held to how fans of sports team react. Let's say our<span style="font-size: large;"> football</span> team is currently losing by 10 points. It has the ball and scores a touchdown. Are fans quiet at this point? No, they are cheering! But why? They are not ahead yet, they still are behind by 3 points. However you understand why they are cheering, use that for yourself.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So, let's back to Abe. He talks to his sister and realizes he needs to get a credit card like hers! But first, <span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">he wants to pay off this $1000 faster than the credit card company wants him to.</span> They both know that anything over the minimum is subtracted from the principal. Remember, the longer he takes to pay it, the happier (or wealthier) the credit card company becomes. The opposite is also true: the faster he can pay the better off he is.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Abe does some calculations on a napkin while having lunch with his sister. He buys coffee and sometimes a muffin or scone about 3 times a week, that's adds up to over $60 a month. He also was going to add a couple of personal days to a business trip to see the sights—he can forgo that but keep the time off and rest so he won't feel the need for the coffee. He's been Mr. Party impressively buying rounds for his friends sometimes at happy hour. That's going to stop. An so on. He commits to his sister to finding at least $100 of savings a month and putting that money on his loan till the $1000 is paid off. And, to get started, he tells her he is not buying her lunch today as he usually does, they will have to pay 50-50. Actually, Abby instead buys him lunch as her contribution to his goal.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Abe <span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">can feel good each month </span>now if he achieves at least $100 in savings to add to his loan payment and not wait till the full $1000 is repaid to feel good. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Okay, you've been warned. Here are some sites with alternative ways to go about repaying your debts.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div id="yiv916425054yui_3_7_2_17_1358440725750_39">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.worksavelive.com/2013/01/easy-debt-reduction-strategies/" target="_blank">http://www.worksavelive.com/2013/01/easy-debt-reduction-strategies/ </a></span></div>
<div id="yiv916425054yui_3_7_2_17_1358440725750_39">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div id="yiv916425054yui_3_7_2_17_1358440725750_39">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAs187H43dw" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAs187H43dw </a></span></div>
<div id="yiv916425054yui_3_7_2_17_1358440725750_39">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div id="yiv916425054yui_3_7_2_17_1358440725750_39">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viptZ4SyjAY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viptZ4SyjAY</a></span></div>
<div id="yiv916425054yui_3_7_2_17_1358440725750_39">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div id="yiv916425054yui_3_7_2_17_1358440725750_39">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">As with most things, knowledge adds to your strength. Remember to read the fine print and take your time before agreeing to terms. </span></i></span></div>
John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-66547242521091635812012-10-02T21:58:00.002-07:002012-10-02T21:58:31.663-07:00Catch this Show While you Can<span style="font-size: large;">Showing at the <a href="http://www.cullomgallery.com/#a=0&at=0&mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=0&p=0" target="_blank">Collum Gallery</a> in
Seattle's International District (Chinatown) right now is an inspired
show of Annie Bissett’s woodcuts: <i><a href="http://anniebissett.com/section/253491_LOADED.html" target="_blank">LOADED</a>: the magic, the promise, the
curse, and the language of money</i>. <b>Through October 27, 2012.</b><br /><br />
Clearly this show is the artist’s deep meditation on money. Her
full-sized blocks, and smaller-sized notes, captures the extremes of
feelings we harbor about money. Text and images spring surprises. With
her attention to text and language she plays in the same league as Oscar
Wilde, Barbara Kruger, and Jenny Holzer. Consider just 2 of these pairings:</span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The print: "Filthy Rich" in the font used for money, paired with the hand-written “dirt poor.” </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The print: “Swimming in Cash”; paired with the handwritten “drowning in debt.”</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-size: large;">Her
currency in 4 denominations (earth, air, fire, and water, plus a single
jubilee note) celebrates life in those classic domains and reminds
us of All that money cannot never buy. Subversively, this also reminds
us that “money” and “trade” are social creations. This means we share in
the “ownership” of this invention, and thus what we do and say and
think changes what money means. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Loaded imaged indeed. Catch it while you can. </span>John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-70801124473272956962012-08-26T20:05:00.001-07:002020-08-06T21:19:21.386-07:00Think 3x before Accepting a Payday Loan 3/3<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>This is the 3rd installment of a 3 part series on Payday Loans</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: large;">(3) Think it over for 24 hours. You have until the next day the payday lender is open to cancel your loan (return the money and get your check back). </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This may not be true in every state, so check your home state's regulations. In Washington, though, you have <i><b>24 hours to change your mind.</b></i> The <b>Department of Financial Institutions </b>maintains a <a href="http://www.dfi.wa.gov/consumers/education/payday_loans.htm%20" target="_blank">web page on payday loans</a> that details duties of lenders and borrowers under Washington law.</span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Washington's law reads: </span><br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; padding-right: 5px; text-align: start; width: 100%;"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="bottom"><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<h2 style="font-family: "arial black", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">RCW 31.45.086</span></h2>
<h1 style="font-family: "arial black", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Small loans — Right of rescission.</span></h1>
</blockquote>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; padding-right: 5px; text-align: start; width: 100%;"><tbody>
<tr></tr>
</tbody></table>
<blockquote>
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A borrower may rescind a loan, on or before the close of business on the next day of business at the location where the loan was originated, by returning the principal in cash or the original check disbursed by the licensee to fund the small loan. The licensee may not charge the borrower for rescinding the loan and shall return to the borrower any postdated check taken as security for the loan or any electronic equivalent. The licensee shall conspicuously disclose to the borrower this right of rescission in writing in the small loan agreement or small loan note.</span></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Because of the extreme ease of getting a payday loan, lawmakers decided to give us time to catch our breath and <i>think</i>. Turns out, the ancient wisdom that "sleeping on a problem" helps you find better solutions is getting <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/8100566/Sleeping-on-a-problem-is-best-way-to-solve-it-say-scientists.html" target="_blank">modern scientific support</a>. It makes sense: the longer we give ourselves before we are fully committed the more time important issues or potential solutions have to percolate up from less-than-conscious regions of our minds. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Payday lenders would prefer their potential customers <i>not </i>think. Their goal is to get us started on a loan and they profit when we have a hard time paying it off on time or have to return for more loans later. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Our goal</b> is to manage our financial affairs well enough that we don't ever need quick loans. Payday lenders have motives at cross-purposes to our own. They want us to forget our motives and succumb to following theirs. Use all the time you have to see how you can hold firm to <i>your goals. </i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Summary</span></b></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Thinking will save you money in several ways: </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Reasonable rates for a loan saves money on interest costs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Making timely payments avoid penalties </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Changing your mind should you decide you don't need the loan sidesteps the problem of how to repay it.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;">I'll end this series on payday loans with something else to think about:</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <i>Paying interest is like buying nothing.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">~ Sheri O. Zampelli </span></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-15788646661442687262012-08-12T17:04:00.003-07:002012-08-12T17:04:42.290-07:00Think before Accepting a Payday Loan 2/3<span style="font-size: large;">This is the second installment of a 3 part series of posts on <b>thinking</b> before taking out a payday loan.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #93c47d;">(2) Think about how and when you will pay it back. </b><span style="background-color: #93c47d;">You
can change your payday loan to an installment loan at any time if you
haven’t missed a payment. The lender cannot charge a fee to make this
change.</span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Let's review the
type of loans and where payday loans land. People talk about secured and
unsecured loans. A secured loan is a mortgage or a loan to buy a car.
It is considered secure from the lenders point of view because the house
or car can be repossessed and re-sold. Credit cards are unsecured as
there is nothing for the bank to come get. For some borrowers, an
unsecured loan feels like 'free money' and they actually experience an
emotional high when using their credit cards. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This
part of lending-borrowing describes the relationship between some
object of value, the lender and the borrower. The next factor is what
does it take to pay off the loan. There are 3 main types: <i>installment, revolving, and balloon</i>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">With
an installment loan, the borrower receives a specific amount of money
to be repaid over a stated period of time. Each payment will be composed
of 2 parts: <i>principal</i> and <i>interest</i>. The principal is the return of the
money on loan; the interest is a cost, fee, or charge by the lender from
letting you use their money. The early payments will be mostly
interest, later payments will be mostly principal. Loans in this
category include mortgages and car loans. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">With
a revolving loan, the lender calculates a minimum payment each period
(usually a month) based on the amount of payments and new charges to the
account. The payment set by lenders will cover the interest payment
(this is "free money" to the lender because it doesn't pay down the
costs of the goods or services bought). Oh, and it will include a tiny
payment on the principal. Common revolving loans are store cards, gas station cards, and credit cards.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">With
a balloon loan, the lender wants their loan returned in full at a later
date. Any payments short of the full amount are considered fees,
charges, or penalties and do not reduce the principal at all or
change its due date. Don't be deceived, when the borrower (us) give
money to a lender (them) that is interest on the loan because it's money
the lender collects as a fee for lending their money. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="background-color: white;">Types of balloon loans are adjustable rate mortgages, and </span><i style="background-color: white;">payday loans.</i> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Once upon the time when lenders took a careful look to see whether a borrower had the <a href="http://moneyandcredit.blogspot.com/2007/05/five-cs-in-lending.html" target="_blank">5 Cs</a>: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><ol>
<li>Character- An evaluation of your <span style="color: orange; font-family: inherit ! important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="font-family: inherit ! important; position: static;">financial </span><span class="kLink" style="font-family: inherit ! important; position: static;">performance</span></span><span style="color: black;"> and management; your credit score.</span></li>
<li>Capital- This is your financial position; <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0) ! important; font-family: inherit ! important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="font-family: inherit ! important; position: static;">assets</span></span>, liabilities, net worth and <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0) ! important; font-family: inherit ! important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="font-family: inherit ! important; position: static;">equity</span></span>.</li>
<li>Capacity- Your <span style="color: blue;">ability to repay the loan</span>, your debt ratio.</li>
<li>Collateral- This is what the <span style="color: #274e13;">lender takes for security</span> should you default or cannot repay the loan.</li>
<li>Conditions- These are <span style="color: #20124d;">things a lender may want of you </span>to encourage repayment of the loan.</li>
</ol>
</span><ol>
</ol>
<span style="font-size: large;">Don't let recent headlines & regulations since the 2008
financial crisis fool you, the shift by lenders away from fully vetting a
borrower still rolls on. Who has to pick up the slack? You and I, the
borrowers. Turn the 5 Cs around and apply them to yourself:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">1. Character: Do you have the discipline to make loan payments every time they are due? You may be a person who now realizes and accept your responsibility to make payments. If so, talk with a qualified coach or advisor about how go about rebuilding your credit score. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">2. Capital: Can you manage the amount of loan and repayment given what you own and owe now?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">3. Capacity: Is this loan a quick fix, and how it will be repaid will have to wait for another day? That's not smart, and if your situation feels that desperate, take time to plan how you work your way out of your problems before taking on more debt. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">4. Collateral: If the lender isn't insisting on collateral (as in a credit card revolving account) do you feel you will still make payments? In other words, are you borrowing money you will repay or taking "easy" money with little thought now about how you will repay it?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">5. What conditions will you put on yourself to help you repay the loan? Will you cut down on optional shopping items like clothes, alcohol, cigarettes, etc.? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>This is the second part of a 3 part series. The next part will look at a special feature of payday loans: you get 24 hours to think it over. </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-13727078929423205002012-08-12T16:44:00.001-07:002020-08-06T21:18:55.452-07:00Think 3x Before Taking Out a Payday Loan 1/3<a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: right;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Think 3 Times about Payday Loans</b></td></tr>
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<h2>
The Vulture Culture of Payday Lending</h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">Off all the tips sheets postings I will write, this is probably the most challenging. This is the first of 3 separate posts, one for each way to "<b>think</b>."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I want these posts to be succinct—but the history, practices, and deep levels of cultural and personal assumptions are complex. There are also some minimum legal rights and protections, but these are complicated and I am not an attorney, but I can read. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Let's get that clear first, then. <i>I am not an attorney. </i>If you are reading this, please find the nearest non-profit offering financial coaching and legal assistance.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">To get in the right mindset to compose my posts, I surf the other posts on the web on the topic. It is quite enlightening. The first thing that I notice is how many posts are touting that taking a payday loan is a good thing. These I suspect are being generated by the public relations firms working on behalf of the payday lending industry (PDLI). They have organized themselves into an aggressive lobbying force: <a href="http://cfsaa.com/" target="_blank">The Consumer Finance Services Association</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A quick look at their site is instructive: it's all about the customer, how knowledgeable customers are about their loans, whether people get into a cycle of debt, etc. A search on the term "usury" (charging of excessive interest) returns 2 reports supportive of this industry. Many other trade associations websites will tell you about themselves: how many people are employed, the contribution of the trade to the well-being of their customers, or the impact of the group on the economy. Not this one. <span style="font-family: inherit;">The </span><a href="http://works.bepress.com/context/ron_elwood/article/1000/type/native/viewcontent" style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank">research</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> can be found, however, and, in 2009</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">,
</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">23,000 payday lending stores generated a $70 billion nationwide market. In my home state of <a href="http://www.dfi.wa.gov/cs/pdf/2010-payday-lending-report.pdf" target="_blank">Washington</a>, 85 companies had 424 locations and made slightly over $434 million in loans in 2010. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I titled this post the <b>vulture culture</b> because payday lenders and their related organizations (pawn shops, check-cashing services, and those charging high fees for money orders and money transfers) are <b>preying on people with limited financial resources</b> who feel in desperate need of quick cash. This is a predator-prey dynamic, as viewed by critics of this practice (of which I am one, just to state my position clearly). The PDLI presents themselves as friends of the common woman (their most frequent customer) helping out these poor people when the banks and other institutions have abandoned their neighborhoods and left them no where to turn. And, though they must post their Annual Precentage Rates, the terms the PDLI uses itself is "fees" or "charges." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">These <b>fees and charges </b>do<b> add up</b>. They literally suck money out of circulation in the poor communities of this country and into the hands and communities of the already wealthy. The PDLI helps some rich get richer, and many poor get poorer.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">On this bill-sized tip sheet I had room for 3 suggestions. Let's look at the first: </span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>(1) Think about alternatives. Every loan has an annual percentage rate</b> (APR)—the interest cost <b>above the loan amount</b> you owe. <i>The lower the APR, the better the deal</i>. A $500 payday loan’s APR = 390%! See for yourself at: <a href="http://bit.ly/LC9Hju" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/LC9Hju</a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions posts a <a href="http://www.dfi.wa.gov/consumers/education/payday_loans.htm" target="_blank">checklist</a> to help people <i>think</i>
before getting a payday loan. One of the alternatives, and maybe one
often overlooked, is see if you can negotiate a payment plan on
non-interest charging bills like telephone and utilities. Employers
might be able to advance your salary, friends and family might be open
to <i>lending</i> you funds. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If you must resort to short-term borrowing, <b>comparison shop</b>.<b> Focus on the APR</b>. Be thorough. To keep the consumer off-balance, many payday companies and banks use other terms such as fees, charges, or penalties. Look over their explanation carefully and insist that all costs to you of borrowing the money are reflected in the calculation of the APR. Even if you think you understand, go over the numbers with someone who can confirm your calculations. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After this urgent emergency, one alternative is to spend on the usual categories, but <b>spend less</b>, slowly saving up the difference. The first step is to decide why you're saving and what your goal amount is. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Many people have a misconception that to save they need a large lump sum, and for that they save a portion. That may work for the lucky few who win the lottery. But everyone can save. Here are a <b>few tips</b> how:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Shift to buying the smallest sized drink rather than the largest</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Spend less on alcohol</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Tone down the expense of the holiday and birthday gifts</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Cut back on your smoking</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Buy fewer and less expensive clothes </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Walk short distances rather than driving or taking the bus </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;">This is a question of <b>priorities</b>, that is, deciding what you hold as important and then keeping your focus on that. </span><span style="font-size: large;">For many parents the success of their children is their priority, so there's always something in reserve when it comes to
supporting their children's success in life. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I once co-facilitated a Saturday class for youth caught using alcohol or street drugs at school. The youth would be suspended for 90 days, <i>unless</i> they came to this class with a parent or guardian. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I always wanted to know what the youth plans were, where did they see themselves after high school? One girl </span><span style="font-size: large;">loved fabrics and fashion design and </span><span style="font-size: large;">wanted to go to the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. I asked if she had a sewing machine. No, but of course she wanted one.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It happened that a few weeks later a co-worker offered a working older model sewing machine for $5. I drove it out to the girl's apartment complex. She loved it, her eyes afire. Her parents didn't see this because they were on the sofa watching TV. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I told her folks it was $5 for the machine. Without looking up they said they didn't have the money. "Yeah, right," I thought looking at their coffee table covered with empty beer cans and cigarette cartons. [A carton of cigarettes was more than $5.] Seeing the girl's disappointment as this bridge to her future, <i>her dream future</i>, might disappear in front of her eyes: "The machine's yours," I said, "I got you covered." <i>My</i> $5 contribution to her future. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">I can only wonder: Did the parents even have priorities for themselves, much less for their child? </span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Look for the second post on thinking before taking out a payday loan in a few days. </span></i><br />John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-23714037893239843652012-07-16T11:05:00.003-07:002020-08-06T20:41:44.020-07:00Debtors Anonymous<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Seattle, July 16</b>—I have been busy. In April I attended the <a href="http://www.wajumpstart.org/" target="_blank"><b>Jump$tart Week</b> </a>luncheon sponsored by the Federal Reserve of San Francisco. I had the good fortune of winning the door prize: a <a href="http://www.moonjar.com/" target="_blank">Moonjar</a>™ Classroom Kit. Instructions and materials here for a class of about 30 students to get them started on mastering the Saving, Sharing, & Spending choices for how to handle their money. Thanks to all involved and I am hoping to put these to use when the opportunity arises.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Last week I went to the summer meeting of the <b><a href="http://www.washingtonabc.org/" target="_blank">Washington Asset-Building Coalition</a>.</b> This was the overall state coalition composed of about 17 county-based coalitions! Just the check-in took most of the time because of the amazing creative work going on to raise the financial literacy of the state. Of course, financial literacy is much more encompassing than the humble focus I have, namely, what are the basic skills that are analogous to learning the alphabet or how to compose a sentence. This is from using literacy as the metaphoric bridge connecting finance to language.</span><br /><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Which brings me to<b> today's blog</b>. I have re-organized my tips, given each a letter label (A - M), and expanded each to a bill-sized tip sheet. Interestingly, I managed to skip <i>I</i> in my labeling. This could be fun. There is no <i>I</i> in ... <i>save</i>; no I in ... <i>solvent</i>; no I in ... <i>debt-free</i>; no I in ... <i>money</i>. And certainly no I in <i>Debtors Anonymous</i>.</span><br /><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">For research purposes, I attended 3 DA meetings in the area. 2 were Business DA sessions and one was a general session. If you are active with DA and reading this, and getting a little nervous, please understand I absolutely respect the confidentiality expectations common to all the anonymous groups. I will never reveal any identifiable information about a specific person.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As is common with all of the Anonymous group meetings I've attended, <b>everyone is inviting and welcoming</b>. First timers are tipped to the rituals of the meetings, where to find the literature table, the bathroom, and so on. I personally tend to arrive early so I make myself available for helping with set-up (moving tables or chairs, laying out the literature). I also stay afterwards to help put things away if it appears I can be of help. This is my small service to support the meetings.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Let's get to <b>what it costs</b> to attend and get that out of the way. All Anonymous groups are self supporting. This has been the case from the beginning. I'll give myself 5 minutes to find an interesting story about John D Rockefeller and the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA, the Granddaddy of them all) ... <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Alcoholics_Anonymous#Rockefeller" target="_blank">found it</a>!</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">In 1938, Bill Wilson's brother-in-law Leonard Strong contacted Willard Richardson, who arranged for a meeting with A. Leroy Chapman, an assistant for </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_D._Rockefeller_Jr." style="background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" title="John D. Rockefeller Jr.">John D. Rockefeller Jr.</a><span face="" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> Wilson envisioned receiving millions of dollars to fund AA missionaries and treatment centers, but Rockefeller refused, saying money would spoil things. Instead, he agreed to contribute $5,000 in $30 weekly increments for Wilson and Smith to use for personal expenses.</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">This would have been 3 years after the founding of AA in 1935.</span><br /><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Back to what it costs. </b>A newcomer may attend the first couple of meetings and not pay or contribute anything. This allows people who are uncertain a chance to check it out for no charge. After that, a treasurer announces the status of the group's finances, any upcoming special events the group is collecting for, etc. Since there was a regional DA conference being planned when I attended, 2 envelopes were circulated—one for the general fund and one to support some aspect of the conference.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What happens? First, there is a long <b>preamble portion</b>. The volunteer facilitator for the meeting uses a printed list of steps and instructions. All Anonymous traditions have their variant of the 12 Steps, and other sacred texts based on the number 12. DA has added <a href="http://www.debtorsanonymous.org/help/tools.htm" target="_blank">12 Tools</a> for example. These are read by the group, one person reading a section and passing the book or sheet to the another member to continue reading.</span><br /><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If there is a <b>speaker</b> (could be a regular member ready to talk about one of the Steps or Tools), then that person talks about their personal journey with money and finances. This could be very touching an insightful. Then other members have a chance to share in a random order, usually chosen by names pulled from a bowl.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then when the last person has shared, there is a closing ritual, usually standing in a circle and reciting the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serenity_Prayer" target="_blank">Serenity Prayer</a>.</span><br /><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What sets DA apart from many of the other Anonymous traditions is their use of <b>Pressure Relief Groups</b> (PRGs). <i>Creditors want their money, and will make one's life miserable until they get it.</i> This generates <a href="http://www.hattaways.com/articles/view/57" target="_blank">pressure on the debtor</a>. As the name implies, PRGs help DA members consider their options and how to approach creditors to bargain for time, agree to a payment plan or anything else that may relieve the pressure. After several meetings the debtor has a spending and action plan as well. I personally have not experienced one of these groups, but stories about their value pepper the accounts DA members share in their newsletters and blogs. <a href="http://www.debtorsanonymous.org/help/tools.htm" target="_blank">PRGs </a>and the follow-up action steps are Tools 4, 5, & 6.</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>4. Pressure Relief Groups </b>and <b>Pressure Relief Meetings </b>After we have gained some familiarity with the D.A. program, we organize Pressure Relief Groups consisting of ourselves and two other recovering debtors who have not incurred unsecured debt for at least 90 days and who usually have more experience in the program. The group meets in a series of Pressure Relief Meetings to review our financial situation. These meetings typically result in the formulation of a spending plan and an action plan.<span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>5. Spending Plan </b>The spending plan puts our needs first and gives us clarity and balance in our spending. It includes categories for income, spending, debt payment and savings (to help us build cash reserves, however humble). The income plan helps us focus on increasing our income. The debt payment category guides us in making realistic payment arrangements without depriving ourselves. Savings can include prudent reserve, retirement and special purchases.<span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">6. Action Plan</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">With the help of our Pressure Relief Group, we develop a list of specific actions for resolving our debts, improving our financial situation, and achieving our goals without incurring unsecured debt.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">I moved Debtors Anonymous to the top of the list because it is anonymous, social, available at low costs, and non-judgmental. It does have a quasi-religious or spiritual aspect, but this can be ignored while one reaps its benefits—<b>peace of mind, solvency, social support, service, & self-confidence. </b></span><br />
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<br /></div>John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-54732084544140860032012-04-17T12:24:00.001-07:002012-04-17T12:35:54.781-07:00Changing Habits<div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I begin with the view that spending money is a habit; its dancing partner—saving money—is also a habit. By habit I mean behavior that runs on automatic. There are lots of other terms that mean about the same thing: personal routine, a pattern, a tradition, etc. Mostly a habit suggests that what a person or group did the last time is likely to be what they will do the next time, <span style="font-style: italic;">unless the thought process intervenes.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span><span class="tab" style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Over the years I have taught groups of people a set of steps for changing a habit. I will use a personal example and walk through the steps. I invite you to find your own example, either something you've succeeded in changing or a habit you would like to change, and come along. </span></span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Step 1: Draft Your Goal or Change Statement</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Since I can remember doing my taxes I used the Shoebox Filing Method: dump all my tax deductible receipts in a shoebox and deal with them once a year when preparing my taxes. The great benefit of this is for 10 months of the year I didn't think much about my receipts. The great burden were the 2 months spent dealing with them: about a month dreading getting around to the receipts, then a month dealing with each category in turn: credit card receipts, checks, cash, and Paypal purchases. Over the years, the late winter/early spring period of my life grew more crowded with other activities. So much so, that time spent entering receipts in my spreadsheet crowded out other activities or resting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Thus my general goal statement: <span style="font-style: italic;">Enter my receipts as they arrive throughout the year. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">The next step is to re-write the goal statement according to the <span style="font-weight: bold;">SMART</span> goal attributes ... </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Step 2. Make sure the goal is <a href="http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=SMART+goals&ei=UTF-8&fr=moz35">SMART</a></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">[Pick attribute for each initial letter for SMART that resonates with you.]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">S – stated in positives, significant, stretching, specific </span></h5>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;">Stated in positives</span><span style="font-size: large;"> means the goal statement says what I will do, not something I won't do. This statement as written is in positive words. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;">Significant</span><span style="font-size: large;"> means this is important somehow. And it was. Therefore, I would extend the goal statement to acknowledge it is a </span><span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;">significant</span><span style="font-size: large;"> re-arrangement of what I used to do: To recapture valuable time during tax filing season, I will enter my tax deductible receipts as they arrive. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;">Stretching</span><span style="font-size: large;"> invites you to rewrite the goal as something to reach for. The type of goal I am working with was not much of a stretch for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;">Specific</span><span style="font-size: large;"> means the goal has borders around it and more than some vague intention. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">M - measurable, meaningful, motivational</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">When I think of every single receipt and out-of-pocket expense being entered every single day, week, or month, I feel drowsy and ready to fall into a deep sleep. This is clearly <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">not</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">motivating</span> me. So, I think about all the types of receipts and when I have the chance to enter receipts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">I use the old-fashion system of writing checks to pay my bills. I make many payments on the go with a credit card, and writing out a check helps me carefully review the statement to make sure all my returns and charges are properly listed. With a bit more effort, I could add any tax-deductible expenses around the time I write my check. That could be enough for the first year, and I'll see about adding the others (other checks, Paypal, and cash) later. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Thus I rewrite the full statement of my goal: <span style="font-style: italic;">For the first year, I will enter my tax deductible expenses that I charged with a credit card before I write my check to the credit card company</span>. Shorter version to remind myself: <span style="font-style: italic;">Enter expenses before writing the check.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">I'm actually feel a bit more alert with this shorter goal statement. </span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Motivation comes down to 4 words about accepting the goal: "I can do that." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">A - attainable, achievable, acceptable, action-oriented</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A good goal statement has a built-in stop sign: When you have accomplished the goal, you can stop going for this goal and rest or do something else. It also tilts towards movement, action, doing something. I'm satisfied that "enter expenses before writing check" works for me as a attainable, action-oriented goal statement. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">R - realistic, relevant, reasonable, rewarding, results-oriented</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The "R" word that I will pick from this list is "results-oriented." The results mean a lot to me, and that's good enough. Sometimes, for some tasks, working to satisfy yourself is not sufficient. At those times you either need to nestle yourself in a supportive group of people (this is largely how the various Anonymous groups support change) or vividly imagine who the result is for. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I once had a client who wanted to exercise to lose weight to help her attract the type of men she wanted to meet. Two weeks after our session she called: "John, I just can't find the motivation to get on the exercycle." I asked her who was she exercising for? She answered, "Myself, of course." I asked: "And, what about that man you're going to attract with a slimmer body?" She said, "Thanks, John, I needed the reminder. I'm off to go exercise."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">T - time-based, timely, tangible, trackable</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif;">For a goal like entering credit card receipts, the "T" watchword becomes </span><span style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-style: italic;">trackable</span><span style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif;">: am I entering my credit card tax deductible purchases every month or not? </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">If you have not done so yet, play with edits to a goal statement using the SMART goals prompting words. When you have completed this, continue reading.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Having A <b><i>SMART goal statement</i></b> sets the stage for you to get to work on making a permanent habit change. (Comments in quotes come from <a href="http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/James/Principles/prin4.htm">William James's 1890 "Habit" essay</a>.) You can print a copy of this blog to check-off the steps or mentally check them off as you work through the steps. </span></span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: black;">Step 3</span></b><span style="color: black;">. Oversupply support for yourself. Find people to witness or share your progress. People have organized support groups for everything from investing to de-cluttering. Why? They work. Millions seek it—and find it—on the World Wide Web through the means of user groups, listservs, chat rooms, meet-up.com, craigslist, and online discussions. Voluntary mutual support returns more back to us than we give to others. It strengthens our determination. And when things don't go as planned, support helps up keep perspective and strengthen our resolve to keep making the effort. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><b><i><span style="color: black;"> [ ] I can do this step. </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: black;">Step 4</span></b><span style="color: black;">. Animate your destination. Let's imagine that by a miracle the changes you want appear in your life one morning when you awaken. The changes you want happened while you were sleeping. What would you see, hear, and feel that will let you know that the resolution has been achieved? What comments do people make on the changed you? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: black;"> [ ] I can do this step. </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: black;">Step 5</span></b><span style="color: black;">. Write a theme song for your resolution. Writing a theme song gives your something to hum. Sometimes a popular song has words and tune which exactly fit you needs. For example, one man in a workshop wanted to build his deck as his first ever construction project. He used "If I Had a Hammer" as his theme song without changing a word. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: black;"> [ ] I can do this step. </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: black;">Step 6</span></b><span style="color: black;">. "Make as strong a start as possible." Use every aid you can that supports the new habit: pin up reminder notes and signs, take a public pledge, commit yourself to a reward for keeping at it. For a strong start on my goal, I had to collect the credit card statements for the first 3 months and enter them to "catch up" because I only resolved to try my new goal as I was finishing last years' returns in April. <b><i> </i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: black;"> [ ] I will make a great start. </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: black;">Step 7</span></b><span style="color: black;">. "Seize the very first possible opportunity to act on every resolution you make, and on every emotional prompting you may experience in the direction of the habits you aspire to gain." Keep motivation high by achieving multiple small interim goals. Combine discipline with readiness. Discipline—such as setting aside regular times to apply yourself to making your change—is how your conscious self communicates seriousness to the out-of-conscious self; the spontaneous "emotional promptings" is your unconscious's answer. Fro me, for this goal, the year turned out well. I managed to keep track of my receipts from credit card purchases, and when completing my 1040 return decided that since I had not spent much this year I would skip itemizing deductions this year. This meant I was done with entering deductions! How rewarding is that!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: black;"> [ ] I'm ready to respond. </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: black;">Step 8</span></b><span style="color: black;">. "Never suffer an exception to occur until the new habit is firmly rooted in your life." When is a new habit rooted? And rooted firmly? Go find out!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: black;"> [ ] Okay, no excuses, no exceptions. I'm ready!</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: black;">∞ Practice. </span></i></b><span style="color: black;">James felt that "every good that is worth possessing must be paid for in strokes of daily effort." He further added this challenge: "Do every day or two something for no other reason than its difficulty."</span><b><span style="color: black;"> How's that for a goal?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-61196518776274219712012-04-01T22:16:00.001-07:002012-04-07T16:04:52.873-07:00Financial Fitness Day 3.31.12<div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
<b>Monday, April 2, 2012. Seattle</b>—Attended the second (my first) Financial Fitness Day Saturday sponsored by the Seattle-King County Asset-Building Collaborative held at the Rainier Community Center in the south part of Seattle. Good location with parking and easy access to public transportation. As a humble participant, all appeared to go well and people seemed to get what they came to learn. Things like: getting their credit score, finding out about small business loans, and learning how to cope with debt collectors. <br />
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As one walked in a friendly staff person handed one a bright yellow form to fill-in. It asked about what you were there to find out and whether you had mobility or language concerns. While I stood in line a couple of people nearly knocked me over in their eagerness to find the help they needed. Everyone appeared in a good mood despite the damp, rainy weather outside.<br />
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When you turned in the registration form another volunteer handed you a packet and you were good to go. Two breakout rooms hosted 3 rounds of presentations. </div>
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The vendors occupied the rim in the gym, and a second circle of general service providers made a circle in the middle. I walked the whole room, slowly, taking it all in. Stopping to chat here and there. Picking up material. From the brochure these were the categories and number of organizations present:</div>
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Banking, investment, and financial planning: 8 </div>
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Credit & Debt Counseling: 3</div>
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Starting & Growing your Business: 4</div>
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Housing Counseling: 6</div>
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Consumer Rights & Protection: 5</div>
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Public Benefits and Community Resources: 16</div>
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Each section had a color code to assist with getting around. </div>
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Participants could attend these workshops during the day: </div>
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Understanding Credit and Credit Scores (repeated)</div>
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Paying for College</div>
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The First Time Home Buyer</div>
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How to Deal with Debt Collectors</div>
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Managing your Money - A 21st Century Strategy</div>
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After collecting nearly 3 pounds of material, I sat in on the dealing with debt collectors and managing your money workshops. Both had knowledgeable presenters who kept great tips and information flowing at a decent pace. </div>
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One conversation reinforced an interesting pivot point: <span style="font-weight: bold;">identity</span> as a factor in overspending or saving. We noted that some people have a sense of identity originating in how others see and think of them, sort of an outside-in identity. And there's the opposite, a person's identity flows from within to the outside, an inside-out identity. Which do you guess is more aligned with overspending and which goes with saving?</div>
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This is my zone, the behavioral-financial-social arena. I would immediately begin a research project, if I had enough funding, to find out:</div>
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For people finding themselves in debt with an <span style="font-style: italic;">outside-in identity</span> (OII), who do they hope sees their projected identity? Is this something that constantly changes (say needing to have a recent model car or dress in the latest fashion)? How much choice do they feel around constantly spending to present this identity? If they could just ignore all of that, what would be the sources of their identity? Do they have something inside they want to present to the world, perhaps the "latest model" of themselves? </div>
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For those with an <span style="font-style: italic;">inside-out identity</span> (IOI), what role does money and spending play in their identities? When is fashion and "keeping up" important? Who do they find are natural communities for how they identify themselves?</div>
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There were only 1 or 2 vendors that had displayed a game for helping financial literacy, and these were for youth in schools. Though <span style="font-weight: bold;">games</span> were not in abundance, little instruction guides in various formats dotted the vendor tables. Dramatic pictures with text that narrate a story, cartoons, seemed under-used. Of course, many had figures and graphics, but they were all directly related to "instruction" of "education" directly, missing the chance to enter via the side door of story as a means of getting a message across. Is this an opportunity? </div>
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I think the material for youth and young adults may hold promise for development for older groups. Take the "Getting Credit" comic book from the Federal Trade Commission as one example. The drawings mimicked street/graffiti graphics and lettering.The text is presented in second person—"Most creditors uses scoring to evaluate <span style="font-style: italic;">your</span> credit record." </div>
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I would test whether using the left side of the page—which is devoted to graphics now anyway—as a running comic focused on the credit adventures of a young adult applying for credit and the benefits and risks involved. </div>
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Also, let's bring the <span style="font-weight: bold;">emotional-psychological aspects</span> of spending into the storyline. Why do you want a credit card? Where would you place yourself on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 meaning "a credit card is free money" & 10 meaning "a credit card is a loan of cash I need to pay back quickly"? </div>
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Naturally, along with all the information, I gathered a stack of business cards and book suggestions. I'll be busy for quite a while just following up. Thanks to all the organizers for an enjoyable Financial Fitness Day. </div>
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</div>John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-87169408566890613982012-03-03T11:45:00.001-08:002012-03-03T11:45:13.777-08:00Save Your Excuses<div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12pt"><div id="yiv1445510988"><div><div style="color:#000;background-color:#fff;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><div id="yiv1445510988"><div id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_133079790585675"><div id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_133079790585676" class="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_133079790585648" style="color:#000;background-color:#fff;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><div id="yiv1445510988"><div id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_21_132988798908088"><div id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_21_132988798908089" class="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_21_132988798908048 yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_133079790585650" style="color:#000;background-color:#fff;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><div id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_13_132987172302640"><span style="font-style:italic;">"If you don't want to do something, one excuse is as good as another." - Yiddish Proverb</span><br><br>When it comes to spending, saving, working, and rest, we find ourselves in a thicket of intents, inclinations, motivations, and opportunities. This post considers the role of <span style="font-style: italic;">excuses</span> in our justifications to ourselves and other people for what we do—or don't do. <span id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856460"></span><span></span></div><div style="font-weight:bold;" id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_13_1329871723026166"><br></div><div style="font-weight:bold;" id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_13_1329871723026167">Defining Excuses</div><div id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_13_1329871723026262">According to the American Heritage Dictionary <span id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856199" style="font-style:italic;">excuse </span><span id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856199">can mean ... </span><br></div><div id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_13_1329871723026373"><br></div><div id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_13_1329871723026384"><i>tr.v.</i>, <span class="yiv1445510988kw">-cused</span>, <span class="yiv1445510988kw">-cus·ing</span>, <span class="yiv1445510988kw">-cus·es</span>.</div><ol id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_21_132988798908075" style="margin-top:0px;"><li id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856230"><ol id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_21_132988798908078" type="a"><li> To explain (a fault or an offense) in the hope of being forgiven or understood: <i>He arrived late and excused his tardiness in a flimsy manner.</i></li><li id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856229"> To apologize for (oneself) for an act that could cause offense: <i id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856228">She excused herself for being late.</i></li></ol></li></ol> <i>n.</i> (<span style="color:blue;" class="yiv1445510988pointer"><span class="yiv1445510988pron">ĭk-skyūs<span style="font-size:15px;">'</span></span></span>)<ol id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_21_132988798908082" style="margin-top:0px;"><li> An explanation offered to justify or obtain forgiveness.</li><li> A reason or grounds for excusing: <i>Ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law.</i></li></ol><span class="yiv1445510988smallhead"><i></i></span><div id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_21_1329887989080241" class="yiv1445510988ety">[Middle English <span class="yiv1445510988emon">excusen</span>, from Old French <span class="yiv1445510988emon">excuser</span>, from Latin <span class="yiv1445510988emon">excūsāre</span> : <span class="yiv1445510988emon">ex-</span>, ex- + <span class="yiv1445510988emon">causa</span>, accusation; see <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.answers.com/topic/cause" class="yiv1445510988ilnk">cause</a>.]<br></div><i id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_13_1329871723026391"><br>source: http://www.answers.com/topic/excuse <br></i><div id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_13_1329871723026413" style="overflow:hidden;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-align:left;text-decoration:none;border:medium none;"><br>Chronic excuse making limits our ability to save and maintain solvency. <span id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856460">Excuses only come into play when there is a promise or expectation either from oneself to oneself or from one person to another. It is a explanation for why the promise or expectation was not met. Thus, the explanation from the excuse maker (Ex) may have credence with the receiver (Re), or it may not. It pleads that Ex is a better person than their recent actions may imply. </span><br><br><span id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856473" style="font-weight:bold;">Excuses</span> form a type of punctuation for some people. They become their verbal <span style="font-style: italic;">transition</span> between their promises, actions, and the present moment. Chronic excuse makers have attached excuses to their greeting, "<span style="font-style: italic;">Hi, sorry I'm late, I was stuck in traffic.</span>" What's especially dangerous for the person, and annoying and off-putting to their work associates, friends, family, spouses, and even parts of themselves, is when they don't wait for a reply. They become <span style="font-style:italic;">self-excuse makers</span>, living their chaotic lives and randomly affecting people around them without much visible concern. <span id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856460"><br><br>There are some questions that can help determine whether you can accept an excuse. <br><br>1. <span style="font-style: italic;">How severe was the harm?</span> Typically, most excuses occur for what may seem to the Ex as a minor infraction. This may or may not jibe with the Re's views. Consider this dialog:<br><br></span><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856460">Re: Hi, Hon, where's the $100 we need to make this month's rent? It's due in 3 days.</span><br><span id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856460">Ex: Oh, Rent! I totally forgot and thought it was all taken care of.</span><br><span id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856460">Re: You mean you <span style="font-style: italic;">spent</span> it.</span><br><span id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856460">Ex: Well, it was Pat's birthday, and we were all in a good mood. Look, it's no big deal, I'll pawn something. We'll be OK.</span><br><span id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856460">Re: Yeah, right, No Big Deal. I guess there's no money left for food, either. ...</span><br><span id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856460"></span></div><span id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856460"><br>Clearly, Ex and Re are on different scales as far as the significance of the spending. Now compare ...<br><br></span><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856460">Re: Hi, Hon, where's the $100 we need to make this month's rent? It's due in 3 days.</span><br><span id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856460"></span><span id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856460">Ex: Oh, Rent! I totally forgot and thought it was all taken care of.</span><br><span id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856460"> Re: You mean you <span style="font-style: italic;">spent</span> it.</span><br><span id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856460">Ex: Yeah, I guess I spent it. It's a slip. I think I thought you said rent was taken care of.</span><br><span id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856460">Re: Well, I didn't, and neither is there money for food till we get our next checks.</span><br><span id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856460">Ex: Alright, I slipped. I blew the money at Pat's party trying to act like a Big Shot. Here's what I'll do, I have $40 in my pocket. Here, take it. I overheard someone say they had a couple of days of work. I'll see if I can do that. Maybe I'll stop hanging out as this has happened before. </span><br><span id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856460">Re: Well, this helps. Next time just leave your cash and credit cards with me before you go out.</span> …<br><span id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856460"></span></div><span id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_16_1330797905856460"><br>2. <span style="font-style: italic;">Does the Ex admit harm?</span> You see this in the second example where the Ex says "I slipped. ..." <br><br>3. <span style="font-style: italic;">Does the Ex do something immediately to patch the relationship? </span>In this example, Ex offer $40 left in his or her pocket. <br><br>4.<span style="font-style: italic;"> Does the Ex at least make noises that they will amend their ways?</span> In this example, Ex says they will stop going out with friends. This is too extreme as Re recognizes but jokes about holding Ex's credit cards and cash. <span style="font-style: italic;">Beware Excuse makers</span>: Re is taking note of what Ex does going forward. Ex may not have much time in Re's gut to change their ways. <br><br><span style="font-weight:bold;">How to Stop Making Excuses</span><br><span style="font-weight: bold;">Step 1:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Know when you are making a promise. </span>This means what you say matters. What you sign matters. For the great majority of promises don't expect trumpets and fanfare. Many promises that are broken and thus trigger the need to offer an excuse are very brief and seemingly off-hand. For example: <br><br><span style="font-style: italic;">Okay, we're on for lunch Friday at 12:30 at Comfort Foods.</span> That's your <span style="text-decoration: underline;">promise</span> to be at the restaurant @ 12:30 on Friday. It's not a promise to call or text with a message that you are "running late." <br><br>Then there are those substantial, long-term promises common in our culture: <br><span style="font-style: italic;">Yes, I'll sign this [rent, credit card, loan, mortgage, etc.] agreement.</span> This is your <span style="text-decoration: underline;">promise</span> to provide regular payments as defined in the contract. This is not a ritual after which they allow you access to credit or a place to live and you pay when you please, or only pay "when you have the money." As people learn when they miss these payments, the people and companies on the receiving end take these promises extremely seriously. <br><br><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The takeaway:</span> your word binds you, your signature binds you. You may feel relieved if you think you have an excuse, don't believe for a moment that your tardiness or missed payment is not factoring into how the Re will interact with you going forward. <br><br><span style="font-weight: bold;">Step 2:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Do all within your power to keep your promises.</span> To meet a promise requires attention to both your time and your actions. </span>From the example if it take you 15 minutes to walk from your office to the restaurant, you <span style="font-style: italic;">alone</span> have to protect that <span style="font-style: italic;">transition</span> time. Thus, on you calendar show the appointment as filling the time from 12:10 to 2:00 to pad your time so you don't have to rush. <br><br>When it comes promises to make periodic payments (credit cards, loans, rent) the larger the payment, the more you have to accumulate a bit a time. For most people, the largest expense is housing so you may have to set aside half the rent from your first pay check and half from the second one. <br><br>As you spend money using credit cards or cash, keep a log of your spending with columns for the date, the item or service, and the amount, plus what category it was (food, clothing, fun, etc.) Just writing the amount down raises it to awareness, creates a moment for reflection, and makes each purchase just a bit more "costly" as you will need to take a moment to record what it was. <br><br><span style="font-weight: bold;">Step 3:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Recognize that keeping promises is the balancing </span><span>habit</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> to chronic excuse making</span>. All the tools for building habits apply, and this will be discussed in one of my next posts. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">That's a promise. </span><br style="text-decoration: underline;"><br><br><span id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_21_1329887989080107" class="yiv1445510988shw"><a rel="nofollow" id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_21_1329887989080106" target="_blank" href="http://www.answers.com/topic/proverb-yiddish" class="yiv1445510988ilnk"></a></span><div id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_13_1329871723026416" style="overflow:hidden;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-align:left;text-decoration:none;border:medium none;"><br></div></div><div id="yiv1445510988yui_3_2_0_13_1329871723026366"><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-61718915321578522012012-01-20T01:30:00.001-08:002012-01-20T01:51:34.692-08:00Buck$ta$h.¢r™ Baby Step Workshop Description<div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: garamond, new york, times, serif; font-size: 14pt;">
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Here is my description of the project I began developing in Dec. 2011. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Project Name:</span></b><span style="color: black;"> Buckstasher™ Baby Step Workshops</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Description</span></b><span style="color: black;">: Buckstashers are <span style="font-style: italic;">single-sheet cash saving reminders</span> that people carry with them in their wallets. Each Buckstasher is a folded 6.125 x 5.25 inches sheet of paper printed with information about the costs of borrowing on one half of the fold and suggestions for saving money on the other half. They provide a <span style="font-style: italic;">portable, concrete</span> means of separating paper currency a person wants to set aside for savings. People learn what this system is, what is printed on Buckstashers and how to use them to increase their savings in "Baby Step workshops" that<span style="font-style: italic;"> last less than five (5) minutes. </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Project Lead: </span></b><span style="color: black;">John Perkins, PH.D. Perkins relied on his 35 years of experience as a trainer and facilitator to develop Buckstasher Baby Step workshops. He also has a background in economics, market research, advertising, consumer engagement, and policy advocacy. </span>Researchers seem puzzled on how to help people translate what they learn in a peer group, class, counseling or coaching session into permanent behavior change—something I have long experience with. Many materials and presentations could benefit from a healthy infusion of excitement and variety, which I also know something about. <span style="color: black;"></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Background</span></b><span style="color: black;">: </span>Poor people have suffered the effects of their limited financial literacy forever; it is only within the past 15 years that it has drawn significant attention from foundations, legislatures, and regulators. <span style="color: black;">Recent reports document the egregious effects of the predatory lending industry.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4276019079942541737#_ftn1" name="_ftnref" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span></a><sup>,<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4276019079942541737#_ftn2" name="_ftnref" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[2]</span></a></sup> About 10,000 un-banked or under-banked adults live in King County. This highlights the success of the Seattle-King County Assets Building Coalition that has helped 47,000 people open accounts in recent years.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4276019079942541737#_ftn3" name="_ftnref" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[3]</span></a> Having an account is a big step, the next step for many low-income people is putting money in their accounts: </span></div>
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Generally, focus group participants were interested in financial education that would help them change their savings behavior, that is, that would help them learn ways to save given their income constraints …<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4276019079942541737#_ftn4" name="_ftnref" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[4]</span></a><span style="color: black;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Buckstashers contributes to the development and practice of a single yet foundational skill (remembering to save at the point-of-sale) that people can use to <span style="font-style: italic;">gain control</span> of their saving and inoculate themselves to the temptations posed by predatory loans and the enticements of retail marketing. Buckstashers uses emotional appeals similar to the ones that make predatory loans and overspending so seductive for some people. A few of these appeals are presented as "If … Then …" statement pairs: </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">If … the typical new payday loan account can be opened in less than 30 minutes and customers walks away with cash, </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Then</span> ... workshop participants' experience has to be fast and concrete. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">If … predatory lenders cares less about customers' ability to pay,</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Then</span> ... we help the customer care more for themselves.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">If … the customer responds to immediate gratification,</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Then</span> ... we help customers pause to decide before they act.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">If … the customers struggles to save money, </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Then</span> ... we will provide a tool to assist with that process.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Audience: </span></b><span style="color: black;">This project will benefit adults focusing on improving their financial health and literacy or who want to avoid or untangle themselves from <span style="color: #ff007f;">debt traps</span>. In Seattle, there are many projects whose clients might be interested in this tool, such as, FareStart students and alums, new credit union members, Real Change vendors, transitional housing tenants, participants in financial literacy classes, etc. </span>My goal is to present Buckstasher to 1000 people or conduct 100 presentations in one year, whichever is reached first.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;"></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">The "Baby Step Workshop" format</span></b><span style="color: black;">: This Baby Step workshop takes 4.5 minutes. To help hold attention and give everyone an immediate success, participants will be paid $1.25 for their 4.5 minutes, as shown in the script. The complete presentation could last 30 minutes to an hour as people linger informally after the Baby Step workshop to discuss the tool and ask questions. Here is the script for the workshop. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">__________________________Begin Script _________________________</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica;">Opening:</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica;"> Hi, My name is John Perkins and I'm here to present a Baby Step workshop. Good news! I'm going to pay you what a livable wage for a single parent with one child would pay in 4.5 minutes. That's $1.25. And at the end I have an offer for tonight only.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica;">By a show of hands, how many of you know someone who has ever used a payday loan, tax refund anticipation loan, or deliberately overdrew their checking account with no money in the bank?</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica;"> [Count hands] That's most of us. There are four legal ways you can get money: from your savings, by working, by selling something you own, and by borrowing it. When we borrow money, or get a loan—the same thing—we are buying money, so there's a cost. Some call it interest, some a fee, other companies call it a charge. </span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica;">[hold up red side facing group] </span></i><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iJaVK8nyrsE/Txk3twnjTfI/AAAAAAAAAC8/QlnSjT_B_Gc/s1600/redside" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iJaVK8nyrsE/Txk3twnjTfI/AAAAAAAAAC8/QlnSjT_B_Gc/s640/redside" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica;">This red side of a Buckstasher shows some of the costs for borrowing $100 for one month. The best, of course, is not spending it. [Point to bottom row] You keep your $100. From savings, if you replace it in a month add a penny for missed interest. The worst is overdraft protection [point to top row]—that will cost you $30 plus the $100 you still owe. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica;">After you've mastered baby step savings, initial one of these boxes on the lower left side when you pass this on to someone else. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica;">When the red side facing up, this is money flowing out because it costs you to get that money [pull a few play bills out of opening]</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica;">But, turned the other way, [show green side] …</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N9EoYjkoEF4/Txk4yqLaTeI/AAAAAAAAADM/cTyde-dyINM/s1600/green2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N9EoYjkoEF4/Txk4yqLaTeI/AAAAAAAAADM/cTyde-dyINM/s640/green2" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica;">It reminds you to save! This has over a dozen tips or ideas for how to build your saving muscle. I'll leave you with 2 baby steps ... </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica;">You're out, you want something to eat. Don't get a soda, drink tap water instead. Then put $1 of what you saved by not buying the soda in here, and turn it greenside up. [demo this] That's yours. You just saved it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica;">Another example, and it's also our offer. We have the money to give you your $1.25. You've earned it. And tonight, a Buckstasher™, which costs 70¢, can be yours for a quarter. You can start your savings tonight with your dollar, put in it your Buckstasher™ … turn it green side up and put it in your wallet [demo these actions as you talk] and you are on your way!</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica;">Pay everyone. Continue ... </span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica;">You're welcome to stick around and talk, but this on your own time …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">__________________________End Script _________________________</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">January 2012 Project Status:</b> Since conceiving of small, baby step sized workshops aimed at increasing financial literacy I have refined Buckstashers and reached out to my network of contacts. I have continued my research into the current state of adult financial literacy in the US. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Next Steps</b>: The immediate next step is to conduct one or two focus groups and use the feedback to modify the presentation and tool. </div>
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I am looking for <span style="font-weight: bold;">sponsorship</span> to pay the salary, overhead and expenses involved in reaching 1000 people or conducting 100 presentations in the first year.</div>
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Please contact me to discuss ways you might support this project. </div>
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John Perkins, Ph.D.</div>
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Keep the Change Consulting (<span style="font-weight: bold;">not</span> affiliated with Bank of America)</div>
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206 524.4496</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4276019079942541737#_ftnref" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span></a> Gary Rivlin, 2010, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Broke, USA: From Pawnshops to Poverty Inc.—How the Working Poor Became Big Business</i>, New York: HarperCollins.</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4276019079942541737#_ftnref" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[2]</span></a> Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 2009, "<span style="font-family: Arial;">F</span>DIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households," available on 1/16/12 at <a href="http://www.fdic.gov/%20householdsurvey/">http://www.fdic.gov/ householdsurvey/</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4276019079942541737#_ftnref" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[3]</span></a> Kelly Gilblom, 2011, "Program Helps 'Unbanked' in King County Live Happily with Accounts," <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Puget Sound Business Journal</i>, April 8, 2011, available 1/16/12 at <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/print-edition/2011/04/08/program-helps-unbanked-in-king.html%20">http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/print-edition/2011/04/08/program-helps-unbanked-in-king.html </a></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4276019079942541737#_ftnref" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[4]</span></a> Jennifer Turnham, 2010, Attitudes to Savings and Financial Education Among Low-Income Populations: Findings from the Financial Literacy Focus Groups," Center for Financial Security University of Wisconsin-Madison, available 1/16/12 at <a href="http://www.randschool.com/">http://www.randschool.com</a>…/attitudes-savings-financial-education.pdf, p. 76. </div>
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</div>John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-67772368978127689822011-12-30T18:00:00.001-08:002011-12-30T18:00:33.001-08:00My innovative Service Project Idea<div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:garamond, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><div><span><span style="font-style: italic;">I sent this to my network of contacts on Dec. 30. </span><br></span></div><br> <div style="font-family: garamond, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div id="yiv2020518777"><div><div style="color:#000;background-color:#fff;font-family:garamond, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt;"><div id="yiv2020518777"><div><div style="color:#000;background-color:#fff;font-family:garamond, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt;"><div id="yiv2020518777"><div id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_1325004869204125"><div id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_1325004869204126" class="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_132500486920448" style="color:#000;background-color:#fff;font-family:garamond, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt;"><div id="yiv2020518777"><div id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_18_1324946433230119"><div id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_18_1324946433230120" class="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_18_132494643323048 yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_132500486920450" style="color:#000;background-color:#fff;font-family:garamond, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt;"><div style="" id="yiv2020518777"> <div id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_18_1324946433230121" style=""> <div id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_18_1324946433230122" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR:#fff;FONT-FAMILY:garamond, new york, times, serif;COLOR:#000;FONT-SIZE:12pt;" class="yiv2020518777ms__id3726 yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_18_132494643323054 yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_132500486920456"> <div style="" id="yiv2020518777"> <div style="" id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_22_132427527738993"> <div style="BACKGROUND-COLOR:#fff;FONT-FAMILY:garamond, new york, times, serif;COLOR:#000;FONT-SIZE:12pt;" id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_22_132427527738994" class="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_22_132427527738948 yiv2020518777ms__id3727 yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_18_132494643323060 yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_132500486920462"> <div id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_1324238189311330">Hi Friend, <span id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_18_1324946433230225"><br><br></span><span></span><span></span></div> Hope your holidays were delightful and <span style="font-weight:bold;">solvent</span>.<br><br><span id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_18_1324946433230274" style="font-weight:bold;">My request.</span> I have several innovative financial education/dialogue ideas that I'd like to refine. I am reaching out to my network to share my ideas and help me connect to people who help fund or host a pilot test of the innovation. There is a lot that can be done, so if you have the inclination you can also partner with me to launch the project. <br><br> <div id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_1324238189311342"><span id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_18_1324946433230246" style="font-weight:bold;">Background</span>. Thanks to Gary Rivlin's <span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR:rgb(255,255,0);">B</span><span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR:rgb(255,255,0);FONT-STYLE:italic;" id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_22_1324275277389285">roke, <span style="COLOR:rgb(192,0,0);">U</span><span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR:rgb(255,255,255);COLOR:rgb(0,0,191);" id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_22_1324275277389300">S</span><span style="COLOR:rgb(0,0,191);" id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_22_1324275277389305">A</span></span><span id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_1324238189311378"> I am getting the specifics on legit "industries" that prey on our poorest citizens. It has reminded me of what anyone with attentive eyes can see: many poor neighborhoods though lacking in legit banks have an abundance of check cashers, pay-day loan storefronts, pawn shops and rent-to-own stores. Wasn't always the case, but is the current situation. </span><span id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_1324238189311378">Dig a bit, and many of these stores or predatory mortgage lending companies are owned outright or financed by the largest banks in the nation—Wells Fargo, Citibank, Fleet, Bank of America, and, before it's demise, Washington Mutual. For shame.<br><br>Many people use a payday loan company once and feel so uncomfortable that they got themselves in such a bind or felt a need for fast money that they don't do it again. That's not who the payday loan companies make their money on. As with any business, these companies make their money off repeat customers. Multiple times a year repeat customers. </span><span id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_1324238189311378">Customers who don't pay the loan when it falls due pay a fee to keep the loan in play, but that fee isn't applied to the principal, it just stretches the due day another spell, usually 2 weeks, sometimes a month. One man began with $800 loan and paid rollover fees regularly on Tuesday for 10 years! His account rep showed him his total fees, over <span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold;" id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_1324238189311459">$9,000!</span> </span><span id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_1324238189311378"><br><br>The companies like that their regulars pay and pay, upwards of <span style="font-weight:bold;">545%</span> annual rate or more. But customers are shielded from this harsh fact most of the time, though you can find signs with this rate posted in the lobby or on the wall of many of these companies' storefront locations. Payday joints encourage customers to think they are paying <span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold;">fees</span>, not interest. But many don't really seem to care, they just feel an urgent need for cash. One said a payday loan was better than crack! </span><br><span id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_1324238189311378"><br></span><span id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_1324238189311378">Right now, in King County, there are <span style="font-weight:bold;">50,000</span> no-account adults. These adults do not have an account at either a bank or credit union. </span><span id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_1324238189311378">Banks, and also credit unions, experience a conflict of profits. Though they could promote programs to help their customers decrease overdrafts and encourage the proper use of regular accounts, their overdraft fees or competitive payday loan products bring in more money! <br><br><span id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_18_1324946433230255" style="font-weight:bold;">Service action</span>. Of course, there are many ways one could address this: <span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR:rgb(255,191,223);FONT-WEIGHT:bold;" id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_13242381893111155">direct action</span> such as protests at the stores may actually <span style="FONT-STYLE:italic;">backfire</span> because many customers <span style="FONT-STYLE:italic;" id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_13242381893111711">say they</span><span style="FONT-STYLE:italic;" id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_13242381893111702"> like the stores</span>.<span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold;" id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_13242381893111146"> <span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR:rgb(223,191,255);">Po</span></span><span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR:rgb(223,191,255);FONT-WEIGHT:bold;" id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_1324238189311377">litical activism</span><span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR:rgb(223,191,255);">??</span> Pshaw! The legislature is made up of people from the comfortable classes. They know little about payday loans, have the state's own debts to sort, and are the targets of intense lobbying whenever these laws come forward. The predatory lending companies were able to defeat an effort a few years ago to cap interest rates in Washington. <br><br>So, what's left? A person always has<span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR:rgb(223,255,191);"> </span><span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR:rgb(223,255,191);FONT-WEIGHT:bold;">authority for themselves</span><span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR:rgb(223,255,191);">.</span> That autonomy can be awakened and supported to take responsible actions. It can always be asserted at any time. <br><br><span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold;" id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_13242381893111255">I want to nudge customers of these predatory lending practices to start thinking about their personal authority/autonomy over their spending and saving. And begin taking small, personal action steps to get out of their debt traps. </span><br></span></div> <div id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_1324238189311925"></div><div style=""> </div> <div style="" id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_1324347244150841"><span style="COLOR:rgb(0,0,0);" id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_22_1324275277389448">Email me</span> to see more details and schedule a time to talk more about it. <br><br>I'll blog on this idea as I learn more and matters progress at <a rel="nofollow" id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_18_1324946433230383">ktc-sfc.blogspot.com</a><br></div> <div id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_1324238189311569"><br></div> <div id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_13242381893111545"><span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR:rgb(128,255,192);" id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_13242381893111565">Happy holidays </span>and <span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR:rgb(255,128,191);">much luck & prosperity in 2012.</span></div> <div id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_13242381893111570"><br></div> <div id="yiv2020518777yui_3_2_0_16_13242381893111587">John</div><br> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div> </div> </div>John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-76812967535205491632011-12-11T22:58:00.001-08:002011-12-11T22:58:29.867-08:00Payday Loans<div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:Courier New, courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif;font-size:12pt"><div><span>12/12/2011<br></span></div><br>Thanks to Gary Rivlin's <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">B</span><span style="font-style: italic; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">roke, USA</span><span> I am getting the specifics on "industries" that prey on our poorest citizens. It has reminded me of what anyone with attentive eyes can see: poor neighborhoods are lacking in legit banks but have an abundance of check cashers, pay-day loan storefronts, pawn shops and rent-to-own stores. Wasn't always the case, but is the current situation. <br><br>Of course, there are many ways to begin to address this. <br><br><span style="font-weight: bold;">Direct action</span> against the companies in terms of protests, etc. might backfire because the research I've found says their customers <span style="font-style: italic;">actually like the stores</span>. Customers like the convenient hours, open early before work, open late after work. Friday night, driving in Lynnwood, Washington I counted two open at 8:45 PM. <br><br>Customers say they like that in less than half and hour you can walk out with cash. <br><br>Customers say they like knowing what they have to pay and when it's due. <br><br>This isn't a time to rile the customers up to defend the "financial services" industry! <br><br>Well ok, that's out, what about <span style="font-weight: bold;">political activism</span>? The legislature is made up of people from the comfortable classes. They know little about payday loans or the type of binds less well-off people find themselves. They get donations and intense lobbying from the financial services sector. Besides, they have a huge state debt to work their way out of. <br><br>So, what's left? A person always has <span style="font-weight: bold;">authority for themselves</span>. It's not always active before they take out that first loan, but it can always be asserted at any time. Many people use a payday loan company once and feel so uncomfortable that they got themselves in such a bind or felt a need for fast money that they don't do it again. <br><br>That's not who the payday loan companies make their money on. As with any business, these companies make their money off repeat customers. Multiple times a year repeat customers. <br><br>The companies like that their regulars pay and pay, upwards of 545% annual rate. But customers are shielded from this harsh fact most of the time, though you can find signs with this rate posted in the lobby or on the wall of many of them. Customers think they are paying <span style="font-weight: bold;">fees</span>, not interest. Customers pay a fee to keep the loan in play, but that fee isn't applied to the principal, just stretches the due day another spell, usually 2 weeks, sometimes a month. One can keep doing this while trying to scrap together the full loan to repay. And keep doing it. The fees keep rolling in. One man began with $800 loan and paid fees regularly on Tuesday for 10 years! His account rep showed him his total fees, over <span style="font-weight: bold;">$10,000!</span> And he had a mortgage-free home. What's up with this? <br><br>I want to nudge regular users to begin thinking about their personal authority over their spending and saving. <br><br>More in later posts. <br><br><br><br><br></span></div>John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-72761133934160369682011-04-16T10:30:00.000-07:002011-04-16T12:26:30.498-07:00Just Gotta Find FriendsFriends! Where did all mine go? Did I let some lapse, did some drift away? Did I miss that one key chance go cement a friendship due to being too honest about my interests, energy level, time, cash flow?<br /><br />I'm starting this blogging series to chronicle my steps to find hang-out <span style="font-style: italic;">buddies</span> in Seattle. <span style="font-style: italic;">Building friendships</span> is one of my 2011 goals. How am I going about it? First, I constructed a <a href="http://kaipagroup.com/articles/four_questions/fourquestions.pdf"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kaipa</span> pyramid</a> for myself on this theme. You'll see in the article that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Kaipa</span> poses four questions. I will use a shorthand here and invite you to look over the article for the full question form.<br /><br />1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">What is my north star/my genius? </span>I have skills for friendship—I enjoy most live events like music, theater, readings. I listen well and have spent much of my life creating and sustaining discussion and support groups of various types.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">What is my core incompetence?</span> Related to friendship, paradoxically, I am independent! I tell myself "not to wait for the herd." I'll go alone, I'll be the first of my group. I am the positive version of introversion: I am content enough alone. I can conjure a friend in my imagination and that is nearly as good as hearing his or her voice.<br /><br />Another part to this, I feel if I lack a 'purpose' for the call I may be interrupting the person and wasting their time. But hanging out is just that, it's primarily sharing time & space without agenda.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">What adds energy when I feel zapped?</span> Getting together in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">realtime</span> is fun, improvisational, and open to possibilities.<br /><br />4. <span style="font-weight: bold;">What saps my energy </span>and provides brakes or alarms? Arranging is tedious. I am not interested in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Faceb</span>**k, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Twi</span>**er. People forget to return my calls. In this region, there's a provisional nature to commitments that I find leaves me uncertain whether a planned meeting will actually happen. I'd rather not bother and just buy my tickets and go.<br /><br />Of course, I'm not new to these insights, or most of them, and it's my personality.<br /><br />Following the process <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Kaipa</span> presents, I completed my <a href="http://ktchange.com/friendspryamid.pdf"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">pyramid</span></a> ... (click link for easier to read version)<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h6a-RK65lNo/TanqAewhtzI/AAAAAAAAACs/IDlWxUiXtss/s1600/friend2"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 346px; height: 294px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h6a-RK65lNo/TanqAewhtzI/AAAAAAAAACs/IDlWxUiXtss/s400/friend2" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596261305962051378" border="0" /></a>So, here I am with my pyramid and what I discovered about my inner DNA for this, but, what am I TO DO because of it?<br /><br />This is where the pyramid meets my life. My activities need to tack against being solo (the <span style="font-weight: bold;">solo <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">mojo</span> </span>triangle) towards the comrade triangle. To get there I quickly touch on <span style="font-weight: bold;">longing</span> for friends and use that feeling as a springboard. This leaves <span style="font-weight: bold;">inviting</span> as the active side. Becoming <span style="font-weight: bold;">comrades</span> signals I've finished the cycle.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Goal</span>: some hang-out and activity buddies. Specifically, I would like to share the <a href="http://www.ballardjazzfestival.com/index.php">Ballard Jazz Walk</a> next Friday with someone.<br /><br />When folded into a four-side pyramid, holding the <span style="font-weight: bold;">inviting</span> side away from me and "looking" through the point aimed at my body I "see" inviting from the perspective of <span style="font-weight: bold;">independence</span>. For me, this reminds to take initiative. Send out invites far and wide and still be prepared to go it alone a few times. It also has to traverse the other three sides: <span style="font-weight: bold;">longing, comrade, </span>and<span style="font-weight: bold;"> solo <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">mojo</span></span>.<br /><br />I can also see if others have any <span style="font-weight: bold;">invitations</span> out that I can respond. I checked <span style="font-style: italic;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">craigslist</span> personals and <span style="font-style: italic;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">meetup</span> for jazz and nothing is listed. So now, I've broadcast invitations to several groups to which I belong and I've reached out to specific friends who live in the neighborhood.<br /><br />And today, I'll go buy my single ticket and get ready for who may join me. Or not.<br /><br />Interested in learning more about how to make these pyramids or even join me for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">BJW</span>, email me at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">johnp</span> at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">ktchange</span> dot com<br /><br />JohnJohn Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-58921306553838375082010-01-03T09:51:00.000-08:002010-01-03T10:48:26.985-08:00Health Care Bills/LawThe Senate's passage of the the<span style="font-weight: bold;"> first major overhaul</span> of the US health insurance patchwork in over four decades <span style="font-weight: bold;">is significant.</span> I have spent the past dozen years learning<span style="font-weight: bold;"> how we came to have the crazy quilt patchwork</span> we have. I have also read many journal articles about what the states have experimented with to work around it. A minor point, but I have concluded that health insurance is misnamed, and we would be better served to call it <span style="font-weight: bold;"> Injury and Illness insurance</span>, because that identified the conditions that activate the coverage, like fire insurance covers in case of fire, flood insurance in case of floods, and so on.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">First, some history</span>. Unlike all the other national healthcare systems one hears about in other countries, the US tangle is <span style="font-weight: bold;">86% private insurance</span>. And will remain so.<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span> This comes from the historical incident—and accident—of health insurance starting to circumvent limitations on salaries imposed by Congress during WW II. Large employers wanted to lure top talent with health insurance and other <span style="font-weight: bold;">benefits</span>. They began as an enticement. The Supreme Court gave it's blessings and soon the unions understood this could be something they could negotiate for their members, and well, the race was off and running.<br /><br />Besides the <span style="font-weight: bold;">money</span> at stake (taxes, all the medical professionals, insurance and pharmaceutical companies' profits, the tax deductability of premiums, etc.) working folks like you and I have expressed strong preferences for the comforts of our current arrangement. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The overwhelming majority of people with employer-based insurance like what they are able to get</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">now</span>. Polls and political commentary show that we want to keep our current health professionals, we want to have a lot of choice and access to specialists, we want to brag about having the latest techno gizmo used on us even if not exactly medically necessary.<br /><br />There is also a curious lack of care about costs built into the current patchwork. Sure, at the aggregate levels everyone can see the costs of health services and insurance rising and rising. But savings won't happen in the aggregate on most things: physicians in particular has thought of themselves as businesses for decades and many are motivated by the profit motive. Insurance companies love having all that money to play with. So the <span style="font-weight: bold;">savings will have to happen at the point of service.</span><br /><br />Just recently, I had an eye exam and needed to get my prescription lenses updated. I went to several brick and mortar frames and lenses stores. At each I was asked if I had insurance as a first question. I said I was self-insured and using my flex plan. The<span style="font-weight: bold;"> lowest bidder</span> for just two lenses in existing frames was <span style="font-weight: bold;">$240</span>. The highest was close to $600 for just the lenses. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Online</span>, frames with the lenses go for less than <span style="font-weight: bold;">$50</span>. The price where insurance was expected to pay is close to 5 times higher!<br /><br />Another quick example, when <span style="font-weight: bold;">doctors order tests to "rule out"</span>conditions of illnesses of very low probability the cash still flows into their pockets and to every along the testing and reporting back chain.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Massachusetts Example</span></span><br /><br />When MA set the bar in 2006 for what can be enacted into law to reduce the number of uninsured people, it accepted that most people receive health insurance from their employers. They also accepted that <span style="font-weight: bold;">people without insurance do get the emergency care they need </span>when the circumstance are dire enough: accidents, drug or alcohol overdose, sever physical symptoms, etc. <span style="font-style: italic;">That care costs someone something.</span> The prime motives in the legislation was to reduce the number of MA citizens without insurance and to get more people in for care at an earlier stage of their injury or illness.<br /><br />Several things happened in MA that failed to happen in Congress. First, the opening salvo in that state was the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Roadmap to Coverage</span> (R2C) <a href="http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/263912/report_concludes_massachusetts_could_achieve_universal_health_coverage_in_four/index.html">white paper</a> jointly sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield. In a tightly reasoned and carefully calculated document, the R2C laid out the current costs being borne in MA for health care services to people who had no insurance.<br /><br />So the R2C said, look, it costs so much to provide this care now. <span style="font-weight: bold;">How is this being paid for</span>? it asked. Here's how: uncompensated services from healthcare professionals, write-offs by hospitals, various subsidies, lost time at work, etc. Then the R2C took a clever rhetorical turn. It made a series of proposals for insuring more people, and with each proposal it showed how many people the suggestion would cover and how much it would save or transfer from elsewhere in the medical care patchwork.<br /><br />To encourage preventive and regular care (from the Western medical model point of view), it proposed people with publicly supported insurance have a "medical home," that is, a designated clinic or doctor where they would go to receive care. To sweep in the last few people not caught by its other strategies, the R2C proposed subsidized premiums and as a last resort, a tax penalty on anyone without insurance who did not qualify for a waiver.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> If, the R2C said, MA put these ideas into place virtually everyone would have coverage. </span><br /><br />Congress seems to be stumbling towards what MA has demonstrated without the benefit of something like the R2C proposal in front of opinion leaders and the media.<br /><br />From reading blogs and talking to people it seems everyone will <span style="font-weight: bold;">find something to be unhappy </span>with in the final bill and law that will ultimately get passed. Maybe that's as it should be, as <span style="font-weight: bold;">we're all in this together</span> and everyone <span style="font-weight: bold;">should be required to do their part</span>.John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-14633327731615593482008-11-09T09:15:00.000-08:002008-11-09T15:39:39.126-08:00Where's the Healing Belief?<style type="text/css"><!-- blockquote, dl, ul, ol, li { padding-top: 0 ; padding-bottom: 0 } --></style> <div align="center"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:New Century Schlbk;font-size:130%;" >[This case study shows one successful example of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)]</span></div> <div align="center"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:New Century Schlbk;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span></div> <div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:New Century Schlbk;font-size:130%;" ><x-tab> </x-tab>Sophie (all identifying details are changed) complained one evening about her disappointment that specialists couldn't operate on her ears to end her stuttering. I perked up, and told her I am a Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). I have used NLP to help people heal allergies, performance anxiety, dyslexia, overeating, tobacco addiction, and the inability to experience orgasms. I shared a few stories about my work and offered to trade sessions: her motivational interviewing skills for my NLP skills.<br /><br /></span></div> <div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:New Century Schlbk;font-size:130%;" ><x-tab> </x-tab>Warning! Don't start that way—my bragging may have incited her, unconsciously, to "knock me down a peg." A better path would have been to direct her to articles on NLP and stuttering for her to evaluate<i> before</i> agreeing to my help. <x-tab> </x-tab><br /><x-tab> </x-tab><br />We agreed to trade four sessions. My sessions with her were difficult. She really believed in the numbers and diagnoses offered her by western medical science. For the third session I came ready with a method to try. She only went through the motions without imagination, intention or investment. She smiled as we finished as if to say, "Is that the best you have?" and admitted that she really hadn't been into it.<br /> <x-tab></x-tab><br />Here I paused for a long time. She believed that experts shouldn't have to stop and think (remember that poor start!). I defended my right to think, and kept thinking.<br /><x-tab> </x-tab><br />Something very powerful sat behind that smile. She said she felt her problem had a biological cause, meaning that it was permanent and unchanging. Yes, that was<i> the</i> belief. Thus the desire for<i> surgery</i> because that would be a<i> biologically-based</i> intervention.<br /> <x-tab> </x-tab><br />But, she had already mentioned two counterexamples (instances when the problem didn't occur). I reminded her, "If, as you say, it is biological and something that never changes, then you should stutter<i> all</i> the time. The biology should prevent you from talking fluently to animals or fluently when imitating someone."<br /><x-tab> </x-tab><br />Her turn to pause. She admitted that was right. She said I had destroyed the belief structure she had built her whole life around. I apologized for destroying her belief (this time remembering to stay one-down and cautious). That ended the third session. We never had a fourth.<br /><x-tab> </x-tab><br />When we crossed paths two months later she spoke fluently. I stood amazed. "I want to thank you. I've gone from about 70% fluent to 90-95% fluent. And I was totally resistant!" she beamed. What made the difference? "When you helped me realize that it wasn't biologically based."<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Bookman;font-size:130%;" ><x-tab> </x-tab></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:New Century Schlbk;" ><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Many people limit their ability to permit a change (that is, healing) because their belief about their suffering only includes a few ways a change process might work. Bringing the client face-to-face to times when the belief does not hold true may be the only key she needs for her transformation.</span><br /></span></div>John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-12302601216892563892008-11-05T09:58:00.000-08:002008-11-05T10:06:38.420-08:00Everyday Leaner<div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >Anything done more than once can benefit from<i> kiazan</i>-taking a few moment to think about how to eliminate waste. Normally conducted by a group, anyone can look around for ways to streamline their work. For one of my projects I had the task of summarizing five winning proposals in a contest to suggest transforming our health care insurance mess. That's another area full of waste but not a topic for today.<br /><br />For the first 40 page proposal I tackled I followed these steps:</span></div> <blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >1) I read through the proposal and made margin notes appropriate to the five sections of my final summary: Executive Summary, Financing, Delivery System, Management and Migrating the System.</span></blockquote> <blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >2. Went through proposal a second time and typed in what I had found into a computer. Each heading had a page and I moved back and forth in the file to the appropriate page as I moved through the proposal.</span></blockquote> <blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >3. Edited my document for formatting, spelling, readability, grammar, etc.<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" ><br /></span></blockquote> <div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >This process took 9 hours, an hour more than the 8 hour my client and I had estimated. I felt mentally wiped out.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >As I sat in kaizan, I saw that most of my time was spent sorting and placing sentences in the right section. I also noticed I had to work my way through the proposal twice. In a previous project I had discovered the one click paragraph sorting function in modern word processing programs.<br /><br />What if, I imagined, I dealt with the proposal just once. To do that I had to sit at the computer and enter sentences as I went. And, if I let the computer do the sorting, I just needed to make a table and put a symbol in the first column. So X would show a sentence that would go in the executive summary section, M would later find its way to the management section, and so on.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" ></span></div> <div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >I could see a need for one more column for a secondary sort (showing if a sentence should be closer to the top of the summary or nearer the bottom). The outer columns served as scaffolding and would ultimately be removed.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" ></span></div> <div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >My next proposal, just 20 pages, took just under 4 hours using this scheme. Makes sense if the first one took 9 hours and was 40 pages. But it felt much easier and I ended up with my mental juices still flowing. Actually, parts of me disbelieved I'd actually done the work right because it felt so easy.<br /><br />So the new steps became:</span></div> <blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >1. Read proposal and type notes and quotes in one long three-column table.</span></blockquote> <blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >2. Highlight the whole table and sort on the first and third columns. This put it in order by section<i> and</i> within section.</span></blockquote> <blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >3. Remove first and third columns.</span></blockquote> <blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >4. Convert from table to text.</span></blockquote> <blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >5. Continue with editing and finishing steps.</span></blockquote> <div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" ><br /></span></div> <div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >As I type this I can envision a system that eliminates the use of tables. This would be an advancement as then I could compile a summary in any text program or even email and later sort it all using my word processor.</span></div> <div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" ><br /></span></div> <div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >Office tasks are the next frontier for the application of lean concepts. With this project, the first 40 page document took me about 9 hours, the other four, including a 200 page book, took about 4 hours apiece. From a potential total commitment of 45 hours lean thinking shrank my work down to a total of 25 hours, an improvement of almost 45 percent. Looking only the 4 I applied my lean thinking to-my work withered from 36 hours to 16, a savings of 56 percent. And preserving my mental health was a surprising bonus.</span></div>John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-52605791463486540452008-10-25T09:07:00.000-07:002008-10-25T09:16:10.332-07:00Soft? Skills<div>I've deconstructed my reaction to "<span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224950769_0">soft skills</span>." Partly, I dislike people labeling other folks work in any less than equal status terms. Who gets to do such labeling? It's disrespectful.<br /></div> <div><br /></div> <div>Semantically, hard has two antonyms</div> <div><br /></div> <div> HARD <---> SOFT</div> <div> HARD <---> EASY</div> <div><br /></div> <div>If both Soft and Easy have the same antonym then subliminally</div> <div><br /></div> <div> SOFT = EASY</div> <div><br /></div> <div>So soft skills must be easy skills, not worth paying attention to, much less paying for.<br /><br />With all the emphasis of the privileged 'hard skills' like math and engineering we drift further from sheltering everyone and openly celebrating our interdependence. Perhaps this imbalance is silently dissolving the love that binds us to each other and all living things.<br /><br /></div> <div>Never to criticize without offering an alternatvie, we can call these skills what they are: people skills, communication skills, negotiation skills. Human skills. Loving skills.<br /></div>John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-64959593076717141622008-10-14T19:20:00.000-07:002008-10-14T19:25:03.254-07:00Daily LeanI am an self-taught when it comes to Lean Production. This is one of the names given to the revolutionary (still) insights generated by the Toyota car company beginning in the 1950s. It is also called Toyota Production Method (TPM) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), Just in Time, and other names.<br /><br />One part of the philosophy of lean is try out the small adjustments, if they work, keep them until more adjustments occur to you. Here's an example.<br /><br />I ride my bike as transportation. I have enjoyed this activity in two cities. I have to lock the bike whenever I leave to have a good chance of seeing it when I return.<br /><br />This requires a lock and key. The key hangs on my lanyard along with my whistle around my neck. When I use the lock the cord wraps and hooks sometimes around anything available, causing frustration and delay.<br /><br />So, I get a new bag that has a two-part key chain. The type where you can detach the keys from the ring.<br /><br />Enter creativity :: I moved the detachable key ring to my lanyard.<br /><br />Now, it's very easy and I had to adjust to the change (remember to use it).<br />That was success for about three weeks, when more creativity :: I could delete the detachable key ring and use the lanyard clip that's been there all along.<br /><br />Now I lock my bike and there's no tangled lines and accessing the key and replacing it takes just a few seconds.John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276019079942541737.post-82908164891457036052008-08-25T14:52:00.000-07:002020-08-06T20:43:52.605-07:00This Page Intentionally Left BlankSometimes I get formal material in the mail purporting to give me information I need to make some complicated decision like how to vote my six shares of a stock. As I slog through mind numbing financial/legalese I come to a mostly blank page with this right in the middle ...
<div style="text-align: center;">This page intentionally left blank.
</div>
And my head reels. This page isn't blank at all—There's a sentence right in the middle of it! Another example of how we drive ourselves batty. A better way?:
<div style="text-align: center;">On this page? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Just three lines. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Now, go on.
</div>John Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12762109323961276612noreply@blogger.com0