Do you trust a svelte new company or big old boated corporation?  Have I made myself biased by even asking the question?  It all comes from watching the news related to electric cars I help to cover with other people on Electricnick.com (no relation to my name).

I can't help but to wonder which one type of company will have a better future considering today's economic crisis?  Which type of company can adapt to fast enough to changes in order to meet the constant demand from consumers?  Can big, monolithic companies continue to influence consumers because they just can't turn around on a dime?  It would seem so when you look at the sad shape GM, Ford and Chrysler are in.  The fact that a limping GM wants to merge with a limping Chrysler make many people wonder why.  And don't let proponent fool you by saying they are too big to let them go down the drain.  The real issue is one of priorities, something governments sometimes have a hard time balancing.  Who is the economic backbone of any country?  Small to medium businesses and independent owners.  That is the priority.  By squandering money on big corporations that have been in the same dire situations decade after decades, we are right back to square one, lending money to them with promises of a better future to only return to square one.  It apparently doesn't work to give away hard earned tax money to big corporation in order to build cars consumers will buy again.  It's a double tax and has been done too many times.  Why concentrate on the smaller players that are making a difference, such as AC Propulsion, Tesla Motors.  At least their owners are not afraid to put their money into their company, unlike the bigger corporation well fed CEOs and Chairman.

What a tricky environment we have today and seeing the government work on bailing one more time companies that have made bad decisions decades over decades mack me wonder, what about me, the small business owner?  I am the one who truly needs the tax breaks.

Keeping informed makes people take better decisions.  One thing is for sure, more and more people are becoming more aware.  this is yet another case where coaching comes in handy to achieve what you truly want to do.  What you are truly meant to do.

NY subway… an experience of its own.

Another strange thing about NY is you would expect faucets to deliver constant water temperature and pressure, but I always manage to freeze or get boiled alive.  Maybe its the old buildings and their aging infrastructure but you'd think the city that "rules the world" would have constant water pressure, right?  Not necessarily so.  I remember having the same problems at our old place on 73 East.  Some things don't change after all.

Subways are another topic.  For such a big and dominating city, NY's subway feels antiquated compared to London's or Paris'.  Paint peeling, urine smells rising, water trickling from the rain and the ever, ever constant maintenance crews and repairs at all time of day and night.  The work never seems done.  It's what I would expect subways to look like in a distant future when things didn't turn out well for planet and funds ran out. In many ways, it shows how NY is out of touch with the rest of the world, completely happy to live in autarchy.  What one doesn't know, can't hurt, right?  Funny thing is when people travel abroad and see how other subway systems are maintained, they can't help but ask why is NY's in such a state for such a big city?  Stations don't look clean and run down, and grungy.  They will be updated and six months later, dirty again.  You're probably thinking I'm a snob or I expect too much but if you see most other subways USA and abroad, they are much, much cleaner.  It's strange when you think about the city it serves.  All in all, it is part of NY's charm, that Gotham look and feel.  It is unique.

Today we are celebrating the company's first anniversary!

It was exactly one year ago today that I launched Tap The Source.  You should always tap the source.

My last trip to New York was memorable, for many reasons.  I hadn't been back in over 5 years.  I went to my 25th year High School reunion at Mamaroneck High School.  I reconnected with my then best friend and we picked up where we left with more experience under our belts.  The best part about it?  We are the same deep down and continued our soul search throughout the decades.  It was fun.

People asked me if NY had changed in 5 years.  I can't say it has.  NY doesn't change. It changes you.  Aside from one or two restaurants and places that have closed,  NY doesn't change.  I feel it is you that wants to change and NY reacts to you.  NY brings out the best or worse in you.  It's up to you to make what you want from it. 

It can be a city of pure decadence or one that pushes you to excel.  It can be as beautiful as ugly.  It depends on what you make of it.  You need to be very, very strong to make the best of it.  It will brutalize you otherwise.  You could end up loosing yourself in it.  NY is that universal lover that attracts young and old from all over the world and if you know her secrets, and are respectful, humble, you fill the adjectives here, will repay you exponentially.  Its the microcosm of the planet.  You'll find close to anything. 

I noticed I have a hard time falling asleep at night.  Blame it on being jet lagged but my mind races as it is carried by the intensity of that famous "pace of life".  Ah, what hasn't been said about it.  NY's famous pace of life.  As soon as my feet hit the sidewalk's concrete, my mind rushes and my body follows, I'm already there.  Walking in NYC is a sport, much as a skier dodges high speed gates, I zoom in and out of people's way.  People can be so slow.  I rush.  My walk is brisk and I can see the many faces pass by like an endless stream.  Who are they?  What do they think? What do they feel?  I don't have time to wait politely for someone to move.  I must go.  Got things to do, places to see, people to meet.  Unfortunately, all of this catches up with me at night as I struggle to find sleep.  Of course, this pushes me to try to regain some control over my mind and that healthy detachment we must all cultivate in order to see things in a less emotional way.  Oh yes, now I remember.  I am here to master my mind, to tame the monkey mind.  Gotcha.  Gotta slow down.  Too much wasted energy.

Oooh, the great insights for coaching.  Now this is a city that gets coaches.  It's a city that needs coaches.  I feel at home… for the time being.

End of part I