Coaching Businesses and Life, a view from Long Beach

Flying Delta, A Case For Using Smaller Airlines

This past decade has shown without a doubt how bloated corporations in the U.S. have lost touch of reality and are offering worse service while officer salaries still balloon at million dollar range.  Our latest bone to pick, after closing our Chase bank account in favor of a local smaller Credit Union is not flying Delta again.

Virginia was stranded in Atlanta after Delta switched to a smaller airplane at the last minute with no explanations.  She was kicked off after having paid a previous rebooking fee of $150 and dealing with an appalling customer service.  After aggravated stress, she was able to get on a later flight.

A few things has become clear. 

1. Delta management has started to get the company away from bankruptcy but the higher management salary is disconnected from the strain and stress they impose on their customer base. 
2. Delta forces many to fly through Atlanta, which is in and of itself one of the worse airports.
3. Delta charges more fees than any other airlines in the U.S..
4. Delta had a fairly simple problem to solve by supplying an equal capacity airplane, considering Atlanta is their hub and they should have more than enough local airplanes for such problems.
5. Delta made Virginia pay a $150 rebooking fee and kicked her off the flight without valid explanations.  The company did not treat her in a preferred manner and expected us to pay an extra $150 to rebook her after the mistake they imposed on their clients.
6. Delta forgets the company works for people who fly, not the other way around.
7. Delta's officer salary makes it unrealistic for them understand ti understand how hard middle-class America has to fight and to see the sub-par client treatment.
8. Delta might now be out of bankruptcy but their service is appalling and treat customer as hording cattle.
9. Lastly, Delta, amongst many other big airlines are breaching contracts where we pay for service to get us from point A to B as mutually agreed upon.

While everyone has the right to get paid what they feel they deserve, one thing has to be to keep clearly in mind, that the client in the end chooses.  We are not without recourse and have plenty of smaller more efficient companies who are willing to earn our business.

This last experience has shown us that flying smaller airlines is worth a friendlier service even with a lay over than have to deal with a bloated greedy and unfriendly airline.  Again, smaller companies are more efficient and hungrier for business than big ones.

Never again Delta and other big corporation.  You have lost our accounts and trust.

The Way Children Are

Sometimes it's frightening seeing how some children behave.

As easy as it would be to blame them, often enough it's the parents that let things go awry.  And who's to blame anyway?  Everyone wants to make lots of money, have a perfect life and balance both in a subtle way.  It takes a lot of thinking and sacrifices to have children, I realize.  And no, I don't have any but I tutor a few kids and I realize how different this new generation is.

It isn't easy.  I many ways, the generation after me, by less than 20 years has already had children who are old enough to speak.  But what I notice is that what most want to do is play and have more toys.  In itself, it is normal but when you read the news and see how kids from under-developed countries are studying hard to get out of their situation, it sends shivers up your spine.  It almost feels like a tragedy to happen for our kids.  It's unfair in many ways to give them all without a clear system of earning.

These kids in our societies are brought to want more, more toys, more fun, more playing.  This works well, or should I say worked well for manufacturers.  And why not, their parents have to indulged due to their heavy work schedule and lack of being there with them.  As these kids turn away from doing their homework with less and less guidance, the other kids elsewhere are learning with a vengeance.  What will happen when these kids hit the workforce not well prepared, wanting the big bucks with minimal critical thinking and less than stellar work ethics?  It's not hard to figure out who will get the better jobs.  Those who've had it harder and are used to hard work, willing to get paid little, since compared to back home, it's a lot.

Maybe I'm too alarmist but the way it looks, it seems like kids are being catered to not be interested in working, wanting more, the easy big bucks, whatever that means and not the work that come with it.  They have no idea that you need to give and take before you bring home the bacon.  This is something those kids from less fortunate societies know all to well.

Baseball

Those of you who know me will have their eyebrows raised with that title.  Nick knows nothing about baseball... that was until last night.

A few years ago, friends of ours brought us to a Dodger game.  To show how clueless I am, I thought the Dodgers were a football team.  I mean seriously.  If you were raised in another country and someone tells you about a team called the Dodgers, you would surely think of football, rugby or something grubby.  So here I am cracking jokes about football all the way to the Dodger's game.  I even kid about big baseball lights at the parking lot of the Dodger stadium.  I thought they were odd for a football game.  And then it happens, inside the stadium I notice the field is particular.  It doesn't look like any normal football field I knew.  I thought football had changed until I saw the Dodgers come out and noticed my hour long gaffes.

Fear not, that won't happen again since last night we went to an Angels' game against The Twins, I believe from Minnesota.  It was interesting because I started to understand the game, or at least the many intricacies of the game.  I love Rugby because it moves quickly, requires a lot of strength and agility but also a lot of tactics and strategies that are constantly evolving.

Watching baseball, I started to understand a part of a childhood I never had before 11 and after 17.  I never knew baseball and learning more about it last night gave me a more in depth glimpse into our American culture.  It is a slow game, no doubt about it.  It is a frustrating one at that.  You move up, then get wiped out.  You place one person there, until the other team takes him out.  It's two steps forward, one step back and sometimes vice-versa.

Yes, I say our culture because I chose to live here.  There is something fascinating about watching a very slow moving game, filled with intricacies and sportsmen who get very little action and get paid handsomely.  And on that subject, judging by paying $81 for a few typical baseball beers and food is no wonder why these folks are millionaires and their owners billionaires.  Interesting, indeed.

The Big Shift

Most definitely, things are changing everywhere.

I am amazed at how many people freely talk about spirituality, something that wasn't too common only ten years ago.  Yesterday at the gym, I talked with this gentleman about having grand kids, not mine but his.  What was striking was that he told me he had an epiphany and changed the way he saw life.  He said that after seeing something on PBS about how we think effect life, he changed his thinking and everything started to change.  I don't know about you but I hear language like this, I am home.  This is where I feel most comfortable and I hear this more and more.

I am taking a class on how spirituality incorporates in our coaching practice and there also, I was struck by how much people are actual spiritual, IF you let them be.  Another eye opener was the varied definitions of "spirituality".  As I've mentioned before, spirituality isn't automatically religious for me.  Nonetheless, it is interesting to see most people have a sense of this non-defined, non-linear, non-sectarian life force that we call God, The All, The Source Of All Things...

So things are changing, at last, thank Goodness!  But in the department of things-that-don't-change or things-that-have-a-hard-time-changing, the cash stricken GM with dismal car sales, see news here,  managed to find $5 million to throw a party showing how "cool and sexy" their cars are.  Another sign that the Microsoft way of doing business, if it doesn't sale throw more cash at it until it does, is still trying to make it work like that.  The question is just for how long?

Big Mechanic Shops vs Small Ones

Where do you go, a big shop because you've seen their signs all over town or you trust a smaller mom and pop shop?

It's no secret I like smaller shops better. For one thing, they know you, not only by name but through the relationship you forged with them through the years.  When it came time to replace the suspensions and the shocks absorbers for my 1974 Alfa Romeo spider, the choice was clear, I went to Omega Motorsports, the place I have been going for over 5 years.  I know Uwe, the owner and trust him.   Since Uwe won't do alignment, I go to International Motors  here in Long Beach, another small shop with dedicated mechanics lovers.

I could chose to go to a bigger, more well known shop but I have a hard time trusting them.  My last try at big shop resulted in buying disk breaks from the local Subaru shop that cost me $117 each.  I found the same items online for $64.  Lesson learned, there is more rapport and trust with the smaller shops that not only know you well, but also are passionate about the cars we drive.

Solstice Day!

Go out and greet the day today.  It's solstice day!

This is the time when light and darkness are evenly matched.  Think about what this means.

Presenditial Cadidates Talks

A few words on the presidential candidate speeches.

I watched Clinton and Obama talk on TV at the gym.  It was interesting to see the difference and the similarities between the two.  Something must have happened since last I watched them a month ago.  They are more civilized towards each other.  That is a good thing because the last thing we need to see are vicious and mud throwing president candidates in the current state of things.  We need maturity and for once, these two, and I think all three, have shown more than previous ones in the past.  I haven't seen McCain speak yet.

What it boils to however is that we love sports in this country.  We are raised to "pick a team" and cheer for it.  The problem is that we view politics in the same way.  Knowing the consequences, this is very dangerous.  It isn't about picking a team when it comes down to choosing our country leaders.  It is our  future and how we, as intelligent civilized people can put aside our silly selfish beliefs and work together to regain control of a situation out of order.

This is exactly what scares me about our candidates.  None of them have a team to present.  It is disturbing because we are not in high school voting for the Senior Queen and King anymore.  We are voting for a team of people who will lead our country.  We are surely mature and aware enough to understand that the world of politic is all about subtleties and strategic alliances.  No one does it alone.  The days of John Wayne are way long gone. 

So who is the team behind the candidates?  Who will be secretary of defense?  Vice-President?  Secretary of interior?  These are my fundemental questions that so far, no one has answered.  Yes, there are hints but I need more than hints before I make up my mind.  Until then, it is all talk.

It feels scary that people still vote according to what one person says when we know it takes a tight team to lead a country (or not).  It's sad to hear these candidates say all the things they know people will want to hear, general economy, healthcare and the war.  My real questions are what will you and your team do about it and how?  What can you show us now to convince us?  Who is in charge?  Certainly you don't think we are naive enough to think one person does it all? No, I'm sure you don't, right?

So instead of doing what every politician has done since the begnning of time, tell me who will be in charge of what and how will you all work together.  Before you cater to my dreams, let me know how you will work together to make it happen.  Give me the names of those you will pick to fill the important roles in your administration.  Like millions out there, I have seen through your speeches how words are cheap, actions are worth more.

In Awe Of Financially Sucessful People

The other day at the gym...

I heard two ladies engrossed in a serious conversation.  I couldn't help but hear what they were talking about.  They were in awe of certain well-known figures such as Warren Buffet and Bill Gates.  Later I understood their awe was based on how much money they had made.  Since they made a lot of money, they were smart and good people.  Strange logic when you find out more about how people build these empires.  I even heard how great they both were for all the jobs they helped created.

I'm pretty vocal and obviously opinionated.  It was hard for me to resist the urge to ask them how many companies Microsoft had swallowed up and put people out of jobs.  Yet I resisted because I just saw them as people lusting over money and power.  That's all there were to these two ladies at that particular moment in time.

It made me think how our society has raised a generation of people who love successful people with money.  It seems that if you have money then you are smart, a good person and worthy of praise.  While it might be true of some people, many ultra-rich people didn't become that way by being angels.  In fact, if you care to find out enough about most of these people, you will hear horror stories masqueraded under a veil of capitalism.  Capitalism is a good thing, but when kept under control from greedy urges.  The capitalism we are seeing now is far remote from the one imagined by our fore-fathers, I feel.

It was interesting to see these two ladies get all excited about how good people Warren and Bill are.  I wanted to ask them how having money, power and success were values automatically granted to good people.  Money or money with ethics?  Yes, people define their own sense of integrity.  However, I feel what counts nowadays, especially in the current sad state of our society is to clear up the ever growing obvious mess we are leaving our children.  Making money is a good thing but amassing empires that give back very little to society is not a very worthy life in my values.  I value those who make a lot of money, have a fairly low profile and actually help around instead of stocking up.  You can be the judge of that.

"You're The game"

Man, you got game!

I heard that sentence the other day and it made me smile. I looked at that new generation, perfectly perched in my early 40s, one foot into yesterday, another looking into tomorrow. From this vintage point of view, I can still remember the exuberance of the 20's and look forward to the ever growing wisdom of the Elders. It's a great period in life.

There is a new generation more interested in looks and appearances that substance. At east, at first look. Is it normal to be like that at that age? Is it the age range or is it this particular generation? Funny, I remember wanting to look cool (at least within my criteria of what I thought was cool) but I always looked for substance. Above all, I always looked to express what I stood for. Most of my friends were like that also. I look at these 20+ people and see their struggle to look cool, different and socially accepted. There is also a funny paradox, they all want to be different. By trying to be different, it becomes hard to tell which ones are, and which ones are just following fashion. The problem is when everyone does their best to look different then you are not different anymore.

Tutoring and coaching younger folks makes me realize how much they need to have listening ears near by and people to help them navigate the murky waters of self-discovery. they need help to figure out where they stand on this big blue planet.

I get a lot of pleasure working with young people and teens. It's fun seeing their trials and tribulations. It's easy to forget how tough it was on us. It's good to give them a pair of listening ears. After all, they are our tomorrows.

This New Wave Of People

There is very definitely a new wave of people out there. There is a wave of people who are turning away from traditional jobs and looking to more fulfilling professions.

Maybe it's the fact I am lucky to be a coach and attracting those who want to change. Maybe my enthusiasm brings it out but one thing is for sure, I meet more and more people who are turning away from making a living to making a difference.

How far we have come, from a society rebuilding itself at the aftermath of two world wars, to over-the-border consumerism to a growing current indigestion. There is a paradigm shift and I witness it every week. For all of you out there making a difference, kudos! For all of you thinking about making a difference, welcome! And for the rest, let's talk more and communicate. I am happy to have witnessed that change. I am happy to live in these times.

In the meantime, I will leave you with Nelson Mandela's inspired words:

"OUR DEEPEST FEAR IS NOT THAT WE ARE INADEQUATE. OUR DEEPEST FEAR IS THAT WE ARE POWERFUL BEYOND MEASURE. IT IS OUR LIGHT, NOT OUR DARKNESS, THAT MOST FRIGHTENS US. WE ASK OURSELVES, WHO AM I TO BE BRILLIANT, GORGEOUS, TALENTED AND FABULOUS? ACTUALLY, WHO ARE YOU NOT TO BE? YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD. YOUR PLAYING SMALL DOESN’T SERVE THE WORLD THERE’S NOTHING ENLIGHTENED ABOUT SHRINKING SO THAT OTHER PEOPLE WON’T FEEL INSECURE AROUND YOU. WE WERE BORN TO MAKE MANIFEST THE GLORY OF GOD THAT IS WITHIN US. IT’S NOT JUST IN SOME OF US; IT'S IN EVERYONE. AND AS WE LET OUR OWN LIGHT SHINE, WE UNCONSCIOUSLY GIVE OTHER PEOPLE PERMISSION TO SO THE SAME. AS WE ARE LIBERATED FROM OUR OWN FEAR, OUR PRESENCE AUTOMATICALLY LIBERATES OTHERS."

--- 1994 INAUGURAL SPEECH

Nelson Mandela