Want More Referrals and Sales-Get Involved in Relationship Building

Running a business off referrals is the gold standard of having an established name. You do such great work and have such a great product that people share you as a resource! This is when advertising for new customers takes less time and maintaining relationships takes a little more. Referrals is where you want to be in the long run.

When you can run your business on referrals everything becomes easier. People see you as a credible business and are actively passing your name. These referrals indicate that your business is working well within its social networks.

What is a social network? It is a system in which people act and interact on each other. They share information and resources. They defend each other and look out for each other's needs. In essence, they are system of people.

Getting in with the right people makes a difference in your business. If groups of people see you as credible and like what you have to offer they will naturally want to share that resource with others. For example, if you need estate planning then why not go to someone everyone knows?

Get involved in relationships building. That means get involved in your local business community. Join associations, do charity work, connect with people and be seen. The more you can put yourself in front of the right people with your card the better off you will be! Make sure you brush up on your elevator speech because you may only get once chance to sell. :)

3 Tips on How to Put Your Best Foot Forward in Interviews

Your resume gets you the call but  the interview gets you the job! Its true...we as a people want to see, talk to and determine if we relate to someone before we hire them. It is a little like a marriage in the sense that we must be stuck in that relationship for some time. When you walk into that room here are a few tips that might help you earn that job!

1. Look and Dress Neat: People judge...that is what many people do. They judge you from your very first appearance. Make sure you look great with tie and suit. Don't get fancy and dress neat.

2. Research Their Business: Make sure you research their business. If you know about their sales, revenue, markets, your job, etc... you are prepared to put your answers in context. They will know this!

3. Be Confident but Not Cocky: Be confident in your knowledge and skill but don't be cocky. The minute you get cocky is when you start looking more like a liability as a hire.

Don't Waste Your Marketing Time on Social Media Sites that Don't Generate Leads

Marketing is about spending your time wisely and reaching those people who are most likely to need your product. We can waste a great amount of time marketing on the wrong channels and getting very little return. This is one of the reasons why it is beneficial to include ROI calculations for each channel.  When you are marketing wisely you will often find....

1. Lower amount of time spent attracting clients.

2. Higher return on investment of monies spent.

3. More motivated customers that are willing to make a purchase.

Not all sites are build the same. Social media is a growing method of reaching people. The Internet offers opportunities for people to connect and share information and knowledge. It is that sharing capacity that is currently driving marketing.

Consider a number of different social media sites....

Facebook-You can do a lot of stuff with Facebook that is easy to use and ready made.

Twitter-A lot of people watch twitter everyday. I get most of my hits from there.

Instagram-Put up a picture or flyer and people share it.

YouTube-Create a video that people want to watch and this can lead to influence.

Rainbow Over the Military Base-Thank you for your service!

Very nice rainbow overlooking the Navy Base. I guess the "pot of gold" is our military!!!! Thank you for your service!

Bullies Spread Rumors to Gain Flying Monkey Supporters (Proxies)-A2

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Bullies are a menace to the people they create conflicts with but it is us as a society that have tolerated them. Without a supportive network of people bullies are just plain "angry, disgruntled people" who don't know how to engage in appropriate conflict management. They are sort of just...well.....inconsequential! Add a network of people and the bully turns into a little "Hitler" running around and punishing those who shake their false sense of security.

I'm spending some time raising awareness of bullies and their devastating impact on communities, people, and victims. I will also post a link to an organization that you can volunteer and support if you desire. Stopping bullying requires people to raise the standard of behavior and discouraging poor behavior. Unfortunately, the sad reality is that far to often such behavior is consider fun, exciting, and gossipy which allows such behavior to continue.

This makes such organization such as the National Bullying Prevention Center so important. https://www.pacer.org/bullying/getinvolved/partners/national.asp They not only try and prevent bullying they also advocate for victims of bullying. We have such organizations because we as a people have not yet taken responsibility for ourselves!

Cindy as an Example of Toxic Behavior That Leads to Group Aggression

Let me give you a hypothetical but also for some people a very real example before we move into the motivations and reasons. Proxy, or flying monkeys, are a term used to describe people who act on behalf of an abuser. It actually comes from the flying monkeys in the Wizard of Oz that worked on the behalf of the witch. Cindy seems like a normal person but hides some deeper secrets that have happened to her and actions she has done to others. She tries to gain supporters in her abuse so she can control and manipulate a person into silence.

Cindy starts by making negative comments about the target and seeing who is supportive or indifferent to her beliefs. Its starts small but over many months others start to listen. She begins to weave a web in the truest sense of social psychological manipulation by trying to create a wedge between the target victim and potential supporters. She gets others emotional involved by highlighting differences and making up stories to encourage others to lie, snub, attack or hurt the victim.

In this case Cindy is has so little boundaries for the victim that she gets her husband, kids, siblings or anyone else she can involved. Vaknin 2010 believes such flying monkeys can be....

1. Friends & Family
2. Associates
3. Authority Figures

She turns normally reasonable people into co-conspirators in the abuse. Almost none of them have the capacity to step above the rhetoric to see that perhaps it is they who are now guilty of the same behaviors. As they begin to act on the victim they also blame the victim for defending him/herself. This is where things can begin to escalate without taking direct action. The reaction of the victim now becomes a reason for more abuse because the context has been distorted. Even shielding one's kids from potential abuse, or setting up appropriate boundaries can misconstrued as another reason to show more aggression.

Cindy doesn't have normal constraints on her behavior and without being discouraged by her social group can turn into hate crimes, violence, and criminal activity (Think of Nazi Germany, Gangs, Radicalism, and other activities that lead to victimization of others). The victim may not be at fault for anything Cindy says, but no one from her social circle cares. Flying monkeys are more concerned about maintaining their social networks than being responsible adults. Mature people use their critical thinking skills to determine that such aggression is not appropriate. Proxies don't often have the moral backbone to avoid getting sucked into the drama that makes abuse possible (i.e. there were only a few people in Nazi Germany that protected Jews).

According to psychologist George K. Simon manipulation of others occurs when...

1. There is a form of social aggression to damage and ostracize a person. 

2. A chance to exploit others vulnerabilities. 

3. Enough ruthlessness to cause others harm.

Bully Motivations to Find Proxy Help in Abuse

1. Rumors to Manipulate and Proxy Others: Add a word, take a word, share only part of the information, expand things, tell people "juicy" information nuggets that get them upset. Rumors and lies are designed to do damage and are a form of aggression. Bullies spread rumors to get people to "gang" up on someone and punish them for perceived wrong doings. The actual wrong doings may have nothing to do with what the bully says. The inflammatory and often delusional stories are designed to excite and anger others to get them to act. 

2. Covers Feelings of Powerlessness: Bullies feel powerless. Somewhere in their life they were left damaged and traumatized. Lying, bullying, and manipulating others seeks to create a sense of power. That power comes from influencing others through manufactured crisis. You can tell the passive-aggressive powerlessness by watching how they have made a habit talking negatively about others. There is constant comparisons. Its a pattern of feeling powerless and then trying to control others through anti-social behavior (clinical definition).

3. It Lowers Feelings of Guilt: When you have friends and people agree with you, even if they were provided with lies, you don't feel as guilty. The inner turmoil the bully feels is mitigated by their support network who doesn't question the logic being offered. Most of us know from experience that people just sort of agree with us if we don't give all of the information or are not making it explicitly clear that we want "honest" feedback. Thus our friends and family members help us feel as though we are "right" thereby reducing the cognitive dissonance associated with guilt.

4. Groups Take Less Responsibility: We have all watched shocking videos on YouTube, News, or the Web where groups have brutalized someone; even killing victims in plain sight. Sometimes that person has done nothing wrong except try and avoid being in a conflict. If you are a police officer, or sheriff, much of their job is dealing with issues related to the inability of people to take responsibility. Even criminals that have been convicted through evidence and a court of law scream it wasn't their fault all the way to prison! The more people a bully can get involved, the more damage they cause and the less responsibility the bully takes. Sometimes groups become so destructive they openly attack people in public in front of a crowd of bystanders.

5. It Hides Painful Secrets: Bullies are all about hiding their pain. Bullying is a form of aggression based on trauma. This is one of the reasons why aggression is so pathological. As the bully projects onto a target, he/she takes the spotlight off of themselves and puts it on the victim. The bully no longer needs to deal with their issues because the target is forced to take responsibility for them. This is one reason why much of what bullies say are more a reflection of the bully's issues. Targets are not chosen randomly. Usually they are people the bully envies and often are intelligent, sensitive, and caring.

6.) Bullies Need Validation: Bullies need validation that they are important. Somewhere in their life they were made to feel unwanted. This is the tragedy that bullying creates more bullies. Their boundaries were often violated by parents, uncles, and others. When they get people to support their behavior they feel a sense of validation that they are important. Attacking others puts them somewhere above the victim. Proxies help validate the "worthiness" of the bully and the "worthlessness" of the victim.

Vaknin S (2010) Abuse By Proxy: From Smear Campaigns to 3rd-party Stalking and Abuse

Simon, George K (1996). In Sheep's Clothing: Understanding and Dealing with Manipulative People. ISBN 978-1-935166-30-6.

Why You Should Encourage Bullies to Get Help? Life Long Disruption A1

Focus on Solving Customer Problems For More Sales

Your customer should be your #1 priority! Selling isn't so much about making a sale as it is about helping your clients achieve their goals. Your job is to fulfill those needs and entice them with solutions a way that motivates them to seek more information. If you focus on the customer's goals, needs, and problems you are going to improve your sales through providing greater value.

Customers Are Goal Directed

Customers don't often just walk into a store randomly. Most customers having something in mind when they are shopping. These ideas many not be fully formed such as "looking for a great deal" but could include "I want socks on sale but will consider other items as well".

Understanding what the customer is looking for helps in directing them to things they may want. Sometimes it is beneficial to just ask what they are looking for while at others times you should intuitively understand and help them form an opinion of what they want.


Customers Have Needs and Wants

Customers also have needs and wants beyond their goals. Most of the time they may not even be aware of those needs. For example, a customer may want to fit in and be appreciated and therefore buys certain status symbols that help feel positive about their self-image.

Sometimes it isn't always apparent what those needs are. You sort of have to listen, watch, look at evaluate their clothing, see how they act, and get a "feel" for who they are. We often can pick up on these needs when we are more in tune with the subconscious signals they are giving.

Stay Focused on The Customer

Your here to serve your customers and not yourself! As soon as your customer gets a whiff your trying to sell to them then they are gone! Make sure you always relate to their needs and solve their problems. Focus on what they want and keep the conversation moving in the right direction.

Marketing help that will put your business on the next level! http://abelbusinessconsulting.com

Water Helps You Lose Weight

I didn't know just drinking more water will help me lose weight but apparently that is true! I'm not talking only about burning calories by swimming but also drinking! Something as simple as drinking water helps you get into better shape and get rid of that layer of fat. Last night I was talking with a soon to be doctor that is also heavily into fitness. I talked about that layer of fat that I can't get rid of around of my stomach and she said drink more water because.....

Water is an Appetite Suppressant- A natural suppressant of appetite when you have sufficient water in your stomach. Have some water a little before you eat.

Water Burns Calories-Water will actually burn calories as it metabolizes fat.

Water to Remove Waste-As your body gets sore it needs to remove toxins. Water will flush your body.

Water Weight Removed-Too little water forces your body to retain what it got.

How to Use Guerrilla Marketing to Increase Sales Revenue

Mastering Guerrilla marketing can make all the difference in whether or not you gain a new client or you don't!. The term indicates some type of combat attack on clients occurs which doesn't really do the process any justice. It more accurately entails using multiple methods of reaching a client through uniqueness. You don't just introduce them once, you introduce them multiple ways with something that doesn't cost much and is personalized to them.

You can create a guerrilla marketing process that you can operate with potential customers. The type of business you run will determine precisely how you want to do this. Creating a plan on how you are going to guerrilla market to your customers can create the highest impact.

Here is a great generic process.....

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1. Introduction and elevator speech.

2. Follow Up

3. Send them a personalized email

4. Offer them something unique to their business.

That is a process but you also need to do something unique that attracts them. So think about how each of these sections can be slightly adjusted to make it more memorable. For example, if you are sending them something unique, offering a special discount, or be willing to go above and beyond.

Make each point of interaction catered, fun and special. If you want business owners to take the time to look at what you are offering then you should keep them engaged through positive and fun interaction.

How to Keep in Contact With Customers?

If you are a small business you can't always afford those expensive customer relationship management systems (CRM) the big companies use. More than ever you need to stay in close contact with your customers as you know small business thrives on its relationships. Without some type of database system you are unlikely to remember all the details that allow you to maximize your sales. I like to use Excel to create a customer spreadsheet and then ensure I am maintaining my relationships.

1. Excel: Put in demographic columns for name, phone, email, etc... Make sure you put in a column or two that discusses contacts and conversations.

2. Keep it Maintained: If you are selling services or pricy products you will want to keep this sheet up-to-date with sales, conversations, likes/dislikes, etc...

3. Follow-Up After the Sale: Follow-up with sale and ensure the customer is still happy. An unhappy customers won't come back!

4. Reach Out from Time-to-Time: If you want to establish a relationship you will need to check in on customers from time to time.

Dog Grooming-Look at the Price! How to Save?

It is tough to imagine the cost of dog grooming. In Michigan it is $20 and in California it is $60. Considering a men's haircut cost $20 it is 2 x the price. Pooches are big business!

Personally, I like my dog clean. I usually wash him myself and try and take care of what I can on my own. Yet sometimes this can get difficult if the dogs hair gets matted. A few ideas on saving are....

-Cut yourself every other time. $35 for a descent cheap electric razor.
-Brush your dogs hair regularly.
-Instead of a full cut get one short and one clean up which is cheaper.
-Look for people on other sites that work from home. They are also cheaper.
-Wash and clean regularly to extend grooming time.

Eat Small and Integrate Workouts For Maximum Health

There is a trick to getting in shape but don't share it! Shhhhhhh! To get in shape one must eat in smaller portions and integrate workouts throughout your day. That means smaller and more frequent meals with less calories. You might want to add more protein. Of course all of this is useless unless you have a fitness oriented lifestyle! Add as much fitness activities and options as you can!

Eat Small: While calorie reduction is often the key for most people so is the portion size. Each smaller more frequent means. Know what your eating and don't just eat because your hungry. Get some healthy snacks and leave them around so you can easily grab them.

Integrate Your Workout: Go to the gym in the morning but don't forget about the rest of the day. If you have a lunch break eat a quick bite and go for a speed walk some days. Take the stair case or do some yoga in next to your desk.

Is a False Perception Holding You Back as a Successful Executive? Looking Glass Self Theory

One of the biggest obstacles that hold executives back from success is themselves! You would think all executives are confident but that isn't necessarily true; they are human like the rest of us. When executives lack confidence they may have a difficult time pulling ahead and could even be inadvertently self-sabotaging their own successes. To truly unlock your potential you will want to review your true and false self through the Looking Glass Self Theory.

Executives often hold themselves back!

Started in 1902 by Charles Horton Cooley the theory states that how our identities are formed are through the eyes of other people (Lumen).  This means that we only understand ourselves when we interact with other people. It is this interaction that helps us form our first identities.

The very beginning of our lives is formed through our first contacts which include sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers and close relatives. If you have a positive first experience you will be healthier than if you were traumatized. Likewise, if your family worked in skilled labor much of your identity might be tied to this.

How we are viewed impacts how people interact with us and the feedback they give us. While many times this is accurate it is also possible that the information is not accurate or you have the wrong impression of yourself.

Lets look at an example. Tom is a creative and intelligence executive but views himself as not worthy of his successes. He may end up self-sabotaging by missing deadlines, making dumb mistakes, and cutting corners. As an executive he is slowly putting nails in his coffin.

The problem is that Tom has the skills but doesn't believe he has the skills. To free himself he must evaluate his beginnings and understand how he formed his primary identity. That identity was carried forward throughout his life and impacted almost everything else. The information presented to Tom may have been inaccurate and if he comes to understand that Tom could be very successful.

How to Look Through Your Own Glass?

1.) Understand that your early experiences often formulate your identity.

2.) Understand that certain life events impact how you view yourself.

3.) If you begin to take a more objective view of yourself you may have a different impression.

4.) The difference between those who are successful and those who are not is confidence.

5.) Find your core identity and skills. Relate to people on that level.

6.) Never let anyone tell you who you are without evaluating whether they are accurate or have certain motivations they are struggling with.

National Debt Reaches 22 Trillion Dollars Forcing Future Concessions

The national debt is rising at an alarming rate and is likely to be part of growing concerns about what will happen to our economy in the future. Out of control spending with little fiscal control is part of the problem! We must find a way to reverse course and build a strong economy while reducing debt. Moving through this mess means improving economic synergy found through innovation. Income must rise more than debt and this requires increased transaction speed between businesses that leads to more products/services that the market is willing to pay for.

Without quick change we may run the problem where programs will have draconian cuts that leave people unable to adapt quick enough. Likewise, high debt increases risks to the U.S. economic and military position if there is not enough resource cushion.

Using Desktop for Instagram App to Market Your Business

Instagram is a great resources for marketing purposes. A single picture might create enough buzz to put a business on the "map". The social sharing site works well with cell phones because the community is focused on spreading thoughts and ideas (the very essence of a community). People who want to edit their marketing pictures before sending them may be at a loss. The Desktop for Instagram App makes it very easy to post these pictures from your computer.

There is a way to upload pictures to Instagram from your desktop without using this free software. I tried it and wasted about an hour and never got it to work. Perhaps there was a difference in the technologies being used.

Companies use Instagram for marketing purposes by uploading pictures and other content people may find useful. With a billion monthly users (Statista) it makes sense for companies to start using this platform.

One of the advantages is that most of the young people are already using this system and Instagram offers an excellent way to keep in touch. Even if you are a local business many young people may follow you anyway. When you have a sale or event to post go ahead and create a flyer and upload.

One of the reasons why the Desktop for Instagram App is handy is that you can edit your pictures before uploading. Cell phones don't often have this capacity and don't have the most powerful editing program. Your desktop makes it possible to post a picture from your hard drive.

Theory of Interactive Clusters

This Research is in process of being created. Chapter 1 is being offered here. You can then click the link to see the rest. As the Theory isn't completed it will take more time to edit and improve the theory for public consumption.

Read Theory Here

Clusters and Cities

Clusters can be the foundation of the American economy and in one way or another are part of the historical foundation of the people. The way we think about economics in a modern era is changing and to spur further growth will mean moving to new economic platforms that are data driven and more responsive to market needs. Competing with other nations will require faster innovation and growth while drawing intellectual, financial, and physical resources to regions that contain the best ability to develop them fully for maximum financial profits and economic advancements. The Theory of Transactional Clusters helps to better explain future growth in the new economy.

An economic cluster can be defined as, “socio- territorial entity which is characterized by the presence of both a community of people and a population of firms’ and he adds that ‘in the district, unlike in other environments . . . community and firms tend to merge” (Becattini, 1990, p. 38). It is an economic entity where the components work together and interact on a formal and social level that creates economic growth in ways that fulfills participant needs. When effective needs fulfillment and market projection lead to a perpetual self-sustaining economic system. It develops into a self-adjusting organism adapting toward greater mastery of its environment as it seeks market maximization.

Clusters often form organically based on the characteristics of region and the resources available and it can also be sparked through government and industry action (Dmitry, et. al, 2018). It is possible to spark faster cluster growth when the environment is ripe for development and investment. Pushing ready clusters to develop fully leads to faster economic growth for nations and it is essential to know where and how to do this efficiently and effectively with minimal risk.

Principle: It is possible to spark industry growth if we understand the underlying mechanics of innovation and development.

Economic development rests on many different factors that include investment, infrastructure, business environment and even people's motivation. The study of economics is the study of human behavior to come to conclusions about how and why people invest, invent, create, take risks, pay for products and ultimately improve the economy. Clusters are a convenient research subject to see how the various factors come to play in viable industry development such as what may be seen in Silicon Valley or New York.

Therefore, there are many different factors that come to influence economic growth and prosperity. No economist, or industry expert, has all the answers because of the shear mammoth amount of variables in the market. Yet it is possible to start analyzing and breaking down ideas in a way that leads to a better understanding of how the whole works. With time and research we are able to chip away at the knowledge needed to create effective economic models.

Principle: Transactional clusters are comprised of many micro choices of profit and innovation.

According to to Professor Kenneth Scheve from Stanford University and Matthew Slaughter from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth college cities have experienced significant growth of (15%) versus rural areas (4%) for rural areas between 2000 and 2016 (Scheve & Slaughter, 2018). Thes same cities also experienced 93% of the population growth. Part of the reason why this occurs is because the workers were more productive around other highly skilled workers.

People live and are embedded into an environment and if that environment is designed for growth there will be an organic enhancement of people, ideas, and business. That isn't likely to happen if the landscape only fosters a rudimentary and politically skewed sense of improvement. Failure to develop a more prosperous future often depends on the political process itself and how attract the growth factors at their most rudimentary level and that takes a new way of thinking and leadership.

Principle: Cities are places where people act and interact with each other to create economic growth.

City centers act concentrate the economic activity into a dense locations where economic "actors" better interplay on each other. Innovative companies cluster together and draw talent in a manner that changes the character of the metro environment. Young professionals are likely to flock to growing cities and will flourish if we are prepared to "set the table". With influx of new intellectual talent comes faster innovative and idea generation that leads to greater wealth that transforms and revitalizes decaying cities. The long-term impact in creating modern economic centers can change the prosperity of a nation for generations.

Many metro cities are built off of Industrial Age platforms and could potentially be developed further to help raise innovation and output through new capital growth. That growth would come through greater industrial, informational, environmental and personal development that when matched with appropriate investment leads to change. Investment leads to development which leads to new investment in a cyclical fashion.

While it can be difficult to analyze large groups from a social perspective, down into the intricate details of their lives, we cannot ignore the sociological aspects of how ideas are shared built upon to construct new and innovative ideas in repeated patterns. We should also not ignore the financial and personal motivations of the entrepreneur and investors that spark growth in a region that seem to be part of all growth. Thus the study of economic development is the study of what aspects of growth seem to repeat themselves.

Principle: Hubs develop through linkages of ideas and resources through entrepreneurial innovation.

All hubs foster linkages of people, ideas, firms, resources, and investments that create geographically anchored innovation that supports stronger global economic prosperity. The manner in which business and people interact, openly innovate and provide feedback to each other creates the national innovation approach (Lundvall, 1998). This development is uniquely based on cultural background, social structure, and the vantage points of stakeholders that constitute the atmosphere of motivation, learning, sharing and exploring that foster growth.

Hubs attract entrepreneurs and investors who seek lucrative opportunities that grow personal wealth through market investment. Entrepreneurs focus on value creation, development of new products/services, sparking ventures, and encourage market innovations (Brush, et. al., 2003). It is theses renewals of intellectual and financial resources that develops stronger economic systems that breath life into stale economic structures. Drucker (1985) describes entrepreneurial opportunities as:

1. The creation of new and unique information

2. Exploitation of market inefficiencies as a result of information asymmetry

3. Acting upon the costs and benefits of alternative resource allocations

Principle: Cities will attract younger generations looking for entrepreneurial and expressive opportunities.

Development is based on the many transactions that are in dense form within cities. In modern times, cities are experiencing a renaissance of growth and development while helping to spark larger regional changes. A study by IHS Global Insight indicates that 95% of U.S. cities will see economic growth (Jean, 2014). Their regional director believes that "The economic prosperity of the U.S. economy is directly linked with the economic prosperity of metro economies".

Cities would be wise to prepare for growth to encourage global competitiveness. Emerging nations in Asia will begin to outstrip American producers based on their constant investment in their infrastructure and production capacities. The U.S., and its European Allies, are at a place where they can arrest this trend and pull themselves up from their bootstraps so they can develop cities that are capable of drawing international investment and producing world class products.

Because cities are growing in popularity and size it also affords Americans an opportunity to enhance economic activities in hubs in a way that leaps ahead of economic curves through proper data analytics. Now is the time for the U.S. to consider its overall strategy to economic development and the market in order to ensure that they are not left behind in the advent of the "Age of Asia".


Metro cities are attracting a younger generation of workers drawn to communities that offer new opportunities and this could be a catalyst for change. This generation are entrepreneurial by nature and seek to make an impact on society. Less oriented toward money than previous generations, but seeking career opportunities, they dream of being business owners and trend setters that blaze their own rules. It is a generation that seeksto create, innovate, start, and re-build.


Clusters also offer a chance to expand opportunities across this entrepreneurial generation and impact different sectors of society. Young people are seeking to develop their own opportunities and this could raise America's innovative development. For example, Three sociologists from the University of Southern California conducted a study that associates San Diego’s future with creating opportunities that reduce inequality through employing more people based on:

1. High-tech and high-need,

2. Innovation and inclusion, and

3. Places (Pastor, Sanches-Lopez, and Ito, 2015).

As investment and research match each other, new revenue streams are found and exploited for greater regional benefit. Investments are a key fuel in economic growth. It offers organizations that opportunity to expand their their entrepreneurial activities by allocating resources to great ideas. It is these innovative ideas that lead to new product that often result in product/service creation and greater growth. Without needed funds new ideas are left on the side and industry begins to decline.

What We Learn:

1. Cities attract younger generations.

2. Cities will become commercial centers of innovation and development.

3. Entrepreneurs will find their greatest opportunities within cities.

4. Each city will develop their own socio-cultural method of approaching the market.

5. The success of the city will be associated with its quality of life.

6. Hubs can create interaction of the economic elements that lead to growth.

7. Cities need investment and innovation.

8. All cities are based on transactional micro choices of profit and innovation.
Read Theory Here

Is Your Cover Letter Important?

Employers use resumes to determine whether or not they would like to contact a potential employee for recruitment. The resume does state your most basic information and your overall history but doesn't tell people much about you or how you approach issues. The cover letter letter gives you an opportunity to show how your knowledge and experience relate directly to the position you are applying for.

The cover letter is used as a quick "sound bite" of who are and why they should hire you. It should address two fundamental issues.

1.) How Your Knowledge and Skills Relate to the Position

2.) Why your the Best Candidate

Create a lead in paragraph that states why you are the best candidate for this position considering 1 and 2. The next paragraph (s) will give a little more detail on why that is the case. You will want to close with an action statement and request to contact.

Why Marketing Students Should Learn Database Management?

Graduating students have new responsibilities to deal with, manage, and manipulate data. With the advent of online marketing and increasing use of customer information it is important to store and understand data. Without the proper database management skills it will be difficult for marketers to reorganization data in a way that leads to more meaningful marketing results.

How Does That Skill Help While Working?

Lets say you are selling product "bubbles". As you source potential candidates you will come across those that are either interested in your product or have already made a purchase. That sourcing can come from any number of different sources ranging from content marketing to cold calls. Once you have talked to someone you should input the information into your database.

What does the Database do for Sales?

Tracking leads, understanding customer preferences, and following up on previous contacts makes a huge differences. Databases collect information that are likely to be useful for sales or customer service. As the database gets populated with information and opportunities it is possible to scan that database for resources as well as generate useful reports.

What Type of Information Should a Business Collect?

That depends on the type of business someone operates. One business may only need email, phone number, name, address, and purchase history. B2B sales may need lots of detailed notes that allow you to understand complex solutions and information.

How to Teach Students Database Management?

It is helpful for students to understand the broader reasons for database management that includes feedback loops, research, and customer impressions. Yet that isn't all of it. They also need very specific information on how to use those databases. It is wise to expose them to simple databases that can be created using basic software as well as industry specific databases.

"Get the Word Out" About Your Business.....and Relax!

3 Tips To Pick Food While Dining Out

Eating out can reek havoc on your diet. The really good tasting stuff seems to be fried, greased and smothered in stuff you don't want. Food is one of the biggest battles for people who must travel. When you don't know what to pick then consider using three simple rules.

1.) Low Calories: If you are trying to loose weight eat lower calorie food.

2.) Low Carbs: Avoid bread and pasta.

3.) Vegetables, Protein, Fruit: Focus on healthy foods that contribute to the body in a lean way.

Small Joys- True Beach Bands

It's true that sometimes the simplest things in life make a big difference in how our day turns out. A speedwalk and a coffee run can be lots of fun!

Why Some Businesses Should Hire Marketing Consultants?

Companies are turning to marketing consultants to help them achieve marketing goals while staying within budget. It is said that marketing is 90% of business and without it you really don't have a business. Find an affordable marketing consultant that can help you achieve your sales goals while allowing you to focus on what you do best!

1. They Don't Have Internal Knowledge: Some businesses don't have sufficient marketing internal knowledge and should consider hiring a marketing consultant.

2. Focus on Core Business: Businesses should focus on what they do best so they can raise their income.

3. Sales Revenue is Declining: Misalignment of the marketing strategy or declining sales needs an improved strategy.

http://www.abelconsulting.com

Would You Die for Your Kids? Primal Urges Sometimes Take Over

At the very deepest part of our souls, before all the socializing, is the primal need to protect our loved ones. Our very soul and nature depends on the survival of the next generation. It is only our rational minds that have put in place other ideas of value that include wealth, land, and status symbols. Kristina Stratton tried saving her children and died in the process. Would you do the same?

Her children were at home upstairs sleeping in a California fire and she ran into the fire to save her children. Sadly here children survived but she did not. https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/09/us/california-mother-dies-in-fire-trnd/index.html

Of course we all say we would! Its expected of us to put others before our own needs. This includes our offspring and progeny. Yet it is a choice about who we are and many parents are unlikely to put their children's needs before their own unless they are healthy and aware. 

Healthy means living in the modern world and existing in a way that leads to greater growth of self and society. At the end of the day, it is the next generation that makes all of the difference. Our time has come but may of us don't know that. We are still focused on ourselves. 

I wonder why some parents do and some don't sacrifice for their children. The world is full of people who take resources from their kids. They may suck their feelings of safety or take their inheritance. It just happens as part of our species. No one really knows another's soul until they have everything to loose and that is where you see miracles happen. 

How to Be Scientific and Creative

Scientific minds and creative minds are often seen as separate things. They are not! The scientific mind might explore minute details and the creative mind may experiment with new forms but they share something in common. They share that they are actively seeking to understanding something. The process of using specific data and creating a framework for that data to put it within context is important.

Scientific people weigh and balance. They use measurements to determine the strength between variables. They also seek out additional information to help "fill in the gaps". By learning the scientific method they can investigate ideas with sufficient confidence. They create valid and supported results.

The creative mind is more about creating forms and exploring the relationships between different variables. They are willing to think outside of standard wisdom and find new ways of seeing information. The creative person like art, music, and other exploratory activities.

The creative and scientific mind works best when it is in the same individual. One investigates in depth ideas while the other one creates new connections. You can't solve new and scientific problems without at first trying to find novel connections between the information. To be of a full mind requires the ability to think rationally and in unique ways.

Concerns over Income Distribution and Wealth for the "Little Guy"

Life isn't always fair. People with lots of money get an easier time than people with little money. If you haven't tried to climb up from the bottom you have no idea how difficult that is. Even people who work very hard, all the time, receive very few of the rewards. Those that do seem to be in "hot" markets and knew where and how they needed to spend their college dollars.

Let me say that the system does seem a little rigged but also that higher wages don't solve all the problems. If we pay Americans more, companies just move overseas and circumvent our laws. At the same time, we do know that those who are wealthy and in charge of such companies receive advantages by keeping wages low.

There is no easy solution to this and people who say they do often have no idea what they are talking about. They are either on the Left or the Right of the argument. No doubt we need to do something about how people are paid and how they are not. The system must be cleaned from undo influence that hampers small businesses and American families.

The first thing I might think about is how to ensure that American small family businesses have an opportunity to succeed. They should have some protections from being "swamped" by larger more powerful companies. A small inventor should not be sued by a larger company just to bankrupt them and take the patent.

That would require our judges to be moral. They often look at the fine points of the law and dissect in that mindset. It is hard to legislate morality. The judges will need to agree that certain value of fair play are important in society.  The rules should not be skewed in favor of the powerful or otherwise these rules just become part of the problem.

Businesses That Sell Something Unique Win

Businesses are competing for clients and trying to make things work. They are buying and selling products but not sure how to get the next step up from their competition. Small businesses should be focused on selling something unique in order to compete. Trying to compete on price and quality is difficult when you are not buying in bulk.

The other day I went down to Kansas City BBQ and had a great sandwich. This was where Tom Cruise was filmed in Top Gun. An excellent place to visit that has become famous for its food and the show. It isn't upscale and isn't the nicest place in town but does offer something the others cannot.

If you have a small business you will want to sell something unique. Something that no one else in the area has. You can do this by conducting a comparative analysis of businesses that may be your competitors and then offer something they don't have.

https://goo.gl/maps/ueEDiB3pFDx

Knowing What Type of Workout to Do and When? Growth and Recovery

The first rule of working out is to enjoy yourselves! Much of what you do and what you don't do will depend on whether or not you are having fun. Beyond that there are plenty of different exercises and activities you can do that will encourage recovery and improved health. I have created two lists that may be helpful.

Growth and Recovery: You are in your growth period trying to gain muscle and actively improve health.
-Weightlifting
-Jogging, speed walking, elliptical, etc...
-Sports and competition.

Recovery: You are sore and need time to recover. Some light activities will help you do this.
-Yoga
-Speed-walking
-Tai Chi and moving medication

Poll Shows American Adults Don't Value Higher Education as Much as Executives

Eighty-two (82%) percent of executives believe that it is very important for people to get a college degree according to a survey by the Association of American Colleges and Universities. You can contrast that to a Gallup Poll that says only 45% of adults have high confidence in the value of higher education. There seems to be a disconnect between companies and people. Americas may not see the inherent value in higher education like they once did. 

Creative Commons

I often wondered what life would have been like if I focused on getting certificates and working without being an intellectual of some type. I cannot say I would enjoy work as much but I don't know. Not having student loans seems to be helpful. Maybe I could just go to my library for free!

Of course one could also argue that you can go to the library and get all the knowledge you want without stepping into a university. This is actually true but you are unlikely to have any guidance on that information. There will be certain topics you will not understand even if you read them. The degree is what sells. 

Executives seem to be focused on broad skills that cut across different degrees. The most important seem to be oral communication, critical thinking, ethical judgment, teamwork, written communication and application of skills & knowledge. Such executives are looking at broad skills and taking into consideration specific skills in their analysis. 

They also found that specific skills are important for functioning within the workplace. Thus curriculum should have the broad and the specific built within it. The specific provides them with the ability to function in their work while the broad skills focus more on developing a framework for understanding their work and continuing to learn. 

AAC&U,  "Fulfilling the American Dream: Liberal Education and the Future of Work", 2018
 https://www.aacu.org/research/2018-future-of-work

Gallup, “Words Used to Describe ‘Higher Ed’ Make a Difference,” Gallup News, February 23, 2018, https://news.gallup.com/poll/228182/words-used-describe-higher-difference.aspx.

Hart Research Associates, Falling Short? College Learning and Career Success (Washington, DC: Association of American Colleges and Universities, 2015).

Tranquility on the Beach-The Way We Live Our Lives-Beach Tranquility Poem

Beaches bring with them a sense of tranquility and quietness. I can't even imaging living in San Diego, or other beach area, and not being on or near the beach. Walking, jogging, surfing, socializing and shopping become a beach community affair. If you spend enough time there you will eventually get to know most of the people that also live in these small communities.

Beach of Tranquility Poem

Soft waves roll their way up the sand. 
Ever reaching for something more in a soft stretch. 
Fingers roll up and roll down. 
Stretching and slowing with each tide. 
Inner tranquility comes from connecting with the beginning and knowing the end. 

People Who Dream! We Need a Few More!

Dreams are the stuff that creates new futures. There have always been dreamers among us that think the world can be a better place. They are the ones who change things, create things, and improve things. Without them we would never change and our society would stay the same forever. We would stop progressing as a species because the dreamers are all gone.

What does it mean to dream? It can be a dream about oneself or the world around them. It could be accomplishing some great feat or something as small as thinking about improvements in your life. It may be to rally a nation or rally a family.

Without the dream there can be no change. One must first think it before one does it. We must dream because we must advance or die. It is hardwired into our system that some of us will always strive to be a little more than what the world tells them is possible.

Not all dreams become reality but all dreams do help improve the world. Some dreams simply don't come true or people are not able to overcome challenges to make them a reality. Yet to dream is still to be a growing and developing person that influences the goals and directions of society. Dream because its in your nature to dream!

Why You Should Encourage Bullies to Get Help? Life Long Disruption

In real life people don't not always have an inner compass or concerned about the rights of others. While the majority of society sort of follows standards and codes of conduct, there are others who seem to violate them on a regular basis. While bullies feel they are entitled to whatever they want they are masking deeper pain and this presents an opportunity. Typically, they are looking for targets so they can feel better about themselves. They also receive the rewards that society gives them...up until a point!


Why is Bullying Bad in the Workplace and In Life?

Society runs by certain rules. If someone is not attacking you and they are living their lives in a way that doesn't bother anyone, they should be allowed to go unimpeded. Bullies don't see it that way! Whether for physical or psychological gain they attack a target and disrupt the course of life in an unfair manner.

Why People Should Encourage The Bully to Get Help?

Bullies not only disrupt life they also damage people and relationships. Because Bullying is a pattern of behavior that has been learned over life and through deep pain they naturally are not going to stop. A single person could damage 10 or 20 people in their lifetime with no regret. With help they can discover their own personal pain and work on it so they don't project it onto others.

What Drives the Bully?

Bullies are driven by lots of cognitive dissonance (the image they have of themselves vs what the world sees) as well as pain (inner emotional turmoil that wants an outlet). There is a psychological benefit by projecting pain on others. They wish they could hurt themselves but find it easier to attack others. The more pain and disruption they create, the more powerful and lowered dissonance they receive. Their inner hate also leads to depression and other mental health issues.

What is the Bully Personality?

Bullies come with problems and issues that they are having a hard time overcoming themselves. You may not know it but they are suffering on the inside. Unfortunately, they infect other people around them with their toxic behavior and try and isolate anyone who finds such behavior inappropriate. They are often addicts of one type or another as many of the same mechanics that push them to be a bully also push them to hide their pain in alcohol or drugs.

Why Are Passive People Also Guilty?

Society owns part of the bully problem. If you see a crime and don't call the police or take some type of action you allowed the behavior to continue. Bullies only do things because others around them accept that behavior. Bullying is a social affair and anyone who either engages in the bullying or doesn't encourage the bully to stop if they have a reasonable opportunity to do so is also morally guilty.

Who is a Bully?

Bullies can be kids or adults, men or women, American or foreign, etc... Those bully kids in high school don't grow up to be mature adults without working on themselves or getting help. It can happen at work or it can happen within families. It could even happen in retirement facilities or churches. Wherever there are people their is also the possibility of dysfunctional personalities. Bullying is a toxic negative lifestyle that can impact anyone.

What the Bully Does?

Bullying is a method of control and projection. They lie, triangulate arguments, encourage collective bullying, isolate people, "snub" them, and act superior. There is an inherent flaw in their character that doesn't turn off hostile feelings that would allow more rational minds to move forward. Their core assumption about their worthlessness is covered by feelings of superiority that help protect their fragile egos from the truth. The key to discovering bully behavior is to look for damage, manipulation and control.

What to Do?

Remember that a bully is a weak person on the inside that feels pain and can't process that pain effectively. Each bully hides their pain and shame with anger. One wrong word could set them into a rage. They deserve a little empathy for their toxic plight but not at the expense of your safety. Standing up is important but don't get angry and engage in a battle. Stand your ground and disengage because bullies are very unlikely to stop once they get started. The self-reflection that represents highly developed adults simply doesn't exist here.

Bullies to Spread Rumors to Gain Flying Monkey Supporters (Proxies)-A2

Sibling to Sibling Aggression is a Sign of Bigger Problems-A3

Protecting Small Business and Local Wealth Through Legislation

Small businesses were always part of the American landscape from the beginning. While many small businesses still thrive there are many more that are going out of business because they can't compete against the large corporations. The businesses simply must have a higher margin simply because they don't have the volume of sales. Protecting them helps create a more vibrant economy that keeps money local.

You can have 5 good family businesses or you can support 1 larger business and a bunch of minimal wage workers. Ok...maybe things aren't this black and white. There are many shades of grey when evaluating the benefits and detractors of consolidating businesses.

Many times value of actions are evaluated by how much they contribute to the economy. The biggest question is not how much money is made but who actually receives this money and where does it go after? We will find that money is made, moves to fewer hands, and then out of the area.

Local businesses keep money local. They do that through rooting the business with their families and workers who spend money in towns. They also ask for business related services that are also very local. At the end of the day the create positive impact on businesses.

How do we support small businesses? Mostly through legislation. Legislation can be very important for helping protect the environment or workers. That is great! Unfortunately, legislation is also adjusted to support larger corporations through government action. Small businesses might be legislated out of the market giving larger businesses government sanctioned advantages based in part on political donations and self-interest.  We can support small business legislation that ensures well balanced policies that not only keep money local but also improves the economy of the nation.

Triangulating Data and Business Research

While conducting research and other ideas it is helpful to use triangulation to help determine the validity of a finding. In general, triangulation includes the use of two or more data points to references and cross-check the conclusion. This cross-validation helps in ensuring accuracy and lends additional support of the findings for implementation.

If you are working in for a business and want to conduct a study on how a company can improve employee perception you will not want to use a single data sources. The same can be said of using data to determine the effectiveness of a particular skill in the market.

If you were an executive making a decision on how to invest money, or what strategic choice, or where to move your business you are likely to want research. That research can be supported by a single data source or multiple data sources that are triangulated. If it was me....I would want multiple data sources before I make a big mistake!

Why Wisdom Should be Encouraged In Politics and How to Foster It

When we look at politics and behavior in today's world we might be shocked by how certain concepts such as wisdom is not as important as say concepts like power, strength, and "being right". Our culture has shifted somewhat in political landscape to be something less than its full potential. Wisdom is an idea that encompass using past experience and reflecting on knowledge to make the best decision. It is a fundamental guild to "doing the right thing" in any given circumstances.

It is important for people in society to reach beyond the debase into some loftier idea of how humans can be. They are thinking and feeling creatures that have the capacity to take a moment and be objective about life. Wisdom is the highest form of knowledge that should be encourage among our politicians and our youth to ensure they are helping society.

How to Improve Wisdom:

1. Recognize your emotions and let them go before making judgement.

2. Reflect on behavior and choices.

3. Learn from your environment what works and what doesn't.

4. Seek knowledge from a general and specific mindset.

5. Trust those who believe it is possible to be wrong.

6. Talk to people and gain multiple perspectives.

7. Take your time before making decisions.

Got to Love the New One Almond Bliss!

Eating protein is a natural part of getting in shape. Your body needs protein to repair muscle and grow. Browsing the Trader Joe isles I made my way up to the selection of health bars. Young people seem to like them a lot and they have lots of different kinds. I grabbed a couple different types to try them out. 

The One Almond Bliss bar was fantastic! Some protein bars are pretty good, some not so good but....this one was fabulous!

Chocolate and coconut reminded me more of an almond bar but with a healthy twist to it. It packs about 20 grams of protein and 1 gram of sugar with 230 calories. That is pretty good if you can also get the taste with it. 

You may need to keep it out of arms reach as it is soooo good you just might eat more than one and pack on the pounds. 

Protein, Eggs and Avocado After a Workout

I like to workout but don't always get the results I want. Through trial-n-error, reading and talking to people I found that eating an adequate amount of protein after a workout helps in improving your muscle tone and fitness levels. Having eggs and avocado after a work can make a big difference in your health.

Eggs are high source of protein punching somewhere around 80 calories and 6 grams of protein. Having 4 or 5 eggs puts in your body 30 grams of protein.

Avocado has great fats that help your body with good carbohydrates, fats and potassium. It will ensure greater electro activity in your body.

The key is to each something within the first hour after working out. Your body is in need of nutrition and will likely begin to use this food to help encourage muscle growth. The best bet is to eat within a half hour because this is when it counts!

Make Choices by Focusing on the Long Term

Each decision we make moves from one possibility to the next one. We are the sum of the choices we make as they represent how we view and navigate through the world. Each time we face a problem we make another choice. So on and so forth each and every day. One could theoretically go back and check all your choices throughout your life and determine your patterns of thinking.

We are Limited by Imperfect Information.

Of course we also know that "perfect" information isn't always available when we make these choices. We are at a disadvantage with our limited understandings so looking at short term gains is not always helpful. Without perfect information it is often wise to make choices so you maximize opportunities. Limited information poses a risk.

Make Choices that Maximize Opportunities.

Likewise, it is helpful for being strategic about your life and about business. Having some goal that maximizes opportunities in the future allows you to weigh and balance the different options using the same vantage point. If you consistently apply the goal you will be able to connect all of your choices.

Evaluate Your Choices

Finally, it is also helpful in reducing stress. If you focus on the long-term then small set backs are not the end of the world. You just adjust and keep on moving toward your goals. There will be lots of different roadblocks and obstacles on the way so you might as well minimize their stress value.

Minimize Impact

Why are we having such a hard time fighting global warming?

New reports from Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Nepal indicate that one of the world's largest polar caps is likely to thaw out by 2100. T'he report took into account more than 350 researchers and policy experts, 185 organisations, 210 authors, 20 review editors and 125 external reviewers. Why are we having such a hard time understanding and tackling global warming?

I can break this down into two reasons. Lack of coordination and lack of industry interest. 

1. Lack of Coordination: We don't have the mechanism to force all countries to adhere to new standards. In many cases, it is voluntary and such countries are more interested in economic growth than something a few decades down the road. 

2. Lack of Industry Interest: Some companies get the message and are doing the right thing. Many others are putting their fingers in their ears because they hope to make some money and reduce the possibility of legislation and regulation. 

http://www.icimod.org

Anchor Your Business in Ethics

All businesses should have some ethical stance that guides employees to making the right choices. Ethics is a system that people compare and contrast possible outcomes against to ensure that their behavior is sociably acceptable. When the ethical system is not open or easy to follow people begin to skirt such ethics in their own self interest.

Ethics, values, and societal harmony come together. Sharing is inherent when we can receive the benefit of receiving when we are in need. Biologically we are designed to need status among our peers and support of our friends.

Because society is full of people we don't know and often don't connect with, we may not feel any real obligation to follow the rules. As long as we don't break the law or people know about our behaviors then we can break all the ethical rules. Add in court battles and everything seems ok.

The problem is that as soon as we do this we also reduce the need for others to follow the rules as well. We cannibalize ourselves as each person takes more than their fair from the system. The brightest can't come forward because the selfish have blocked the paths. To run a smart business means enforcing ethics and encouraging other businesses to do so as well.

The way in which we can do that is through making ethics part of our system. We talk about it, enforce it, promote in part on it, and expect it from everyone. All the people of an organization exist under the same ethical rules. Keeping ethics helps manage an organization without the constant need for oversight.

Keep Your Body Moving Throughout the Day-10 Minute Sessions

We sometimes think that the only way to get into shape is to work out at the gym every morning. While this is great in order to get it done it doesn't necessary mean that it is the only way to get your workout in. Some people can simply workout throughout the day and receive the same benefits. Here are a few benefits of working out in 10 minute sessions.

1. Burning calories is an additive process. You don't need to burn them all at once.

2. People with responsibilities, kids and short time frames might not be able to work out all at once.

3. Walking up stairs, leg lifts at your desk, high knees around the house, push ups and sit ups while your listening can all be done through the course of your day.

4. It is wise to get up 5 minutes an hour from work. If you can have your workout while getting your blood flowing helps your body and brain function better. 

Keeping Your Home Together with Duck Tape

Last week I was walking around the beach and came across an interesting RV that was duck taped together. I believe this truck may have ran into an overpass and had much of its cabin ripped apart. The owners decided they would rather keep it running than retire the truck. Duck tape was used to keep the air out.

In the end, I'm surprised the car is still in use. It takes a special kind of person to use this car in this way. I'm not knocking it...I'm just saying WOW.

Why Research is Fundamental To University Contribution and Image?

Research in today's world is hugely important as companies seek to be innovative and generate new and unique ideas. Research is often out of the reach of the average person and is typically completed in business or in academic settings. Encourage universities to conduct research based on the needs of the market can help push innovation in society.

Universities have something to say. Incorporating research into a professors responsibilities helps to develop the full purpose of the university system to increase knowledge. That is difficult unless new knowledge is being generated. While not all professors must do research they should be contributing to their fields in some way.

Industry-University partnerships can help in the development of specialized knowledge that furthers a particular industry. This could be a new method of plastic injection or anything else. It is using the researchers abilities applied to specific problems that have practical utilization.

While we think of research as only contributing to the body of knowledge it also creates greater brand image of the university itself. Conducting research is important for disseminating useful information to the rest of society. Each article, research study, news spinet, press release,etc... gets hits on search engines that leads to greater overall image.

No Need to Fill Out Those Long HR Application Forms

Having enough information to make a decision is important. Companies are selling all types of information management systems out there that have pages and pages of fields that get you all the right information! Right? Wrong! Such systems are bulky and lose as many candidates as they catch. No one wants to spend 6 hours filling out a form for a job they may not even have a chance to obtain!

Sure it separates the really motivated people from the not so motivated. Not really either. People who are busy and have a good sense of time and effort don't want to fill out forms and waste time. They want to apply within a reasonable time and move on.

A better way to manage such systems is to upload a cover page and resume and let the system do the work. There are plenty of excellent resume scanning software out there. There are also plenty of ways to obtain access to Linked-in and online profiles that save time and money.

No need to fill out those forms!  Long forms are useless. Employers should seek enough information to make a decision to seek additional information. It is not necessary to hire the person in the first round. It is much better to use the time to build a little report with the candidates through information requests and discussions.

Why are "Up Front" Disclosures on Information Important

The amount of data in the world is massive. It is so massive that foreign governments are taking this information, from a variety of sources, and creating profiles of important figures in society. Companies are collecting information without your permission to improve sales and then keeping it in an unsecured way that leads to data theft.

We are weak human beings sometimes. If we have a love for some product we have a hard time not buying it. Yet if a company puts lots of ads in front of us targeting our interests we may make even more purchases. Data and information can be useful for marketing but also can be destructive.

One of the biggest problems is that people don't know how much data is really out there. Companies collect this data and then use it for many types of purposes. Even if they were only using this information for sales it is hackers and others that collect this information for devious purposes.

Let's say that someone really wanted information about a politician or notable figure. They could hack their credit cards, hack social security, etc... If they also get access to your purchases they would be able to know just everything about you. Perhaps they know more about you then you know about yourself at some deep psychological level!

As of yet we don't know of hackers with that capacity. However, we do know they sell this data and someone who has the money and time could collect and dump that into a cross referencing data analysis tool and then start picking out your information. While this may not be important to you it may be important to others.

Disclosures on what companies are collecting and how long they keep this information is important for improving the overall privacy of that information.