This article was written for a new company (First You Dream) designed to encourage young people (or the young at heart) to discover and realize their possibilities. Hopefully none of us ever gets to the point in life where our dreams / hopes / possibilities are ignored or worse yet abandoned.
A BB in a Boxcar - Discover and Realize your Possibilities
The public service announcement that I feel is the most effective in terms of visuals and message states “This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs.” If you’ve seen this ad you remember the egg being held up as “your brain” and the egg being fried to demonstrate “your brain on drugs.” If you’ve never seen the ad with this brief description you probably get the picture and the message. The message is clear - drugs can hurt you. Don’t take them. Unfortunately "Thou shalt not" messages tend to be less well received than "Thou can" challenges.
Today I’d like to suggest a public service announcement that can be as well packaged as the ominous warning about drugs. This message, however, has a more positive focus of hope - encouragement - a natural high that might addict the viewer / reader to the mind altering experience that is discovering and realizing our possibilities. The egg story screams NO - this message celebrates YES!
Picture a hand holding up a BB and the voice saying “This is you.” Then the BB is dropped into a Railroad Boxcar and the voice says “These are your possibilities.” You are small but your possibilities are great. That’s reality.
Often people today comment about our “potential” - measuring us against ourselves. This is usually intended to encourage us to work harder - accomplish more - be better - improve ourselves - be the best we can be. These are noble thoughts but are often perceived by the intended beneficiary as a criticism - an evaluation - a concern. The dictionary defines potential- as something that can develop or become actual. Potential suggest what might be. Possible is defined as being within the limits of ability, capacity, or realization. Possibilities are somethings that are possible. These words suggest what is.
Most of us in the critical eye of our mind and the quiet reflection of our souls tend to limit ourselves and thus discussions of potential force us into a battle of wills over what we see versus the discerning eye of others. The BB metaphor indicates a compression of us and our potential. We establish limits.
We too often limit ourselves because of our very real life condition - our age, education, physical characteristics, etc. and then further restrict ourselves because of our environment - our home, job, school, etc. Finally our attitude and tolerance for risk / fear of failure reduces us further into the compact BB we are.
The excitement of discovering and realizing our possibilities is more external focused - less threatening - more empowering. It tends to be driven by our hopes and dreams rather than fears and insecurities. It removes our focus from us today and redirects us to tomorrow and the horizon and rainbows that populate it. It is limitless. To you the BB - I suggest, look up - look around. See the near limitless world that is the boxcar. Venture out - dream big - dream bold - dream often. Roll around in the boxcar of hope! Discover and realize your possibilities.
Copyright Michael Manes (2007)
All rights reserved
www.firstyoudream.com
Friday, February 29, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Motivation @ only $15.00 a Letter
Motivation @ only $15.00 a Letter
I bought a motivational wall hanging this morning. It cost me $15.00 a letter. My wife thinks it’s ridiculous and overpriced. She’s a school teacher now retired. Hers was a world of lesson plans, tenure, benefits, and a consistent paycheck. I’m a recovering insurance agent and now a consultant. I’m an ENTREPRENEUR.
When I was an agent – I was employed. I had either a salary and / or commission. I had benefits. I had a job. I liked what I was doing and was blessed with many good bosses. In spite of these blessings – I felt confined and frustrated. On November 19, 1992 I resigned my job and the “security” it represented and jumped head first in to the world of Consulting. I have no regrets – occasional panic but no regrets.
In my opinion ENTREPRENEURS are the ADHD “children” of the business world. We for the most part can’t sit still, we don’t pay attention, and we want to do it our way. We’re the “hunters” of the economy and the rest of the business world is the gatherers. We must “kill” to eat. No “kill” – no eat. Did I mention panic attacks?
Rod was the first person that I told of my decision to go out on my own. He was a recovering Consultant. He said simply – “Mike, it’s the ultimate act of faith.” He was right. Whenever I’ve gotten to the bottom of the “cash flow” barrel, a dead end on my road to riches, another friend or colleague tells me that I am crazy or what I wanted to do is impossible – I retreat inside and remember – “have faith.”
Early on I was talking to another adrenalin junkie (a.k.a. – entrepreneur) and he talked about us needing to form a Support Group. I asked how would he qualify folks for membership – what was his definition of Entrepreneur? He thought for a moment and said, “Someone who must make payroll – for others or for themselves.”
I’ve used this definition often – it’s an accurate description of the function but I’m not sure it adequately explains the “risk” inherent in the role. The definition I prefer is “someone who performs without a net.” If you accept this description than you might also understand the following admonition – “Entrepreneurs can’t look down.” We must stay focused on our Vision and Goals - looking down means death.
This brings me full circle back to the issue of motivation. I am a person who believes that there is no such thing as a motivational speaker even though I’ve been misdiagnosed as one on many occasions. Motivation can only come from within – I can’t change anyone. As part of my world, I do try to create an environment where others might choose to motivate themselves. Entrepreneurs must self motivate.
I buy motivational posters and wall hangings because I need something to help me when everyone else (though well intended) is telling me I’m wrong, crazy, or out of touch with reality. An entrepreneur is a lone wolf. The good news about paying $15.00 a letter for this wall hanging is that it only has 3 letters. The better news is that it captures in one word all the motivation I need – the one word is - EAT!
Copyright (2007) - Michael Manes
All rights reserved
I bought a motivational wall hanging this morning. It cost me $15.00 a letter. My wife thinks it’s ridiculous and overpriced. She’s a school teacher now retired. Hers was a world of lesson plans, tenure, benefits, and a consistent paycheck. I’m a recovering insurance agent and now a consultant. I’m an ENTREPRENEUR.
When I was an agent – I was employed. I had either a salary and / or commission. I had benefits. I had a job. I liked what I was doing and was blessed with many good bosses. In spite of these blessings – I felt confined and frustrated. On November 19, 1992 I resigned my job and the “security” it represented and jumped head first in to the world of Consulting. I have no regrets – occasional panic but no regrets.
In my opinion ENTREPRENEURS are the ADHD “children” of the business world. We for the most part can’t sit still, we don’t pay attention, and we want to do it our way. We’re the “hunters” of the economy and the rest of the business world is the gatherers. We must “kill” to eat. No “kill” – no eat. Did I mention panic attacks?
Rod was the first person that I told of my decision to go out on my own. He was a recovering Consultant. He said simply – “Mike, it’s the ultimate act of faith.” He was right. Whenever I’ve gotten to the bottom of the “cash flow” barrel, a dead end on my road to riches, another friend or colleague tells me that I am crazy or what I wanted to do is impossible – I retreat inside and remember – “have faith.”
Early on I was talking to another adrenalin junkie (a.k.a. – entrepreneur) and he talked about us needing to form a Support Group. I asked how would he qualify folks for membership – what was his definition of Entrepreneur? He thought for a moment and said, “Someone who must make payroll – for others or for themselves.”
I’ve used this definition often – it’s an accurate description of the function but I’m not sure it adequately explains the “risk” inherent in the role. The definition I prefer is “someone who performs without a net.” If you accept this description than you might also understand the following admonition – “Entrepreneurs can’t look down.” We must stay focused on our Vision and Goals - looking down means death.
This brings me full circle back to the issue of motivation. I am a person who believes that there is no such thing as a motivational speaker even though I’ve been misdiagnosed as one on many occasions. Motivation can only come from within – I can’t change anyone. As part of my world, I do try to create an environment where others might choose to motivate themselves. Entrepreneurs must self motivate.
I buy motivational posters and wall hangings because I need something to help me when everyone else (though well intended) is telling me I’m wrong, crazy, or out of touch with reality. An entrepreneur is a lone wolf. The good news about paying $15.00 a letter for this wall hanging is that it only has 3 letters. The better news is that it captures in one word all the motivation I need – the one word is - EAT!
Copyright (2007) - Michael Manes
All rights reserved
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Keeping Change on Target
Change is like an Arrow…
Change is like an arrow flying through the air. It’s going to hit something – us, the bull’s eye, someone or something else, or it will fall aimlessly to the ground. The good news is that we may be safe for a moment. The bad news is that the archer of the future is loading another arrow and pulling back the string.
There are four possibilities – we can remain oblivious to the arrow, the target and the flight path and hope our luck holds out. We can be reactive to the process and duck and hide to be certain that we don’t get hit. We can be proactive and grab the target and move it in front of the arrow or we can be a leader and take charge of the bow, the arrow, the target, and the process.
Here’s reality of today – change is the one certainty in our uncertain world of tomorrow. We can choose to ignore the change – dodge it – attempt to manage it – or be an architect of the future and create the change that will occur.
Change as defined here is simply the transition from today through tomorrows. It is not an end point but rather a direction. Please note – tomorrows has an S on the end. It is a process not an event. Management of Change is the solving of problems and capitalizing on opportunities that come our way as we work through this transition. This is better than ignoring the future and safer than attempting to dodge it – but at best this is a reactive, tiring and risky.
Peter Drucker says that “the best way to predict the future is to create it.” I believe Mr. Drucker is proposing that our future lies in our ability to be proactive. We should not look to the future and attempt to maneuver ourselves and our organizations to meet up with tomorrow when we get there.
I believe Mr. Drucker would prefer that we venture into the future – clearly define the universe as we find it, lay claim to our little portion of this tomorrow – place our flag in the future. Once we have been to tomorrow to see, touch, and feel the future, we can return to our organizations and restructure it to be right for tomorrow.
We’ve all heard the statement, “Either lead, follow, or get out of the way.” I believe this cliché has application to us today. As we move into the future today or as the future comes to us tomorrow, we’ll see folks that were hit by arrows they never saw coming, others who died of fear or neglect while trying to ignore or hide from reality and still others tired but alive reacting to the arrows by constantly moving their targets. Finally with the precision of a great archer a few others will be pulling back their bow and releasing their arrow with calm, confidence and success.
I love the story of Michael Van and Mrs. Disney at the opening of Disney World. Mr. Van is rumored to have said, “Isn’t it a tragedy that Walt never saw this place.” Mrs. Disney corrected him by saying, “Walt saw this place, that’s why we’re here." Walt was not a cartoonist – he was an Architect of Change!
Copyright Michael G. Manes (2007) -
All rights reserved
Change is like an arrow flying through the air. It’s going to hit something – us, the bull’s eye, someone or something else, or it will fall aimlessly to the ground. The good news is that we may be safe for a moment. The bad news is that the archer of the future is loading another arrow and pulling back the string.
There are four possibilities – we can remain oblivious to the arrow, the target and the flight path and hope our luck holds out. We can be reactive to the process and duck and hide to be certain that we don’t get hit. We can be proactive and grab the target and move it in front of the arrow or we can be a leader and take charge of the bow, the arrow, the target, and the process.
Here’s reality of today – change is the one certainty in our uncertain world of tomorrow. We can choose to ignore the change – dodge it – attempt to manage it – or be an architect of the future and create the change that will occur.
Change as defined here is simply the transition from today through tomorrows. It is not an end point but rather a direction. Please note – tomorrows has an S on the end. It is a process not an event. Management of Change is the solving of problems and capitalizing on opportunities that come our way as we work through this transition. This is better than ignoring the future and safer than attempting to dodge it – but at best this is a reactive, tiring and risky.
Peter Drucker says that “the best way to predict the future is to create it.” I believe Mr. Drucker is proposing that our future lies in our ability to be proactive. We should not look to the future and attempt to maneuver ourselves and our organizations to meet up with tomorrow when we get there.
I believe Mr. Drucker would prefer that we venture into the future – clearly define the universe as we find it, lay claim to our little portion of this tomorrow – place our flag in the future. Once we have been to tomorrow to see, touch, and feel the future, we can return to our organizations and restructure it to be right for tomorrow.
We’ve all heard the statement, “Either lead, follow, or get out of the way.” I believe this cliché has application to us today. As we move into the future today or as the future comes to us tomorrow, we’ll see folks that were hit by arrows they never saw coming, others who died of fear or neglect while trying to ignore or hide from reality and still others tired but alive reacting to the arrows by constantly moving their targets. Finally with the precision of a great archer a few others will be pulling back their bow and releasing their arrow with calm, confidence and success.
I love the story of Michael Van and Mrs. Disney at the opening of Disney World. Mr. Van is rumored to have said, “Isn’t it a tragedy that Walt never saw this place.” Mrs. Disney corrected him by saying, “Walt saw this place, that’s why we’re here." Walt was not a cartoonist – he was an Architect of Change!
Copyright Michael G. Manes (2007) -
All rights reserved
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Ambivalence
AMBIVALENCE
Ambivalence – n 1. Simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings (as attraction and repulsion) toward an object, person or action. 2 a: continual fluctuation (as between one thing and its opposite)…
Ambivalence is mixed feelings – a part of the real world, our everyday life.
Two Cajun examples of ambivalence follow:
Ambivalence # 1 - Boudreaux pilot of the Cajun Airlines announces to the passengers – “I got good news and bad news. The bad news is dat we is lost and runnin out of gas. The good news is dat we is making good time.”
Ambivalence # 2 - Comeaux asks Boudreaux for a definition of ambivalence. Boudreaux explains “mais, dats mixed feelings – dat’s when you happy and sad or proud and ashamed at the same time. Let me show you.”
He continued, “When I finished high school in 1965, Louisiana was dead last in education in all 50 states. Evangeline Parish where I went to school ranked 64th out of the 64 parishes in Louisiana. Ville Platte High School finished last in Evangeline Parish and I finished last in my class.
He closed, “mais, Comeaux, I was de dumbest boy in all of America!”
Hopefully this blog will create ambivalence in each reader. This includes the excitement of the opportunity that is tomorrow and the threat to the status quo that the new creates. Separate these feelings through the sieve of reality and the marketplace that will exist in the future.
Act on the opportunity and grow beyond the status quo.
Copyright (1998) Michael G. Manes
All rights reserved
Ambivalence – n 1. Simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings (as attraction and repulsion) toward an object, person or action. 2 a: continual fluctuation (as between one thing and its opposite)…
Ambivalence is mixed feelings – a part of the real world, our everyday life.
Two Cajun examples of ambivalence follow:
Ambivalence # 1 - Boudreaux pilot of the Cajun Airlines announces to the passengers – “I got good news and bad news. The bad news is dat we is lost and runnin out of gas. The good news is dat we is making good time.”
Ambivalence # 2 - Comeaux asks Boudreaux for a definition of ambivalence. Boudreaux explains “mais, dats mixed feelings – dat’s when you happy and sad or proud and ashamed at the same time. Let me show you.”
He continued, “When I finished high school in 1965, Louisiana was dead last in education in all 50 states. Evangeline Parish where I went to school ranked 64th out of the 64 parishes in Louisiana. Ville Platte High School finished last in Evangeline Parish and I finished last in my class.
He closed, “mais, Comeaux, I was de dumbest boy in all of America!”
Hopefully this blog will create ambivalence in each reader. This includes the excitement of the opportunity that is tomorrow and the threat to the status quo that the new creates. Separate these feelings through the sieve of reality and the marketplace that will exist in the future.
Act on the opportunity and grow beyond the status quo.
Copyright (1998) Michael G. Manes
All rights reserved
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Survivor or Victim - You Decide
Be a Survivor
The greatest threat to the future of America and us as her citizens can be reduced to six words:
I am a victim of ____________________________.
By declaring oneself a “victim” we create a self-fulfilling prophecy of limitation and forfeit our freedom and opportunity. We build an insurmountable firewall between ourselves and the possibilities of tomorrow. We declare and accept as lord and master a person, circumstance, or condition that will control our destiny. We allow ourselves to be enslaved.
Before giving up, study - Christopher Reeves, the Special Olympics, Jim Brady, millions of Cancer Survivors, and other victors over adversity. These are everyday heroes who have fallen or were knocked down and have had the courage to stand up and be the greatest that they can be based upon the conditions that exist at that moment.
Remember the “little engine that could” and “the ant and the rubber tree plant”.
“Never give in, never, never, never!” – Winston Churchill (Harrow School – 1941)
“Nothing in this world can take the place of perseverance. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Perseverance and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
Calvin Coolidge
Please forward this to every media person, elected official, child, teacher, and survivor you know! Also practice what you preach.
Copyright (2002 / Revised 2005)Michael G. Manes
All rights reserved
The greatest threat to the future of America and us as her citizens can be reduced to six words:
I am a victim of ____________________________.
By declaring oneself a “victim” we create a self-fulfilling prophecy of limitation and forfeit our freedom and opportunity. We build an insurmountable firewall between ourselves and the possibilities of tomorrow. We declare and accept as lord and master a person, circumstance, or condition that will control our destiny. We allow ourselves to be enslaved.
Before giving up, study - Christopher Reeves, the Special Olympics, Jim Brady, millions of Cancer Survivors, and other victors over adversity. These are everyday heroes who have fallen or were knocked down and have had the courage to stand up and be the greatest that they can be based upon the conditions that exist at that moment.
Remember the “little engine that could” and “the ant and the rubber tree plant”.
“Never give in, never, never, never!” – Winston Churchill (Harrow School – 1941)
“Nothing in this world can take the place of perseverance. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Perseverance and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
Calvin Coolidge
Please forward this to every media person, elected official, child, teacher, and survivor you know! Also practice what you preach.
Copyright (2002 / Revised 2005)Michael G. Manes
All rights reserved
A View from the Edge of the 21st Century
The following was written in the late 1990s for a presentation to Hospital Administrators regarding trends in the new century.
A VIEW FROM THE EDGE
Directions for the Next Millennium
“Success is a journey, not a destination.” Yet as leaders and their organizations venture into this new century, most want assurance of the destination, not the opportunity.
Before becoming too anxious about the future, one should remember Christopher Columbus. He was an entrepreneur, who seized an opportunity. He solicited venture capitalists to outfit three boats that today would not meet OSHA or other regulatory standards and could not be insured on a venture with such high risk of falling off the edge of the world.
Mr. Columbus’ trip was unique. When he left, he did not know where he was going; once he got there, he did not know where he was and when he returned home, he did not know where he had been. The greatest testimony to his courage is the fact that 95+% of the trip was completed without the goal is sight.
In spite of this, most are grateful that he tried!
Compared to Chris’ experience, venturing into the 21st century is really low risk. With some direction, an awareness of hazards along the way, a good plan, implementation, continuous monitoring and adjusting, the journey will be successful and the destination reasonably assured.
The following essay is a “best guess” of general directions and road hazards that must be addressed along the way. Enjoy the DISCOVERY! -- Bon Voyage!
DEFINITIONS:
Tomorrow’s world will still have hospitals, banks, agencies, financial statements, etc. These however, will be redefined.. Prosperity will depend upon the ability to recreate organizations, products, services and results. Those that can’t or won’t adapt will be the fossils that become the fuel for the survivors.
People will need “high touch” in this growing “high tech” world. Community will become more important. Banks, hospitals, schools, and other community-based systems will be tomorrow, what “Main Street” and Malls are today -- meeting places / social systems. The community served will define the provider. Banks and agencies will consolidate into financial service centers and more. Schools will meet the needs of the community — parents and students -- not the needs of the education system. Hospitals will change from serving the sick to meeting a community’s needs — in sickness and wellness.
Financial statements will be changed to include the real assets of an organization, its people, their knowledge and relationships.
INTERNET / TECHNOLOGY:
PCs and the Internet will be recognized as “tools”, not the “be all and end all” of society. Relative to today’s world these are probably no more significant than were yesterday’s invention of “harnessed” electricity, the telephone and air travel. Measured against tomorrow’s greatest breakthrough — neutralizing gravity — the Internet is modest.
The danger is that many people are confusing the Internet and the data it provides with communications. People and relationships will remain most important. The Internet and technology can facilitate these but not replace them. Unfortunately many people will attempt to “hide” behind computer screens and become less experienced / competent in the social graces and people skills that are so important in tomorrow’s (and any other) world.
SEPARATION:
This country (and maybe the world) will polarize not between black and white, rich and poor, male and female, etc. Tomorrow ‘s battle line will be drawn between entrepreneurs / risk takers and bureaucrats (institutional thinkers) / non-risk takers.
The risk takers will take charge (that is their style) of and fund more of our systems. They will not be tolerant of the status quo. They will demand accountability and results. They will not fund indecision, bureaucracy, attendance-based systems, etc. They will force change and the chaos that often results.
Many lifetime bureaucrats will not be able to (or will choose not to) change and compete. They will seek an early out via an “entitlement” based program - disability income, retirement, unemployment, etc.
Most will later reenter the competitive market — motivated by survival and security needs and a realization that disability and retirement cannot sustain their lifestyle and future. Some will become entrepreneurs, some will obtain better opportunities and some will end up in lesser jobs. Some will never return to a productive role in society and will remain dependent on the system.
COMMUNITY — COOPERATIVE BUYING:
Historically, “producers”, agents, brokers and sales people have “balanced” the relationship between manufacturers, the insurance company, or provider and the customer. In fact, these have been more manufacturer representatives than allies of the customers.
Yesterday’s world was about “shoving” a shelf product down the throat of a consumer. Tomorrow’s world will be about going to the marketplace and finding one customer or a collection of customers and asking them what they want / need and then creating the product or service to meet these wants and needs.
The winners will be those individuals and organizations that are known and trusted by market segments to serve as their “buyer”. Successful “sellers” of tomorrow will bring customers to manufactures (product / service providers), not products to customers.
OMNI (ALL):
The whole is greater (or at least more efficiently and effectively delivered) than the sum of its parts. In a future that demands simple & more for less, holistic will be a necessity.
Marcus Welby medicine that treated the “whole body” (and in reality the whole body and soul) evolved into a system of “organs du jour”, that became incredibly expensive, more impersonal and not coordinated. This segmented system has imploded and is being reformed.
Resource Management, financial service centers, integration of alternative care into traditional medicine and Point of Service (POS) plans are examples of holistic systems. Systems, products, services and delivery may be bundled and unbundled during the “manufacturing and distribution stages” but the end result will be consolidated and simplified for delivery to the end user / consumer.
VALUE:
The success stories of tomorrow will be written by those that add value to the system. Excellent service, discounted pricing, user friendly, etc. will all be minimum standards in the future. All competitors will provide these. You must constantly do more with less.
Everything we do and the amount we charge for what we do, will be known to the consumer. This more sophisticated consumer will no longer pay for redundancy, windfall profits, fraud, inefficiency, etc. The consumer will pay for each step necessary in each process but they will pay only once and only to the most efficient provider. This, in effect, will put “glass doors on our bathrooms” — we will not be able to hide.
The only benchmark will be in the eye of the consumer — Do you “add value”? Do you simplify and enhance the life of the customer? If yes, you’re a winner! If no, good bye!
EARS (LISTENING VERSUS TALKING):
Communications used to be whatever the person or organization with the power said it was. Ours was a command and control world. “Daddy’s” style of “because I said so” will be replaced by “mamma’s” more listening, trusting, nurturing, and questioning methods.
In a diverse world — where old white guys are the minority and no longer control the power or the knowledge — communications will become the negotiation of meaning. Listening will be more important than “talking”. Win / Win will replace Win / Lose as the benchmark for success.
Successful communicators will be able to get “what is in their heart, out through their mouth.” Family and workplace violence, drive-by shootings, etc. will be recognized to be communication problems. Our needs in a diverse society — fairness, order, structure and opportunity are all driven by communication skills -- the most important “tool”.
RISK TRANSFER TO LOSS FUNDING:
Yesterday’s world was based upon a transfer of catastrophic risk and a clear understanding that all the government / insurance in the world could not eliminate all risk in life. Insurance companies underwrote (selected customers), defined coverage and established prices. Companies effective in these steps, made profits and survived — others failed.
Many people in tomorrow’s world, believe that the government and insurance companies should remove all risk from life (we’re victims!). Today’s insurance will not work tomorrow because courts, legislators, regulators, etc. are expanding / redefining coverage after the premiums have been collected. For this reason — we’ll move to a claims made world that funds losses more than just transferring risk. Claims management, loss control, and behavior modification tools will be more important than underwriting.
YOU - YOUR WANTS AND NEEDS:
Historically, the consumer bought and assembled the products, commodities or services necessary to meet his / her needs. As the world becomes more complex, quick and confusing, customers will want one thing — integrated solutions to their problems.
Product “peddlers” will be replaced by resource managers. Those professionals committed to working with an individual, a niche of one, to meet his / her needs. Resource Managers will know what the customer wants / needs and will build the “team” necessary to meet these needs. Making life simple and creating positive experiences will add value.
! - RELATIONSHIPS:
“People, people who need people are the luckiest people in the world”. People, people who understand people will be the most successful and fulfilled people in the world. The more “high tech” the world becomes the more necessary and important is “high touch”. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF “TOUCHING” THE HEADS, HEARTS AND SOULS OF AN INDIVIDUAL AND A COMMUNITY.
Copyright (1998) Michael G. Manes
All rights reserved
A VIEW FROM THE EDGE
Directions for the Next Millennium
“Success is a journey, not a destination.” Yet as leaders and their organizations venture into this new century, most want assurance of the destination, not the opportunity.
Before becoming too anxious about the future, one should remember Christopher Columbus. He was an entrepreneur, who seized an opportunity. He solicited venture capitalists to outfit three boats that today would not meet OSHA or other regulatory standards and could not be insured on a venture with such high risk of falling off the edge of the world.
Mr. Columbus’ trip was unique. When he left, he did not know where he was going; once he got there, he did not know where he was and when he returned home, he did not know where he had been. The greatest testimony to his courage is the fact that 95+% of the trip was completed without the goal is sight.
In spite of this, most are grateful that he tried!
Compared to Chris’ experience, venturing into the 21st century is really low risk. With some direction, an awareness of hazards along the way, a good plan, implementation, continuous monitoring and adjusting, the journey will be successful and the destination reasonably assured.
The following essay is a “best guess” of general directions and road hazards that must be addressed along the way. Enjoy the DISCOVERY! -- Bon Voyage!
DEFINITIONS:
Tomorrow’s world will still have hospitals, banks, agencies, financial statements, etc. These however, will be redefined.. Prosperity will depend upon the ability to recreate organizations, products, services and results. Those that can’t or won’t adapt will be the fossils that become the fuel for the survivors.
People will need “high touch” in this growing “high tech” world. Community will become more important. Banks, hospitals, schools, and other community-based systems will be tomorrow, what “Main Street” and Malls are today -- meeting places / social systems. The community served will define the provider. Banks and agencies will consolidate into financial service centers and more. Schools will meet the needs of the community — parents and students -- not the needs of the education system. Hospitals will change from serving the sick to meeting a community’s needs — in sickness and wellness.
Financial statements will be changed to include the real assets of an organization, its people, their knowledge and relationships.
INTERNET / TECHNOLOGY:
PCs and the Internet will be recognized as “tools”, not the “be all and end all” of society. Relative to today’s world these are probably no more significant than were yesterday’s invention of “harnessed” electricity, the telephone and air travel. Measured against tomorrow’s greatest breakthrough — neutralizing gravity — the Internet is modest.
The danger is that many people are confusing the Internet and the data it provides with communications. People and relationships will remain most important. The Internet and technology can facilitate these but not replace them. Unfortunately many people will attempt to “hide” behind computer screens and become less experienced / competent in the social graces and people skills that are so important in tomorrow’s (and any other) world.
SEPARATION:
This country (and maybe the world) will polarize not between black and white, rich and poor, male and female, etc. Tomorrow ‘s battle line will be drawn between entrepreneurs / risk takers and bureaucrats (institutional thinkers) / non-risk takers.
The risk takers will take charge (that is their style) of and fund more of our systems. They will not be tolerant of the status quo. They will demand accountability and results. They will not fund indecision, bureaucracy, attendance-based systems, etc. They will force change and the chaos that often results.
Many lifetime bureaucrats will not be able to (or will choose not to) change and compete. They will seek an early out via an “entitlement” based program - disability income, retirement, unemployment, etc.
Most will later reenter the competitive market — motivated by survival and security needs and a realization that disability and retirement cannot sustain their lifestyle and future. Some will become entrepreneurs, some will obtain better opportunities and some will end up in lesser jobs. Some will never return to a productive role in society and will remain dependent on the system.
COMMUNITY — COOPERATIVE BUYING:
Historically, “producers”, agents, brokers and sales people have “balanced” the relationship between manufacturers, the insurance company, or provider and the customer. In fact, these have been more manufacturer representatives than allies of the customers.
Yesterday’s world was about “shoving” a shelf product down the throat of a consumer. Tomorrow’s world will be about going to the marketplace and finding one customer or a collection of customers and asking them what they want / need and then creating the product or service to meet these wants and needs.
The winners will be those individuals and organizations that are known and trusted by market segments to serve as their “buyer”. Successful “sellers” of tomorrow will bring customers to manufactures (product / service providers), not products to customers.
OMNI (ALL):
The whole is greater (or at least more efficiently and effectively delivered) than the sum of its parts. In a future that demands simple & more for less, holistic will be a necessity.
Marcus Welby medicine that treated the “whole body” (and in reality the whole body and soul) evolved into a system of “organs du jour”, that became incredibly expensive, more impersonal and not coordinated. This segmented system has imploded and is being reformed.
Resource Management, financial service centers, integration of alternative care into traditional medicine and Point of Service (POS) plans are examples of holistic systems. Systems, products, services and delivery may be bundled and unbundled during the “manufacturing and distribution stages” but the end result will be consolidated and simplified for delivery to the end user / consumer.
VALUE:
The success stories of tomorrow will be written by those that add value to the system. Excellent service, discounted pricing, user friendly, etc. will all be minimum standards in the future. All competitors will provide these. You must constantly do more with less.
Everything we do and the amount we charge for what we do, will be known to the consumer. This more sophisticated consumer will no longer pay for redundancy, windfall profits, fraud, inefficiency, etc. The consumer will pay for each step necessary in each process but they will pay only once and only to the most efficient provider. This, in effect, will put “glass doors on our bathrooms” — we will not be able to hide.
The only benchmark will be in the eye of the consumer — Do you “add value”? Do you simplify and enhance the life of the customer? If yes, you’re a winner! If no, good bye!
EARS (LISTENING VERSUS TALKING):
Communications used to be whatever the person or organization with the power said it was. Ours was a command and control world. “Daddy’s” style of “because I said so” will be replaced by “mamma’s” more listening, trusting, nurturing, and questioning methods.
In a diverse world — where old white guys are the minority and no longer control the power or the knowledge — communications will become the negotiation of meaning. Listening will be more important than “talking”. Win / Win will replace Win / Lose as the benchmark for success.
Successful communicators will be able to get “what is in their heart, out through their mouth.” Family and workplace violence, drive-by shootings, etc. will be recognized to be communication problems. Our needs in a diverse society — fairness, order, structure and opportunity are all driven by communication skills -- the most important “tool”.
RISK TRANSFER TO LOSS FUNDING:
Yesterday’s world was based upon a transfer of catastrophic risk and a clear understanding that all the government / insurance in the world could not eliminate all risk in life. Insurance companies underwrote (selected customers), defined coverage and established prices. Companies effective in these steps, made profits and survived — others failed.
Many people in tomorrow’s world, believe that the government and insurance companies should remove all risk from life (we’re victims!). Today’s insurance will not work tomorrow because courts, legislators, regulators, etc. are expanding / redefining coverage after the premiums have been collected. For this reason — we’ll move to a claims made world that funds losses more than just transferring risk. Claims management, loss control, and behavior modification tools will be more important than underwriting.
YOU - YOUR WANTS AND NEEDS:
Historically, the consumer bought and assembled the products, commodities or services necessary to meet his / her needs. As the world becomes more complex, quick and confusing, customers will want one thing — integrated solutions to their problems.
Product “peddlers” will be replaced by resource managers. Those professionals committed to working with an individual, a niche of one, to meet his / her needs. Resource Managers will know what the customer wants / needs and will build the “team” necessary to meet these needs. Making life simple and creating positive experiences will add value.
! - RELATIONSHIPS:
“People, people who need people are the luckiest people in the world”. People, people who understand people will be the most successful and fulfilled people in the world. The more “high tech” the world becomes the more necessary and important is “high touch”. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF “TOUCHING” THE HEADS, HEARTS AND SOULS OF AN INDIVIDUAL AND A COMMUNITY.
Copyright (1998) Michael G. Manes
All rights reserved
Monday, February 4, 2008
The Leadership Pill
Jim Mullen's column in the Sunday Advocate (February 3, 2008) was titled - "Treadmills are great clothes racks." It reminded me of the article below. Enjoy.
The Leadership Pill – Now only $19.95
It’s about 5:00 on Memorial Day morning. The TV is providing background music to my efforts to write an article.
President Bush is walking across the beaches at Normandy, a group singing God Bless America has just exited the screen, and as soon as the newsbreak to France is over, a chef from one of New York’s greatest restaurant’s will teach us how to cook hot dogs or Chateaubriand. What a country!
Earlier in the morning, the editor of a fitness magazine demonstrated the three exercises that one can use to most quickly and easily prepare (push-ups, crunches, and lunges) their bodies (a.k.a. – arms, abs, and buns) for the summer season.
Sporadic breaks in the entertainment here and news from Normandy allow us to be assaulted by the latest attempts by American ingenuity to sell us something - anything.
For the most part, very early morning (and very late night) television is not the bastion of main steam products and services. At these hours of limited numbers of viewers or viewers who have IQ’s with limited numbers (myself included), the commercial aspect of TV more closely resembles QVC or the Shopper’s Network.
The audience at these fringe hours of the day are people (who when rested know better but with their minds clouded by the need for or lack of sleep) driven by hope - emotion not reason.
In a few minutes of television viewing you’ll learn about buns of steel. You see demonstrations for equipment – Thigh Master, Ab wheels, ski-tracks, plus pills to metabolize fat, and now battery packs that will convert the barrel belly into six pack abs in only 6 weeks and for 4 installments of only $29.95. Even better news is that if you call in the next 15 minutes, they throw in extra bottle of pills, reduce each installment or waive of the last installment.
You laugh and ask yourself – “who buys this crap?”
You turn off the TV and return to your room. You hang your pajamas on the exercise bike ($299.00) that you purchased 3 years ago, nearly trip on the rowing machine ($495.00) that is sticking out from under your bed. It has been there since the aforementioned exercise bike replaced it. You move toward your walk in closet which is now home to your E-Z store home gym ($1,299.95 + shipping and handling).
You answer your own rhetorical question with a sheepish grin – “who buys this crap?” – “I do / we all do!” Hope sells better than hard work!
After a shower and your first cup of coffee, you return to reality – fitness is not a thing, it’s a process. If you want to get and stay fit you can do so without any expenditure of cash, without magic bullets, batteries, pills or equipment.
Here’s the formula, eat less and exercise more. To stay focused you might write down the calories you take in, and measure the calories you burn. You can use the exercises you learned in PE class, at football practice or in basic training. Success is not buying something – it’s in doing something. Plan your work and work your plan. Discipline.
As you settle in your mahogany desk to face another day as leader, business owner or manager, you reflect on the 3 stacks of materials awaiting you. (This system of prioritizing stacks was suggested at a seminar you attended years ago - only $199.00 for an eight hour seminar.) In the important stack are some books on leadership, business innovation, and management philosophies - Danger in the Comfort Zone ($16.95), Northbound Train ($22.95), and Leader of the Future ($25.00).
As you look at your bookshelf you see many more: Business 2010, Blown to Bits, Post Capitalist Society, Built to Last, Megatrends 2000, Sacred Cows Make the Best Burgers, Nuts, Corporate Lifecycles… You had even more stored under your bed but you got rid of those to make room for your rowing machine.
You reflect for a moment and realize that you have read all of these books. The information was great – logical, practical, and doable. You look at your desk and realize that it looks the way it always has - cluttered. You see the “org chart” on the wall and it remains as you designed it just a few years ago. You realize a need to change the implementation date on this since you haven’t acted upon it yet.
Your partially complete planning document is strategically located on the left corner of the table across from your desk. You assured the consultant ($24,000.00) that you merely needed to add action steps and assign responsibilities and the planning process would move from “your bottom shelf to the bottom line!” That was 4 years ago.
With a red face, you flashback to early morning television and your original question – “who buys this crap?” The answer (drum roll) - we all do! Maybe you should scrap this career, your company, this opportunity and do something really rewarding – invent a leadership pill. If you could reduce all you learned about leadership, management and business to a formula that could be ingested you could sell millions. You’d keep the price reasonable (only $19.95) and still become wealthy.
Remember its Memorial Day. Remember the men who stormed the Beaches at Normandy, survived the Bataan Death March and all who have fought in wars before and after. Reflect on the courage and discipline of the firefighters and police who ran into the WTC when everyone else was running out. Realize that leadership is not about taking a pill; it’s about the willingness to “take a bullet” in pursuit of a noble cause. Leadership is about Vision and building the organization to achieve it. It’s about a plan, preparation, discipline, and execution.
Here’s a cup of reality to awaken you and your senses. You are the leader. You exist because there are followers. Your organization can achieve whatever you and the followers are willing to accomplish through hard work, discipline, vision, and innovation. The ideas du jour that you’ve read about are only as good or as bad as your willingness to utilize (PUT INTO ACTION) them in your operations.
Max DePree said the “first role of the leader is to define reality.” Henry Kissinger said the “task of the leader is to get the people from where they are to where they have not been.” Most of the principles outlined by the writers of these great books will work. Unfortunately they only work if you are willing to lead / manage with these. They don’t work if you’re only hanging your pajamas on them or storing them under the bed.
You as leader are only half of the equation. The followers are the other necessary component. As individuals their personalities and values will determine what they are willing and able to do. Collectively the interaction and intimacy of these individuals determine the group personality and values – THE CULTURE. Without a leader the organization will not enjoy positive movement and without motivated followers the leader will not lead anywhere.
Answer Mr. DePree - what is your reality? What is your vision? Who are the followers – as individuals and collectively? Are they willing and able to follow you in pursuit of this vision? If no, are you willing to train and provide an environment where the individuals motivate themselves to do so?
If necessary, are you willing and able to change the organizational culture (WARNING: CHANGING THE CULUTURE IN AN ORGANIZATION IS VERY CHALLENGING)? If no, are you willing and able to change the members of the group or change the Vision to one that your group can achieve?
Once the Vision is clear, the plan written, and the organization prepared, motivated, and committed, do you and the individuals have the courage and discipline to charge the machine gun fire that is the competitive marketplace?
Leadership and followership are not about a pill – it’s about hard work! Planning, preparation, discipline, and execution! God Bless America – What a country! (Priceless)
Copyright (May 2002) - Michael G. Manes
All rights reserved
The Leadership Pill – Now only $19.95
It’s about 5:00 on Memorial Day morning. The TV is providing background music to my efforts to write an article.
President Bush is walking across the beaches at Normandy, a group singing God Bless America has just exited the screen, and as soon as the newsbreak to France is over, a chef from one of New York’s greatest restaurant’s will teach us how to cook hot dogs or Chateaubriand. What a country!
Earlier in the morning, the editor of a fitness magazine demonstrated the three exercises that one can use to most quickly and easily prepare (push-ups, crunches, and lunges) their bodies (a.k.a. – arms, abs, and buns) for the summer season.
Sporadic breaks in the entertainment here and news from Normandy allow us to be assaulted by the latest attempts by American ingenuity to sell us something - anything.
For the most part, very early morning (and very late night) television is not the bastion of main steam products and services. At these hours of limited numbers of viewers or viewers who have IQ’s with limited numbers (myself included), the commercial aspect of TV more closely resembles QVC or the Shopper’s Network.
The audience at these fringe hours of the day are people (who when rested know better but with their minds clouded by the need for or lack of sleep) driven by hope - emotion not reason.
In a few minutes of television viewing you’ll learn about buns of steel. You see demonstrations for equipment – Thigh Master, Ab wheels, ski-tracks, plus pills to metabolize fat, and now battery packs that will convert the barrel belly into six pack abs in only 6 weeks and for 4 installments of only $29.95. Even better news is that if you call in the next 15 minutes, they throw in extra bottle of pills, reduce each installment or waive of the last installment.
You laugh and ask yourself – “who buys this crap?”
You turn off the TV and return to your room. You hang your pajamas on the exercise bike ($299.00) that you purchased 3 years ago, nearly trip on the rowing machine ($495.00) that is sticking out from under your bed. It has been there since the aforementioned exercise bike replaced it. You move toward your walk in closet which is now home to your E-Z store home gym ($1,299.95 + shipping and handling).
You answer your own rhetorical question with a sheepish grin – “who buys this crap?” – “I do / we all do!” Hope sells better than hard work!
After a shower and your first cup of coffee, you return to reality – fitness is not a thing, it’s a process. If you want to get and stay fit you can do so without any expenditure of cash, without magic bullets, batteries, pills or equipment.
Here’s the formula, eat less and exercise more. To stay focused you might write down the calories you take in, and measure the calories you burn. You can use the exercises you learned in PE class, at football practice or in basic training. Success is not buying something – it’s in doing something. Plan your work and work your plan. Discipline.
As you settle in your mahogany desk to face another day as leader, business owner or manager, you reflect on the 3 stacks of materials awaiting you. (This system of prioritizing stacks was suggested at a seminar you attended years ago - only $199.00 for an eight hour seminar.) In the important stack are some books on leadership, business innovation, and management philosophies - Danger in the Comfort Zone ($16.95), Northbound Train ($22.95), and Leader of the Future ($25.00).
As you look at your bookshelf you see many more: Business 2010, Blown to Bits, Post Capitalist Society, Built to Last, Megatrends 2000, Sacred Cows Make the Best Burgers, Nuts, Corporate Lifecycles… You had even more stored under your bed but you got rid of those to make room for your rowing machine.
You reflect for a moment and realize that you have read all of these books. The information was great – logical, practical, and doable. You look at your desk and realize that it looks the way it always has - cluttered. You see the “org chart” on the wall and it remains as you designed it just a few years ago. You realize a need to change the implementation date on this since you haven’t acted upon it yet.
Your partially complete planning document is strategically located on the left corner of the table across from your desk. You assured the consultant ($24,000.00) that you merely needed to add action steps and assign responsibilities and the planning process would move from “your bottom shelf to the bottom line!” That was 4 years ago.
With a red face, you flashback to early morning television and your original question – “who buys this crap?” The answer (drum roll) - we all do! Maybe you should scrap this career, your company, this opportunity and do something really rewarding – invent a leadership pill. If you could reduce all you learned about leadership, management and business to a formula that could be ingested you could sell millions. You’d keep the price reasonable (only $19.95) and still become wealthy.
Remember its Memorial Day. Remember the men who stormed the Beaches at Normandy, survived the Bataan Death March and all who have fought in wars before and after. Reflect on the courage and discipline of the firefighters and police who ran into the WTC when everyone else was running out. Realize that leadership is not about taking a pill; it’s about the willingness to “take a bullet” in pursuit of a noble cause. Leadership is about Vision and building the organization to achieve it. It’s about a plan, preparation, discipline, and execution.
Here’s a cup of reality to awaken you and your senses. You are the leader. You exist because there are followers. Your organization can achieve whatever you and the followers are willing to accomplish through hard work, discipline, vision, and innovation. The ideas du jour that you’ve read about are only as good or as bad as your willingness to utilize (PUT INTO ACTION) them in your operations.
Max DePree said the “first role of the leader is to define reality.” Henry Kissinger said the “task of the leader is to get the people from where they are to where they have not been.” Most of the principles outlined by the writers of these great books will work. Unfortunately they only work if you are willing to lead / manage with these. They don’t work if you’re only hanging your pajamas on them or storing them under the bed.
You as leader are only half of the equation. The followers are the other necessary component. As individuals their personalities and values will determine what they are willing and able to do. Collectively the interaction and intimacy of these individuals determine the group personality and values – THE CULTURE. Without a leader the organization will not enjoy positive movement and without motivated followers the leader will not lead anywhere.
Answer Mr. DePree - what is your reality? What is your vision? Who are the followers – as individuals and collectively? Are they willing and able to follow you in pursuit of this vision? If no, are you willing to train and provide an environment where the individuals motivate themselves to do so?
If necessary, are you willing and able to change the organizational culture (WARNING: CHANGING THE CULUTURE IN AN ORGANIZATION IS VERY CHALLENGING)? If no, are you willing and able to change the members of the group or change the Vision to one that your group can achieve?
Once the Vision is clear, the plan written, and the organization prepared, motivated, and committed, do you and the individuals have the courage and discipline to charge the machine gun fire that is the competitive marketplace?
Leadership and followership are not about a pill – it’s about hard work! Planning, preparation, discipline, and execution! God Bless America – What a country! (Priceless)
Copyright (May 2002) - Michael G. Manes
All rights reserved
Friday, February 1, 2008
Health Care Reform - A Modest Proposal
As a follow up to yesterday's posting - I offer the following column that was published in the Baton Rouge Business Report during the 2004 Gubernatorial runoff in Louisiana.
THE SKY IS FALLING AND THAT’S THE GOOD NEWS!
The bad news is “the sky is falling”. At current inflation trend our Health Care and Health Care Financing Systems will collapse in the next few years. The good news is “the sky is falling” so ignoring the problem is no longer an option.
The timing is right – the opportunity is great – the challenge is doable. Now is the time for Louisiana to LEAD the nation.
What if - we accepted as a Mission the development of a new system of Health Care / Community Health and its financing? We could be the “stealth” laboratory for the rest of the country. “Stealth” because we’re under the radar - experimenting here won’t upset the rest of the country and if it works here, it will be assumed to work anywhere.
What if, we the people and our leaders COMMIT ourselves to a new and better system?
What if – the new system demands health and quality care accessible to everyone in our state on a when needed and as appropriate basis at a price we are willing and able to pay?
(NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION – LIMIT THE DOLLARS AVAILABLE AND WATCH INNOVATION OCCUR! HENRY FORD DISCOVERED THAT AT $500.00 HE COULD SELL AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF CARS THEN HE INVENTED THE ASSEMBLY LINE TO BUILD THESE $500.00 VEHICLES. THERE ARE ENOUGH DOLLARS IN THE SYSTEM [$5,035.00 FOR EVERY CITIZEN IN THIS COUTNRY], WE NEED TO INNOVATE HOW THESE DOLLARS ARE SPENT.)
What if – the system is based on responsibility and accountability for all? What if we “incent” good behavior / effective consumption and “disincent” unhealthy behavior and irresponsible shopping for care and its financing?
What if - we obtain from the federal government the needed waivers and support to facilitate this pilot. The “fed” will cooperate because they need a “pilot” / leader to address this crisis.
What if - we create a VISION of a new system and a PROCESS to achieve it?
What if – we allowed 47 days (not 47 years like the EBR Parish School desegregation case) to accomplish this Mission?
What if – the “Vision” team of this commission was anchored by consumers – representatives of people / organizations that pay for care [employers, employees, individual policyholders, and taxpayers] and those that use care – the patients? This consumer base could be supplemented and complemented by educators, ethicists, “techies”, dreamers, community leaders, and “a few selected grandmas” – all of whom are also consumers.
What if - the current providers of care (physicians, allied health professionals, hospitals, etc.) and the financiers of care (insurance companies / plans) and the service providers to each of these systems only joined the discussion after the VISION was established?
What if – special interests providing services to the marketplace each provided a member to the commission? This would include representatives of Physicians, Nurses, Allied Health Professionals, Hospitals, Insurance Companies, LSU Health Science Center, Pharmaceutical Companies, Medical Records Companies, Brokers, TPAs, Suppliers / Vendors, etc.
What if – the representatives of each special interest were assigned to represent an interest other than their own? The person appointed by the Louisiana State Medical Society might represent Insurance Companies, the Louisiana Hospital Association “rep” might be responsible to the Pharmaceutical industry, etc.).
What if – members could be “voted off the island (commission)” if they:
1. were not committed to the NEW
2. were not representing the VISION and their “new” special interest
3. were trying to perpetuate the status quo (their “old” interest)?
What if – the media made sure that the process was open (fully disclosed) to the public but did not second-guess the process until certain pre-determined dates for public debate, dialogue, opinions, etc.?
What if – we “burned the bridges” to the past so that the status quo was not an option?
What if - …
Before you say this is impossible - consider this:
On May 25, 1961, John F. Kennedy shared his Vision about “landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth.” On the day he shared this Vision – his proposed goal, based on then existing science, WAS IMPOSSIBLE.
What JFK did was declare the VISION and then he “locked up” the best minds he could find and had them create the science to make it work.
IF WE CAN LAND A MAN ON THE MOON, WE CAN FIX HEALTH CARE AND IT’S FINANCING. THE CHALLENGE IS TO DO THIS IN LOUISIANA FIRST. What say you?
Copyright (2004) - Michael G. Manes
All rights reserved
THE SKY IS FALLING AND THAT’S THE GOOD NEWS!
The bad news is “the sky is falling”. At current inflation trend our Health Care and Health Care Financing Systems will collapse in the next few years. The good news is “the sky is falling” so ignoring the problem is no longer an option.
The timing is right – the opportunity is great – the challenge is doable. Now is the time for Louisiana to LEAD the nation.
What if - we accepted as a Mission the development of a new system of Health Care / Community Health and its financing? We could be the “stealth” laboratory for the rest of the country. “Stealth” because we’re under the radar - experimenting here won’t upset the rest of the country and if it works here, it will be assumed to work anywhere.
What if, we the people and our leaders COMMIT ourselves to a new and better system?
What if – the new system demands health and quality care accessible to everyone in our state on a when needed and as appropriate basis at a price we are willing and able to pay?
(NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION – LIMIT THE DOLLARS AVAILABLE AND WATCH INNOVATION OCCUR! HENRY FORD DISCOVERED THAT AT $500.00 HE COULD SELL AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF CARS THEN HE INVENTED THE ASSEMBLY LINE TO BUILD THESE $500.00 VEHICLES. THERE ARE ENOUGH DOLLARS IN THE SYSTEM [$5,035.00 FOR EVERY CITIZEN IN THIS COUTNRY], WE NEED TO INNOVATE HOW THESE DOLLARS ARE SPENT.)
What if – the system is based on responsibility and accountability for all? What if we “incent” good behavior / effective consumption and “disincent” unhealthy behavior and irresponsible shopping for care and its financing?
What if - we obtain from the federal government the needed waivers and support to facilitate this pilot. The “fed” will cooperate because they need a “pilot” / leader to address this crisis.
What if - we create a VISION of a new system and a PROCESS to achieve it?
What if – we allowed 47 days (not 47 years like the EBR Parish School desegregation case) to accomplish this Mission?
What if – the “Vision” team of this commission was anchored by consumers – representatives of people / organizations that pay for care [employers, employees, individual policyholders, and taxpayers] and those that use care – the patients? This consumer base could be supplemented and complemented by educators, ethicists, “techies”, dreamers, community leaders, and “a few selected grandmas” – all of whom are also consumers.
What if - the current providers of care (physicians, allied health professionals, hospitals, etc.) and the financiers of care (insurance companies / plans) and the service providers to each of these systems only joined the discussion after the VISION was established?
What if – special interests providing services to the marketplace each provided a member to the commission? This would include representatives of Physicians, Nurses, Allied Health Professionals, Hospitals, Insurance Companies, LSU Health Science Center, Pharmaceutical Companies, Medical Records Companies, Brokers, TPAs, Suppliers / Vendors, etc.
What if – the representatives of each special interest were assigned to represent an interest other than their own? The person appointed by the Louisiana State Medical Society might represent Insurance Companies, the Louisiana Hospital Association “rep” might be responsible to the Pharmaceutical industry, etc.).
What if – members could be “voted off the island (commission)” if they:
1. were not committed to the NEW
2. were not representing the VISION and their “new” special interest
3. were trying to perpetuate the status quo (their “old” interest)?
What if – the media made sure that the process was open (fully disclosed) to the public but did not second-guess the process until certain pre-determined dates for public debate, dialogue, opinions, etc.?
What if – we “burned the bridges” to the past so that the status quo was not an option?
What if - …
Before you say this is impossible - consider this:
On May 25, 1961, John F. Kennedy shared his Vision about “landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth.” On the day he shared this Vision – his proposed goal, based on then existing science, WAS IMPOSSIBLE.
What JFK did was declare the VISION and then he “locked up” the best minds he could find and had them create the science to make it work.
IF WE CAN LAND A MAN ON THE MOON, WE CAN FIX HEALTH CARE AND IT’S FINANCING. THE CHALLENGE IS TO DO THIS IN LOUISIANA FIRST. What say you?
Copyright (2004) - Michael G. Manes
All rights reserved
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
