More March Madness

Follow-Up

In the last blog, the issue was using college athletes for profit without any obligations to these students. In the current issue of Time magazine, this point is driven to the basket.

Only one (1) university of the top four (4) seeds will graduate more than 50 percent of its players. According to Time, the programs at Kansas, UCLA and Memphis are below 46 percent. The payoff? The projected TV ad sales for the tourney will be $545 million.

There are new plantation owners in the US and they are called university presidents.

8 and Out

It’s time for the US to adopt the industrialized world’s approach to education and end mandatory schooling at the 8^th grade. By then students will have had 10 years of formal education and the basics of reading, writing and math should be deep-seated. If not, another 4 years won’t make a difference as the majority of high school graduates are only competent at an 8^th grade level as measured by standardized tests.

So what are the options? First, students with the aptitude and desire can enroll in private schools that will prepare them for an academic future and attendance in higher education. Parents, now paying yearly tuitions, will demand results from the school and place the appropriate expectations on their son or daughter. The learning environment will be enhanced by a clear focus, smaller class sizes and fewer disruptions.

Second, students who are creative (arts, music) or industrial can enroll in schools that will build on those strengths. In addition to traditional vocational programs, other offerings would include marketing and design, entrepreneurialism, small business skills and virtual skills such as call center specialists.

The third and final option is military service. While it is unlikely that any pre-18 year old will serve in a war zone, these students will learn the basics of soldiering including physical fitness. These military schools will be supported via tax dollars and students will serve a mandatory 5 years beyond the 4 years of “high school.” Every student will earn the equivalent of an academic or industrial high school degree that will allow them to compete in the non-military world. As an added bonus, any honorably discharged veteran with an academic degree can attend a college or university at no additional expense for up to 160 credits.

Finally, the US Congress can dissolve the US Department of Education as the past 50 years of programs and laws that provided billions of tax dollars have failed. The agency is just too out-of-touch to respond in a timely manner to the needs of business, industry or the country.

Standardization of education through the 8^th grade is a state function. Privatization of “high school” will have standards that will exceed those currently in place. The military option will have national standards as set by the oversight committee of the US Armed Forces.

It’s time for the US to make education competitive by eliminating the antiquated thought that every child has the right for 12 years of education. Actually, some children should be “left behind” for the good of those who can excel.

Visit www.3MinuteLearning.com

GROWTH <> LEADERSHIP <> EXCELLENCE

© 2008 3 Minute Learning LLC

Super League

The Return of the Student-Athlete

It’s March and the annual college basketball “March Madness” is hitting college campuses, sports networks and business offices across the country. College students set aside homework and other academic projects, TV networks blast an endless barrage of advertising and productivity in corporate offices falls faster than Dow-Jones stock prices. Maybe this is all harmless fun until you realize the actual outcome: the exploitation of gifted Black athletes.

The major sports, football and basketball, are significant revenue generators for a university with modern football stadiums and basketball arenas. Tickets, TV contracts, sales from concessions and parking and logo licensing are big revenue producers. Colleges profit on the backs of talented young men and women and offer very little in return. In major sports, scholarships that lead to college degrees are less than 50 percent of the total student-athlete population and even lower for Black athletes. The US is the only country in the world that turns its young people into sports slaves and addicts.

It’s time for colleges and universities to take back athletics and return them to an appropriate place in the academic experience. It’s time to recognize the return of the student-athlete who plays sports as a complement to academics. However, because college athletics is so tightly linked with the economics of this country, a compromise would be the creation of a super league of universities. Just as Ivy League schools represent the top tier of academics, there would be a top tier league for athletics.

In both football and basketball, there would be a selection for a league of teams based on a historical number of athletes that make it to professional ranks. These teams would be known for their true intent: preparing athletes for a career in professional sports. In football, the super league would have 20 teams; basketball would have 40 teams. The competitive schedules would only include teams in the league. The NCAA would have no jurisdiction over this league; these participants are not student-athletes; they are semi-pro athletes. They would be governed by the same rules of any pro athlete.

The twist would be a “super-fund” created by the participating universities and matched by the respective professional leagues that would go to supporting education for these athletes. Each athlete would be given 5 years of sports eligibility and, if drafted, could turn pro at any time during those 5 years. At the end of 5 years (or sooner), should the athlete fail to make a pro team, the super-fund pays for that athlete to re-enter college as a student.

The super-fund comes from regular season ticket sales, playoff games, TV contracts, licensing of products and the match from the pro leagues. Even though the athlete is not getting paid directly, there would be room and board, training and medical coverage, travel accommodations and year-round access to training facilities.

While this sounds like the current system, the difference would be that the athlete is not going to suffer from delusions about their chances for a pro contract. They are playing in the top semi-pro league; if no pro team is showing interest, it’s time to get out and get a degree.

The athlete should realize that education is the key to his or her future and has 4 years, tuition-free, to get that done. The current system wastes that tuition-free opportunity by making the student sacrifice academics for athletics during the 5-year scholarship period.

For the tens of thousands of other athletes across the country, playing collegiate sports is now for the “love of the game.” College athletics would still provide an outlet for competition and social activities but it is not the focus.

For the “top-shelf” college athlete playing in the super league, it won’t take long to realize any pro potential. The big difference is now they have a chance to develop a productive career should an athletic not be realized.

Visit www.3MinuteLearning.com

GROWTH <> LEADERSHIP <> EXCELLENCE

© 2008 3 Minute Learning LLC

You Saw That Coming

Betrayal

According to definition, betrayal is characterized as disloyal, unfaithful or to reveal or disclose. Throughout the history of mankind, the one undeniable trait that is always present is betrayal. Despite over 2000 years of Christianity, acts of betrayal are still far more evident than acts of unconditional love.

As a leader, this is one of those behaviors that you know is going to occur and an issue that you want to avoid. How do you minimize the potential for betrayal?

First, you never accept caveats, cheating or lying and you never engage in those activities. You are constantly being observed, so you always need to set appropriate examples. If you dress casually for work, so will those around you. If you single out someone to have a little fun at their expense, more of that kind of behavior will follow. What you do will be mimicked because you are the leader.

Second, you clearly define the line between workplace activities and social activities. This doesn’t mean you make the work environment dull and uninviting. Quite the contrary; you want work to be meaningful and enjoyable. It does mean that you know when issues are work related versus personal. You do not get involved with personal issues; instead you make sure that person gets professional counseling. You’ll always be vulnerable to betrayal if you start your version of a counseling program.

Third, be accountable and always accept responsibility when things go wrong. Even though the people you trusted may have been irresponsible, you are still the recognized leader. If you try to blame others to avoid any “blowback” on your reputation, you can most certainly expect that one or more persons are now ready to betray you.

One final thought about lying. It is never acceptable and it will always lead to your demise. If you were a professional athlete who used steroids or HGH to enhance your performance, then just say “Yes, I did it.” In sports where those substances have been banned, you lose your medals or trophies but you keep your dignity. In sports where those substances have not been banned, what’s the point of lying? People are not stupid – you as a professional athlete performed at an unnaturally high level and as a result, there had to be answer beyond athleticism.

Being a leader is a tough job and not everyone qualifies. That’s why good leaders are special and hard to find.

FYI

(1) An Opinion Research survey of 1198 workers about the top workplace frustrations revealed:

17% felt frustrated about poor communication by senior management about the business;

16% felt frustrated about general office politics; and

15% felt frustrated about the lack of teamwork

Three reasons account for nearly half of workplace frustrations. It would seem reasonable that organizations could successfully address these issues and create a stronger work environment.

(2) “First, say to yourself what you would be, and then do what you have to do.” -- Epictetus

Visit www.3MinuteLearning.com

GROWTH <> LEADERSHIP <> EXCELLENCE

© 2008 3 Minute Learning LLC

Valentine’s Day Potpourri

Living and Health

Here’s a variety of health and living news items that point to the need for you to stay current, read everyday and don’t be manipulated by popular press or ideas:

1) Healthy Living is Too Expensive: It’s much cheaper for governments to continue to ignore the health risks of smoking and obesity according to a study from the Public Library of Science Medicine. According to the research, lifetime health costs for healthy living is $417,000; for smokers, $326,000; and for the obese, $371,000. The conclusion appears to be let people choose to be as healthy as they want to be and to allow self-destructive behaviors continue.

Like all things in life, a healthy lifestyle coupled with preventive health care is a personal choice. People don’t need expensive and non-productive health programs telling them to not smoke, to take 30 minutes for a walk or to get regular health exams (even the uninsured can afford one checkup a year). Healthy people have already figured this out – government is “preaching to the choir” and hence, wasting tax dollars.

Plus the one biological element that will determine how long a person lives and how healthy that person will be in his or her lifetime is genetics. So pick your parents carefully.

2) Women Have High Serum Cholesterol: High serum cholesterol is defined as a number greater than 240 mg/dlt as determined by a blood test. According to the CDC and the NCHS National Health and Nutritional exam surveys from 2005-06, women, on average, have high serum cholesterol levels twice more often than men (22% to 10%). In the “heart attack” years between 40 and 59, women have a slightly higher incidence than men (19.2% to 18.8%). The only period of life when men exceed women (13% to 11%) is between 20 and 39.

Since more men die of heart attacks than women, maybe the idea of high serum cholesterol is not much of a risk factor (by itself). Perhaps the hype around prescription drugs to lower cholesterol as a preventive measure is just another well-marketed fear tactic advanced by pharmaceuticals for no other reason than profit? If a pharmaceutical company can get a “patient” in their 50’s started with a statin (cholesterol-lowering drug) regimen, that person will be “hooked” for at least 30 years on a very expensive monthly drug habit.

3) Time to Ask for a Raise: Since 1981, the cost of living when adjusted for inflation, has risen by 140%. If you were employed full-time in 1981, and was earning $26,000 per year, today your salary would need to be around $65,000 a year to have kept pace. If you are not earning at least $60,000 a year, your buying power has dropped significantly. That explains the need for households to have multiple low-paying jobs.

Inflation will reduce the buying power of a dollar by 95% every 40 years. A dollar saved in any kind of savings program in 1968 would have the buying power of 5 cents today. The only way you stay ahead (or at least even) is by reinvesting dividends and capital gains from your investments. It is really true when financial advisors say that the only way to make “real” money is to put your money to work by investing.

With the US Government and the banking industry pushing credit debt and “spend for today” mentalities, the middle-class economic structure will soon disappear and the poor will get poorer.

Visit www.3MinuteLearning.com

GROWTH <> LEADERSHIP <> EXCELLENCE

© 2008 3 Minute Learning LLC

$250

Where Will You Spend $250?

One of the current proposals to bail out the US economy includes offering $250 to each taxpayer ($500 per family). The goal is to encourage purchasing consumer goods and ignite the faltering retail industry. Why say “no”? After all it is “free” money. Or is it?

That $100 billion stimulus package will be added to the already overburdened debt. Future generations can’t even begin to appreciate how this debt will lower their standard of living. That gift of $250 will be the average per person per week food bill in 15 years! Of course if the US were to stop funding the Iraqi civil war, the country could save $9 billion a month and then the stimulus debt could be paid back in less than 2 years.

But it is fruitless to focus on the big stuff; as the “poster boy” for all the presidential candidates Ronald Reagan once said: “Government is part of the problem.” The mantra of less government over the past 8 years has led to a trillion dollar debt. It’s better for you to focus on your $250.

Where will you spend your windfall of cash? The average US household has a credit card debt of nearly $10,000. Even $500 won’t make much of a dent in that bill. As the Fed lowers interest rates, your $250 won’t earn much more than a few cents a year in a savings account. Not exactly retirement planning, is it?

The average US household spends around $650 per year in cell phone charges. Well that would almost cover 6-month’s worth of text messages like, “C U L8tr.” Of course when you factor in other communication costs like high-speed Internet, cable TV, land-line phones and subscription services that allow your budding teen age whiz kid to engage in online gaming (to support the growth of unusually large thumb muscles), the average US household is spending close to $3500 per year for these services. And here is a “shocking” fact from the New York Times Magazine: at the end of 2005, Americans had “stashed away” over 500 million old cell phones in boxes and drawers, never to be used again. Remember that there are only 300 million US citizens!

Maybe you could use your $250 for an annual physical. Most insurance doesn’t cover preventive health checkups until you meet the deductible, so this may be a good idea. According to the Los Angeles Times, Americans now spend $7,026 on health care per person per year. So, put a little bit more into this $2 trillion a year industry and at least feel like you got something for your money.

With energy costs rising at a blistering pace, you could use your $250 to fill up your SUV two or three times this month. Or you could pay for one month’s winter heating. Maybe you could buy a pair of those new $250 Nike Air Jordan basketball shoes and start walking every day to work. Can’t you just feel financial relief coming ‘round the next corner?

Face it: unless you are in the most desperate of situations, $250 or even $500 is not much help. And if you are in desperate need, that $250/$500 should come every month for the next few years instead of a one-time gift.

If you really want to improve your situation then cut back on your spending. Recessions are the economy’s way of saying: “enough, take a breather.” Saving and investing during a recession is the right answer and not more spending. Every downturn is followed by better times – if you want to enjoy those upcoming years, then don’t put you or your family in more debt buying “stuff” that will eventually end up in your shoe box or in a landfill.

One final idea: invest in yourself. Insure your future success with continuing education and a commitment to life-long learning. That's good use of $250!

Visit www.3MinuteLearning.com

GROWTH <> LEADERSHIP <> EXCELLENCE

© 2008 3 Minute Learning LLC