Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Solving the Emerging Crisis



Resolving the Global Economic Crisis


“Solving the Global Economic Crisis requires the involvement and participation of Emerging Nations.”  The Quotations of Slim Fairview



I.  MECHANICS



Before the global economic crisis can be solved, the problems of emerging nations must be addressed—by the emerging nations themselves.  They must take charge.  Autonomy = Equality.   Therefore, the first three things that must be done are to establish the following:

Emerging Nations Economic Union

Emerging Nations Economic Unions

Global Consortium of Emerging Economic Unions



II. OVERVIEW

Areas I’ve discussed in Emerging Nations Economic Union involve a combination of Cash Payments + Capital Investment for by Industrialised Nations that want to do business with Emerging Economies.

Cash payments plus capital investment  This will result in declining foreign direct investment over time as revenues increase from various sources, enabling each emerging economy to move toward autonomy.

Autonomy = Equality.

Capital Investment should be spread throughout each nation and among a variety of sectors and industries. For example:

Energy

Private: Oil, Solar, Hydroelectric

Public:  Government owned or regulated monopolies E.g. utilities (Public Utilities) analogous to our old Phone Company, “Ma Bell”.


Trade

Emerging Nations can best be served by establishing a Nation to Nation Exchange; a marketplace for doing business with the nations in the Emerging Nations Union--an exchange, not unlike the Stock Exchange for Representatives from industrialised Nations and Representatives from Emerging Economies to meet and to negotiate transactions.



III.  CRUCIAL TO SUCCESS


1.  Emerging World Bank.  This is to handle financial transactions a monetary transfers in trade and commerce.

2.  Emerging World Monetary Fund.  This is to bring funds to activities in the various emerging nations through MicroFinance and other programmes.

3.  Emerging World Council.  This is to provide a legal framework and structure and to serve as The Legal Entity for relationships with other legal entities and structures.  For example: for dealing with


  • The World Bank
  • The IMF
  • The World Court
  • The World Health Organisation

  • Et. Alia.


This enables Emerging Nations to speak with a collective voice and to have the clout of those who represent more than 2,000,000,000 (Two Billion) people in addition to the resources and natural resources rightly belonging to the more than 2,000,000,000 people who live in the countries of the Emerging Nations Economic Union.


This is a new version of the law of large numbers.  In this version:


 “You represent a large number of the world’s People; 
therefore you participate in making the laws.”



Emerging World Court:  This is to resolve disputes among the Emerging Nations and to resolve other matters as established and agreed to at the Emerging World Council.



IV.  Benefits to Emerging Nations

With the four legal entities established


  • Emerging World Bank
  • Emerging World Monetary Fund
  • Emerging World Council
  • Emerging World Court


And with

Several Emerging Nations Economic Unions having been established


And with

A Union of Emerging Economies Union having been established

The Emerging Economies can begin to benefit from size and co-operations with


  • More leverage
  • More negotiating power
  • Better Global Organisation
  • Better Long term strategic planning
  • Better results for a better life for more and more people.


V.  Who and Where are You?

This is for the emerging nations to decide for themselves.  This worked for The European Union (Do not adopt a single currency);  It is in evidence as China attempts to embrace Western Asia; It may include the Middle East as OPEC attempts to protect future oil revenues; It is being planned for Eastern Europe with President Putin’s plan for a Eurasian Economic Union; and can be vital in Asia, Africa, and in Latin America.  And do not forget NAFTA.



VI.  Caveat


At the conclusion of my report on Economic Development in the Slate Belt area of Pennsylvania, USA 13 years ago, I issued this stern admonition to my fellow Slate Belt Citizens.  I warned them of the results of our failure to act.  I said,

“If we don’t do it, others will. However, they won’t do it for us, and they won’t do it with us, they will do it to us.”


Now is the time for Emerging Nations to form their Emerging Nations Economic Union and a Union of Emerging Economic Unions.




VII. Epilogue


Form Follows Function—Bauhaus.

Slim Fairview, “If you can’t sit on it, it isn’t a chair.  However, just because you can sit on it, doesn’t mean it is a chair.

“If you can’t eat it, it’s not food.  However, just because you can eat it, doesn’t mean it is food.”

An Old Chinese Saying warned of this:  “Never underestimate the power of a symbolic gesture.”

Slim Fairview: “Remember, the power of a symbolic gesture resides with the person making the gesture.”

People Can’t Eat Symbolic Gestures.


"You cannot stop the arrival of history, you can only delay it.  History is coming." ~ Slim Fairview


VIII.  Additional Reading



And President Obama Said….”  An article about the success of China and American Exceptionalism.



Emerging Nations Economic Union” About the need to establish an Emerging Nations Economic Union and the tricks used by Industrialised Nations to exploit Emerging Nations



The Unspoken Understanding A companion piece to Emerging Nations Economic Union about how to deal effectively with those who want to exploit Emerging Nations











Warmest Regards and best of luck.

Slim Fairview


Copyright © 2014 Slim Fairview / Robert Asken
All rights reserved.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

And President Obama Said...

“And President Obama said…”

Mexico is planning to restructure its oil industry.
America is seeking oil independence
China is shifting from coal to oil
OPEC will need o review protecting future revenue
Emerging nations have growing energy needs.

China has been making economic and diplomatic overtures to Africa and expanding its global diplomatic and economic initiatives.  And remember this: it was not too long ago that President Obama pointed to China and said, “That used to be us.”

If The President meant China is becoming more successful, he was right. However, if he meant China is embracing a paradigm that we have long ago abandoned, he is offering great insight into the future—one that we had better heed.  To understand why, we must look at “American Exceptionalism.”

AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM

From the death of President Lincoln to the death of President Kennedy, American Exceptionalism arose from three areas:  Our blessings, our workers, our iron-fisted empire builders.  What we have witnessed since, is the dissolution of America from the death of Kennedy forward.  Technology and innovation and entrepreneurs cannot reverse the trend until America puts Americans back to work.  Here is a brief and focused look at American business, commerce, and industrial exceptionalism:
Edison: The light bulb.
Edison:  The movie camera
Edison:  The phonograph
Edison:  The electric car.
The Wright Brothers: The aeroplane.
Steve Jobs: The personal computer.
Samuel Morse:  The telegraph.
Henry Ford: The assembly line.

Then we have:
Rockefeller: Oil
Carnegie: Steel
Morgan: Finance.

And, Labour!
Coal miners
Autoworkers,
Police officers
Firefighters,
Truck drivers,
Brick layers,
Steel workers
Iron workers,
Plumbers
Electricians
Carpenters
And, of course
FARMERS: NO FARMERS, NO FOOD.

The US is the world’s largest economy.  China is the world’s fastest growing economy.

“China will succeed because China will do as we did, not as we say.”  
The Quotations of Slim Fairview.

A metaphor to explain what we are doing is this simple:

Remember the old canard about the man banging his head against the wall.  When asked why he does it, he replies, “Because it feels good when I stop.
From this we learn two things:

1.  That it will feel good when he stops.
2.  That he will stop.

We no longer recognize that paradigm in the US.  What we are doing is banging out heads against the wall embracing the belief that eventually it will feel good to bang our heads against the wall.


China is embracing a new paradigm. China is no longer looking inward. China is looking outward.  And, China was never a colonial power.  And, the rest of the world is tired of doing business with people who look like us.  What do we look like?  Rich!  For example, from the song: spacious skies, amber waves of grain, purple mountains majesty above the fruited plains.

China will do as we did and not as we say.  And therein lies the secret to China’s success.

Warmest regards,

Slim.

Further reading






Copyright © 2014 Slim Fairview Robert Asken
All rights reserved.









Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Emerging Nation Economic Union

Emerging Nations--Alternative to Failure.

You've heard of OPEC and you've heard of the EEC.  Now, I propose an Economic Union of Emerging Nations--EMEC. This is to help emerging nations to both leverage your position with the rest of the world, and to avoid the mistakes of the past Communities.



  • The OPEC oil embargo hurt the economies of the OPEC nations.
  • The Single European Currency hurt the European Economic Community.
  • The success of Germany was the result of the deficit spending of the Southern Nations:  Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.

The EMEC--Emerging Nations Economic Community--can join together to increase the potency of its negotiating power, and benefit from size to level the playing field with the rest of the world.  The industrialised nations.


HERE WE GO:


1. Identify those among you who are Emerging Economies.

2. Identify, classify, and inventory your assets: What you have to sell.

3. Identify, classify, and inventory your present and future needs: What you want to get.

4. Calculate the cost of your needs.

5. Price out your assets and the value to your customers.

6. Invite purchasing nations to a Nation to Nation Trade Conference: N2N Conference.

7. Prepare to negotiate CPCI: Cash Payments + Capital Investment.


Example of Assets:  Oil, Minerals, Chemicals, Ports, Stability, Location.

Example of Needs:  Agriculture, Health, Microfinance, Energy.


1st: The Leaders of Emerging nations must identify themselves to each other.

2nd: Leaders must meet to agree to embrace the paradigm of an Economic Union.

3rd:  Proceed as indicated above.


WARNING: DANGERS AHEAD.

As a metaphor, if everyone in the district worked for the Big Company,  the employees would have no place to spend their money.  This abuse was seen in "The Company Store" in the United States a century ago.

Microfinance is crucial to spread the opportunities among all the people in the district to help create a base--a middle class.

China: Rising middle class, rising economy.
India: Rising middle class, rising economy.
Soviet Union: No middle class, no Soviet Union.
United States: Declining middle class. Follow the path of the trajectory.

In the early days of America, the pioneers, built their own homes, farmed their own land, made their own furniture, made their own tools, made their own clothes.  In time, the division of labour resulted in many trades and crafts: potters making pots for cooking, The School Marm, The Preacher, The Blacksmith, The Butcher, The Baker, The Miller, The Barber, and so on.


DO NOT SURRENDER POWER

Old Chinese Saying

"Never underestimate the power of a symbolic gesture."


The Quotations of Slim Fairview

"The power of the symbolic gesture resides with the people making the gesture."



WESTERN TRICKS TO CONTROL EMERGING NATIONS



Invitation to Address a Committee


Committees do not solve problems. Committees create problems.  The first trick is to invited EMEC Leaders to address a committee.  This is a carrot and a stick.  It suggests that if you address the committee, you may receive what you want. If you do not, you won't.  The motive of the committee is to gather information about what you are doing to benefit the members of the committee and their friends--not you.


Creating a List of Activity


This trick is to keep you busy in an effort to impede your efforts to accomplish your goals.  This give the appearance of progress toward your goal, but in fact introduces the need for an inflated bureaucracy to dilute your efforts.


Gathering and Providing Mass Quantities of Data


This gives rise to:


  • The appearance of assistance.
  • Creating the appearance of the need for assistance.
  • Justifying the need for more people to join the efforts.
  • Validating the act of forcing people upon you.
  • Creating a massive project to keep you obligated to the people exploiting you.
  • Making you lose focus and lose site of your goals to infuse their agenda and advance their goals.

Crowding the Project


This trick involves inviting as many people as possible to work on grand plans to dilute the potency of your position.  There will be delays and distractions to benefit the interests of other people--not you--others.


Lies, Propaganda, Disinformation, and More Lies


This trick involves distracting you from your efforts to accomplish your goals by attacking the warnings.  The tricksters will accuse their critics of:

  • Showing you disrespect
  • Insulting your intelligence
  • Marginalising your culture

This is to mitigate the warnings and to advance their schemes to benefit themselves at your expense.



Putting You in Charge to Reduce Your Control


This is a devious trick.  It is a form of divide and conquer.  Different leaders will be separated to take charge of different projects.  The projects will be crowded with people, burdened with excessive data, and cause delays and distractions.  You are in charge, not them.  Caveat: Do not let them put you in charge of what they want you to do. 


Wasting Money by Spending Too Much on Their Agendas.


This is another devious trick.  There will be more and more money for fewer and fewer projects, until the focus is on the projects they want to fund and the projects you need go unfunded and your goals are never achieved.



SOME PROTECTION:


  • Do not listen to anyone who praises you or flatters you.
  • Discuss only business.
  • Speak to only those people who have the power to: 

  1. Negotiate the deal.
  2. Approve the Agreement
  3. Sign the Agreement
  4. Spend the Money.

Do not accept their invitations to socialize with them. Socialize away from them and discuss--freely and openly--the progress of your efforts.


Further Reading on This Topic


The Unspoken Understanding  More about the tricks of manipulation.


Mr. When's Chicken  to explain to The West why Emerging Nations do not like us.


And President Obama Said...  This explains China's success and offers insight into American Exceptionalism.  In Short:  "China will succeed because China will do as we did and not as we say."  The Quotations of Slim Fairview. (c) 2014.


Solving the Emerging Crisis  This offers some of the mechanics of the project.



Warmest regards,

Slim




Copyright (c) 2014 Slim Fairview & Robert Asken
All rights reserved.

Monday, January 6, 2014

Bachelor of Sports--Football Major


How long will it be before Texas A&M or the University of Texas offers a Bachelor of Sports or a Bachelor of Athletics with a major in Football?

There is a valid reason to do so. In fact, many.

Football is a business.  Football is not a game. Football is not a sport. Football is a business. In fact, Football is an Industry—a multi billion-dollar industry that provides many jobs and supports many other industries, which—by extension, supports many more jobs.

In most businesses, sales are goals.  In football, goals are sales.  Fans are revenue generators. Advertising pays the bills. And television speaks for itself.

A Football team bay benefit from Brand Loyalty, however, there is no boutique football. There is no Mass-Market Discount Football.  Football is not L.L. Bean.  Football is not Wal-Mart.  Football is Kohl’s.  Football is Macy’s.  And just as Macy’s becomes The Miracle on 34th Street every Thanksgiving—complete with a parade—football becomes the miracle on the 50 yard line—complete with bowl games.

Originally, this article was only to underscore the difference between teams and committees.  However, it turned out to be more.

You’ve heard of surgical teams. Have you ever heard of a surgical committee?  You’ve heard of football teams.  Have you ever heard of a football committee?

Proms have decorating committees. Proms are not in competition. Proms are not revenue generators.  Playing football in high school is just as valid as taking Phys. Ed. or Health Class.  However, College Football is a whole new ballgame.

  • College Football is very competitive.
  • College Football is big business.
  • College Football is an industry.
  • College Football is a major revenue generator.


Therefore, by extension, College Football should also be a College Major.  In fact, there should be an entire degreed field of study.

Soon there will be, and there should be, a Bachelor of Sports (BS) and a Bachelor of Athletics (BA).

Those graduating with a Bachelor of Sports can go on to become Coaches, Trainers, Recruiters, or enter the fields of sports Advertising, Marketing, or Sales.

They can even go on to play Professional Football.

A Football Major watching a training film is just as valid as a Film Major watching Citizen Kane, or a Theatre Major watching a play.

A Football Major going to a football game is just as valid as a music major going to listen to a symphony, an Art Major going to a gallery opening, or a History Major visiting a Museum.

All are valid activities. Only Football is derided despite the fact that Football is a Multibillion Dollar Industry.

Is there any real difference between a Finance Major studying Economics and Statistics to develop investment portfolio strategies and a Football Major studying Football stats to develop recruitment and training strategies?
There will, of course, be a core curriculum.

  • Offensive Analysis I, II, III, IV.
  • Defense Analysis I, II, III, IV.
  • Pregame Previews
  • Post Game Analysis
  • Sports Writing
  • Broadcasting
  • Recruiting
  • Training
  • Marketing
  • Advertising
  • Sales.


How long before the University of Texas or Texas A&M or USC or Notre Dame or Penn State offers a Valid Degree in sports with a Football Major?

If you find anything here to be helpful, please do not hesitate to send me a really tricked out MacPro and to tuck a bit of WAM into the envelope along with the Thank You not.

Warmest regards,
Slim.

Copyright © 2014 Slim Fairview
All rights reserved.







Thursday, December 12, 2013

If You Can Label It You Can Sell It

"If you can label it, you can sell it."

"The Alchemists tried turning lead into gold and failed.  The Marketing People succeeded by selling lead to the Alchemists.

The Quotations of Slim Fairview. (c) 2017


Remember the pet rock?  Adopt a Cabbage Patch Kid?  Here we go.


LABELS

When I was young, a label spoke to the quality of the merchandise. Dunhill tobacco pouch, Florsheim shoes.

Today, a label speaks to the price of the merchandise. Everything does come with a price.  But many times the price is more than dollars and cents.  Every label has a price.

If you carry a Birkin Bag, you'd better be a celebrity.  If not, you will be viewed with contempt for parading around with a $60,000 pocketbook.  On the other hand, if you wear Birkenstock Sandals, don’t you also pay a price; a price for marketing yourself?  You are marketing yourself, aren't you?  Really?  Aren't you?

Florsheim Shoes, Gucci Loafers, Birkenstock Sandals are all quality products. Different price ranges, but all quality products. And each sends a different message.  Who are you labeling your product for?

Label v. Logo.

You're logo is not the little picture you hired that graphics designer to create for you.  Your logo is, in fact, how your customer feels when buying, wearing, or using your product.  Your label is what your customer tells other people he paid for your product--not in dollars only.  To understand logos, read my article "YOUR LOGO".

There is, of course the cynical approach.  Two outstanding examples of that are:
P.T. Barnum:  “There’s a sucker born every minute.”
H.L. Mencken:  “Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public.
 

Now, we move onto serious marketing people.  For this we have the Four Marketeers.

  • Redesign
  • Reconfigure
  • Relabel
  • Repackage


These are the four cavaliers of successful marketing.

There is an old saying on Madison Avenue.  “Half of all advertising works.  But nobody knows which half.”

The issue, of course, is not advertising.  The issue is marketing. And, I've said this repeatedly.  Marketing:  “Find a need and fill it.”  

Don’t get T-Boned at the intersection of Marketing & Madison.  Marketing Trumps Advertising


Relabel

WHY THE BUY IN?  Is that the hard question?  No.

If you'd read my article "MARKETING 1959" you will already know that wearing leggings (snow pants) made you a target of derision and teasing.  I remember the "consumer pushback" as my Mom tried getting me into my leggings. 

Then, one day, my buddy had to wear them.  And someone began, "Ha, ha, you had to wear leggings."  But he was ready. 

"They're not leggings, they're ski pants".
 
Suddenly they became an icon of cool.  Okay, why the buy in?  Why did the other boys in the class suddenly buy into the premise?


Two reasons: 

In part, to be a part of it all if they had to wear them.

In part for protection from derision if they had to wear them. 

Call it relabeling, not rebranding.   You’re not switching from the discount store brand to the designer brand. The product was renamed.
  
For example:  My Dad wore a robe.  Noel Coward wore a dressing gown.


However, one of the most brilliant relabeling strategies was employed by Japanese Automakers. 


When US car manufacturers wanted to enhance revenue, they outsourced their work off-shore.  This was an effort to cut costs.  However, you don’t sell a lot of Oldsmobiles in a country where people earn $5. A day.

When Japanese auto makers wanted to enhance revenue, they opened plants in the US and hired American auto workers.  What happened? 

Japanese automakers began selling cars that were made in America by American workers. 


There will be more to come.

If you find anything here to be helpful, please don't hesitate to send me a really tricked out Mac Book and to tuck a few dollars into the envelope along with the thank you note. 


Sincerely,

Slim

Box 33
Pen Argyl, PA 18072




Copyright (c) 2013 Bob Asken
All Rights Reserved.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Teamwork is for Teams

"A team is not a committee.  A committee is not a team.  Teamwork is for teams.  
Committees do not solve problems, they create them." ~ Slim Fairview

I do not like sports analogies. However, as we are discussing teams, we must use them.  Also, I do not like long introductions.  Therefore:


Here is the metaphor:

The Giants have 11 men on the field. For the purposes of  this discussion they are:

One Center
Two Guards,
Two Tackles
Two Ends
One Quarterback
Two Halfbacks
One Fullback

Each player plays a position. (A Job Title)
Each position has a job description.

Each player has some degree of discretion within the parameters of his assignment which he may exercise as different situations present themselves, at the time they present themselves, and in the way that they present themselves.

If a defensive lineman decides not to break through the line, the tackle must decide whether and how to change his approach--to handle his assignment.  Others must make adjustments accordingly.


"The joke is in the way I say it, not in what I say." ~ Slim Fairview.

The Tackle does not call a time out, walk across the field and say to the Receiver, "Listen, you missed that last pass, how about I run down field with you in case there is another problem?"

The Halfback does not stroll over to find out what is going on.

If there appears to be a dispute, the QB does not go over to implement some conflict resolution.

The Coach does not come out onto the field to suggest that the tackle head up a committee of back fielders and receivers to look into the problem.

Human Resources doesn't not go out onto the field to suggest bringing in a consultant who might hold a training session where everyone will have the opportunity to play different positions in order to become more sensitive to the other players feelings.

A fan does not come out onto the field to represent stakeholder interests and suggest we need a field 200 yards long to expand the market and six downs per play for revenue enhancement.

A second stringer does not go out onto the field to suggest increasing the number of players on the field to 15 or 20 so more people get to play.



There are a few things to consider though.

The team already has a shared vision
The team already has a defined goal
The team members already have their assignments
The team members already have their job descriptions.

Also there are other similarities

The opposing team presents a set of  knowns and a set of unknowns.

The offensive team knows the strengths and weaknesses of the defensive team. They do not, however, know which members of the defensive team will present the problem--or where.

If that defensive lineman decides to go around the offensive line rather than through it, then the Tackle must made a decision--on his own--"do I pull back or not?"  That decision will influence the action of, say, the Fullback. He may now be forced to move to protect the QB from being sacked.

In the same manner, the defensive line must also respond to situations and changing situations as a team.  That means each player has a degree of autonomy to make decisions within the parameters of his assigned position.

"As a team" means each individual doing his own job--not someone else's job.

A defensive lineman must decide where to go, depending on which offensive player is carrying the ball and in which direction he is heading.

You won't win many football games if you tell your defensive linemen, "Don't worry about where the ball is going.  Let me worry about that. That's my job.  If you want to be helpful, just do what I tell you to do.  If I want you to do something else, I will tell you." (Right in the middle of the play, eh?  That comment is pretty much what I was told on at least two occasions by a boss who made a serious error in judgement.  That according to many bosses.) 

Back to Congress

Everyone is entitled to an opinion.  True!
Everyone is entitled to express that opinion.  True!
The right to an opinion does not confer value upon that opinion.


"Opinions are like hemorrhoids.  Sooner or later almost every Congressman has one."  ~ The Quotations of Slim Fairview.


Case in Point:

Congress has 535 members.
Congress has a 5% approval rating.
You can't put 535 Congressmen into a 5% bag.


Back to football


Credentials:

Each football player has credentials.  Each team has a record.

Players have training, ability, experience and a track record.  Teams have a record of wins and losses, over and against which teams, and the analysis of the reasons why.

For example: Both Quarterbacks have a record of passes, pass completions, yards gained and lost, runs, yards, gained, sacks, and wins and losses.

Still, one QB wins and one loses.  Obviously, no one wins or loses on his own. Each has 10 other players on his team.  Each player doing his job. And only his job. Each team has a coach who writes plays (strategic planning) and a coach who replaces players who get tired, makes too many mistakes, or fails to perform to the (measurables) standards of the team.

When was the last time you replaced someone on your team? As they say across the pond--"Dropped for not scoring."

GET THE MESSAGE?

Teamwork is for teams.  A team is not a committee.  A committee is not a team. Committees do not solve problems, they cause them. 

Replace your committee with a team.  

Be sure your team is in compliance with the paradigm of a team.

There are those who believe that a committee is the best way to deal with a problem.  I will now refute, repudiate, disparage, and debunk their delusions with one word--Congress.

Einstein (The Physicists) said, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."  I assume he meant better results. 

"I am no Einstein.  I know nothing about physics." ~ Slim Fairview.

"Stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting better results." ~ Slim Fairview

From, The Quotations of Slim Fairview (c) 2013


Einstein also said, "You don't measure the intelligence of a fish  by its ability to climb a tree."

Slim Fairview said, "If you want someone to climb a tree, you hire a cat."

"If you want to know something, Google it.  If you want to understand something, ask an old person." ~ Slim Fairview.



If anything herein has helped guide you toward clear thinking and solid action, please do not hesitate to send me a really tricked out Mac Book and to tuck a few dollars into the envelope along with the thank you note.

or

GoFundMe


Warmest regards,



Slim.


Robert Asken Box 33 
Pen Argyl, PA  18072






Copyright © 2013 Robert Asken 
All Rights Reserved.