Welcome! There is nothing like road trips throughout the United States.  No matter where you go in the United States, there always seems to characteristics that make us the same. Minor regional difference, but major similarities that connect us. But those regional differences can make those communities unique and those experiences in them special.  For those who regard some regions of our great nation as flyover states, I hope they expand their minds and experience the interesting communities that exist. And meet some of their residents. There are good and bad in any area. But, when you experience America you will see there is so much in common to our core.  Sometimes, we believe that methods are the best simply because of the revenue generated, but some things done in high cost areas may have a big price tag with low quality. Learning how other areas do things can give insight and ideas that drive innovation and improve quality.  And so many good eats that ar...

Welcome! Today we remember all those brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedom, our homeland, and our way of life. We mourn their loss while cherishing their memory. The paid a price that America can never repay. But we can make sure that their sacrifice was not made in vein by embracing our American values, being compassionate to one another, and set aside divisiveness over politics.  I believe that people need to venture out around our great nation and that will help alleviate some of the tensions that exists. If you do, the first thing you realize is that we are all not that different. At our core, we all just want opportunity, kindness, and basic respect. Not a big or unreasonable ask by any means.  The great thing is learning from the differences in lifestyles and community structures. It is common to elevate what we are used to as the ultimate standard of normalcy. When you truly experience other cultures and ways of life, there is underly...

  Welcome! I speak a great deal about our perspectives and challenging our views because I believe it is important to understand our reality. It is human nature to see things in a manner that is favorable to our positions, interests, and needs. And ignore the inconvenient truths that exists. We need to be able to have a different reflections on challenging moments, events and situations to ensure that we are better in the future. To many times, we take comfort in finding a way to deflect responsibility. And then the patterns continue.  If we truly want to maximize our opportunities, outcomes, and realize our potential, then we need to be able to see the truth, accept the truth, and change if needed.  CRC SOCIAL:   Two events can be equal in outcome, but not received the same perception. When looking at the context in which those events happened and the situational factors that created the outcomes, there could be a completely different opinion on both, despite each e...

   Welcome! There is a need to set aside political rigidity for economic reality. The need for the right policy for the best outcomes for society is what is usually needed. Rather than one's ability to appear obedient in their ideological flock.  The federal government should not have bailed Spirit Airlines out, but they probably should have allowed them to proceed with the proposed merger with JetBlue.  Those people championing the blockage are failing to see that they actually caused the worst case scenario. The market concentration, loss of an affordable provider, and even greater employment loss than if the combination was permitted.  Now, hindsight is 20/20, but it was a bit predictable that of the two, Spirit Airlines would be the entity that would not survive. JetBlue has experienced its financial issues, but has solid services and could have expanded its offerings with the growth afforded with the acquisition of Spirit. A lost opportunity to allow a low ...

Welcome! There is nothing like starting off your day with that cup of coffee to power you through your morning. Sometimes, the energy you believe a cup of coffee from your favorite coffee shop has is enough to motivate you to push past the obstacles and challenges you know await you. And the value it provides is much greater than just the price you paid for it.  I agree with the notion that things are much healthier and better for you if made from home. But, the reality is that many times, people simply just need to grab something on the way to work, to the gym, to their family events, or on the road. That cup could be that treat that reaffirms your hard work and achievement. While there are number of great home choices for coffee, the ability to grab it and go without the cleanup and remembering to set it up the night before can be helpful.  Everyone has their preferred coffee chain. And they lean into the marketing of those brands. Starbucks appeals to their quality and conn...

Welcome! Rules are essential for maintaining order within an organization, society, or community. However, excessive rules can be troublesome, especially if they are contradictory, unfairly applied, overly subjective, or poorly understood by those expected to follow them. In the grand scheme of things, rules are generally reactive; an undesirable behavior occurs, and a rule is created to prevent it from happening again. To deter reoccurrences, rules must prescribe some form of punishment. If a violation occurs, the offender pays a penalty. Ideally, this penalty compels the offender to rethink their choices while serving as a deterrent for others. Effectively, a rule should address the process or behavior leading to an outcome, rather than the outcome itself. For example, if you want to eradicate cheating, punishing students simply for having identical test answers may penalize non-cheating behavior. If students study together, they are naturally more likely to share the same patterns o...

  Welcome! All business operate to grow, seek profitability, and expand market share. Whether it is a brand name producer of market leading products. Or an alternative offering consumers, who are more cost conscious, a more budget friendly option. Either way, they still need to operate an efficient and effective operation.   Naturally, I am a cost conscious person as I look to maximize my perceived value attained. Sometimes, the savings achieved are not worth the gap in realized quality of the transactions or the inconsistency with the service provider. Generally, you do get what you pay for. But sometimes you can save some money. Other times the savings are offset by the unexpected. In the following, we discuss value brands and whether they truly provide consumers benefits. Or if consumers should stick with the brand names.  FEATURED PODCAST:

  Welcome! Fast food may not be considered good for your health, but some times it is good for filling a need. Especially for people while traveling, either for work, pleasure, or just adventuring where you do not have the ability to meal prep or in need of a quick snack. In those moments, the sight of those golden arches can be very impactful.  There are few brands where people connect with and are willing to continue the generational memories to a certain extent. No other fast food chain has that market awareness like McDonalds. There is a reason why most people are always drawn back to the brand. Even the most health conscious person will want to have a cheat meal every now and then.  For a corporation that is really into real estate and supply chain, the brand awareness and marketing helps make it a dominant market leader that other brands ride the coattails of. In this brand discussion, we discuss why everyone loves the McDonalds brand.  FEATURED PODCAST:

  Welcome! In my experience, the best way to handle any sort of adversity is to deal with the situation with maximum understanding. I believe the more you know about something, the less anxiety you have over the unexpected. Especially if you are able to experience reasonable information, which can be difficult with competing agendas of those supporting and benefiting from the change or those opposing and benefitting from being able to limit or stop the change.  There is a gluttony of information about artificial intelligence telling us that we all will be unemployed and replaced by robots. Or other sources making us feel like we are behind those who may have a more in-depth knowledge of artificial intelligence than we currently may have. There is a natural risk if you are not aware of technological changes that could impact your livelihood. But, if you are still employed, there is obviously still some time for you to mitigate any future risk.  Certain fields may be optima...