Episode 17: New York, New York
It’s hard to believe it’s been 19 years since we watched the World Trade Center towers fall. I’m sure most remember where they were on that fateful morning. I was in San Francisco in my one-bedroom apartment, getting ready for work. It’s a morning I will never forget. Last year I had the honor of visiting ground zero and the 9/11 memorial for the first time. For those who have never been, it’s something every American should experience. Ground zero is a hallowed destination. Only a few places on the planet generate that level of respect and reverence. The adjacent magnificence of One World Trade, also known as the Freedom Tower, offers a stark contrast on every dimension. It’s as if the best and worst of humanity intersected, creating a dichotomy of emotions that work together in a usual but beautiful way. The events of 9/11 are one of those rare moments in time, like Sandy Hook, where this is no division of thought or philosophy. Republican and Democrat, black and white, religious and atheist, all united in feeling and spirit. Perhaps that’s one positive thing that happened from the events of 9/11. It’s a reminder of our common nature, a shared DNA that scientifically proves we are 99.9% the same regardless of gender, race, and nationality. Put another way, if each of us were a book that contained 262,000 pages, only 500 pages would be unique to us. In that spirit, let’s remember the tragic events of 9/11 and find more ways to honor and celebrate our 99.9%.
Wildfires and record heat were the stories on the west coast. The August Complex Fire is now the largest in the state’s history, burning square acreage about one-third of Delaware’s size. The fire started on August 17th during a series of lightning strikes that ignited 37 separate fires. Fast forward a month later, and the fire is 24% contained. What’s frightening is we are still weeks away from Autumn, which typically is peak fire season in CA. Six of the top 20 fires in CA history have occurred this year! Consequently, LA is experiencing the worst smog and highest ozone levels since 1994, and Portland currently has the worst air quality on the planet. Climate change is undoubtedly a contributor to recent wildfires’ frequency and severity, and the economic impact is astronomical. Unfortunately, unless we accelerate our path to a green economy, this is likely a harbinger of things to come vs. an aberration.
We celebrated Labor Day this past week. Ironic, given 14 million are without employment, which translates to roughly 8.6% unemployment. The pandemic has pounded the poorest Americans. According to a Federal Reserve survey, one in five American workers lost their jobs in March, the worst period of job loss since the Great Depression, including 40% of those in lower-income households making less than $40,000 vs. 13% of people making above $100,000. Furthermore, the lower-income jobs were mostly service-oriented in industries that may never return to previous hiring levels. Unfortunately, there is no sign of help in sight for those most in need. Congress is at a stalemate on another round of economic relief. The Senate failed this week to advance a Republican coronavirus stimulus plan. The measure needed 60 votes, and all Democrats present, plus Republican Rand Paul, opposed it in a 52-47 vote. The legislation would have reinstated enhanced federal unemployment insurance at $300 per week, authorized new small business loans (PPP), allocated funds toward schools, and improved COVID testing and treatment. The legislation did not include the second round of $1,200 of direct payments to individuals, or financial relief for struggling state and local governments, or money for rental and mortgage assistance—all priorities for Democrats. President Trump passed an Executive Order last month, offering some temporary relief. However, those funds are running out, and only Congress can give comprehensive relief because it controls federal spending. With the election only 53 days away, it appears there will be no compromise between the parties for fear of giving the other advantage in the election. And meanwhile, millions suffer.
The NFL season kicked off last night with the Kansas City Chiefs beating the Houston Texans. However, the more interesting story was off the field. Dak Prescott, the QB for the Dallas Cowboys, revealed that he struggled with anxiety and depression after his brother’s suicide earlier this year. Columnist Skip Bayless, co-host of Undisputed on Fox Sports, blasted Prescott for his comments. Bayless suggested Prescott’s revelation made him a “weak leader” and that it would “affect his team’s ability to believe in him.” He indicated that as the QB of the Cowboys, he needed to be the “CEO of the team,” and the comments undermined his leadership. For anyone listening, that’s complete bullshit! For starters, Bayless knows nothing about leadership. I doubt he could lead an ant colony to a sugar cube. Leadership is about many things but being authentic and human is close to the top of the list. People follow leaders that they trust, and how can you trust a person if you don’t know how they feel? I applaud and respect Prescott for his statements. We all go through emotional challenges, and it’s time for the stigma around mental and emotional health, especially with men, to go away. Prescott sharing his feelings on a national stage took courage and humility. Skip Bayless wouldn’t know anything about either of those qualities.
Bob Woodward’s new book, Rage, is coming out next week. It’s a book about the presidency of Donald Trump and a sequel to his 2018 book, Fear: Trump in the White House. Mr. Woodward conducted 18 interviews with the president for the book. Woodward released several of the audiotapes from those interviews to promote the book. Trump states on March 19th that the Coronavirus is “airborne” and “deadly” and that he “wanted to play it down.” Of course, President Trump’s public comments were vastly different, raising questions about his actions’ morality. President Trump’s response to the tapes is that he was doing what good leaders do to keep people calm, and he compared his leadership to that of Winston Churchill in WW2.
College campuses continue to struggle with containing COVID. Is this a shock to anyone? The brain isn’t fully developed until you are about 25, or 45 in my case, and the last region to mature is the prefrontal cortex, the rational, planning, self-control area. Biology explains why young people are more impulsive and driven by desire. Plus, they have all those fabulous parties! Toga! Toga! Toga! I continue to think that the benefits of in-person classroom learning outweigh the costs. Growing infection rates and COVID-related mortality is a tragedy, but so are all the problems generated by keeping kids out of the classroom, especially for lower socioeconomic groups.
On the lighter side, there is a tiger on the loose in Knoxville, TN. What’s most concerning is Zoo officials are not missing any tigers. My first hope is the tiger is ok and not harmed when captured, and my second hope is this was a publicity stunt for Tiger King 2: revenge of the tiger?! Lastly, President Trump was nominated twice this week for a 2021 Nobel Peace Prize from a Norwegian and Swedish lawmaker. The nomination references his work in brokering peace in the Middle East between Israel and UAE and brokering a peace deal between Serbia and breakaway republic Kosovo. Both are legitimate accomplishments and worthy of praise. There were 318 candidates for the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize. Four US presidents have won the award. The winner for 2021 will be announced in October of next year. To celebrate his nominations, Trump posted a slate of congratulatory messages on Twitter and developed an ad campaign touting the accomplishment. The ad misspells “Noble” in the copy.
I. Below are the articles I found interesting the past week:
Baby Boomers have controlled the election outcome for the last ten years. However, demographics are shifting, and the younger generation is becoming more influential to election outcomes and policy decisions. Millennials, born between 1981 - 1986, represent a large and significant voting block. Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012, and post-Gen Z, born after 2013, are becoming politically relevant. Millennials and Gen Z generations are Netflix, not networks; Green energy, not fossil fuels; Renting vs. owning; e-Commerce vs. Malls. According to Pew Research Center, Millennials and Gen Z-ers are the most likely to say governments should do more to solve problems. Same-sex marriage is good for society, that human activity is a driver of climate change and that blacks suffer systemic racism. They are also more likely to be from minorities themselves. The younger you are, the more likely you are to be black, Hispanic, or Asian. Pew calculates that three-quarters of 60-somethings and older are white, where half of those under 20 are from a minority. The electoral impact of these demographic shifts is minimal because most Gen Zs are below voting age, plus Millenials have a reputation for being apathetic about politics; however, Millennials and Gen Z will comprise 40% of the electorate in 2020. The million-dollar question is, will they turn out and vote?
Younger Americans feel their voting weight
I realize employee performance reviews are a drag for managers. They take time, are administrative, and can be challenging. However, there are few things more important than coaching and developing your team, and a review is an essential tool in that process. Most (poor) managers wait until December and then look at Q4 performance (because that’s all they can remember) and give a half-hearted attempt at a review that lasts about 30 minutes and results in a small cost of living adjustment compensation. Your employees deserve better. For starters, you shouldn’t wait until year-end to give feedback. Reviews and performance feedback should be continuous. There should be no “surprise” at the end of the year but rather a formal record of the year’s feedback. Furthermore, reviews are the perfect time to get feedback on how you are doing as a manager. What could you do better? What do you want me to continue to do? Investing time in the review process will help you in the long run in terms of a more productive team, a better culture, and high retention.
Avoid the “December Surprise” performance review
The pandemic has been destructive for most but disproportionately impacted those who are already struggling. The term “trick-down” economics is a phrase that Democrats loathe and dispute. Still, the reality is when the affluent class stop traveling, going to offices, attending events, eating out, and spending money, then the ripple effect is severe for low-wage hourly workers. And service staff typically don’t have a nest egg to fall back on during tough times. The reality is telework is possible for knowledge workers, perhaps even desirable, but impossible for service staff. The gap between the rich, ruling class, and poor has been growing for years, and COVID has accelerated it.
COVID is dividing the American worker
II. The rest of the best
We’ve been pooping wrong all along
How leaders can engage employees during a return to work
Futuristic “flying-V” airplane makes successful maiden flight
III. Stats that made me go WOW!
- 52% of young adults in the US are living with their parents, the highest share since the Great Depression.
- Four-fifths of those between 18 and 29 lost a job or took a significant pay cut in April, or live in a household where that has happened.
- Nearly 30 million Americans are collecting unemployment benefits, compared with about 1.6 million at this time last year, according to the Labor Department. However, the S&P 500 index is up 12.5% for the same period.
- According to Yelp, 73,000 businesses in the US listed on its website have already closed permanently since March, including bars, restaurants, gyms, salons and shops.
IV. Name that Tune!
As I write this email, I am listening to “New York, New York” by Ryan Adams.
Ryan Adams grew up in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and abandoned by his father at the age of 5. He and his mother moved in with his grandparents, who helped raise him. Adams dropped out of school in 10th grade and moved out on his own at 16. He obtained his GED and pursued a music career, toiling away in obscurity with multiple bands and experimenting with different genres, from punk to alternative, to rock. Adams found his voice as a singer-songwriter and made his solo debut in 2000 at 26 with the critically acclaimed album, Heartbreaker. Adams would release 16 albums of his own and produced albums for other notable artists such as Willie Nelson, Norah Jones, Fall Out Boy, Counting Crows, and Weezer.
The song “New York, New York” appeared on the 2001 album Gold, earning Adams a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male Rock Vocal. The music video features Adams performing in front of the Manhattan skyline from Brooklyn and filmed on September 7th, 2001, four days before the World Trade Center attacks.
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