David VanAmburg's Comments

Thinking Big Works : Understanding the Big Economic Picture - Debt and Money

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:50:40 +0000

Danny, I do promise to talk about fiscal policy over the coming weeks, both from the big picture, and as it relates to us as individuals, investors, businesses and communities. Devaluation or erosion of money value through the hidden tax of inflation has been with us for decades. Unfortunately, actions of the past months have practically insured major inflation within the coming 1 to 18 months. And the Federal Reserve's recent action as bank of last resort in purchasing debt from our creditor countries seems to leave us in worse position. I remain hopeful that the incoming administration will understand the impact of both fiscal and monetary actions, but we have not heard that discussion yet. So we will address, particularly from the perspective of how does the business owner, the householder or the community retain their small accrued wealth in the midst of such a coming storm. You bring much insight to readers, so I hate to see you limited to a few comments. If you have the interest, you are welcome to write a guest post for this blog. And if you have the time and desire, I would enjoy coffee at your convenience.

Thinking Big Works : Humor as Reality, The Subprime Crisis Explained

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:41:52 +0000

Klaus, thanks for joining the conversation. The Burger King parody doesn't do much for me, but I'm glad that its humor strikes your funny bone. If you have any favorite Monty Python clips, please share them. Their humor lit up a whole generation.

Thinking Big Works : Porn Industry Seeks A Federal Bailout - A Canary in the Economic Coalmine

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:39:55 +0000

Judy, one of the pleasures of conversations with you, Greg, and others is the identification of opportunities that always emerges in our talks. I look forward to being able to make them available to all of our readers.

Thinking Big Works : Doing Business "Because It Is The Right Thing To Do"

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:38:24 +0000

James, you are so accurate in your comment. We all become used to a big brother taking care of us, and too often lose our understanding that we are our brother's keeper. Thanks.

Thinking Big Works : What Are the Canaries In the Economic Coalmine to Watch?

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:36:43 +0000

Danny, I am impressed that you can keep a sense of humor about this. Made me laugh. :) Thanks for your wonderful comments, as always.

Thinking Big Works : What Would You Give Up?

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:55:49 +0000

Judy, Thanks for the article. Dr. Lacy's action is all the more impressive when you consider the recent research supporting why people tend to go along with a majority view, even if that view is objectively incorrect, http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/01/15/social.confo...or the classic obedience research that shows the majority of people will do as told, even when it harms others, http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/12/19/milgram.expe...

Thinking Big Works : Humor as Reality, The Subprime Crisis Explained

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:26:32 +0000

Here's a great Bob & Ray interview on an early David Letterman. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5_K8GelSRU Speaking of Letterman, he sent me a note when he started following me on Twitter (me and 10,000 others, I'm sure), "Thanks for following me! Please don't follow too close, as I tend to make sudden stops. -Dave"

Thinking Big Works : Humor as Reality, The Subprime Crisis Explained

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:07:52 +0000

I agree, Greg. The best wits see our reality, turn it about two degrees and hand it back to us with a grin. We get to choose whether to learn and benefit from their observations or not.

Thinking Big Works : We Started The Revolution-Now What!

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:42:39 +0000

Judy, I think this is a brilliant article. There are millions of people looking daily for ways to maintain by purchasing quality services and products at the best prices. Most of them will gladly purchase from someone they trust if the quality, price and delivery are comparable to the market. The network marketer who understands 1) the need to sell their products and support their customers, then 2) the subsequent advantage of providing the same business opportunity to others, is the business person who will succeed. And those who follow their passion are the truly successful ones. Congratulations to Jim for realizing his purpose and path in life. I once was offered to purchase a demolition company at a great price, but could not visualize myself as successful with the junkyard that was the integral part of the business. I look forward to #2 next week. Thanks.

Thinking Big Works : Paul Krugman Video for Big Think on 2009 Economy

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 23:42:28 +0000

Thanks, Danny. I imagine it was a lonely position for Dr. Krugman to take early in President Bush's first administration. I am pleased that President-elect Obama appears to be taking advice from him and other critical thinkers.

Thinking Big Works : Is The Little White Lie In YOUR Job Description?

Fri, 9 Jan 2009 12:08:34 +0000

Judy, what an appropriate time to focus on personal responsibility at the simplest daily level. Thanks. We rely on trust as the building block of our lives, our perceptions of reality, our economy and society. I trust my parents to tell me the truth as they raise me. I trust my spouse to tell me if my fly is down or I have food stuck in my teeth. I trust my co-workers to tell me when the product will ship to our customer. We need and expect our government officials, elected and appointed, to be transparent and honest in all things. Why would any of them think that they are allowed to know the truth but the public should not? How could our entire society come to know that every press conference is a game of words, that the job of the press secretary is to spin the "best light" on every situation? Why do we have to learn to interpret the truth from every "news" article? But it's not just " them" in government or the office, or at the store. It's you and me. It all comes down to whether you will just tell me if I have food stuck in my teeth, or I will admit I didn't get the project done last night. Every day one of my biggest challenges is to prevent myself from telling the tiny lies to make the day run smoother, while really chipping away at my self, my success in life, and the edifice we call our society.

Thinking Big Works : Avoid The Network Marketing Hustlers, Surround Yourself With Quality And Substance

Thu, 8 Jan 2009 17:41:26 +0000

Thanks, Judy. Before getting in (or after if you didn't take this step first), investigate and understand the top 20 network marketing firms - what they sell, the differences in their compensation plans, what your real investment needs to be, etc. For anyone trying to understand network marketing, Wikipedia offers a fairly balanced history of Amway, its mistakes and tribulations, and its current resurgence. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amway. While it was out-of-control Amway distributors who caused some of the tsunami awareness among the public that if anyone walks in your house and pulls our a blank pad of lined yellow paper, get up and run. It's an Amway ambush trying to talk you into joining their downline. It got so bad they had to change their name. (Now they're returning to the original name, which is a wise move because of the universal awareness of Amway.) Yet I've known some extremely successful Amway reps, great people who realized quality products and represented the company with integrity. One friend was a GE manager who earned $30,000 a year on the side, then $70,000. When he reached $150,000, he decided to retire from his day job. The key to any job or business is to understand it intimately - BEFORE jumping in. Understand the industry first. If you choose network marketing, get involved only in a business that sells products you know and love. Select the company based on its reputation, its competitors, its inner workings - NOT simply on someone telling you how great it is and how much you can make. If you don't, shame on you.

Thinking Big Works : People Don't Dislike Network Marketing,They Dislike Network Marketers!

Thu, 8 Jan 2009 09:31:50 +0000

Outstanding article, Judy. Thanks. You prompted me to postpone the article I was writing on loyalty marketing for today in favor of a follow-up post to yours.

Thinking Big Works : Five Steps To Thinking Big And Achieving Your Goals This Year

Sat, 3 Jan 2009 00:56:27 +0000

Hey, Nick, I see your name, but where's the photo of your cute mug? Yes, we owe a debt of gratitude to Napoleon Hill. For anyone who has not had the pleasure, his classic, Think and Grow Rich, written from his office in the White House during the last Great Depression, is still available, and probably the best bargain on the book racks. In fact this book deserves as post all by itself, particularly given the times we are in. I'll get one out soon.

Thinking Big Works : Five Steps To Thinking Big And Achieving Your Goals This Year

Fri, 2 Jan 2009 15:26:20 +0000

Good points, Judy. There is a major difference between awareness, perceived reality, attention, and intention. 1. Awareness: I must be aware of my environment and the events occuring around me, whether when entering the office, walking through a minefield, or deciding where to invest. To intentionally or unintentionally ignore my environment would be silly, or perhaps fatal. 2. Perceived reality: With that input, it is my responsibility to assess what I am told or directly perceive, to evaluate the reality, and to compare my conclusions to my highest truth. Too often we accept someone else's reality as our own. ("I am a ____ because my parents were," or "They said it on the news, so it is true.") 3. Attention: More people every day are realizing that the STORIES we allow into our heads define the thought tapes that play in the background of our minds. The programmer truth of GIGO (garbage in, garbage out) happens whenever we zone out with TV or movie violence and hatred. My body and my mind are my temple, my transceiver into this universe. I must continuously treat them with respect. 4. Intention: My job is to focus on creating the world I want, whether in my personal life, business or community. So where and how I place my attention is critical. I can choose to be mired in a negative, fearful public "reality", or to clear my mind and create the world that I think is best and want. A SIMPLE TOOL: Here's an easy exercise to try. Find one negative that you keep returning to. ("Billy hates me.") Close your eyes, look up and to the left, and think that thought. Keep your eyes closed, look up and to the right, and think the opposite. ("Billy loves me.") Repeat this for 1-2 minutes. (Yes, your eyes may feel a bit strained from the physical exercise.) Relax and don't think for a minute, then go about your business. Repeat this a few times, depending on the intensity of the negative thought and emotion you are carrying. After 3 days, did it make a difference? Is the negative thought neutralized, and no longer repeating in your mind? You've just made room for one more positive focus in your attention. Go build the world you envision.

Thinking Big Works : Five Steps To Thinking Big And Achieving Your Goals This Year

Fri, 2 Jan 2009 00:20:10 +0000

Excellent point, Todd, and most valuable for all of us during the chaos of the the coming year. Thanks.

Thinking Big Works : Is Network Marketing A Distribution Option For Me?

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:40:56 +0000

Excellent introduction, Judy. Thanks. I'll have a detailed response as soon as possible.

Thinking Big Works : I Attracted A Gypsy Butterfly

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:51:35 +0000

Judy, thanks for the great story. I look forward to hearing Carly's music. By the way, that is a captivating photo. Whoever did the photography was excellent. Tell Carly for me, please.

Thinking Big Works : Run Your Focus Groups Professionally

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:45:38 +0000

Frank, thanks for your comment. Our challenge is to educate ourselves before conducting our own research or accepting research done by others as valid and valuable. Recent technology gives us all instantaneous access to data. But it's too easy to mistake information for useful knowledge. Typing a term into Google does not necessarily make for good research. :) You are correct that many folks think that designing and moderating a focus group is comparable to sitting down a cup of coffee. Poor research can kill a product or company, yet focus groups conducted correctly can be phenomenal resources. I'll share war stories and lessons learned over the coming weeks and months, and hope that you might do the same.

Thinking Big Works : Power In Business Is On The Way Out - TAO Slide 2

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 07:20:31 +0000

Judy, you've done an outstanding job of capturing our discussions in this post. Here are a few related thoughts. In the 1800's, English political economist Thomas Malthus, often referred to as the father of quantitative economics, proved with his simple chart that there was not enough wealth to go around, and there never would be, so only one of us can have the available wealth, and "bang" it's me. Every summer for years, Buckminster Fuller and hundreds of volunteers gathered to assess the world's assets and liabilities in a process called The World Game. Finally, in 1977, the historic moment arrived and they could prove there was enough wealth to sustain the whole world. In 1979, the Rome Convention European business association agreed in their annual written report, the first time a business group ever acknowledged adequate wealth. There is enough to go around, and has been for 30 years. But we're still stuck in the win-lose mindset. A new reality exists around us, but as a society, most of us can't yet see it. This reminds me of a friend who moved in to our region many years ago and asked me to take him on a driving tour to look at neighborhoods and properties for sale. We drove past a large Victorian home that had been converted into 6 apartments. He asked what the asking price was. When I replied $28,000, he coughed and exclaimed, "That's not even a down payment in Los Angeles." My reply was simply, "Yes, you see the potential. The folks who grew up here see the past." We will look back on this period as one of the strangest possible - that we had enough to share with everyone, yet let more than 100,000 children die of starvation a day; that we chose war and mass killing as the means to "stimulate" our economy. We will awaken soon - and none too soon. And the choice to awaken and act responsibly now belongs to each of us.