THE UN-COMFORT ZONE with Robert Wilson Seventeen years ago, I became the president of my community association. It was a lively organization with scores of activist members who were busy gentrifying an inner city neighborhood. One of my responsibilities was to deliver a monthly speech and conduct a formal meeting with a loud and raucous crowd. Over the course of my two year stint, I always spoke from behind the … Continue reading
Compelled by an Idea by Robert Wilson I was leaving my last class for the day when I saw my friend, Ken Frankel, working out in the hallway with one of those pistol-grip label makers. I stopped and asked what he was doing. “The Dean asked me to put the room numbers up in Braille so the blind students can find their classrooms.” As I watched Ken work, I thought … Continue reading
via The New York Times By ALAN TONELSON and KEVIN L. KEARNSWashington FOR a quarter-century, American economic policy has assumed that the keys to durable national prosperity are deregulation, free trade and a swift transition to a post-industrial, services-dominated future. Such policies, advocates say, drive innovation, which leads to enormous labor productivity and wage gains — more than enough, supposedly, to make up for the labor disruptions that accompany free … Continue reading
THE UN-COMFORT ZONE with Robert Wilson On a summer weekend in 1977, my friend Tony and I made plans to go waterskiing. When he picked me up there were two people in the car that I did not know. He introduced his new girlfriend Sue, and her brother Bubba. Bubba was the quintessential redneck. Within minutes of getting on the boat, he stuffed a wad of chewing tobacco the size … Continue reading
Via ABC News/Money By MARTIN CRUTSINGER The Associated PressWASHINGTON The gap in productivity growth between the United States and Europe widened sharply as U.S. businesses were more aggressive in laying off workers and pushing their remaining employees to be more efficient, according to a business research group. Growth in productivity is the key factor in rising living standards. In a new report, the Conference Board estimated that productivity — the … Continue reading
THE UN-COMFORT ZONE with Robert Wilson In the early 1970s I was a young teenager who was completely caught up in the Zeitgeist. I admired the long-haired rebels and radicals who were engaged in protesting the establishment and developing the counter-culture. I didn’t really know what any of that meant, but to me it was all about empowering youth and declaring our independence from the adults. My parents in particular. … Continue reading
via The First Facility Management As winter sets in across the country and companies turn up the heat, they may need to readjust the thermostat to keep their workers productive. According to a new CareerBuilder survey, when asked if the temperature at work affected their ability to get work done, more than one in five (22%) workers said that a “too hot” work environment made it difficult to concentrate. Eleven … Continue reading
via European Commission Enterprise & Industry European competitiveness report 2009 07/12/2009 European competitiveness is at the centre of analysis of the yearly competitiveness report of the European Commission. Its main focus is on recent changes of the EU’s productivity growth, which is the key driver of competitiveness in the long run. The 2009 edition of the European Competitiveness Report looks at the possible implications of the economic downturn; in particular … Continue reading
by Robert Wilson – The UN-COMFORT ZONE Recently I participated in a Murder Mystery weekend at a bed and breakfast lodge. Every guest was a given a role to play. There were eight suspects; each of whom had one or more of the following: Means, Opportunity and Motive. Having the Means and Opportunity was very important, but having the right Motivation was the key to solving the puzzle. We interviewed … Continue reading
Via The Wall Street Journal By ALEXANDRA LEVIT If you want to learn how to squeeze more out of a single day, ask someone trying to change careers. Heather Huhman of Washington wakes up just after 4:00 a.m. and hits the gym. Before Ms. Huhman walks into her office at a national health-care association, she writes a column for local news site Examiner.com. It’s something the 27-year-old does to help … Continue reading