2010 is almost gone; 2011 is not only knocking on the door, it’s being welcomed with a rush.  We all expect next year to bring the financial prosperity we feel has escaped us- and America- and the rest of the world over the past two years or so (in that order, both in actuality and our desire for repair, I believe). That is all well and good.  But, it does not truly prepare us- or our children- or our children’s children- for the world ahead.  [If you’ve read this far, I should let you know that politics is going to creep into my blog today- not with a capital P, but, nonetheless.  Please recoil the REAL definition of politics is social relations as affected by authority or power.).

Over the past thirty or so years, the rich have gotten richer- and the poor have gotten poorer.  This was not by happenstance, but by design.  It is not surprising that the 1987 hit, “Wall Street”, starring the fictional Gordon Gecko, received its reprise last year with “Money Never Sleeps”. We have become a people that seemingly adore Gordon Gecko, and the credo “Greed is Good”.  We have financiers that believe they can cheat their clients and the public, because they can get away with it and profit by it.  We have businesses that believe (given the climate) they can cheat their employees out of overtime compensation, because these employees will fear for their jobs if they complain. We have coaches who trip players from opposing teams and players deliberately maiming their opponents.  We have Senators and Congresspersons who hold “fundraising” events with businesses and then vote according to the interests of these folks (while declaiming it is good for  the country). We have children who cheat on exams and copy papers from the web because they believe they deserve to matriculate at the best schools (college, law school, medical school, business school- whatever). [Notice that this means it is now the better students that have copped to this practice; years ago, it was primarily the marginal ones.]

As a person, a parent, and a grandparent, I am appalled. I can honestly (now there is a word that is so overused and misapplied, as to have become totally trite) say I have never cheated on an exam.  OK, my friends will laugh and say, “Because, you never had to!”  That is not the point. (Or, maybe it is to them?) I have had my share of failures- but that does not mean I can cheat.  It does not mean you can cheat your employees. It does not mean you can cheat your country.  Again, keeping my politics to a minimum (only here, I promise), there have been individuals in the Political arena, who (I know my English, this is plural!) I admired that have fallen like a lead balloon over the last few years. John, Charlie, Lindsay, and John come to mind (two from each major party, as exemplars).  We need to make a stand and define who we are and what we want to improve as people, a nation, and world citizens.

“Achievement” and “Success” are critical and useful- but, not at the expense of our moral fiber.  This “win at all costs” concept is dead wrong.  We need to serve as inspiration to our children and others as moral exemplars. We listen to certain (charlatan) Politicians who declaim American Exceptionalism as the norm.  That is a wonderful concept (one to which I strongly ascribe)- as long as we provide a moral beacon to others to aspire to our goodness, and not to ape brutish behaviors or to the belief that might makes right.

We need to explain to our children and discourse with our friends, as to what are our underlying principles.  I have always espoused that each business has a written mission statement and goals.  Perhaps, this is the time to have one for ourselves and our  families- written and posted for easy refreshment and discussion.  (I have always had a personal mission statement.  You are welcome to request a copy.) But, a written document is not enough.  We have to live it, model it, and also to deal with our inability to be perfect at all times.  Our children will be better for it.  Our country will be better for it.  And, the world will be better for it.

Repair the world.  But (using one of the few things of which we can be proud that emanated from Michael Jackson):

I’m looking at the man in the mirror, I’m asking him to change his ways; If you wanna make the world a better place, Take a look at yourself and make a change.

May the new year bring you everything you need and most of what you want…

• Resolutions?  www.cerebrations.biz/?p=678;

• Missions and goals?  www.adjuvancy.com/visionmission.html)

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