The Story of Stuff

The Story of Stuff will take you on a provocative tour of our consumer-driven culture — from resource extraction to iPod incineration — exposing the real costs of our use-it and lose-it approach to stuff.

First rule of leadership

Enron, Worldcom, Tyco vs. Fannie/Freddie

Greed is Good

The WorldCom story 

Conrad Black

ENRON

"Now in 2008/2009 we are in a midst of another crisis so much larger than Enron encompassing so many of the same players. This time these players like Merrill Lynch and Citibank are not so lucky to get away unscathed. When the Reagan and Republican revolution took control in both the 80's and 90's deregulation and a smaller government stake was pushed, all of business applauded the idea and for the most part we prospered. Yet that wild card kept getting in the way of true prosperity. During the Reagan, Bush, Clinton and W. Bush era's greed did rear its ugly head in the form of the Savings and Loan crisis, The Enron crisis, and now the Sub-prime mortgage and mortgage backed securities crisis. Why is it that we still have not learned the lessons of the past that greed always destroys (in the end) that of which it built." Greed: The Wild Card variable in Business Ethics by Dr, Duane Scott

Article Source:
http://www.bestmanagementarticles.com
http://business-ethics.bestmanagementarticles.com

About the Author:
For more information or other topics by this author you can contact Dr. Duane C. Scott at www.christopherstudios.net.

Meditate Regularly For A Great 2009!

I was a sporadic meditator at best for years, only to really commit to meditation when, just after turning 39, I discovered a mass in my right breast. From the point of discovery of the mass to getting the necessary tests, waiting for results, waiting for surgery, waiting to see if the newly diagnosed cancer had spread to lymph nodes, waiting to see what treatment I would have, and so much more, there were times that I didn't think I could physically tolerate much more anxiety. I knew I had to do something to manage the stress and that I would need to make it a way of life. One of the weapons I chose was meditation. Now before this, my thoughts about meditation followed the lines of: "Everybody says that this is a healthy thing. I probably should be doing it." "Some of the people who talk about meditation seem a little flaky. I guess I sit here and watch my breathing." "Am I doing this right? Is this doing anything at all? Oh, look, there's another article on the benefits of meditation. I guess I should give it another try." After the diagnosis of cancer, I began meditating regularly. Sometimes I missed a day or two, but I kept returning to the practice. What I found was that, while I didn't notice results overnight, eventually I noticed a few improvements: A calmer mind. If my mind was frantically hopping from thought to thought ("monkey mind" or "wild mind") at the beginning of a meditation session, by the end, it was always at least slightly calmer. A brief rest from being anywhere other than the present. When my mind was filled with anxiety, it was always about that moment of time in the future that I might die or hear that I'd lost my job or something else. While in meditation, time and thought ceased. Increased awareness of mental and physical state. I became more aware of my emotional reactions. A benefit of meditation is that it can help you almost step outside of yourself during a crisis and note things like "my stomach feels tight" or "my agitation over my boss's email is really escalating." Meditation seems to make you more aware of the choice to slow down and choose your reaction rather than just be helplessly tossed by patterned waves of emotion. Fear and the Unknown I had the opportunity to speak with spiritual counselor and meditation teacher Don Simmons about meditation, and he echoed my findings about meditation and fear. "Meditation can help someone move through fear. When you deal with the unknown, meditation helps you observe everything that takes place without judgment. Then you move from reaction to action." Right now, most of us are dealing with a great deal of the "unknown." With ubiquitous reports of a failing economy, layoffs, and families in despair, we may wonder if we're going to be the next casualty. As Don told me, meditation enables you to tell yourself what is real and what is not. When you focus on breathing, you are focusing on one of the most basic ingredients of life. You are silently reminded that "My fears are not reality. I am here, right now. This is what truly matters -- that I am alive, that I have wellness, that I feel good." A wise friend once told me, "any time you worry, you are living someplace other than the present." Surprise: Meditation Helps with Productivity! I would wager than many interested in productivity don't immediately think of meditation. After all, you're just sitting there, aren't you? How is that productive? What I have found is that there can be as much false economy with time and energy as there can be with money. If I work four, 16-hour days in an attempt to get ahead, I'll ultimately wind up more tired and less productive than if I maintain balanced days. In discussing this phenomena with Don Simmons, he described humans as having a masculine and feminine side. "It's not about being straight or gay; it's about listening and talking, hearing and creation." Your feminine side is that which dreams, incubates, and expands. Your masculine side is the action and manifestation. Don illustrated this with a boat: The rudder (feminine) guides the boat and asks the question "where do I want to go?" whereas the engine (masculine) follows through with the physical action to get you to your destination. The key, says Don, is to be in perfect harmony. And surely you've experienced harmony. Do you remember a time in which everything just seemed to click? You were "in flow." You seemed to have the Midas touch. You were on top of the world! This balance, this flow, is necessary for continued productivity without exhaustion. So How Do I Meditate? I have a few techniques that I use, but the most basic is simply to sit in a chair or on the floor and focus on my breathing. I use a digital timer that I set for 10 or 15 minutes. What does it mean to focus on your breathing? Literally, focus on each breath as it enters your nose, slowly expands your lungs, and then leaves your body. Breathe naturally. If you wish, you can tailor this to your desires, such as saying silently, "I breathe in peace; I exhale stress." This is a simple technique but very effective. Later you can become more advanced and read about hand positions (mudras), sitting positions, etc., but they are unnecessary for a successful beginning meditation practice. What is absolutely necessary to meditate: Choose a position that will respect your practice and keep you from falling asleep. Honor your body and bring integrity to your practice. Don says that "when you are in meditation, you are meeting yourself." If you were meeting someone you respect, you would likely make sure your body is clean and neat and dressed in clean clothes. You wouldn't slouch. Try to meditate daily. Meditation, like learning a language, isn't for the weekend warrior. It is better to have short sessions of 5-10 minutes daily than sporadic, long sessions. How Do I Know I'm Doing it Right? Did you fall asleep? Did you get up before your time was up? Do you feel at least slightly better after meditation than you did before? You're doing it right. The goal is to simply focus on your breathing, releasing thoughts as they come. Attempt to stay in a state of compassion and non-judgment. Don shared an interesting illustration of work he has done as an animal trainer. As soon as the dog finally performed the trick, he was rewarded, and the training for the day abruptly ended. Why? Because the dog "got" it. You want to end on a positive note. Essentially, "you are training your mind for success," says Don. Training your mind for success -- an idea that's absolutely in harmony with productivity! And If you still feel meditation is a little too "out there" for you, then consider the recent research that reveals actual physical changes in the brains of those who meditate compared with those who don't. Here are a few supportive articles and sites that may help convince you that meditation is a worthwhile habit: The Benefits of Meditation - Psychology Today For Stress Reduction, Just Say Ommm - CNN How Monks Find Their Happy Groove - CNN The Mystic Path - Don Simmons

Liora Hess is a freelance writer from Atlanta, GA who also works as a medical editor, educator, and speaker. Follow her blog at streamofpeace.com.

Developing All-Star Employees with Francisco Dao

What does it take to create a winning team? Here are five things you need to know.