BRIAN'S BLOG

Last night, I sat down with my wife and four children to watch It’s a Wonderful Life. I’ve seen the movie probably fifty times, but this time, it had a strong and different impact on me. I’m amazed how much the Frank Capra film, shot 50+ years ago, applies to life as a small business owner in 2009.

George Bailey is a reluctant entrepreneur, torn between living his own dreams abroad and staying in Bedford Falls to help the people in his home town. The antagonist in the movie is Henry Potter, a “warped, frustated, old man” who longs to turn the charming Bedford Falls into Pottersville, where people live in rundown tenements and are subject to his high rents and poor service.

When the Great Depression hits Bedford Falls, there is a run on the local bank as well as the Bailey Building & Loan Company. Seizing the moment, Potter buys the bank to gain even more control of the town. However, he cannot wrest control of the one property he covets, mainly due to the efforts of George Bailey.

When George’s Uncle Billy unknowingly “misplaces” $8,000 into the hands of Henry Potter, his life starts to unravel. George is suddenly faced with bankruptcy, foreclosure and prison time for the mistake of his Uncle. As George contemplates his fate, a Guardian Angel named Clarence comes into the picture and grants him his wish–to view life as if he had never been born. George witnesses, by his absence, how much of a positive impact he had on the people and local businesses in his town.

Towards the end of the movie, George is brought back to reality, but with a new attitude. He is thankful for all that has been given to him. He appreciates, more than ever, the “beautiful, old Bailey Building & Loan” company as well as his drafty old house. He also understands his role as the guardian of the local businesses against Henry Potter.

When the local business owners hear about George’s plight, they rush to gather the necessary funds to help their friend. For all that he has given to them, Mr. Gour, the Pharmacist, Martini, the Tavern Owner, etc…come to help out the one person who helped them in their time of need.

And then it hit me. Where is our George Bailey? Where is the person or company that will keep our great, little towns from becoming the next Pottersville? Who is going to bat for us, the 27 million small business owners across the country, when the government (aka “Henry Potter") decides to take our tax dollars and buy into the big banks, the auto companies and the insurance companies?

The recession started in December, 2007. Two years later, after hundreds of billions of dollars were wastefully spent on companies like AIG, we are just now starting to hear about plans to aid small business owners–the so-called engine that drives our economy. Well, if that engine was so important, why didn’t Henry Potter address it two years ago…or one year ago…or six months ago? Why address it now, when, according to the government, “we’re starting to see relevant signs of a recovery.”

It happened because there is no George Bailey for small business in America, just as there is no Santa Claus, no Tooth Fairy and no Easter Bunny.

As foreclosure and bankruptcy numbers continue to rise and more store fronts post “for rent” signs, we are slowly watching America become Pottersville. It’s painfully obvious that, from 2007-09, small business owners weren’t even an after-thought in the minds of the people who control our fate.

If it’s not too late, I have one more item to add to my Christmas wish list this year.

Can I please have a George Bailey?

I have a framed article that’s been with me for probably 20 years. It’s been in/out of drawers, filing cabinets, on my walls and even helped straighten out a wobbly desk.

I found it, again, today and thought I’d share it with anyone who drops in to read my blog posts.

When is the Best Time to Stop Talking?

Probably now.

A story is told about FDR when he was a young lawyer. He heard his opponent summarize a case before the jury in eloquent, emotional, buy lengthy appeal. Sensing the jury was restless, FDR is reported to have said “You have heard the evidence. You have also listened to a brilliant orator. If you believe him and disbelieve the evidence, you will decide in his favor. That’s all I have to say.”

He won.

Overstate and bore. Understate and score. When a baseball umpire says “Strike three!” He doesn’t have to add “Yer out.” That’s what strike three means.

Now go out and seize the day!

Brian Moran
President
Moran Media Group

My mother in law, Vera Cummings, passed away on this date five years ago. As a way of honoring her life’s achievements and remembering her legacy, I wrote the following tribute and used it as the Publisher’s letter in one of my magazines. Today, I once again remember a woman who inspired me to never give up. Good advice for 2009.

Brian’s Publisher’s Letter from September, 2004:

The human spirit is an amazing thing. As entrepreneurs, we believe that the power of the human spirit is what keeps us going when the world around us is falling apart. Many of us look to role models who have triumphed over adversity for the necessary push when times are tough.

For me, when I find myself beaten down by life and business, I think of Helen Keller. She was a person who had every reason to be mad at God and mad at the world, but who instead chose to harness her energy into something positive. Her life is an example of the wonderful possibilities available to people who refuse to give up.

I remember reading about Helen Keller in grade school. Even then, I was amazed that one little girl could have the strength and determination to overcome the obstacles in her life, which were brought on by a fever she had at 19 months old that left her deaf and blind. In her life, Helen graduated cum laude from Radcliffe College at the age of 24. She became one of the founders of the American Civil Liberties Union and went on to become a world famous speaker and author.

I have thought about Helen many times in 2004. On numerous occasions, both professional and personal, my faith, principles and vision have been tested by life. It’s during these difficult times that I am reminded of the power and the potential of the human spirit. Don’t give up. Keep going. Be positive. You can do it.

So who is Vera Cummings?

Vera Cummings is my Helen Keller. Vera overcame many obstacles to live an exemplary life before passing away on September 4, 2004. She laughed at life and herself. She cared for many and never asked “Why me?” when another hurdle was placed before her. She was an amazing woman, and I had the great fortune of being her son-in-law for 13 years.

When I started my company in 2002, Vera was one of my strongest supporters. As most of you know all too well, being an entrepreneur is not for the faint of heart. In the first year, I constantly questioned my chosen path, but Vera would have none of it. Shortly after I became an entrepreneur, she sent me a card which is now framed on a wall near my desk. It reads:

You Can!
Whatever you’re faced with, you can handle.
Whatever you’re feeling, you can cope.
Whatever you fear, you can conquer,
As long as you believe in yourself…
As much as I believe in YOU.

Thanks to Vera and her encouragement, I now realize that running my own business means never giving up. Of course people are going to say no. Of course expenses will be too high and revenue will be too low. But these are temporary roadblocks. They cannot conquer my conviction and enthusiasm for something that I love to do. In the end, I will always find a way to succeed.

Helen Keller once said, “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, vision cleared and success achieved.” We can all learn something from her words and her actions. For further inspiration, go to the last page of this issue, where you’ll find more great quotations from Helen Keller.

As for me, whenever I need words of encouragement, I will simply look at the card on my wall. Thanks Vera, for all that you taught me.

I just finished reading an article about a young woman who is suing her college for $70,000 because she cannot find a job. She graduated from the school earlier this year and is now arguing that the school did not live up to its promise of helping her find gainful employment.

This should be the straw that breaks America’s back.

I would like nothing more than this case to serve as the rallying cry for our country to stand up and reclaim its backbone! No more fixing the blame on someone else. No more passing the buck. No more “It’s not fair. It’s not my fault. We should all get trophies. Every game should end in a tie.” Enough!

I’m not putting all of the blame on the college graduate for suing her school. I blame her parents too. They needed to let her fall more as a child (figuratively speaking). The falls would not have killed her, but they might have taught her a lesson or two about survival and being responsible for her actions and her destiny.

This all started back in the late 1980s or early 90s. There was a ground-breaking decision by a group of parents who believed that every child participating in recreational sports should receive a trophy. “It’s all about fair play and boosting children’s self-esteem” we heard, over and over again. Well, It’s not.

Recreational sports are about learning the fundamentals of the game, getting exercise and understanding the concepts of team play. They are not about trophies or everything being even. Games are won and lost. Yes, there will be tears, but those tears should serve as a catalyst for practicing harder and coming back stronger the next time. The sooner our children realize that life is not fair nor even, the sooner they will start re-building their survival instincts. They cannot run to Mommy and Daddy every time something doesn’t go their way.

I read about helicopter parents who hover over their children throughout their entire lives. They protect them against bullies in grade school. They argue with teachers and principals when their child receives less than perfect scores. They argue with coaches when their kids don’t play as much as they should. Their children’s lives are programmed 24/7 with activities, and parents have only the highest expectations. Why don’t they just put their kids in bubble wrap and place them on a mantle?

In a separate, but related, discussion is the matter of obesity and our children. In the 32nd annual Health, United States report from the Department of Health & Human Services, there are some shocking statistics on our next generation of leaders, including:

➢ Between 1988-94 and 2005-06, the prevalence of overweight among preschool-age children 2-5 years of age increased by more than 50% (from 7% to 11%).

➢ In the same time frame, the prevalence of overweight among school-age children 6-11 years of age increased from 11% to 15% and among adolescents 12-19 years of age grew from 11% to 18%.

➢ More alarming, obesity rates in young adults have tripled in the last 35 years. In 2005-06, nearly 25% of all young adults, ages 18-29, were obese.

Some parents, and their children, will blame food manufacturers for putting too much high fructose corn syrup in products. They will blame candy manufacturers and ice cream makers for creating commercials that are too appealing to their children. And, they will blame video game makers who make it virtually impossible for young Bobby to get off the couch and out of the house after playing video games for 14 straight hours.

Blame. Blame. Blame. It’s always someone else’s fault.

I have a solution. Let’s make 2010 the year of NO MORE BLAME in America. No more trophies for 7th place. No more tie scores, unless it really is a tie. No more whining, complaining or talk about helicopter parents trying to re-create their untapped youth through their children.

Kids, put down the video game controllers and get your asses outside. Go get the same bumps and bruises that we got as kids. Play your recreational games without parent interruption. But, don’t sue your school if you can’t find a job! Take responsiblity for your actions. It won’t kill you, I promise. It will make you stronger.

As John Wooden so eloquently put it “Stop fixing the blame, and fix the problem.”

Carpe Diem!

Brian Moran

One of my biggest problems in the office is staying organized. Daily challenges include phones ringing, emails needing replies and proposals waiting to be written. Some days, it’s pure chaos. That’s why I’m turning this week’s blog post over to an organizational expert who knows a thing or two about keeping me on the straight and narrow.

The post below is written by Kathleen Moran–mother of five (if you want to include me), interior decorator, organizational expert, fitness queen and advocate for living a healthy lifestyle. Today, she gives five simple steps to help you stay organized in the office (or in your home office).

Carpe Diem!

Is the clutter in your office getting in the way of your success?

An organized, peaceful work environment is essential not only for your day-to-day business activities, but also for your well-being. Eliminating office chaos will improve your overall workflow and productivity. Whether you are working out of your garage, at your dining room table or in an office, make sure you have an effective clutter-busting system in place.

Here are five basic rules to keep your office clutter-free.

1. Clean out. In order to work at your desk, you need to see it. A messy desk will clutter your mind with too many distractions, and you’re more prone to losing important papers or being unable to find them when you need them…like when your biggest client calls. Remember this rule: Messy desk=stress.

The same tenet applies to a messy office. If you moved into your new office five months ago, it’s time unpack those boxes in the corner, and hang the pictures leaning against the wall.

2. Everything in its place. Set up a filing system. Instead of letting papers pile up on your desk, file them as soon as you are done with them. Some documents can be filed electronically, saving space and eliminating paper waste. Use baskets, containers and shelving. Arrange reference guides neatly on a bookshelf. Keep today’s “to-do” pile in a basket on your desk. If you’re one of those people who needs to have papers “in your face” or you forget them, use an upright file holder on your desk, or a wall-hanging folder holder, to keep folders corralled so you don’t have piles all over your desk. Place a wastepaper basket or shredder within arm’s reach so you can discard unneeded papers right away. When you have dealt with something, either file it properly or throw it out immediately. Apply the “everything in its place” principle to your office, and you’ll never be searching for the stapler again.

3. Keep it ergonomically correct. Ergonomic design focuses on designing a workspace to fit your body’s needs. If your chair is uncomfortable, you will tire sooner and won’t be working to your full potential. Invest in a good chair that’s adjustable to your height and has proper back support. Make sure your computer setup doesn’t put undue strain on your neck, shoulders or wrists. Your elbows should be at a 90-degree angle when you type; your computer screen should be angled so you don’t have to strain your neck either up o downward to read it. Use a pullout keyboard tray under your desk for your keyboard, if needed. Make sure your office is well lit, both overhead and task lighting such as a desk lamp for reading. Position your computer screen so it is free of glare from the windows. Provide an ergonomically correct workspace for each employee, as well.

4. Keep your computer clean. Just as a clutter-free office runs more efficiently, so does a clutter-free computer. Run maintenance programs on a regularly scheduled basis to debug your system and purge unwanted files. Keep your security software up-to-date to prevent viruses and potential hackers from gaining access to your files. Streamline the look of your office by controlling loose cords. In addition to being aesthetically unappealing, this can cause safety hazards such as tripping or electric shock. Your office supply store has many options for bundling cords together to keep them neat and out of the way.

5. Be consistent. At the end of each work day, leave your work area organized. Put everything back in its proper place. Take 10 or 15 minutes before you leave to organize your workspace. The next day, you can start with a clean slate and focus on seizing the day.

Kathleen Moran is an interior designer and workspace organization expert. She can be reached at katmo66@mac.com.