Where is your heart?
In the United States, every other year, the Labor Day holiday kicks off the fall classic called "political campaigns." For a little over 2 months the electorate will be inundated with political promises, TV commercials and political signs littering the landscape with advertisement of the candidates. The payoff for these tenacious campaigners is the hope that they will be chosen and be called the "elected."
One of the main strategies that all opponents will focus on is the money needed to run a successful assault. There is even a name for it, "the war treasury!" During the primary season there was almost casual reporting by news media of one person who put up 51 million dollars of his own money for his campaign. I could not get my head around the thought of my even HAVING 51 million dollars, let alone spending this obscene amount in such a self absorbed way. I know that the politicians will be able to justify their expenditures by saying it's their money and they can spend it the way they want and that it's worth the personal cost to be able to carry a message that will help the masses. Still, I could not get past the thought of what could be done with that money now to advance greater causes than simply getting one person in another government job. After all, when it's all said and done, our hope is not in any political party and not much will change regardless of who is in office.
As always, I began to think of personal, professional and business implication to this subject of money and how we choose to spend it. I heard a guy say once that he could determine what the priority of a persons life was by looking at their check book, or financial records. People spend money for what they have passion for and love the most. Like me, you may not have 51 mill laying around doing nothing, but you, like me and the politician spend money on those things we care the most about and deem important. Here's a partial list of what some folks I know spend their money on. Their kids and especially their grand kids! Cars, hunting and fishing gear, hobbies, their lawns, homes, social clubs, booze, fashion, food, boats, fitness, and some folks love collecting more money and avoid spending anymore than they need to. Ultimately it all comes down to "it's all about me", and my desires. And just like the politician we can justify our spending habits.
In business, I have watched first hand how companies spend their money. Like individuals they give to those things they are passionate about. But interestingly, it's seldom on people. Oh, I know, we have CEO's who boldly proclaim "that people are our most valuable asset." But if you look at "the books" you will see where their heart really lies. The Society Of Training and Development said that good companies spend between 2 to 3% of payroll dollars in the development and growth activities of their people. Most companies I know, spend less than 1%.
Many people are not strategic in their money management and that is one reason why "giving" is difficult. Most folks will give out of obligation or guilt and do so often times mindlessly based on how smooth the preacher is to share "his vision" or the politician who wants you to join him in his desire to make change. Then there are the slick ads on TV of starving children or abused cats that reel in the dough.
For the most part companies are not strategic in the management of money for the good of those who work for them. We want our people to be loyal, engaged, dedicated but don't want to share in the real gains of the firm and will give only what we can get by with or will sooth our conscience. I'm not suggesting wealth distribution or a socialism approach. Hey, I'm a free market, capitalist guy!! However, I'm also a guy who knows that protecting the status quo is not leadership. When will our corporate leaders become innovative in order to compete world wide?
In the story in the Bible of the widow's offering, Jesus watched rich people put huge amounts of money in the offering plate. He also observed a widow women give two small copper coins worth only a fraction of a penny. He then stated, " This poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything...all she had to live on."
In the U.S. we are still the most generous nation on earth. And I know organizations who are caring and are generous to their employees. The increasing intrusive policies of our government will hinder both levels of giving. But I believe we could do much better if we use our minds to think it through and put our hearts on the right priorities in our business and personal lives. I'm not talking about a bleeding heart, I am talking about a sensible heart. Doing the right thing for the right reasons. The ROI will be huge. When it comes to money, where is your heart?
One of the main strategies that all opponents will focus on is the money needed to run a successful assault. There is even a name for it, "the war treasury!" During the primary season there was almost casual reporting by news media of one person who put up 51 million dollars of his own money for his campaign. I could not get my head around the thought of my even HAVING 51 million dollars, let alone spending this obscene amount in such a self absorbed way. I know that the politicians will be able to justify their expenditures by saying it's their money and they can spend it the way they want and that it's worth the personal cost to be able to carry a message that will help the masses. Still, I could not get past the thought of what could be done with that money now to advance greater causes than simply getting one person in another government job. After all, when it's all said and done, our hope is not in any political party and not much will change regardless of who is in office.
As always, I began to think of personal, professional and business implication to this subject of money and how we choose to spend it. I heard a guy say once that he could determine what the priority of a persons life was by looking at their check book, or financial records. People spend money for what they have passion for and love the most. Like me, you may not have 51 mill laying around doing nothing, but you, like me and the politician spend money on those things we care the most about and deem important. Here's a partial list of what some folks I know spend their money on. Their kids and especially their grand kids! Cars, hunting and fishing gear, hobbies, their lawns, homes, social clubs, booze, fashion, food, boats, fitness, and some folks love collecting more money and avoid spending anymore than they need to. Ultimately it all comes down to "it's all about me", and my desires. And just like the politician we can justify our spending habits.
In business, I have watched first hand how companies spend their money. Like individuals they give to those things they are passionate about. But interestingly, it's seldom on people. Oh, I know, we have CEO's who boldly proclaim "that people are our most valuable asset." But if you look at "the books" you will see where their heart really lies. The Society Of Training and Development said that good companies spend between 2 to 3% of payroll dollars in the development and growth activities of their people. Most companies I know, spend less than 1%.
Many people are not strategic in their money management and that is one reason why "giving" is difficult. Most folks will give out of obligation or guilt and do so often times mindlessly based on how smooth the preacher is to share "his vision" or the politician who wants you to join him in his desire to make change. Then there are the slick ads on TV of starving children or abused cats that reel in the dough.
For the most part companies are not strategic in the management of money for the good of those who work for them. We want our people to be loyal, engaged, dedicated but don't want to share in the real gains of the firm and will give only what we can get by with or will sooth our conscience. I'm not suggesting wealth distribution or a socialism approach. Hey, I'm a free market, capitalist guy!! However, I'm also a guy who knows that protecting the status quo is not leadership. When will our corporate leaders become innovative in order to compete world wide?
In the story in the Bible of the widow's offering, Jesus watched rich people put huge amounts of money in the offering plate. He also observed a widow women give two small copper coins worth only a fraction of a penny. He then stated, " This poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything...all she had to live on."
In the U.S. we are still the most generous nation on earth. And I know organizations who are caring and are generous to their employees. The increasing intrusive policies of our government will hinder both levels of giving. But I believe we could do much better if we use our minds to think it through and put our hearts on the right priorities in our business and personal lives. I'm not talking about a bleeding heart, I am talking about a sensible heart. Doing the right thing for the right reasons. The ROI will be huge. When it comes to money, where is your heart?
posted by Bill at
4:14 PM
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