[This post is part of several that are my lay attempts at applying the economic and social interest theories to my assumptions, and pragmatically evaluating the options.]
As GDP increases, medical care will undoubtedly increase as well. So it’s apt time that we take a look at health care reform.
What motivates government? Why do we have the health policies that we have? How likely is it that we’ll have a different health policy in the future?
I think these are points that we don’t consider everyday, and understanding how we got to where we are today is important. And part of understanding history is knowing about the factors that fall under the two largest forces driving the debate – economic and political interests.
Economic Forces include:
Political Forces also include:
In an economic market, companies compete against other similar companies. Under political influence, these competitors become allies because collectively companies want to make sure that public policy does not increase costs. These public policies affects both finance and regulations.
Read moreIn the beautiful town of Kanazawa, Japan, there is a gentle soul who teaches in class, everyday, something that I never even knew existed until just a couple months ago: emotional intelligence.
I’m not a parent yet, so I can’t say how much I would want to protect my children from the pains of life. But I think allowing children to discover happiness and pain, and guiding them to be emotionally intelligent, is a critical missing piece in our education system.
At the end of my MBA, I took the MSCEIT assessment and learned a lot about how I perceive and emit emotions. It’s really helped me understand why I do or say something, and other times, how differently to approach situations.
I am great at perceiving the emotions and moods of others. I read people really well, and my gut instinct is right-on. However, I am horrible at describing how I feel and allowing others to read me – which on the positive side, allows me to control extreme rage.
I venture to guess that most people go through life without ever being aware of their emotional being and the impact of their words and actions on others. Life is perhaps easier this way.
But I can’t help but think how much better the world, the workplace, and families would all be, if people weren’t so naïve about their actions and reactions to each other.
No matter how old you are, I think there are good lessons to be learned from this series, “Children Full of Life”.
When the kids outline their bodies and fill it in with who they are, where they’ve come from, it reminds me of the personal collage I did at my closing residential retreat.
Here’s to all the wonderful teachers in the world… inside and outside the classroom:
Read moreMy newly earned degree is nearly a month old.
Three years ago, when I started back at school, I couldn’t have imagined where I would be at the end of this journey. I was completely unsure as to why I was going to business school – except for the fact that my better half thought it was a great idea, and I was bored out of my mind.
Going into the program, I was already a manager. I had a pretty good job, great staff, and a house to call a home. Life was pretty much good. But I wasn’t content.
Coming out of the program, I’m still a manger with the same pretty good job, staff and home. Life is still good even in these uncertain economic times. But I’m still not content.
So what did all this debt get me that I couldn’t have otherwise learned on my own for free?
A lot.
Lesson #1: My core won’t let me be content. I’ll always be driven by a “what’s next?” curiosity. Before I even finish one project, I’m already trying to figure out what to do next. Being in classes and working in teams, I’ve learned how to make this impatience work for me. As well, I am aware of how to make my personality work in harmony with other personality types.
Lesson #2: It isn’t just about who you know. The old adage goes: “It’s not what you know, but who you know.” For me, it’s about how you interact with people – whether you know them or not. How can I interact with people so that I get the most benefit from a relationship? What do I have to offer to someone, and how do I optimize what they have to offer me?
Yes, I use people and I want people to use me. But all for the betterment of each other.
Lesson #3: My hobbies can work for me. I used to always say that I’d never make my hobbies into a career because then I’d start to hate it. I don’t believe that anymore. I think making a career out of my hobbies is what will gain me the most in life. I’ll be more motivated to become better at what I do, have more time to do the things I want, and even be rewarded for it by making a living out of a passion. It’s OK to mix work with pleasure.
Lesson #4: It’s just time and money. The past three years has taken a lot of time and money away from my regular life, but in the end, I am better off. I lost three years with family and friends – but it’s three years that I got to focus on myself, and an investment in becoming a better wife, daughter, sister and friend (I hope).
Being too busy, I’ve not been able to maintain some friendships and have had to pass-up some great opportunities. But the friends that are meant to be are still here today, and greater opportunities yet unknown await somewhere in the future.
In one of the first conversations I ever had with Paul, he asked me if I’d ever redo anything in my life – any major regrets? I said, not a single thing. I still hold by that answer… I’ve done some stupid things as everyone does, but I wouldn’t be who I am without having had those experiences to learn from.
On second thought, I would do one thing over… I would do the FEMBA 09B experience all over in a heartbeat.
In our last class together in Lake Arrowhead, we all shared about our hopes for the next five years and what experiences in our lives would help get us there. This was a powerful moment for all of us. I don’t remember what I said in my speech anymore… something about living separate lives with Paul for a better future, a desire to nurture the entrepreneurial bug inside me, and finding the guts to make my passion my career. I think.
I don’t remember what I said because I was so lost in, and touched by, the encouragement and words of gratitude that my classmates my friends gave me. If ever I’ve been humbled, it was that moment in the mountains – the same foggy mountain that Paul and I drove up on our wedding night.
The friends that I’ve made are worth more than the tens of thousands of dollars it cost to be able to add the three letters to my name. I have a group of girlfriends with whom I’ll always share a bottle of wine. A business partner and “brother” that I’ve never had. And many a couple-friends that Paul and I will undoubtedly double, triple, quadruple date with for the rest of our lives.
I finally feel grown up… finally feel that I’ve come into my own.
Perhaps it’s crossing that 30 mark that did it too.
Or the two gray hairs I found a couple weeks ago.
Whatever it is, the MBA has really opened my eyes to a whole new world.
And because the one thing that the past three years hasn’t taught me is how to say “thank you” in person to those who really helped me through it all… I say thank you here.
To Paul. My parents. My sister. My in-laws.
THANK YOU… and HOOAH!
Read moreI was lying in bed looking at my iPhone when I saw a tweet from @jakrose about President Obama in Prague live on CNN.
As I watch it, I can’t help but be nostalgic for this week last year when I was experiencing Prague in person. The feeling towards Americans then was, I bet, far different than it is today:
STOP PRASATUM, POLICE NICH UNIFORMACH!
YANKEES & RADAR GO HOME!
I don’t know why I feel so connected to Prague. All I know is I really want to go back, and hopefully even live there one day.
Read moreRumors abound at SXSW via @kevinrose of Digg that iPhone 3.0 will finally have “cut and paste”. Also rumored is “mutli-tasking”, which allows a user to run multiple applications and “alt-tab” between them.
Sadly, no confirmation of MMS. And definitely no video capture ability either according to the interview.
Read more