Fortune Mag: Beat Recession Strategy and Your Family

Geoff Colvin wrote a great article in the Jan. 19, 2009 issue of Fortune mag, “How to Manage Your Business in a Recession” with 10 strategies.  One that jumped out to me: Keep investing in the core.  He writes, ” Recessions end…When this lousy stretch is over, will your business be more competitive or less?”

That’s a good point, no matter whether you own the company or you work for one. This too will pass. Whatcha’ doing to come out of this time stronger, not weaker?

Colvin ends the article with: Marathoners and Tour de France racers will tell you that a race’s hardest parts, the uphill stages, are where the lead changes hands.”

My point? You can start to beat this recession now. You don’t need to wait for things to change.  In fact, you shouldn’t. Now is the time to make sure you’re giving your family members some loving every day.  When the pressure is on at work, make sure you don’t forget to do the most important thing for your family every day – show them your love.

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Dr. Laura Schlessinger Unrealistic for Many Moms and Dads

I submitted my book for Dr. Laura Schlessinger to review recently and Teresa Arriaza, her Programming Assistant, told me that they had rejected it because Dr. Laura doesn’t believe mothers should work.

So I asked, how about single moms and single dads?  Are they all supposed to go on welfare?

Here is Ms. Arriaza’s reply: Dr. Laura’s position has always been to do what’s best for the children.  If a parent has to work, she recommends that they work during hours when the children are asleep or when the other parent is at home.

My thoughts? This all sounds great on paper but it’s unrealistic for many moms and dads. If a single parent works when a child is asleep, then the parent must sleep when the child is awake, and that is a safety issue. Ask any parent who has been up with a fussy baby for several nights in a row and they will admit it’s downright dangerous. Over the long term, that is NOT “what’s best for the children.”

 

And for families where the parents share the childcare, the parents often don’t see each other enough to maintain their marriage and end up divorced. That is NOT “what’s best for the children” either. 

 Even some married parents have to contend with this issue. Maybe their spouse is serving in the military overseas, is disabled, or is on a non-military assignment out of the area.

 Or maybe one spouse chooses a profession that doesn’t pay enough to support a family, like being a teacher or a nurse. There are many instances where both parents have to work, just to pay base-level bills.

 

Few single mothers WANT to put their kids in childcare, but it’s really a safer solution to have the children play while their mom’s at work, so they can all sleep at the same time.

 

‘Hope this doesn’t sound like sour grapes. I admire all she’s accomplished, and putting children first is absolutely the right thing. But there are lots of parents who have to work. Granted, there are many who don’t, who work anyway. But to lump them all together doesn’t serve anyone.

 

I wish Dr. Laura would broaden her view to help more working parents. My message, “Hug your kids, then get to work,” at least makes sure the most important thing you’ll do all day, gets done first.

Fast, Easy Weight Loss is Like a Hugging Habit

Establishing the habit of hugging each of your kids and loved ones every day is like fast, easy weight loss.  You already know the essentials. There are no secrets or stuff to learn. Just hug, or just eat less quantity of less fattening food and move more.

Simple but not easy, like so many other things in life. But don’t let that stop you from trying. And when you fall short, try again.

Your kids are worth it – and so are you.

Forbes Publisher Weighs In

In the October 27 issue of Forbes, Rich Karlgaard, the publisher of Forbes shares this advice:

How to Avoid the Recession Blues

Obsessed about your stock losses? Make friends with entrepreneurs trying to change the world. Trade sweat for equity. Coach. Join the board. There’s no better optimism than doing.

I love how he says, “entrepreneurs trying to change the world.” So many people think that Hug Your Kids has to be a non-profit. It’s like they think that for-profit companies are money-grubbing and non-profits are pure. Not so! There are lots of for-profits that are very charitable – and there are some non-profits that are shams, paying their Executive Directors a ton of money.

John Travolta and Jett Travolta – Wish They Could Hug Again

Ouch! With the recent death of Jett Travolta, son of John Travolta and Kelly Preston, another family has a beloved child die suddenly. Just because Jett was the child of a celebrity doesn’t make his loss any bigger or smaller.

My heart goes out to the Travolta family.

What’s the lesson to all families? That’s right – hug your kids today! I’m positive John, Kelly and their daughter wish they could hug Jett one more time.

P.S. Does anyone know how I can connect to People Magazine to do a story on Hug Your Kids Today and the Travolta family? I’d love an introduction.

Florida Marlins MLB Celebrate Hug Your Kids Today

Florida Marlins MLB Celebrate Hug Your Kids

The Florida Marlins MLB Baseball team celebrated National Hug Your Kids Day 2008 on July 21, 2008 by displaying the Hug Your Kids Today billboards up on the Jumbotron and showing fan dads and moms hugging their kids. Sweet! Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie – and hug your kids!

NOTE: The announcer’s voice couldn’t be played because copyrighted music was playing in the background at the baseball stadium. :0

Seinfeld’s “Serenity Now!” for Working Parents

Seinfeld, the TV show, gave us so many good lines, but one that always makes me think of the Hug Your Kids Today project is George shouting “Serenity Now!”

I bet all working parents can identify with George’s wish. When you have work that needs to be done, and family duties that need attention, and God forbid, you want to have some sort of personal life too, “Serenity Now!” seems to sum up the chaos in your head.

My advice? No surprise – Hug your kids, spouse/partner and loved ones, and then get back to work.