Mindconnection eNL, 2004-03-08

In this issue:

4. Finance tip
5. Security tips
6. Health tip/Fitness tip
7. Thought for the day

This course is primarily for citizens of the USA (Americans), though some of our readers in other countries would find it beneficial. Americans work more hours per week than people in any other country and we take the least amount of vacation.

This is not healthy, but we feel we must do that or we lose our jobs. Job loss is, for Americans, a very real concern. We are 

Those healthcare jobs will see a drop in wages as the base to support them continues to shrink. We can't do anything about our bloated (oversized by a factor of 10) government--like any parasite, it continues to feed on its host and displace healthy tissue.

Jobs are leaving America for many reasons, and these have little or nothing to do with who is in the White House. The USA has set a record for layoffs every year since the trend started in 1958.

Here are some reasons for the job loss trend:

• Excessive government regulation. This is the number one reason. This issue is not even debatable, but if you have any doubts just look across our borders to Canada or Mexico and you'll see the same factories that used to be in the USA before rabid EPA regulations made them relocate. This really accelerated in the 1970s, and resulted in a net increase in pollution accompanied by an increase in the rate of job loss.

• Excessive CEO and senior executive pay. When a CEO in the USA makes 400 times the compensation his/her counterpart makes in Germany, you know something is wrong and the company being bled by that person has lost a great deal of its competitive edge.

• Excessive taxation. American individuals and companies pay into four federal tax systems (1040, SS, AMT, and targeted collections) plus a myriad of taxes on bread (128 at last count), cell phones, fuel, property, etc., ad nauseum. Add these up, and you start comparing apples to apples with taxes of other nations. But, the normal comparison is only with the 1040. Thus, instead of looking like the worst-taxed nation on earth, we give the misrepresentation that we are only 17th worst.

• Productivity. To get the same output, fewer workers are needed today than in the past. That's why manufacturing jobs are disappearing all over the world, even in Mexico and China. Those jobs won't come back, no matter how much protectionist legislation our government passes. And remember: for every job saved by protectionist laws, 50 other jobs are lost (source: CATO Institute).

You probably can't do anything about these reasons jobs leave the USA. But, you can do something about whether you are one of the people let go this month at your company. Many things you thought weren't within your control are within your control. This course shows you what those things are and how to control them.

Remember, jobs are also being created in the USA. The net quantity (jobs lost vs. jobs gained) of good jobs is shrinking. That means greater competitiveness for the jobs that remain. This course will show you how to compete--to win. And perhaps your success will put you in a position to help create quality jobs right here in the USA.

Here's a tip that's not in the course: If you are working with people who speak a language you don't know, you will definitely want one of our electronic language translators! https://www.mindconnection.com/category/0002LANGUAGE.html

Have you noticed that, often when you say "X" the other person hears "Y?"

In the previous eNL, we hit on the idea that saying too much can cloud the point you actually wanted to make. Clarity was the key concept, there.

Don's concern was that people (and Don is including everyone, not "they") tend to selectively listen per the label they put on someone else.

Example

Tami: I need a gun to protect myself.

John: You're a gun nut! You'll hurt someone!

We all know where that conversation is going. It's polarized. It will be nothing more than a collective monologue, because John has labeled himself as supporter of risk reduction for violent criminals while slapping an "I won't listen to you" label on Tami by labeling her as some kind of nut.

Now that we know the positions of the players, let's open John's mind a bit and give him some manners.

Tami: I need a gun to protect myself.

John: I'm really opposed to guns. Why do you think you need one?

Tami: My best friend was raped a week ago. I was with her, but was powerless. I dialed 911 on my cell phone, but we didn't get any help for 15 minutes. She's dead now.

John: So, you think having a gun will make you safe?

Now they are able to have a real conversation. While John doesn't agree with Tami--even after her account of what made her decide to arm herself--he is asking her for her opinion. John may never change his mind, but at least he is attempting to understand why a 115 pound woman might want something other than her purse to use to fend off a 200 pound rapist. And maybe he will understand her viewpoint.

This method of giving up labels and asking questions is very effective. And, it can allow people who have very different views to understand the other person. Think of all the collective monologues about:

• Abortion
• Food preferences
• Politics (Demopublican vs. Libertarian, etc.)
• Religion (Catholic vs. Methodist, etc.)
• Smoking
• Weight

and many other subjects where people almost automatically slap a label on the other person and stop listening. Most people who hold opinions on these topics cannot present a balanced argument. Only when you can present an argument both for and against a given thesis can you claim you understand the subject.

If you suspend judgment, you can accomplish the following:

• Understand the other viewpoint
• Respect and enjoy people who don't share your views--and make that mutual
• Perhaps modify your own views toward a more mature and informed perspective
• Perhaps realize why your views are right for you

In summary, anyone may something to offer. Don't tune people out because you rushed to slap a label on them. Tune them out after they've individually proven they are stupid. Listen first, then judge. If you judge first, you will be unable to listen--and that will be your loss.

The same holds true for windows, siding, roofing--you name it.

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Some people have the mistaken notion that working out three days a week is ideal, while working out five days a week is overtraining. In actual practice, the opposite is usually true.

People on three-day regimens typically do not focus on individual muscle groups, but try instead to cram way too much workout into one session. It's better to spread it out than to do that. Training your body is much like studying for an exam. Doing it all at once leads to inferior results.

If you're on a three-day regimen, that doesn't mean you are a bad person or even (gasp) a prime candidate for a job with the IRS. It does mean you have made a commitment to fitness and need to consider a more productive strategy.

If you always work out at the gym, consider modifying your routine so you can still go there three times a week but add in an extra day where you train without the equipment you have at the gym. There are many exercises you can do with just a doorway or just a bag of dirt.

Divide your training program up into five muscle groups, such as these for example:

1. Back and biceps

2. Chest and triceps

3. Shoulders

4. Abs and calves

5. Quads and other muscles hit by squats and deadlifts

Then, simply train one muscle group at each workout session. You do not need to hit each group each week. For example, I train upper body four days per week. But I have only three upper body groups. Thus, the day of the week I work a given group (e.g.,  shoulders) will move each week. This adds variety, as well as proper resting periods.

I typically train upper body on Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. I do abs and calves on Thursdays or Fridays and squats on every other Monday. Am I working out each day or am I resting each day? The answer is yes!

Plan your workouts logically, and you will see better results with less time involved. And if you are spending an hour to 90 minutes at the gym, start thinking about how you could better spend your time.

Now, let me tell you something. I train for about 20 minutes per workout. Most "experts" will tell you that's not sufficient and I'm some kind of pansy who obviously is never going to have any muscle. Well, I can curl half my body weight with one hand--without throwing the weight. How many people do you know who can do that? So, those "experts" don't know what they are talking about.

Use your training to support your life, not the other way around.