| With fuel prices dropping like a stone, and a huge | | | | trends, and they often are not necessarily at all the |
| difference in gasoline pricing just 10 miles apart in | | | | way we are used to thinking. Way, way outside the |
| these northeast towns, I can't help but wonder, have | | | | box. This is also the harsh reality of "future shock". |
| we learned anything about the current trends and | | | | Lesson number two. Alvin Toffler was so prophetic! |
| events that have a huge impact upon our lives? | | | | Future Shock is modern mans greatest psychological |
| I certainly hope so, but only time will tell. | | | | affliction. Simply put, given half a chance, humans will |
| Here's my take. | | | | screw up big time (and screw others) by failing to |
| 1. Fuel prices soared, and stayed up because they | | | | acknowledge and respond to the amount and rapid |
| could, without significant repercussions from any | | | | pace of change, in all areas of our world. |
| government authority. If you or I did that, we'd lose | | | | Lesson number three. Ignorance of important trends, |
| our licenses. | | | | changes and warnings hurts. It hurts people. It |
| 2. It's not the last time we see this. Seems to me | | | | changes societies very quickly. |
| this strategy was tested after Katrina, and stuck this | | | | (And, it might just destroy everything that built |
| time. And I am sure its not over. | | | | America, a country that no longer teaches, or |
| I think back to the gas lines of the 70s and lessons | | | | touches history on any scale like it used to. |
| never learned. Instead, we get more dependent on | | | | Collectively, very short memories for a very young |
| foreign oil, and continue 35 years of incredible | | | | country). |
| consumption. Next, we even gave our jobs away, | | | | In any event, most of today's doctors are just like |
| make it incredibly difficult to do business in our own | | | | most people in any important endeavor. Failure to |
| country, continue to line the pockets of special | | | | thrive and especially prosper is often rooted squarely |
| interests and set the stage for more corrupt politics. | | | | in these three closely related crucial errors. |
| Now, other growing countries exhibit the same | | | | Here they are in a slightly different format. |
| behavior. | | | | Ignorance of current trends. |
| And again in the USA, the biggest auto Companies | | | | Continuing to use antiquated tools, and this is a real |
| Banks and Mortgage companies are looking for | | | | biggie for such a smart group. |
| bailouts by the feds, while posting brutal losses and | | | | Not changing key life and business components |
| shareholders stock value plummets. | | | | (systems) until it's very late in the game or disaster |
| Gosh, it must be nice to screw up so bad, and still | | | | strikes). |
| come out smelling like a rose. All in the face of | | | | Please remind yourself daily that ignorance is not bliss. |
| warning signs and trends of not so long ago. | | | | In fact, it's a recipe for disaster, in most everything. |
| Like Yogi Berra said, "This is like deja vu all over | | | | Now the good news. |
| again." | | | | You can be a better doctor and businessperson! You |
| So, what's the point? Again, it's Yogi's words of | | | | can learn new skills; use new tools that operate |
| wisdom... | | | | better systems. You can still create a powerful life |
| "You can observe a lot just by watching." | | | | while rendering a unique set of services to your |
| This type of human behavior in the face of rapid | | | | communities. You can earn a fantastic livelihood and |
| change could also have everything to do with your | | | | save many lives and countless amounts of ill heath, |
| practice right now. Here is how I think it applies. | | | | humanities most basic needs. You can. |
| Lesson number one. The profitable and successful | | | | But only If... |
| business and professional practice is built upon current | | | | Hopefully, your answers are obvious. |