"This Is The Promotion That Jack Got" (with apologies to Mother Goose)

This is the promotion that Jack got.

This is the raise that Jack didn’t get that goes with the promotion that Jack got.

These are the duties that Jack took on that go with the raise that Jack didn’t get that goes with the promotion that Jack got.

These are the layoffs that led to the duties that Jack took on that go with the raise that Jack didn’t get that goes with the promotion that Jack got.

These are the weekends that Jack now works because of the layoffs that led to the duties that Jack took on that go with the raise that Jack didn’t get that goes with the promotion that Jack got.

These are the friends who don’t have jobs who golf on the weekends that Jack now works because of the layoffs that led to the duties that Jack took on that go with the raise that Jack didn’t get that goes with the promotion that Jack got.

These are the resumes that pile up high that belong to the friends who don’t have jobs who golf on the weekends that Jack now works because of the layoffs that led to the duties that Jack took on that go with the raise that Jack didn’t get that goes with the promotion that Jack got.

These are the “redundancies” that led to the resumes that pile up high that belong to the friends who don’t have jobs who golf on the weekends that Jack now works because of the layoffs that led to the duties that Jack took on that go with the raise that Jack didn’t get that goes with the promotion that Jack got.

This is the budget review that revealed the “redundancies” that led to the resumes that pile up high that belong to the friends who don’t have jobs who golf on the weekends that Jack now works because of the layoffs that led to the duties that Jack took on that go with the raise that Jack didn’t get that goes with the promotion that Jack got.

This is the recession that led to the budget review that revealed the “redundancies” that led to the resumes that pile up high that belong to the friends who don’t have jobs who golf on the weekends that Jack now works because of the layoffs that led to the duties that Jack took on that go with the raise that Jack didn’t get that goes with the promotion that Jack got.

This is the recovery that ends the recession that led to the budget review that revealed the “redundancies” that led to the resumes that pile up high that belong to the friends who don’t have jobs who golf on the weekends that Jack now works because of the layoffs that led to the duties that Jack took on that go with the raise that Jack didn’t get that goes with the promotion that Jack got.

These are the executives who cheer the recovery that ends the recession that led to the budget review that revealed the “redundancies” that led to the resumes that pile up high that belong to the friends who don’t have jobs who golf on the weekends that Jack now works because of the layoffs that led to the duties that Jack took on that go with the raise that Jack didn’t get that goes with the promotion that Jack got.

These are the bonuses that go to the executives who cheer the recovery that ends the recession that led to the budget review that revealed the “redundancies” that led to the resumes that pile up high that belong to the friends who don’t have jobs who golf on the weekends that Jack now works because of the layoffs that led to the duties that Jack took on that go with the raise that Jack didn’t get that goes with the promotion that Jack got.

This is the promotion that Jack got.

Making plans to have a plan …

My husband I are back from vacation and back to the real world. We’re preparing for the arrival of our first child. We need to sterilize the house, paint the room, put the crib together, install new carpet and move furniture while maintaining our everyday tasks. Sigh. I don’t mean to complain but this sounds quite daunting to me. Maybe it’s the hormones or the heat, but I’m a bit overwhelmed.

With my husband’s income cut short during the summer, buying paint and putting in carpet have become quite a challenge. In fact, we’ve even had to put some necessities on our credit card this month. I hate to run up the credit card bills, but next month should be better, right?

At times like these I wish we had a better plan. Suze Orman and other financial gurus often talk about having three to six months of your income in a savings account in case something happens. I just don’t see how that is possible. We definitely need a plan, but how do we get started? Can we have an amended plan? Maybe I’ll spend some of my maternity leave catching up on the latest money saving strategies … or at least clipping coupons for diapers.

Once my husband heads back to work full time things should get better. We’ll both be working full-time jobs but with the new baby coming in about nine weeks, I can see “baby stuff” eating up any extra cash that we might have. I already save some money but I end up dipping into it every month. One thing is for sure, once I do figure out a plan, I will share it with my child. Not to blame our parents, but my husband and I were never really taught to save; therefore, we’re not savers … yet. I vow to learn to save so I can instill this lesson in my children at a young, impressionable age.

FORE! Another Swing at Health Care

Note: I would not have blogged about health care again except that NewsHour's editor for Patchwork Nation Anna Shoup asked for local reactions to the raucous town hall meetings taking place across the country.

My nephew, a college junior, has been working this summer as a caddy at a well-heeled country club near Washington, D.C. Last month he caddied for former speaker of the house Newt Gingrich. For a young man who spent last summer as a youth organizer for the Obama campaign, I was surprised at how much my nephew enjoyed his 18 holes with Newt. He said Gingrich was very personable, joking constantly about politics and his poor golf shots. At the end of the round, he tipped my nephew $150.

After seeing Gingrich on TV recently rabble-rousing about Obama’s health care plan, I would have tipped my nephew twice as much to take a swing at Newt’s backside with a golf club. Just joking – I’m totally a pacifist. Gingrich implied that the President’s plan was socialism and that it may lead to euthanizing the elderly. Just joking, Newt? Or once in the clubhouse, do you fabricate tall tales about your golf scores too?

A friend, who just went through a myriad of medical tests, told me that he’s not sure he can afford to be healthy. Even though his insurance partially covers costs, the out-of-pocket deductibles are killing him, so to speak. As I wrote in my first Patchwork Nation blog (posted 7-23), my recent surgery cost $25,432.65 or over two-thirds of my yearly salary. Fortunately I’m insured, although my premiums just went up. A number of co-workers had to opt out of our group plan because they couldn’t afford the higher monthly costs. Hence, my premiums will go up again.

The National Coalition on Health Care states that due to the recession and rising unemployment it’s conceivable 57 to 60 million Americans will be uninsured by next year. Over 8 in 10 uninsured people come from working families. Hopefully the advantage of a government health insurance option is that the competition would drive down the exorbitant prices of private insurance. I don’t think that’s socialism, Newt. Isn’t that a tenet of free-market capitalism?

After reading my first blog, another friend told me she enjoyed my clever writing but couldn’t believe I thought the government could run a more efficient health insurance system than the private sector. Hm-m-m-m-m-m. This friend worked in banking for 30 years. After last fall’s financial fiasco that created the economic funk, I don’t think the private sector can claim any superiority, especially over the government that bailed them out. The fact is Americans pay more for health care than in any other country on earth, yet our overall health statistics rival those of a third world nation. The system is broken.

As director of an arts organization, I’m proud that the national advocacy group Americans for the Arts has lobbied legislators about the health care needs of artists and nonprofit arts organizations. Many artists are self-employed or work in nontraditional employment relationships, leaving no options for group coverage. Also, skyrocketing health care costs are consuming the decreasing budgets of nonprofit arts organizations already battered by the recession. Americans for the Arts urges arts people to write their senators and attend town hall meetings to ensure that the voice of the cultural community is heard. Details at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.

So, Newt, if you happen to attend a town hall meeting in Akron and start telling tall tales about President Obama’s health care plan -- watch out for the teed off woman in the back row with a golf club. Fore! Just joking – I’m totally a pacifist. Really.

One Day Closer to Realization of Opportunity

While the recession is taking its toll on jobs, there has been no shortage of good new technology-based business ideas. Simply having a great idea, however, is not enough. Taking an idea from conception to the creation of a successful technology company is no small feat. It takes a strong team and a diverse skill set to be successful. As Director of Entrepreneurial Services, I try to help entrepreneurs become successful. There is no guide book as each company and opportunity is unique. I draw upon my experiences of 25 years commercializing technology and upon a network of professionals. I have a strong allegiance to Akron, the city where I grew up, and a vested interest in seeing Northeast Ohio prosper.

In order to get a glimpse of my typical day, take a look at a few highlights. My first meeting is with a company whose vision is to produce high-value nutraceuticals from algae. I learn that these entrepreneurs know the young industry well, having studied both the organism and the markets their products can serve for over two years – most of it unpaid. They have come to see me not only because of the reputation I have developed for giving sound business advice but also because the price is right. The City of Akron and the State of Ohio combine to make consultants’ services like mine free so that young companies can get the advice they need without further financial obligations.

Today, I have arranged a meeting with an intellectual property attorney who provides free consultations for some of my clients. We spent an hour talking through a strategy for licensing negotiations with a major university. We discussed how to obtain the right to practice an enabling technology quickly without appearing overanxious and driving up the price. Next, I critiqued an executive summary which will be used to state the company’s need for investment to area Angel investors. The document is intended to pique the investor’s interest enough for a personal meeting, the first of a multiple step diligence process to secure seed funding. Typically $250 thousand to one million dollars are needed to get a technology company started. This is not to be confused with the millions still needed in subsequent funding to enable the emerging company to ultimately survive and be profitable.

The next meeting is with a young company that has already passed a validation test with the US Air Force demonstrating that their analytics software saves millions of dollars, and potentially lives, in their fix of a nagging operational problem for a trainer jet. A Pentagon general is now in their corner. Amazingly, this still isn’t enough to commence business. We are meeting today with a consultant who specializes in negotiating the maze of obstacles in the arena of doing business with the Government.

Next, I make a pitch to an area angel fund deal flow committee on which I serve on behalf of both companies I met with this morning via email. Tomorrow, the committee will choose the finalists to speak at their next event, a meeting at which selected companies can present their opportunity to a roomful of investors. I cannot be there to present my clients in person as I will be listening to seven companies make their pitch to a new cleantech fund. I craft my words carefully in an effort to convey the passion of those I represent. I am hopeful that they will be read in a thoughtful manner.

Finally, I learn that another client of mine who designs wireless network software received a “no” from an innovation fund offered through a regional college. This fund has become known as the place to go for entrepreneurs who are not quite ready to pitch to Angel investors. The opportunity to access $100K helping to bridge what is known as the “valley of death” to young technology companies has made this fund quite competitive. Not a great way to end the business day yet I remind myself that tomorrow is new day with fresh opportunities.

The key to success as an entrepreneur is persistence and hope that the victories outweigh the failures in the end. As a champion for these entrepreneurs, I will go to work tomorrow believing that we can achieve another victory.

Art is Dead

It is a sunny graduation day at prestigious Davidson College in North Carolina, and I have just invested over $120,000 in tuition to see my son receive a diploma from what is known as “the Princeton of the South.” (Of course, in the South they call Princeton “the Davidson of the North.”) He has earned a BA in liberal arts with a major in art history. After the ceremony we stand in the shade of a 30-foot magnolia tree, me smiling with pride. I hug my boy and say teasingly, “Well, I just hope you learned something.” He answers with a smirk, “I did, Mom, and in a nutshell this is it. Art is dead.”

That was seven years ago, and the poignancy of the story is that I was at the time the director of an arts organization. Ouch! Way to burn old Mom. Actually today I am still the director of that same organization, the Akron Area Arts Alliance, and the arts are still alive -- although truly in need of life support in today’s economy.

The Alliance is an advocacy group representing 46 organizations and 70 artists and arts supporters in Ohio’s Summit, Portage and Medina Counties. Last spring I surveyed our organizational members on the effects of the falling economy. Half of those responding experienced major staff and programming cutbacks. The other half said they were expecting changes. Performances were cancelled, museum hours were cut and staff members were laid off, dropped to part-time or forced to take pay cuts. Often the laid off staffers were in the essential areas of educational programming, development and marketing – the very things that keep an organization alive. (Studies prove that if children are not exposed to the arts at early ages, they do not attend arts events as adults. Arts education is the key to future arts audiences.)

Now someone could argue that lay-offs are happening in all businesses, so why are the arts any different? The difference is that the creative industries have been cutting back for the past decade. Across the nation, there have been major cuts in arts support from business, foundations and government since the 1999 mini-recession and more since the market fall after 9/11. The staffs of arts and culture organizations were already bareboned – working longer, harder, for less money. For example, the local theatre company that let go one person last spring was actually laying off a third of its staff. It had previously been reduced to three people. Arts organizations were already at the edge and this economy may just push them over the cliff.

When my son declared “art is dead” seven years ago, I am not suggesting he was prescient. He was not talking economics. His comment was purely academic – a highfaluting, intellectual argument about how art, once purely the domain of the rich and elite, has been democratized by making it accessible to the masses. Hence it has lost significance, and a comic book has as much artistic value as a Picasso. (When we discussed it later, his argument was much more convoluted with many big, need-a-dictionary words, but that’s it in a nutshell.) So why should anyone care that arts and culture may take a nose dive off that cliff? Are the arts even relevant today? That is discussion for a future blog.

Note: My son did not follow in Mom’s footsteps and go into the arts. He learned to speak fluent Chinese and went on to Duke University where he earned a masters degree in Asian Studies. He is now a businessman working in Shenzhen, China for an American company. I am still smiling with pride.