My father was a New York City cabdriver for over 40 years. Back in those days, cabdrivers not only knew where they were going, but they’d give you a detailed, guided tour for no extra charge. Their cars were big and roomy and few had the bullet proof partitions that imprison us like convicts being transported to the local penitentiary. Now these mobile holding cells actually implore us to watch The Taxi Cab Network to keep our mind off of how bad the cabby’s driving or how toxic the combination of body odor and artificial air freshener actually is. My father’s generation was the last of the true NY Cabbies. These guys were family and they protected each other like fraternity brothers would. These were guys of honor too. I remember my father would chase people down the street because they had given him too much money, or left something of real value in his car. Despite the fact that he only earned money when he was picking up fares, he’d sometimes invest half his day helping a complete stranger who was broken down on the side of the road.
I think back on those years and I realize that they’ve had a tremendous impact on me and the way I run my business and raise my children. I too value helping people over earning. Despite the fact this practice has occasionally drained my wallet, it has consistently filled my soul.
Unfortunately, my children are living in a different world than I did as a child. The media’s voice is so omnipresent and powerful that it has literally altered the way we think and behave. I believe this uber-connected society has actually begun to alter our brain chemistry and the way we relate to each other. Advances in technology and the unparalleled growth of social media has connected us, but has also made us a more defensive, more paranoid nation. The irony here is that in many ways all this “connection” is making us become a more disconnected, stressed out and meaner society. We actually have begun to rely on negative news to sustain our social media based ecosystem. Shock, despair, tragedy, embarrassment, etc. have become the fuel that sustains our “viral” world.
While I’m not a generally politically inclined person, and I do not associate with any particular political party, I find that our government has been a terrible role model for our business community and for our children. Our business leaders have also lost their way and “trust” and “confidence” have become elusive terms in the halls of America’s biggest companies and institutions. In my father’s day a hand shake was a genuine commitment worth its weight in gold. Today, a contract is not worth the recycled paper it’s written on. Our politicians have lost focus on their respective roles to serve ALL the people, not just some of the people. Instead, they operate like High School kids playing a petty game of “Can You Top This” or should I say “Can You Top This Stupidity!” The fact that thousands of people were stranded on a bridge because some immature ass had the power to snarl traffic for miles may seem insignificant to some, but to me, it’s indicative of a much larger problem. A warning sign that our nation’s integrity is diseased with greed, corruption, egos and pettiness.
Let’s face it, the American people are losing the very pride that has always kept the U.S.A. the king among nations. Ambition, innovation and success are words that are slowly being stripped from our vocabulary. Too many have lost their jobs and many more simply rely on the government to literally support them. With all its flaws, America is still a country of great opportunity. In 2008 my business was rocked when Wall Street and in particular Lehman Bros., came tumbling down ending any hope of completing the multimillion dollar transaction we spent hundred of thousands of dollars and over 15 months of due diligence hammering out with them. The impact to us and the nation was catastrophic. The rulebook we all grew up with (buy stocks, invest in real estate, build businesses) seemed to no longer apply. Yet, these rapid and uncontrollable changes in our economic system did not destroy my will to thrive, provide for my family or contribute greatly to our country and our world.
To me, the ailment still retarding our nation’s rebirth is simply a rampant lack of integrity. This country is riddled with fraudulent workers comp, disability and other deceitful insurance claims that continue to tax our system. Our local and national political leaders lack judgement and are tempted by the self-serving opportunities that are a bi-product of their power. We, as a nation, need to reign in all those that lack integrity as they are the nation’s bacteria. It is these sociopaths that embrace the “kill or be killed” philosophy that is slowly eroding at our nation’s physical and emotional infrastructure. Unfortunately I have seen this in the halls of companies I have built myself. My trust has been betrayed on more than one occasion and it’s a painful journey especially when your children are impacted by it and bear witness to it. It shouldn’t need to be that way. No company can survive without a unified vision and a philosophy of “excellence through integrity.” No nation can either. United we stand!!!
The fact is America is a fine product with a tarnished brand. Its great history will save it, but I believe a President is packaging for our nation, our congress is the fine print on the box and our people must be the quality goods presented in that attractive box. We need to rebrand, repackage and reformulate America. We are Americans and as Americans we must stop acting as if we are somehow better than the rest of the world and recapture the core philosophies that helped build this great nation in the first place, “leading by example.”
We must realign our legal system so that the bewildered “David’s” of the world can afford to stand toe-to-toe with the better funded “Goliaths.”
We must put more moral emphasis in our handshakes and fewer legal clauses in our contracts.
We must put profits aside and promote hope instead of fear.
We must highlight those that serve humanity and stop sensationalizing criminals, murderers, drug addicts and other low lives.
We must remind ourselves that it is “WE the people,” not “I the people.”
America is a beautiful flower garden and each one of its citizens has the potential to bloom. However, we must recognize that our integrity is the photosynthesis that will determine whether we will ever fully blossom with vibrant color or simply die on the vine.
G-d Bless America!
I think back on those years and I realize that they’ve had a tremendous impact on me and the way I run my business and raise my children. I too value helping people over earning. Despite the fact this practice has occasionally drained my wallet, it has consistently filled my soul.
Unfortunately, my children are living in a different world than I did as a child. The media’s voice is so omnipresent and powerful that it has literally altered the way we think and behave. I believe this uber-connected society has actually begun to alter our brain chemistry and the way we relate to each other. Advances in technology and the unparalleled growth of social media has connected us, but has also made us a more defensive, more paranoid nation. The irony here is that in many ways all this “connection” is making us become a more disconnected, stressed out and meaner society. We actually have begun to rely on negative news to sustain our social media based ecosystem. Shock, despair, tragedy, embarrassment, etc. have become the fuel that sustains our “viral” world.
While I’m not a generally politically inclined person, and I do not associate with any particular political party, I find that our government has been a terrible role model for our business community and for our children. Our business leaders have also lost their way and “trust” and “confidence” have become elusive terms in the halls of America’s biggest companies and institutions. In my father’s day a hand shake was a genuine commitment worth its weight in gold. Today, a contract is not worth the recycled paper it’s written on. Our politicians have lost focus on their respective roles to serve ALL the people, not just some of the people. Instead, they operate like High School kids playing a petty game of “Can You Top This” or should I say “Can You Top This Stupidity!” The fact that thousands of people were stranded on a bridge because some immature ass had the power to snarl traffic for miles may seem insignificant to some, but to me, it’s indicative of a much larger problem. A warning sign that our nation’s integrity is diseased with greed, corruption, egos and pettiness.
Let’s face it, the American people are losing the very pride that has always kept the U.S.A. the king among nations. Ambition, innovation and success are words that are slowly being stripped from our vocabulary. Too many have lost their jobs and many more simply rely on the government to literally support them. With all its flaws, America is still a country of great opportunity. In 2008 my business was rocked when Wall Street and in particular Lehman Bros., came tumbling down ending any hope of completing the multimillion dollar transaction we spent hundred of thousands of dollars and over 15 months of due diligence hammering out with them. The impact to us and the nation was catastrophic. The rulebook we all grew up with (buy stocks, invest in real estate, build businesses) seemed to no longer apply. Yet, these rapid and uncontrollable changes in our economic system did not destroy my will to thrive, provide for my family or contribute greatly to our country and our world.
To me, the ailment still retarding our nation’s rebirth is simply a rampant lack of integrity. This country is riddled with fraudulent workers comp, disability and other deceitful insurance claims that continue to tax our system. Our local and national political leaders lack judgement and are tempted by the self-serving opportunities that are a bi-product of their power. We, as a nation, need to reign in all those that lack integrity as they are the nation’s bacteria. It is these sociopaths that embrace the “kill or be killed” philosophy that is slowly eroding at our nation’s physical and emotional infrastructure. Unfortunately I have seen this in the halls of companies I have built myself. My trust has been betrayed on more than one occasion and it’s a painful journey especially when your children are impacted by it and bear witness to it. It shouldn’t need to be that way. No company can survive without a unified vision and a philosophy of “excellence through integrity.” No nation can either. United we stand!!!
The fact is America is a fine product with a tarnished brand. Its great history will save it, but I believe a President is packaging for our nation, our congress is the fine print on the box and our people must be the quality goods presented in that attractive box. We need to rebrand, repackage and reformulate America. We are Americans and as Americans we must stop acting as if we are somehow better than the rest of the world and recapture the core philosophies that helped build this great nation in the first place, “leading by example.”
We must realign our legal system so that the bewildered “David’s” of the world can afford to stand toe-to-toe with the better funded “Goliaths.”
We must put more moral emphasis in our handshakes and fewer legal clauses in our contracts.
We must put profits aside and promote hope instead of fear.
We must highlight those that serve humanity and stop sensationalizing criminals, murderers, drug addicts and other low lives.
We must remind ourselves that it is “WE the people,” not “I the people.”
America is a beautiful flower garden and each one of its citizens has the potential to bloom. However, we must recognize that our integrity is the photosynthesis that will determine whether we will ever fully blossom with vibrant color or simply die on the vine.
G-d Bless America!
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