George Floyd, an African American from Minneapolis was murdered last week in one of the most despicable displays of police brutality ever recorded. The event spurred protests in almost every major city in the country and a few unfortunate riots.
Below are a few of my opinions on the matter:
Racism is more prevalent in America than I thought possible.
Police officers are not all racists, but there is a culture of racism that infects the law enforcement community at almost every level nationwide, and it will not change until law enforcement managers are fired, pensions are lost and perpetrators are jailed.
People who were unmoved by Floyd’s murder but critical about the protesters aren’t just part of the problem, they are the problem.
Racism and economic disparity are the biggest threats to the American system.
Eliminating systemic racism in our society will require an all-hands-on-deck effort.
Prayers, warm thoughts, and social media posts are nice, but they won’t end racism or make a material difference.
Only voting and donating money to candidates and organizations who stand firmly against racism in all forms will get the job done.
Some of the organization’s that have a strong history of fighting racism are:
Almost everyone, including Democrats, were expecting last Tuesday’s midterm election results to heavily favor Republicans. Many predicted a “red wave” where they would pick up 50-60 seats in the House and 3-4 in the Senate. Joe Rogan said the red wave that is coming will be like the elevator doors opening in the horror film The Shining.
Selling during a downturn required a more strategic approach, but the opportunities for growth and expansion are available to the savviest of companies. Here are some of the best ideas I’ve read about.
A farmer and his son had a beloved stallion who helped the family earn a living. One day, the horse ran away and their neighbors said “Your horse ran away, what terrible luck!”. The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.” A few days later the horse returned home, leading a few wild mares back to the farm as well. The neighbors shouted out “Your horse has returned and brought several horses home with him. What great luck!” and the farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.”
I’ve written about this in other iterations. I’ve talked about finding your rhythm, and the importance of letting things come to you, not forcing things, and then riding the momentum when you have the wind at your back. The point of it all is that success is not linear. Progress doesn’t follow a straight line. For most people, the journey is long and winding. It looks more like a stairway or a hockey stick.