AI, Market Signals, and the CEO’s Path to Competitive Advantage: Dripping Syrup Example (Conference Board Q4 CEO 2025 Survey)

You’re a CEO or executive, and you’ve realized that technology is advancing far faster now than it has in the past. AI has become an increasingly valuable tool for recruitment, efficiency, market research, cost reduction, product development, customer experience, and much more. With this shift comes the need to hire people who can use modern technologies effectively, which means significant training will likely be required across the organization. As you seek to figure out a strategy it is beneficial to ponder what other CEOs are thinking and what they are doing to navigate the market. Surveys and industry reports allows one to understand the economic environment and create better strategic solutions.  

Representing a maple syrup 
tasting room and distribution
hub for example local export brand
as an alernative strategy.
Can technology make local 
development more possible?
Blending local assets and market changes.

Reading industry reports—such as the Conference Board’s Q4 2025 CEO survey—provides useful insight into current executive thinking. According to the report, CEOs believe that market conditions are becoming more challenging and that the overall economic outlook has worsened. Even so, many are choosing to increase hiring, raise wages, and allocate more capital spending compared to the previous quarter.

Leaders can use reports like these to benchmark their own strategies. For example, if you’re considering hiring new talent to adjust your approach or gain an edge over competitors, it helps to know that other executives are facing similar pressures. These insights also provide a sense of how companies may behave in the near term based on their outlook and expectations. You can then guage some of your own strategies in comparision to others.

That said, just because other companies are taking certain actions doesn’t mean you should follow the same path. Instead, these insights help you understand the landscape more clearly (The more you know, the less hazy it is). Sometimes, when everyone is heading in one direction, the better opportunity lies in a slightly different strategic approach. A strong grasp of economic principles and market dynamics allows organizations to manage resources more effectively and hedge against emerging trends.

An Example of Understanding the Market to Understand Strategic Options

A picture representing
profits up, markets opened, 
new jobs, visitors in store, area branding,
local circulation of wealth
and increased local tax revenue.

Imagine you own a maple syrup farm outside Escanaba or Gladstone and want to open a syrup shop downtown, where Escanaba is quickly becoming an entrepreneurial and investment hotspot. Suppose you notice many syrup producers nationally are adopting AI-powered tree-tapping systems to cut costs and sell their syrup to large wholesalers—consistent income, but often lower profit margins. Instead, you decide to partner with other local syrup producers within a 60-mile radius and invest in AI technology that enhances efficiency, improves quality, and helps develop unique flavors (for example, a BBQ-style syrup). Together, you launch a shared regional brand—maybe something like Delta County Drippers, Inc.—and open a storefront downtown for tourists, restaurant owners, and locals to sample and buy the products (Various sizes with various prices). UP Maple Syrup From there, you strike deals with national and international distributors to get the brand on shelves worldwide and the back of your store the loading dock. (Many of these buildings were built in a way that may now help start-ups. Free idea—run with it!)

Learning the Truck, Learning the Role: Volunteer Firefighter and Adaptive Communities

Volunteers—whether part-time or on-call—remain a vital part of rural communities, and in some places they’re being considered as a way to help offset the cost of maintaining full-time staffing. The challenge, of course, is the amount of training and the sheer number of hours firefighters dedicate to serving their communities. As with anything worthwhile, it requires time spent reading, practicing, and staying engaged. For those of us who have regular jobs, businesses, and other responsibilities, that commitment is significant—but absolutely worth it.

One area I want to learn more about is the trucks. Watching YouTube videos and seeing the trucks in action during practice has helped me understand their operation and reduce response times. It makes sense that firefighters should have working knowledge of the different functions and roles so we can step in where needed. Now that a few things have cleared from my schedule, there’s a good chance I’ll be able to participate more and respond more often when calls come in.

Firetrucks are more complex
now requiring more training.

Lately, I’ve been focusing on truck operations—understanding how the trucks function, how to stop, shift to neutral, go into drive, open the tank-to-pump, prime, and begin drafting water. I already knew some of this, but it still takes me a time to look around and make sure everything is set so more knowledge speeds that up. Some people do it so often that it’s second nature. The video below was helpful, so I wanted to share it.

The more we train, the more prepared we are to help build adaptive, resilient communities. With environmental pressures rising and budgets tightening, preventative measures matter. After reflecting on the article below, I realized I still have a small brush pile near my garage that needs to be cleared out—something I started but hadn’t finished. Removing it will create a better defensible space in case of a fire. Sometimes it’s the small things like this that make a big difference in reducing risk and damage.

By the way, if you’re interested in donating to a local fire department, I can point you in the right direction. Several departments in our area would put your support to good use—whether through equipment purchases or community service efforts.

Fire Adaptive Communities

The K-Shaped Divide and Finding Meaning in Simplicity: My Snowblower and Free Opportunities Tomorrow

A K-shaped economy is one in which the upper echelons of society increasingly earn more while the lower echelons struggle. In other words, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. This dynamic can also strain small businesses, which in turn affects innovation over time. Mature, well-established companies might thrive in a K-shaped recovery, but that strength comes with a potential long-term cost if resources and innovation begin to dry up among smaller firms.

If that sign seems up everyday 
I guess people have to 
create their own opportunities
with small business, profitable,
hobbies, and enjoying the
simplicity of life to create new
ideas.

This is one reason why some policymakers might emphasize the importance of supporting small businesses, entrepreneurs, innovative clusters (where large and small firms can grow together), and the revitalization of downtowns with new attractive products that we may someday want to export (potential long tail of wealth generation). We’ve been consolidating wealth and directing attention toward the needs of large companies for decades, and while that can bring benefits, it also risks creating economic instability if the system becomes unbalanced. Each of the sizes should be balanced so there is constant flow of innovation, wealth generation and even ideas on a macro level. Why Start-Ups are Important to the Economy?

K I got a plan for how to deal with the economy. It is my plan and I think you can make a better one for yourself. 

Personally, I prefer doing much of my own work, and as I get older, I find myself consuming less and spending more on the things I genuinely value. When you’re young, it’s easy to buy things to impress others, but once you develop a clearer sense of self—independent of external displays of wealth—you begin focusing more on what truly brings you joy (If your young spend less, do more yourself, and save to buy assets because they grow. The same for stocks, houses, and land. We need more of the average people rising in wealth and bringing their hard earned values along with them. Once you reach a certan wealth threshold it is easier to make wealth. This is why the first million is the hardest and why the wealthy often stay wealthy. When you make it, go back and help the little peeps. i.e. generational social exchanges.).

Beat the K Economy
with low tech snow season solutions!
Our great and great great grand parents
removed snow the old
fashion way but also 
created wealth for the Baby Boomers.
Next generation is expected
to have it harder. It takes about 3
generations from what I have read
 to burn wealth but
one can revitalize and extend
that through rejuvenation. 
New technology might
contain some of that ability.
Can you harness it in your small business?

In the context of a K-shaped economy and my own hobby-business pursuits, I’ll likely need to cut back in a few areas: making more coffee at home instead of buying it, choosing activities I enjoy that aren’t expensive, and investing my time where it brings the most fulfillment. Maybe that even means spending more time thinking about ways to improve the economy—and working on my next masterpiece painting I can sell for $40 (that few buy) 🙃 

(As an example I was going to buy a new snow blower $1200 but opted for an electric one to see if that will suit my needs $270. If I don't like it, I will return it but if it does the job it has less parts and less likely to break down. People love to debate gas vs electric but I might as well try it for the price to see if it works well enough for my driveway and maybe my neighbors. I'm thinking the batteries won't last that long but I might be wrong. This is also why companies are experimenting with batteries now. Also, electric is more of a simple design with less moving parts than gas engines. Gas engines have more power but likely to break down more often. It is just a preference at this point. Money saved! Take that K Economy!).

JP Morgan K Shape

CBS-K Shape Impact

The Fall of the Corrupted, the Rise of the Community

Corruption and hate create a double harm for society, and their effects can reverberate for long periods to remind us—least we forget. We must remember that certain principles and values define who we are as a people, no matter where we live or what circumstances we find ourselves in. Our values identify us far more deeply than wealth, politics, religion, nationality, age, or any other label.

This discussion centers on the “story of the clan,” a hypothetical, theoretical, and philosophical thought experiment designed to explore the darker side of hate and corruption through a failure of justice. In this scenario, a group of bad actors engaged in coordinated, hate-based and corruption-driven behaviors. They operated with a high degree of coordination and were shielded from accountability by what some referred to as “clan courts.”

The corrupted elements of the clan—one might wryly call them the “Boo-Hoo-Hoo People”—were associated with a range of abuses: financial corruption, sexual exploitation of women and underage girls, not fulfilling their ethical professional duties/contracts, stalking and encouraging vulnerable individuals toward self-harm, hate-driven reputation attacks, intentionally and purposely damaging minority and other's kids (robbing society of its most important human assets), blocking employment opportunities through malicious narratives, pushing minorities and others out of public service, constant micro aggressions to show disdain "better than thou", manipulating court processes to favor friends, displacing people they disliked, targeting witnesses and whistleblowers, engaging in secret deals, possible involvement with drug money and other criminal misbehaviors, and seeking illicit gain wherever possible (From a philosophical level could imagine if something like ever happened and people knew about it but failed to protect the public or correct?).

Thousands of candles can be lighted

from a single candle,

and the life of the candle will not be shortened.

Happiness never decreases by being shared.

-Buddha

In our example these behaviors persisted partly because there were no meaningful checks and balances. Systems that were supposed to remain neutral were politicized and compromised for personal gain, creating deep conflicts of interest. Once these individuals traveled too far down this path, they felt there was no turning back. Silencing anyone who believed in doing the right thing—anyone who lived by their values or upheld their oath—became a priority. Retailiation for official reports that ended up being true shared and normalized. Good people became a threat to those who lacked moral conscience. The rot ran deep.

Yet the story of the clan is not ultimately a negative one. It is also a story of courage, integrity, and loyalty to one’s oath. It highlights the vast majority of good officers and officials who broke ranks with corruption in order to protect and serve (honor and integrity meant something to these good officers/officials), and a community that understood that we thrive only when we stand together as an indivisible people (This sounds familiar...I wonder why some might try to separate us and what are their motivations?🤔). The damage inflicted by the criminal element began to be reversed (Initially quick to harm and slow to correct indicating a wider problem but the tide had begun to turn.), and the community began to flourish once the weight was lightened. In many ways, the unsung heroes were the ordinary people who are often overlooked in the decision-making matrices of the well-connected at the top (We may not donate a lot but the people still should be the ultimate stakeholders of all decision makers and parties.).

Their brave and persistent reporting of wrongdoing protected not only new victims but also future generations. They were saving lives so people could persue their happiness. It helped ensure that public resources—paid for through taxes—and the values society aspires to uphold remained more important than the desires of the corrupted few. While many places have experienced rising distrust due in part to failures of responsibility and faithfulness to certain values, this community reversed that trend. Trust began to rise quickly bucking the trends others have experienced. Doing good leads to more good as positive kharma is created. That may not sit well with everyone so we should not forget the lessons of the story of the clan and the need to be watchful for wrongdoing to ensure our communities and families have the best opportunities possible. Assuming this is important.

I was looking up the terms corruption and hate and came up with these two. Interesting reads. 

Double Harm: When Injustice Meets Corruption

The Impact of Corruption on the Young and their Role

Escanaba City Council Regular Meeting (November 06, 2025)-How we live and how we grow.

Another exciting meeting wrapped up today, filled with new activities, new ideas, and positive changes. This town is a special place, full of special people who deserve the very best the market can offer. Over the past few years, it has come a long way—new development, increased marina visitors, growing tourism, new businesses, expanding outdoor activities, rising property investment, and much more. And it’s not just about growth; it’s about thoughtful change—change that intentionally brings the community into the process.

"If you have a garden and a library,

you have everything you need." - Cicero

We got more than that....

In any system, the economic and social sides are always connected. Science sometimes separates them, as if one does not influence the other, but that separation isn’t real. Economics is simply the measurement of choices, and those choices are shaped by social values and cultural norms. Healthy communities think about one another as they grow. They strive to bring as many people along as possible.

This is why watching a small town like Escanaba grow—both socially and economically—is so valuable. I don’t have official numbers, but let’s imagine the town has seen a 20–30% increase in economic investment over the past few years. You could likely find a parallel rise in social activity: more events, more artistic initiatives, more social clubs, more bands, more opportunities for people to come together. Take a moment to think about that and the many small interchanges that create a community. Theory of the Firm

It shows how economic and social engagement, working together, can lift a community to a new rung. It’s not the size of the town that matters, but how well its social and economic threads interact to build on what they have a draw new resources in. That synergy creates something greater than the sum of its parts. Growth and investment follow naturally, because the returns are more than positive financial—they’re aso communal, cultural, and deeply human. We can learn a lot from towns like this.

(Consider this philosophical idea. There seems to be some possibilities that entrepreneurial mindset and expectation is built in the social realm  i.e. Daily Press has a local business section that helps support local businesses. A type of expectation. Encouragement from other areas, business, organizations might lead to increase in new and local young families starting their businesses and rejuvenating the downtown. Personally I think small businesses that appeal to tourists, enhance the downtown and can export if they grow can make a difference. In Theory.)

I’ve included an article about the hallmarks of neighborhood growth. This northern city is both a neighborhood and a community (We are all in the same pot together no matter who is rich and who is poor. We know each other and want the best for each other. Ok most of us.). See if you can connect some of the ideas from the article to the video—almost like a bit of live learning.

Highlights in the Notes/Minutes

November 25th, 2025 tree lighting. 

Street improvements

Replacing-updating railroad tracks

Condo development and rezoning.

Hallmarks of an Emerging Neighborhood

November 6th, 2025 City Council Notes/Minutes

The Great Fox Stakeout (Featuring One Very Judgmental Buck)

More extreme sports
no one should invent!
Perhaps a metaphor.
Ride nature don't 
try and control
it. i.e. be yourself.

The other day, I set out my live traps to see if I could catch that fox whose den I’d found. I baited the trap with sardines—because apparently foxes and I share the same taste in questionable snacks—and placed it about 50 feet from the den. Inside the trap, I put my bait, like a tiny woodland charcuterie board.

I use live traps so if I catch the wrong critter—or something I legally should not possess—I can simply apologize, open the door, and send it on its way. I covered the trap with leaves and twigs to camouflage it, although in hindsight it probably looked like a suspiciously rectangular bush.

If you’ve never seen a live trap, picture a dog kennel that went to engineering school. There’s a panel inside, and when the animal steps on it—bam—the door shuts. It’s like a surprise party, except everyone is disappointed.

Later, while picking up my traps (because I’m busy tomorrow and don't want leave it more than 24 hour, although the rule is 48 I believe-hunter ethics), I bent down to grab the bowl when I heard something crashing through the woods. Not a squirrel—this sounded like two animals big enough to make the hike worth it on the way in and get a lot more exercise dragging weight on the way out.

Can you see it?
I covered it in leaves.
Mostly so others don't see it 
and steal it.
A balance of hidden
but you can find it if
you know what your looking 
for and where you are looking.

A buck was chasing a doe, and when he noticed me, he stopped. We locked eyes like two people who both reached for the last donut. He was about a six-pointer, stomping his hooves as if to say, “Buddy, this is my forest.” I moved slowly because, honestly, I wasn’t mentally prepared for a surprise deer stare-down. Bow on ground and arrows in my sack.

He kept watching me to see if I was a threat and snorting to warn his friends they shouldn't come to my next dinner party. He didn't wait for the invite. The buck ran about 30 feet, then stopped, apparently deciding he wasn’t done judging me.

Near the secret peninsula
that my buck spirit guide
led me to. When I was
a kid I used to hear about spirit
guides. I don't remember where
but certainly interesting. 
I looked it up Buck Spirit Guide
I believe there is much more to 
spirituality then we understand
and it has been 
part of society since the beginning
for a reason.

I began to ready my bow and creep up the hill to get closer. Now, when you’re trying to walk quietly, you’re supposed to land on the outside of your foot and roll inwards, avoiding twigs. Unfortunately, humans are basically giant, uncoordinated toddlers compared to forest animals, so the buck already knew I was there. Probably knew what I had for breakfast, too.

I finally had one shot, but it had to pass through a branch. The arrow deflected, and the buck vanished like a magician’s assistant who’s sick of the act. With all the deer tracks in the area, tracking him further would’ve been like trying to follow footprints in a crowded mall on Black Friday.

I walked the rest of the way up the hill and discovered I was standing on a peninsula overlooking a little valley, with a creek wrapping around it. A 200 degree view with easy lines of site. Between the water, grass bedding, hardwoods, and pines, it looked like the deer’s version of a luxury resort. I’m pretty sure they sit on stumps and critique my technique whenever I’m not around. 

“A fox is subtlety itself.” — Aristophanes

Today wasn’t successful—just like most of my fishing trips—but I was outdoors, enjoying the challenge. I prefer using a simple bow without all the high-tech add-ons (There are some moral arguments for it and it depends on why your hunting.). Likely why I'm not always lucky. For me, hunting is only partly about the catch and wild life management. The rest is about connecting with nature, or at least discovering new and creative ways to miss, while spending time like our ancestors-before grocery delivery ($7.99 to my place). Do we really respect how lucky we have it when we just go to the store and buy our food? No special gadgets means I have to earn it with skill development (Basically if I had to I could widdle a bow but one has to learn the skill on how to use it without the scopes and impossible to miss tech). Gratefulness is important. 

Michigan Fox Hunting and Trapping

Deer Behaviors Non-Verbal

Understanding Operas New Audience and Challenges

At the Opera

Opera is a specialized art form that weaves together music, history, theater, and social issues. It isn’t an easy business to sustain; much of its support comes from donations and sponsorships. Companies must constantly balance raising ticket prices with keeping performances accessible to a broader audience. As a cultural heritage institution, opera offers countless opportunities to explore and teach modern issues. I suspect we’ll continue to see a blend of classic works alongside new creations designed to appeal to younger audiences, as well as an increasing use of technology to stay current.

Whether presented in a traditional style or enhanced with modern tech, opera offers real value to society. These performances represent the legacies and histories we pass from generation to generation, reminding us of the ideas and emotions of those who came before us. Theater, opera, and plays have been around for centuries—they’re part of who we are. Technology can extend their reach, but it can’t fully replicate the experience of being there in person.

I support the San Diego Opera and have attended several performances over the years. I enjoy it and plan to go more often. I’ve got an old suit aboard my ship, so I figure I’ll dust it off now and then and head to the opera. Pair that with a glass of wine and a good dinner, and you’ve got the makings of a great evening. You’ll find me up in the nosebleed seats.

Donate to San Diego Opera

Understanding Operas New Audience