Hiring Quality Managers That Adapt Technology and Support Employee Skills

Managers must continually update their skills to remain successful in business. Just as companies must refresh their offerings and introduce new services to stay ahead of the competition, managers must evolve their thinking. Human capital will play an increasingly vital role in organizations as new technologies emerge and international competition intensifies.

This report highlights the need to hire flexible, adaptable managers who can coach and develop others. High-quality managers possess the skills to communicate effectively, embrace technology, and lead teams through change.

• 8 in 10 companies have revised job descriptions to attract candidates.

• 75% of managers believe they support employee skill development.

• 44% believe coaching and mentoring are essential.

• 82% believe technology can help close skill gaps.

The State of Skills

The Story of the Clan: Above the Law with Immunities (Hypothetical Thought Experiment on Hate and Corruption)

We have been using a hypothetical, philosophical thought experiment to explore the impact corruption can have on communities, economies, and society as a whole. Few approaches are more effective than stories, as they allow us to envision how corruption might function in theoretical practice. In this piece, we examine the concept of being “above the law” and how such a reality could affect future economic and social growth.

In this context, consider what happens when the philosophical purpose of law is replaced by a more self-serving version. Ideally, the law is the practical expression of higher moral principles such as freedom, free commerce, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech. These can be seen as universal principles, though different cultures place emphasis on different ones. For example, in the United States, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, human and civil rights, and self-government are central to the national identity.

In our scenario, a coordinated group of friends protects each other even when their actions are illegal or immoral. What might begin as childish favoritism becomes far more serious when it starts influencing and distorting institutional outcomes—such as ignoring victims’ rights and rewarding perpetrators despite clear evidence of wrongdoing. In our story, witnesses, whistleblowers, and well-intentioned people are targeted and placed on harm lists. It is important to note that the vast majority of officials serve honorably, but those who misuse authority undermine institutional health, making it difficult for ethical professionals to work alongside them. Nor should they be required to because of the variance in purpose and the damage they cause communities.

Without checks and balances, such groups can continue to manipulate outcomes—harming some members of society while illegally and immorally benefiting others. Loyalty to the clan identity, combined with a willingness to misrepresent the truth to protect its members, becomes a dangerous component. Targets may include community leaders a clan member dislikes, individuals who have witnessed wrongdoing, or people with traits the group despises—such as belonging to the “wrong” race or religion (You can really pick anything people can differentiate themselves from).

Philosophically, this raises the question of when and how legal immunities should apply. If an error is a genuine mistake, the official should be given the opportunity to learn from it and avoid repeating it. However, when an action is deliberate and intended to misuse authority for personal or criminal gain, immunity should not apply. This debate remains unresolved, keeping it an important subject for public discourse. Freedom of speech remains essential to that dialogue.

This article offers a useful perspective for examining how corruption operates and how immunity can shape it. When exploring ideas, one does not need to immediately agree or disagree with the ideas presented, but rather understand it as part of a broader framework of knowledge. Reading widely from different perspectives—philosophical, economic, social, and even more narrowly focused viewpoints—helps build a fuller understanding of the issue.

Working Paper Immunity or Impunity?

*This is a hypothetical, philosophical thought experiment designed to explore concepts. Take with a grain of salt we will write in a positive ending. It is a learning exercise.

August CPI Release: Mixed Data but Likely Rate Cut

The recent economic data is mixed but contains elements that could lean toward a rate cut. What we may be seeing is a more structured approach to managing the economy, with the data reflecting the impact of various policy changes. Every time a policy shifts, it influences the market—sometimes subtly, sometimes significantly—by altering behavioral patterns. In that sense, some of the mixed data may simply be signs of transition and adjustment. This is one possible explanation worth exploring, though economists will inevitably interpret the same data differently. Those who wait for a fuller picture often find that additional data points bring greater clarity. Time is also a factor in understanding

Key Points: August 12th, 2025 CPI Release

• Overall prices increased 0.2% on a seasonally adjusted basis in July.

• Food prices were unchanged.

• The home index rose 0.3% (trend shows shelter costs are rising more slowly than in the past).

• The food-at-home index fell 0.1%.

• Energy prices fell 1.1% (could improve transactional speed).

• Gasoline prices fell 2.2% (could improve transactional speed).

San Diego 2024 Tourism Facts: A Picture of the Bay

San Diego Bay

San Diego is one of the nation’s top vacation destinations, offering beautiful beaches, scenic coastlines, an abundance of boats, and excellent restaurants. Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of activities throughout the city.

A few quick stats on San Diego tourism (2024): San Diego Industry Research

• 1 in 8 local workers are employed in visitor-related industries
• Visitors spent $14.8 billion
• 32.5 million total visitors
• Generated approximately $1 billion in annual state and local taxes.

(This photo, taken last week, shows the stunning San Diego Bay. I engage in photography from time to time so I am finding a way to integrate writing, art, marketing, etc. These turned out pretty well)

San Diego Bay

Greeting Card

Classic Cars in San Diego: A Few Pictures

Cars have always been something I enjoy thinking about, especially as I work on fixing up my 1985 hunk-of-junk Buick Riviera. I’ve seen some incredible examples of restoration work—some of the best I’ve ever come across were in San Diego. These folks must have stripped their cars down to the last bolt and rebuilt them from scratch. Absolutely amazing! Here’s a picture of a few.

Learning to Tie Firefighter Knots

Firefighting is an essential job, as people depend on firefighters to protect both life and property. Knowing how to tie knots is a necessary skill to perform effectively in the role. These knots are typically learned during training, but they can be easy to forget over time. That’s why it’s important to review them periodically to keep the knowledge fresh.

(I learned many of these knots years ago, but without regular practice, the skill fades. Reviewing them ensures the most important ones stay memorized.)

*This is for a different project. If you are interested in donating to a fire department in the Upper Peninsula of MI send me a message to the right and I will connect you to the right entity. Very good people serving their community.

The Story of the Clan: Thoughts on the Moral Conscious as it Relates to Hate and Corruption (Hypothetical Philosophical Thought Experiment)

The question of why corruption is tolerated—and in some cases well known—is a complex one with broad, far-reaching implications. There are many possible reasons, but a key factor could lay in the decline of moral conscience. If values erode and leadership quality diminishes, corruption would tend to rise. Strong, ethical leaders—often the “best and brightest”—help to limit these corrosive effects. We can learn from thought experiments and the insights we can gain from them to avoid future pitfalls.

In our hypothetical, philosophical thought experiment, we see how cross-coordination can occur across multiple levels of authority to harm out-group members while rewarding in-group or “clan” members. This may happen in legal, social, and civil domains, where corrupted actors collude to target individuals who support institutional integrity and the development of stronger societies.

In this scenario, mistreatment becomes systemic and long-term, with certain individuals “protected” by compromised officials with an incorrect lens. Exploitation may take the form of bullying, character assassination, physical aggression, and coordinated misconduct. Victims, witnesses, whistleblowers, and even honest officials can find themselves targeted by the clan network without checks and balances (unwritten social rules).

"The virtue of justice consists

in moderation, as regulated by wisdom."

Aristotle

The effects of such clannism are uneven: some gain opportunities, while others suffer harm. Within this closed “fishbowl,” it becomes evident who may be unfairly benefiting from misuse of institutional resources—and how these benefits often run counter to the community’s needs. The most effective way to preserve corruption is to discredit opponents and use institutions for personal, political, ideological, or social gain.

Rumors and orchestrated mistreatment become standard tools of the trade. Good people—those who contribute to society, serve their communities, and uphold shared values—are dehumanized to enable in-group members to exploit loopholes in the law. Meanwhile, the steady “stream” of corruption slowly erodes the very foundation of a system if it seeps long enough through the mortar.  Loyalty shifts from the broader community and national values to the narrow ideology of the group.

The study below underscores the point: a decline in morality (or “moral conscience,” as we call it) is often a precursor to greater corruption—corruption that ultimately undermines the value and purpose of institutions. We can explore this connection between social and economic aspects of corruption and its impact on the environment. Always updating and improving is part of the solution.

Why Governments Become Corrupt: The Role of Power, Education, and Moral Values

*This is a theoretical, philosopical, hypothetical thought experiment designed for learning. We will write in a positive ending. Take with a grain of salt.