A blog that explores life and society. Mostly pieces on business, economics, arts and other interests. A place to showcase activities and explore ideas.
Our veterans are incredible. They have proudly served our country and continue to serve our communities in meaningful ways. It's important to encourage veterans, their families, and community members to stay engaged and involved. Your support of the club is welcome and appreciated.
 |
| Updating knowlege |
The National Fire Academy (NFA) offers free online self-study courses for individuals involved in emergency services. Most courses include Continuing Education Units (CEUs), and successful completion is recorded on the student’s NFA transcript, contributing toward an official NFA certificate.
US Fire Administration Self-Study Courses
As a side note: Those who serve their communities do alot for free because they care about others. The search for resources is always ongoing. If you would like to donate to a great voluneer fire department to the right please send me a message.
 |
| Could a Scan Me QR Code and a Calendar/Map enhance tourism and quality of life? |
We also discussed an idea to help raise more support for local events: placing signs with QR codes labeled “Scan Me to Donate to Escanaba Music and Arts.” with a wepage listing all of the local events that can be used by tourist and locals (The Chamber of Commerce has a calendar that might fit that part). A fund like this could encourage both visitors and residents to contribute to efforts that enhance community-building activities. With enough momentum, it might even attract larger donations and grant funding.
We imagined these signs being placed permanently at pavilions, key tourism locations, and in the windows of participating businesses. Contributions from visitors could help expand local arts programming—especially if supported by coordinated marketing and tourism efforts to raise awareness of what’s happening in the area.
A vibrant arts scene plays a key role in attracting and retaining talent, improving quality of life, and boosting tourism and investment. While this is just an idea that was floated around this small group it is the ideation process that can bring forward other ideas as well. Out of many ideas a few may have merit. The arts are a powerful driver of both community enrichment and economic development, and initiatives like this could play an important role in Escanaba’s continued growth as an investment hot spot.
$30.7 billion was sent in Michigan in 2024. MEDC Economic Impact 2024 Michigan Vistors
However, leadership isn’t inherently positive or virtuous. History shows that many influential leaders were far from ethical. As such, it’s essential to distinguish between prosocial leadership—which serves the greater good—and self-serving or exploitative leadership, often associated with darker psychological traits.
Both prosocial leaders and those with dark personality traits can be effective in driving results. The difference lies in their motivation, ethics, and long-term impact.
Prosocial leaders act in ways that benefit others. They focus on ethical practices, inclusive decision-making, and sustainable growth. These leaders leave behind stronger organizations and healthier organizations. They strive to adapt, improve systems, and create long-term value for the greatest number of people.
Leaders with dark triad traits—narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy—often pursue short-term goals through manipulation, deceit, or unethical tactics. While they may achieve rapid success or tactical wins, they frequently leave behind weakened organizations and broken trust (investor, employee, people, etc.). Tactics and power leveraging is common.
That said, the distinction between “good” and “bad” leadership isn't always obvious. In practice, many leaders display a blend of traits—some beneficial, some harmful—depending on context, environment, and pressure.
Two articles to review
 |
| When you look in the mirror what type of leader are you? What type of leader do you want to be? What do your values say? |
Yet, reality is messier. Leaders with both prosocial and dark traits exist across every layer of society—corporations, government institutions, nonprofits, and more. The behavior of a leader is shaped not just by their personality, but also by their environment: incentives, oversight, and cultural norms all play a role in enabling or restraining harmful behavior.
Which type of leader do you want to be?
What will your goals and aims be?
What types of tools, tactics, strategies, and methods would you use?
As a side note, I’ve been exploring a thought experiment related to hate, corruption, and leadership.
Imagine a network—The Clan—composed of corrupt officials and their loyal followers. This group uses public institutions, including the law and courts, to enrich themselves and protect their own. Their loyalty is not to the public/community but to each other, based on social, racial or religious identity (consider any differentiator among people) rather than geography or ancestry.
While the vast majority of officials act ethically and should be enhanced, this subset engages in behavior that some might consider criminal. Still, under the broad definition of leadership as “the act of leading a group,” these individuals could be seen as leaders by some—at least within The Clan and those who share their exclusionary values.
But does leadership only require influence and coordination, or must it also be tied to shared societal values like fairness, justice, etc.? If a “leader” serves only a narrow, unethical cause—while undermining the value of others—can they still be called a leader in any meaningful sense? )
This is, of course, a theoretical exploration for learning purposes—intended to provoke reflection, not assert conclusions.
*Part of a hypothetical philosophical theoretical thought experiment for learning purposes so take with a grain of salt.
Good times and good fun in Escanaba as the UP State Fair goes into full swing. Escanaba State Fair. It is wonderful to see the community and surrounding area come out for good food and fun. A tradition that dates back before we were kids. It looks like it is still popular! Full house!
 |
| Games and fun. |
 |
| Pretty good food from what I hear. |
 |
| Rides and stuff. |
Consider these two examples:
Entering a New Market:
When a company is looking to expand into a new market, data helps identify trends, assess internal capabilities, and understand the target market's characteristics. This reduces guesswork and increases the likelihood of success.
Adding a New Service:
If there’s a growing demand for a new service, the organization must analyze not only external trends but also internal skillsets—both current and needed. This ensures they are prepared to deliver on new opportunities effectively.
However, data is only useful when it is organized meaningfully. To achieve this, organizations must design clear performance metrics and consider tools like dashboards to visualize and interpret the data effectively.
That said, data alone isn't enough. It must be combined with experience and critical thinking. Data can sometimes be flawed, misleading, or incomplete. It might measure the wrong things or constrain insight if alternative perspectives are ignored.
Ultimately, the intersection of data, experience, and strategic thinking is where the best decisions are made. As executives become increasingly fluent in data and technology, this trend will likely continue—empowering leaders to position their organizations for long-term success.
You can read the following for more insight.
You may be interested in reading some of the work I’ve written and contributed to over the years. I’m currently working on the third book in my series, which explores the concept of economic clusters and what we build together—what I call We-economics. Each book in the series highlights a different aspect of the economy:
I-economics – focusing on individual leadership and personal responsibility
Me-economics – exploring socialized expectations and the influence of societal norms
We-economics – emphasizing collaboration and collective effort to build resilient, high-quality societies
