A blog that explores life and society. Mostly pieces on business, economics, arts and other interests. A place to showcase activities and explore ideas.
Companies can encourage strong ethical leadership and move beyond profit to foster the development of their employees and be positive contributors to the world around them. They know that employees take cues from leaders so they meet to discuss the softer qualities of selecting their next CEO.
The Tree of Life is in the background for learning about the roots of ethics. I will try and include other societal systems of values from different cultural and value lines. It is important to understand the softer aspects that make up transactional assumptions that lead to great organizations.
Leadership matters everywhere—organizations, governments, nonprofits, and even places of worship. People take their cues from whoever is in charge. When leaders model honesty and strong values, the people around them tend to act ethically too. When leaders treat ethics like a joke, others start cutting corners and gaming the system. It is important to be reflective within any organization of leadership and ethics.
Organizations exist so people can combine their skills for shared success. Yes, shareholders matter, but companies also depend on the knowledge, creativity, and integrity of their leadership team. Avoid treating employees like service providers instead of partners who help build something valuable for themselves and the organization. Even better if they build it for society.
Your organizations survival depends on commitment from employees. Employees who feel they are part of a cause, mission, or doing something beneficial they feel good create opportunities much more than money alone. Employees want to be part of something and leadership fosters or it hampers employee sentiment.
Ethical leaders understand this. They respect the insights and abilities of their people, and they use that collective knowledge to create something great. It’s not just about money—it’s about valuing contributions, encouraging innovation, and rewarding those who help the organization grow, ethically and financially.
There are many good leaders out there. And of course, there are some bad ones. The trouble is that the bad ones can cause a lot of damage. So make sure you hire wisely and think about the softer side of leadership and management. It is the long tail of organizational development.
Ethical leadership encourages employees to behave ethically, but the effect is stronger when employees themselves have a strong moral identity.
Self-control also plays a role: employees with high moral identity and good self-control show the strongest positive response to ethical leadership, while low self-control weakens that impact.
The other day it snowed so hard it couldn’t decide what it wanted to be—half rain, half snow, and if it could’ve squeezed in another half, it would’ve been ice. A real identity-crisis storm.
My neighbor and I ended up having an unofficial Snowblower Showdown: his $1,200 gas-powered beast vs. my humble $275 electric blower (plus $50 for extra batteries I barely use because one set usually does the job).
The snow was about four inches of slush—basically a giant Sno-Cone dumped on our driveways. We both fired up our machines, and honestly, his kept clogging like it was trying to eat oatmeal. Mine did better, but I’ll admit I cheated and sprayed my chute with coconut or olive oil spray. Yes, my snowblower was moisturized and ready for winter runway season.
Then the snowplow rolled through like a villain in a disaster movie and buried both driveways in ice boulders. By morning it was chunks of frozen misery. Neither machine liked that. His gas blower did do a better job chewing up the smaller ice chunks—apparently metal skid plates beat plastic ones in a fistfight.
But when it came to attacking the real frozen stuff, both machines just shrugged. We had to shovel, chip, and shave the snow like we were making artisanal ice for cocktails.
The funniest moment: he shut off his gas blower for a second, went to restart it, and had to yank the cord three times. He nearly launched himself backward. Meanwhile, I pressed a button like I was turning on a TV. Instant power. I laughed. He did too—after catching his balance.
Sure, the gas one still has some advantages, especially with deep snow. But for an $800 difference, the little electric guy held its own. Not bad for the budget underdog.
Braman and Heidi love to travel they both work as digital nomads. They are thinking of starting or angel investing in a business down on Ludington Street. They love that they can take their sailboat here, rent a golf cart, listen to the bands, get groceries, play tennis, have lunch, attend a theater show, visit downtown nearby, hang out at the beach, fish, and listen to Raggie music. Ya Maaan!
Braman is thinking about whether building custom golf carts and calling them Esky-Cabo Carts would create more tax revenue, allow for exports, service regional golf courses, and contribute to the brand and lifestyle? Maybe or maybe not?
City government doesn’t usually feel exciting, but it should—there’s a lot of good happening. As more people get involved and participate, we see more positive momentum. This community has strong engagement, even though we could always use more involvement. Consider a discussion on golf carts and Yacht Club/Marina.
Over the past few years, the city has turned a corner. Tourism is up, cruise ships come in, investment is up, social clubs are coming back, industry investment up, infrastructure improvements, and new businesses are coming downtown. Yes, we had a couple of fires that set things back, but even those sites can become opportunities for fresh development and new investors. Specifically the House of Ludington lot might have some strong value. (😢I used to go there many times with my Buick Guppy Gangster Mobile and would feel the old world charm. Good memories)
One thing I liked about this meeting was the focus on tourism. There was even discussion about allowing golf carts. A lot of tourist-friendly communities use them, and modern carts come with lights and safety features. Imagine riding around the park, catching some music, and stopping by the grocery store on the way home. It gets neighbors interacting and adds charm for retirees and digital nomads who want an easy, relaxed lifestyle (We got our own Esky-Cabo and Beach vibe going on! Nice and relaxed. Nothing like sitting on your boat in the summer, bass on the barbie and listening to Raggie or Folk Rock. Maybe walk down to the beach. Snow is Falling: Snow and Fire).
The other topic was the marina and the yacht club. People lined up to talk about the value the club bringx, and they’re right. Highlighting water activities—posting them on the building, getting them on the Escanaba website—helps with tourism branding. Tourism isn’t just events; it’s making sure people know what’s happening. There is long tail value to also consider in terms of food, hotels, tax revenue, etc. (A state run fish hatchery would also help the area for recreational and commercial fishing. Garden is getting some new port and ship launch infrastructure I believe. They both could help each other to maximize return. Perpetual Economic Systems)
One idea mentioned was offering classes. You could consider even building a certification program—something like boating safety or Great Lakes Sailing 101. Do it on-site and/or virtually, then offer an optional hands-on portion for people who want practical hours. Two certificates: one for coursework, one for on-water hours. It strengthens the yacht club’s brand and expands its reach and may spill over into hotels and dining accomodations. Come in for a week, stay at a hotel, use the club for classroom occassionally, take your water practical and expand boating in the area. (Doesn't necessarily have to be like this but... I was thinking of taking captain training online, because my friend has one and I know some captains. He bought a boat and is going to start fish guides and tours in his retirement. He asked if I would help him sometimes.)
Overall, the town is coming back in a big way. There’s interest, energy, and a lot of underused potential. And who knows—maybe one of those old downtown buildings becomes a golf cart shop with big windows and shiny custom carts inside. Just so the tourists and locals can salivate. People might come from out of town just to browse. Little sparks like that can create whole new local industries, revenue and exports if marketed and sold out of the area. Industries like that sometimes leads to other electric and small utility vehicle development.
One has to make their own judgement on what would or would not work but the process of thinking about it changes things. You just never know where things start.....
Good customer service and a clean, safe marina help keep existing customers happy and returning, which supports steady revenue growth.
Adding new services and amenities (like equipment rentals, events, or expanded repair and storage options) gives customers more reasons to spend at your marina.
Hosting events and becoming knowledgeable about local attractions can attract more visitors and create additional business opportunities.
Using digital tools like websites, SEO, and social media helps more potential customers find your marina and boosts bookings.
Outdoor recreation in the United States generated about $1.2 trillion in economic output and supported around 5 million jobs, with boating and marinas contributing significantly to that growth, according to Marina Dock Age.
Marinas and boatyards boost local economies by supporting boating, fishing, and related small businesses, though the industry still faces challenges such as labor shortages.
The study used conjoint analysis with 484 yacht tourists to identify which factors shape yacht tourism preferences, including program quality, safety, service, accessibility, and economic value.
Yacht sailing programs ranked highest, but economic value (getting a worthwhile experience for the price) was also an important consideration for many travelers.
Experienced tourists focused most on program quality, while inexperienced tourists placed greater importance on safety and cost-effectiveness.
Overall, tourists preferred a package that offered a strong sailing program, solid safety measures, good service, easy access, and a sense that the trip delivered good economic value for the money spent.
The Gupster Gangsta Mobile feels a little O2 sensitive right now so he is going to get a manifold gasket replaced and O2 sensor changed.
You got to baby a car like this.
I bought a 1985 Buick Riviera—affectionately known as the Gupster Gangster Mobile—for about a thousand bucks. It’s an eight-cylinder beast, and I’ve been tinkering with it myself and sometimes with professional help. I’ve already fixed a few things, including the fuel pump. The check-engine light came on, but it might not actually be the fuel pump causing it as it would sometimes pop on at certain speeds.
Right now I’m having the exhaust manifold gasket replaced and putting in a new O2 sensor. With any luck, that should solve the issue. If it doesn’t, I’ll take it back to the person who installed the fuel pump. Since it’s a mechanical fuel pump, and this car is from the mid-80s, there aren’t many sensors that would trigger a check-engine light anyway. The light only comes on when the engine is warm, and everything else runs fine, so it may be unrelated.
I did some online digging—and got a little help from AI—and that helped narrow things down. Honestly, part of the fun of owning an old car like this is the fixing-up process. I actually own the thing outright: no payments, no stress.
I’ve also been thinking about getting something else down the road—maybe a Land Rover or a Jeep I can wrench on, something with four-wheel drive. A camping van crossed my mind too, but that might give off a “possibly homeless” vibe, so I’m leaning toward the Jeep or Land Rover if I can find the right one.
When the engine warms up, the computer switches to closed-loop mode and starts using the O2 sensor. If the O2 signal looks wrong, the check engine light turns on.
An exhaust manifold gasket leak before the O2 sensor lets extra outside air into the exhaust. This makes the O2 sensor think the engine is running lean.
When the computer thinks the engine is lean, it adds more fuel. This can make the engine run rich and trigger the light.
Common symptoms:
Light comes on after a few minutes of driving
Weak acceleration
Ticking or puffing noise at the manifold
Rough idle
Strong exhaust smell
Poor fuel economy
Yes, the manifold leak can cause the O2 sensor code and the check engine light.
I’ve been messing around in the kitchen again, and this time I made a meat pie wrapped in homemade pita bread, cooked all together like one big edible hug. If you want to try it, just look up how to make pita bread and then search for Middle Eastern meat-stuffed pitas.
Mine is basically the same thing—except I don’t cut a premade pita in half and stuff it. I just make the pita, throw the filling in the middle, fold it up, and send it into the oven like a little food package of joy.
You can make your meat mix however you like. I use ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, spices, garlic, olive oil—basically whatever is within arm’s reach in the fridge. I even threw beans in there. Just don’t overload them unless you want a pita blowouts in the oven.
(Illustrative Only)
Besse the cow wonders what's cooking.
I brown the meat to about medium-rare before wrapping it in the rolled out bread so the oven mainly finishes the pita, not the beef. You can brush a little butter or olive oil on top to get that nicely browned, “I am a professional chef” look. Dash with parmesan and say you learned it in France.
Cooking at home really does help you stay healthier. Studies show people who cook at home are generally less obese because they actually know what goes into their food—mostly not buckets of sugar and mystery ingredients designed to keep you hooked like a snack-loving lab rat.
It may not seem convenient at first, but you get faster. And you can batch-cook a bunch and throw the extras in the fridge, so you’ve got actual food around instead of relying on potato chips… which I am absolutely, wholeheartedly addicted to. I better learn how to make a good potato chip.
Stewed Ideas Company has a motto that says "Free Thinkers Get Canned". New ideas are discouraged despite the company losing money with their wrotten tomato line the boss brought forward. The other executives thought the idea was "brilliant", "a sure thing", "a sign of genius", and will "put the company on top".
They each got a raise and the company continues to lose money. What might be the cause? Alternative solutions?
Groupthink happens when social or professional pressure pushes people to agree too quickly, shutting down real discussion. It often leads to poor decisions because risks, alternatives, and diverse perspectives never get fully explored. Many major strategic mistakes in history and business can be tied to this herd-mentality effect.
Imagine a company planning its next move with limited resources. A dominant personality takes over the discussion (...most organizations have a couple 😬), and other viewpoints are quietly pushed aside. Team members may hesitate to speak up because they fear rejection, conflict, or hurting their chances for advancement. When that happens, the organization ends up with a narrowed strategy shaped by the loudest voice—not the best ideas.
Strong leaders know that the most aggressive person in the room isn’t always the most correct, knowledgeable, or even keel in decision making. Progress in science, business, and history often came from people who questioned the prevailing view. Strong decision-making requires encouraging reasonable dissent, hearing different opinions, exploring options and using that feedback to improve the strategy and reduce risks.
Groupthink can appear anywhere—companies, nonprofits, the military, friend groups, investors—any place where people work together. Formal processes can help fight it, such as assigning someone to play devil’s advocate or giving each person structured time to discuss pros and cons.
But the most important factor is the culture you create. If you want talented people to offer their best ideas, they need to feel safe doing so. You hire them for their knowledge. If all you want is agreement, you can find people who will just nod along for far less. But that won’t make your organization stronger. Creating an environment where people can speak honestly will.
Plutarch: "Know how to listen and you will profit even from those who talk badly".
A couple of interesting articles you can read that highlight what group think is,
The paper examines how collective denial and willful blindness arise in organizations and markets, causing groups to ignore or reinterpret bad news.
Individuals distort beliefs to preserve hopeful expectations, and these distortions can become socially contagious depending on how people's actions affect one another.
This dynamic can create multiple shared versions of reality and allows belief patterns to trickle down hierarchies, where leaders strongly influence followers.
The model separates helpful group morale from harmful groupthink and explains why societies and organizations need protections for dissent, such as free speech and whistle-blower systems.
In financial markets, similar mechanisms can trigger investment booms and crashes, as contagious optimism leads investors to overlook warning signals until a collapse occurs.
Randy thinks this date is going great. They ordered food, she got a lattee, and they are window shopping.
He figures if he can keep her happy and smiling he might have a chance! 😶
He even put on cologne😮🙃
We all love food, right? And downtown has restaurants that will knock your socks off—seriously, bring extra socks its still winter. The flavors are so good they’ll have you salivating like one of Pavlov’s dogs who just heard a dinner bell.
We’ve got bistros. We’ve got Swedish food. We’ve got Mexican food. We got Chinese. We even have a bakery and coffee! We’ve got good old steaks. We’ve got bars. Basically, if it’s edible, someone downtown is cooking it.
A lot of people come to Escanaba as tourists, but plenty still many locals haven’t tried half the places downtown. Well, this is your week. Click the link, see who’s participating, and figure out what your stomach is ordering you to do. Got a craving tonight? Great. Click, point, read, and then eat. Go downtown and eat like it’s your civic duty.
Pick up a to-go box or take your special someone on a dinner in date.
The more people visit downtown—walk it, shop it, hang out in it—the busier it gets, and the more it grows. That’s how great downtowns are built: people show up.
And honestly, after saying all this… now I’m hungry. I’m not cooking. I’m going out.
