Hal Wilson’s Blog

Everyday when we turn on the radio or TV or read the paper we are bombarded with the headlines Bailout needed by ___________________you fill in the blanks.  It could be automobile manufacturing, cities, states, banks, etc.  I am totally blown away when the bailout needers come up with these bazaar scams for money, 53 billion, 125 billion, etc.  What are we doing?  Playing monopoly or saving companies (debatable).

In 1974, when I went bankrupt I never saw anyone from the government line up to bail me out.  Well I was a small company as opposed to GM or Ford who employ lots of people.  True enough but I was still unemployed and broke.  I had a couple of choices:  1.  curl up in a fetal position and wait for manna from heaven; 2.  get my butt to work.  I chose the later.  With little education and few skills but a lot of energy, I started searching for someway to make money.  My business of choice was painting and cleaning houses.  Keep in mind I had lived in a very nice home, had numerous rental houses, 2 cars, a truck and tailor made suits; in other words I had lived large.  Did I go back to that lifestyle?  Not on you life.  We moved into a rental duplex and drove a 24 year old Buick.

Question:  What got me there in the first place?
Answer:  Greed

Do we know anyone like that?  How about GM, Ford, Chrysler, sub-prime lenders and the list goes on.  Have they learned any lessons?   I know I did. 

What can we do in our life especially during this Holiday/Christmas Season to do our part to help eleminate greed?Just some ideas:1.  As a company owner reflect on how your treat your employees.  Do all the bonuses go to top management or are they passed around? 2.  As a parent what example do you set for your children?  Do we give to the less fortunate?

I personally believe that change begins at the bottom not at the top.  During this season,  I am striving to start at the bottom with others I come in contact with.

Shifting gears to Hal’s health:  I feel pretty good most of the time except for my back and left arm and fatigue.  I get more like two of our family members everyday when it comes to fatigue:  Brown Dog a 50 lb. mutt with his own sofa and Grandkitty a 12 lb. mixed breed cat with his own house.

In closing please let me say thanks for joining me in my latest blog.  I pray that each of you will have a very joyous Christmas Season.

Hal