The Heroes Journey is for the Resolute!

Are you an American workplace hero? Or, are you ready to become a hero? Be aware that if you choose the role of hero, you must enter a new world of dissension and trial where you will often feel more alone than ever before because your heroic power lies in facing unforgiving truths not in embracing fanciful flights of imagination. Naysayers will debate you. The fearful will flock to hear only good news delivered by those whose motives may be debatable. You will have to drag others into the future. It’s not easy being a hero, you know. The reward comes near the end of the hero’s journey when heroes receive the answer to the age-old question asked by everyone who lives. What’s that life question that heroes can answer in consequential ways? nn“What have I done with my life that mattered?” nnStep right up to the role of hero if you dare! Heed the S-AGE’s warning about a few of the near term U.S. workplace challenges begging for Americans to take decisive steps as leader/heroes. Then act!nnWARNING! Perspective of a Few of the Challenges in 2009-2010Recession is a fact; depression is not imminent nor is it inevitable but it is possible unless bold steps are taken now by America’s heroes to preserve U.S.A.’s competitiveness.nnKey jobs are going begging! Despite layoffs, nearly every business is still unable to fill certain positions due to the growing misalignment between experience, talent and skills needed for today’s jobs. The supply of qualified American university graduates for particular new jobs is slipping behind today’s demand. Simultaneously, university costs are continuing to rise; foreign students are taking their degrees back home; other countries are investing more in relevant, future-focused education than we are in the U.S. and our high school drop-out rates are alarming. We are inundated by the influx of the undereducated and ignorant and shortchanged in terms of sufficient visas to accommodate the educated. Take heed; the American labor force is weakening. Ask yourself, what might a hero do to improve outcomes? What can you do?nnBoomers, between the ages of 42-60, represent the last of the best educated workforce in the world. They comprise ½ of the U.S. workforce. Of the total number of working Boomers nationwide, more than half are at risk to outlive their savings if they cannot continue to work.nnIt is likely that consumer demand will collapse. The consumer accounts for nearly 70% of GDP and as the consumer slows down spending for discretionary items, the GDP will take a strong hit. Remember that the largest of the consumer groups are the 78 million Boomers. As they age, and if they are unable to earn, their spending habits will continue to slow down. The combination of not being able to work, less available credit and longer lifetimes, diminished spending, continued housing hits, and tax hikes (can we tax ourselves into prosperity?) will affect us all unless, well, you know! From the workforce perspective, are we producing products consumers will buy?nnEscalating benefit costs, the last gasps of industrial-age unions, and pervasive greed by politicians, bank and business leaders have joined the march to further weaken our future. More bad behavior will be revealed and we will sicken of our victim’s role. Remember Marianne Williamson’s words when she wrote: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.” Now, power up! These (yes, including the benefit topic) are within the control of heroes. nn WARNING SIGNS: Selected Snapshots of Workplace Challenges between 2010 and 2015 nn

By 2012, the basic requirements to qualify for a job will have gone up - way up – as much as between 65-70% in all jobs. Huge numbers of under-qualified workers will be living their lives hand-to-mouth. Furthermore without specific action by 2015, the gap between the 75+ % of U.S. jobs that demand highly skilled or specifically educated employees will have widened and the chasm may be too wide to traverse.

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10,000 Boomers will reach 60 years each and every day by 2015 when all of the Boomers will be 51 to 70 years old. Can/should they still work in some capacity? Or, must we ignore the challenges and opportunities of an aging nation until we pay for our ignorance another way?

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Retail frenzies, such as those seen a few short years ago, will fade to memory as will jobs for lower skilled individuals in Retail. What next, hero/leader? Where will you find the jobs for the once robust retail workforce? Likewise, battles will be waged between the trade-surplus and trade-deficit countries and businesses will continue to merge and to fail as global demand continues to contract. What can heroes do if they address these challenges now?

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Pension Plan shortfalls will begin to seriously impact State and Federal Jobs and place another huge burden on the American taxpayer, many of whom lost their own Pension Plans years ago. What happens if we wait until then to take care of the problem that faces us now but for which we will pay later?

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Disparities between under-qualified and under-educated and, yes, “undocumented aliens” will continue to grow as these groups represent a large number of the 78-80 million children who will replace the older demographics. Poverty and its ugly sister, crime, will increase if desperate people cannot work to make ends meet.

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Naysayers who are not worried about worker shortages in their industry or business segment will pay for their ignorance. Might a real hero educate the contrarians rather than give into their ignorance?

nnBut, as Wizard James West wrote a few weeks ago, “the commodity with the grimmest prospect of recovery is trust.” This is the underlying reason why America needs “heroes.” A few heroes will ensure that we don’t lock our doors but that we open our minds and hearts to the possibilities inherent in the future. Will you be one of these heroes?