Science Business: What Happened to Biotech? — HBS Working Knowledge

Science Business: What Happened to Biotech? — HBS Working Knowledge:


Science Business: What Happened to Biotech? — HBS Working Knowledge: "Research & Ideas
Science Business: What Happened to Biotech?
Q&A with:Gary P. Pisano
Published:November 13, 2006
Author:Sean Silverthorne"

"Thirty years ago it appeared as if biotech would not only revolutionize healthcare, but also radically improve the very process of R&D itself. This hasn't happened. Though some firms such as Amgen have created dramatic breakthroughs, the overall industry track record is poor—in aggregate, the sector has lost money during this period, new research shows.
What went wrong? Professor Gary Pisano provides answers in the new book Science Business: The Promise, the Reality, and the Future of Biotech, in which he argues that the very structure of the industry, what he terms its 'anatomy,' has created poor conditions for a science-based business to flower. 'The sector has indiscriminately borrowed business models, organizational strategies, and approaches from other high-technology industries under the (false) premise that if it worked there it will work here,' Pisano writes.
More fundamentally, biotech suffered from a basic mismatch between the objectives and requirements of science and those of business. Specifically, Pisano argues, the business side of the industry was continually challenged by three characteristics of science: profound and persistent uncertainty, the complex and heterogeneous nature of the scientific knowledge base, and the rapid pace of scientific progress. 'The health of the sector depends on how well it can cope with all three of these challenges,' writes Pisano.
In this interview Pisano discusses his research, the future of the industry, and what lessons managers might learn from an industry in structural disharmony."

"Sean Silverthorne: Biotech has not lived up to its expectations, either in providing outstanding returns for investors or improving R&D productivity. Broadly, what has gone wrong?
Gary Pisano: In the very broadest terms, everyone expected biotech to 'work' just like all other high-technology industries, and thus we deployed a lot of the same thinking, models, financial arrangements, and strategies that worked elsewhere, but just didn't fit here.
Q: The biotechnology anatomy, as you describe it, has worked well for certain things in the industry, but not so well for others. What are some of the attributes of the anatomy and how has it contributed to performance shortfall?
A: Let's take one: the market for know-how.
I argue in the book that 'monetization of intellectual property' has been a powerful shaping force in biotech. The idea behind monetization of IP is that you don't need to actually develop a product; you can just develop a piece of IP, and then capture financial returns through licensing or other market arrangement. This has worked wonderfully in semiconductors and software, but monetization of IP only works there because of some very specific conditions. You need to have a very modular knowledge base; that is, you need to be able to break up a 'big puzzle' into its relatively independent pieces so that a particular piece can be valued independently; and you have to have well defined intellectual property rights. It is hard to sell stuff where the rights are not well defined. There are all sorts of hazards."
"These conditions are pretty well met in industries like semiconductors and software; but they do not characterize at all the state of the science in biotech. So, as a result, we have been pursuing an anatomy that focuses on breaking up the pieces of the puzzle into independent pieces (having lots of small specialized firms) when what matters is the way we integrate the pieces.

Q: A theme of the book underscores the tensions between science and business inherent in a science-based business. In general, what are these tensions, and how have they hindered the evolution of the biotech industry?
A: Science and business work differently. They have different cultures, values, and norms. For instance, science holds methods sacred; business cherishes results. Science should be about openness; business is about secrecy. Science demands validity; business requires utility. So, the tensions are deep.
What has happened is that we have tried to mash these two worlds together in biotech and may not be doing either very well. Science could be suffering and business certainly is suffering. If you try to take something that is science, and then jam it into normal business institutions, it just doesn't work that well for either science or business."
"Q: Clearly the biotech business has not offered great returns to investors for its thirty years of performance, yet fresh capital continues to flow in. Why the discrepancy?
A: Great, great question. It's a puzzle.
Investors have been very patient. Maybe they are lured by the possibility of owning stock in the next Amgen. On average, returns have been poor, but returns of particular winners have been enormous. Perhaps investors have been over-optimistic. But, it's easy to see how they can be this way. With years of R&D spent in the past, it's pretty easy (and logical) to believe that the future is bright, and therefore today is the right time to invest.
Q: Are there lessons in your book for managers in industries outside biotech?
A: While there is no one right answer for all companies, a few basic things might be helpful.
One is rethinking alliances and the strategic purpose. As I argue in the book, too many organizations (both big and small) think of these in very 'transactional' or 'deal-making' terms. They do not think about the potential value of the relationship. So, they structure fairly narrow contracts, with lots of ways to bail out. They then mitigate the risks by doings lots of deals. This is the game everyone plays. But, that doesn't get you anywhere in terms of integration or long-term capability building.
I would really like to see some companies start to experiment with a different approach to alliances: one that focuses on fewer, but deeper relationships. I think this is the only viable strategy for really small firms. They have to find partners that truly believe in long-term, committed relationships, not those who are looking to diversify their risks."

"A second big area has to do with structuring of internal R&D. I argue that integration matters a lot. But that means you have to organize your R&D in a truly integrated fashion. Too many companies still have many silos between the key disciplinary areas.
Q: What does the future look like for biotech? Who will be the winners and losers, and do you foresee a radical restructuring of the environment, as you suggest is necessary?
A: It is starting to happen. I can't say who will win and who will lose. Firms that have some existing scale are better positioned to do the kind of integration I talk about, but no one can predict winners in this space.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I am very interested in how markets for intellectual property work and don't work. This has been something I have looked at throughout my career, but I continue to be puzzled by it.
We see IP trading in many contexts outside of high tech (e.g., music, entertainment, et cetera). There is talk about the U.S. becoming an IP economy; well, if that's the case, then we need to understand how markets for IP really work.
The other offshoot from the book is continued investigation of the general problem of science-based businesses (outside of biotech and pharma). What kind of skills do we need to teach managers of such businesses? Where you have massive uncertainty, you can't rely on a lot of the traditional tools of analysis to support decision making. But, once we get outside those traditional tools, what do we have? Is there something beyond intuition? I think there is, but I need to spend a lot more time getting my hands around that."

"Excerpt from Science Business: The Promise, the Reality, and the Future of Biotech by Gary P. Pisano.
The science-based business
To understand the challenges of a science-based business, we must first answer a basic question: What is a science-based business? Specifically, what is distinctive about such a business? Of course, many firms and industries (e.g., semiconductor, electronics, communications, advanced materials) use scientific knowledge to create innovative products and solutions. The use of science, however, does not in and of itself define a science-based business. In this book, the term science-based is used to connote a commercial enterprise or collection of enterprises that attempts to both create science and to capture value from it. That is, the science-based business actively participates in the process of advancing and creating science. Moreover, a significant part of the economic value of the enterprise is ultimately determined by the quality of the science upon which it rests.
Biotechnology is a science-based business. There are notable examples of private enterprises—both large and small—contributing directly to the advancement of basic biomedical science. For instance, upon its founding in 1976, Genentech's research focused on resolving basic scientific issues of cloning genes and expressing proteins in bacteria cells. Kary Mullis, a scientist employed at Chiron, invented polymerase chain reaction, one of the most important techniques for undertaking genetics research—and an invention for which he won the Nobel Prize. A private company, Celera, competed against a massive government-sponsored initiative to sequence the human genome. Scientists at Merck were the first to identify the structure of the virus that causes AIDS."

"Of course, these landmark examples are rare. It is more common for firms to engage in research where the science is still 'raw,' the data are mixed, and basic technical feasibility remains in doubt. Consider the example of RNA-interference (RNAi), a major advance in our understanding of how to selectively 'switch off' genes (by interfering with the process by which RNA translates DNA into specific proteins). Within months of the publication of key articles on RNAi in the leading scientific journals, several firms were founded to use the technique to attempt to discover drugs. A similar pattern can be found in genomics, stem cells, systems biology, and proteomics—all were new streams of science that attracted significant commercial investment long before the science was fully worked out. By necessity, firms involved in such areas were forced to participate in resolving basic scientific questions and in establishing proof of feasibility through either their own R&D or through collaboration with university scientists. The close links between private enterprise and universities show up in data on scientific publications and in particular in the amount of collaboration between corporate and academic scientists."

"While private companies have become more involved with basic science, universities and academic medical centers have become more involved in the business aspects of their science. Virtually all major research universities and teaching hospitals have industrial liaison and technology licensing operations to both bring in research funding and to appropriate returns on intellectual property. The financial stakes are not trivial. It has been estimated, for example, that Columbia University's patents on basic recombinant DNA technology (known as Axel patents) brought the university revenues of $300 million to $400 million over two decades, with more than $100 million in its peak year.1 The Massachusetts General Hospital, an affiliate of the Harvard Medical School, earned $46 million in licensing revenues in 2003, with about half of this coming from the patents on just one product—the blockbuster biotechnology drug Enbrel.2 Many universities, including MIT, take equity stakes in new ventures started by their faculty. Increasingly universities are no longer limiting themselves to the earliest stages of basic biomedical research but have begun to move 'downstream,' into the development and testing of drugs. In short, science has become a business."

"It is clear, at some level, the basic needs of a science-based business are no different from those of any other business. Organizations need to secure capital. Scarce resources (human, financial, intellectual, etc.) have to be allocated to projects with uncertain payoffs. Assets need to be valued and managed. Contracts with various partners must be designed and executed. Advanced economies already have existing institutional and organizational arrangements to carry out these functions (e.g., capital markets, venture capital, contracts, intellectual property, corporate organizations). Furthermore, an entire set of management practices, principles, and tools—what I call 'management technology'—are available to operate businesses. In general, these arrangements and technologies have evolved over centuries and work quite well for most of the economy. The basic thesis of this book, however, is that a science-based business entails unique challenges that require different kinds of organizational and institutional arrangements and different approaches to management. Posed simply, what works well in other settings may not work as well in a science-based setting."

"Executive Summary:
After thirty years the numbers are in on the biotech business—and it's not what we expected. The industry in aggregate has lost money. R&D performance has not radically improved. The problem? In a new book, Professor Gary Pisano points to systemic flaws as well as unhealthy tensions between science and business. Key concepts include:
The biotech industry has underperformed expectations, caught in the conflicting objectives and requirements between science and business.
The industry needs to realign business models, organizational structures, and financing arrangements so they will place greater emphasis on long-term learning over short-term monetization of intellectual property.
A lesson to managers: Break away from a strategy of doing many narrow deals and focus on fewer but deeper relationships."

10 best beaches where's fewer people there

Anegada, British Virgin Islands
A small airport and ferry service makes getting here from one of the other British Virgin Islands fairly easy, but Anegada still feels a world away. The only coral island in the volcanic BVI chain and surrounded by the largest coral barrier reef in the Caribbean, this undiscovered island is a haven for beach bums, fly-fishermen, and wildlife enthusiasts alike. The north shore boasts nearly deserted white-sand beaches, the south is home to a huge population of bonefish, and the west end lays claim to large salt ponds and exotic birds. Spend your nights feasting on local lobster – rumored to be the best in the Caribbean – and rest your head at one of the island's few hotels and quaint guesthouse inns.
Cat Ba Island, Vietnam
If you needed another reason to visit Halong Bay – often hailed as the world’s Eighth Wonder – the limestone outcropping that is Cat Ba Island is it. The best way to explore the natural wonders of this undiscovered island – home to the remarkable Trung Trang Cave, cascading waterfalls, plummeting cliffs, and awe-inspiring National Park – is via motorbike. An hour-long ferry ride from Halong Wharf will get you there, where you can opt for accommodations that range from sparse and basic affairs to full-fledged four-star resorts. You'll have no problem staying awhile on this untouched, unspoiled masterpiece of Mother Nature.
Fakarava, French Polynesia
Overshadowed in popularity by neighbors Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Moorea, Fakarava – a pristine Polynesian island enveloped by a coral reef and blue lagoon waters – is so remote, it's not even found on most maps. Yet, it's part of a UNESCO nature reserve and rich in natural fauna, offers pink-sand beaches, and is rife with rare aquatic life that includes loach, meru, and barracuda – not to mention hammerhead and tiger sharks. Not surprisingly, scuba diving is the undiscovered island’s top draw, but other attractions include the ancient village of Tetamanu, where you’ll find a Catholic church made of coral that dates back to 1874, and pearl farms, where rare black pearls are shelled.
Iles de la Madeleine, Quebec
Remote, beautiful, and altogether unique, the stellar Iles de la Madeleine (or Magdalene Islands, in English), 130 miles off the coast of Quebec, are the ultimate off-the-path escape. Of the dozen undiscovered islands that comprise this windswept archipelago, only seven are inhabited, six of which are connected only by sand dunes and long grassy reeds. The islands boast 200 miles of virgin beaches, the freshest seafood, and an uncomplicated atmosphere that make them a joy to visit. Given their northern location, summer is, not surprisingly, the best time to go. Of all the settlements here, Ile du Havre aux Maisons is our favorite for its colorful houses, charming boardwalk, and salty pubs and restaurants rife with local character.
　
Ischia, Italy
Though well-known to European and Asian travelers, the island of Ischia, Italy, is oft-overlooked by Americans whose sights are more often set on nearby Capri. Though you’ll hardly have Ischia to yourself, you will find fewer crowds and a less-pretentious attitude on this volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Though predominantly green and mountainous, beach bums will have no trouble scoping out a stretch of sand. And, when the sun sets, you’ll have your choice of accommodations for every budget to rest your head, plenty of al fresco perches that are primed for aperitivo, and some of the world's best food – this is Italy after all.
Lamu, Kenya
Flickr/ktylerconk
Lamu, Kenya
Kenya’s oldest living settlement, Lamu boasts golden sands fronting the Indian Ocean, tiny villages, and a breezy, slow-moving pace of life. It's an undiscovered island that offers a glimpse into the past – a place where donkeys are the main mode of transportation and residents still keep their arms and legs covered out of respect while out in town. The rich atmosphere and history alone makes Lamu worth the trek, but so do its beaches: Shela Beach offers the best swimming, while excursions to ruins and coral reefs could have you snorkeling alongside frolicking dolphins.
Monhegan Island, Maine
Flickr/ktylerconk
Monhegan Island, Maine
Though artists have sought out this remote, car-free destination for over a century, Monhegan largely remains an undiscovered island. Full-time residents number around 75, whose main occupation is fishing or lobstering, supplemented by an artists’ colony and tourism. Visitors who make the hour-long ferry ride from the Maine mainland can discover firsthand the beauty and simplicity of the village and surrounding landscape. Lobster Cove in particular draws nature lovers for its bird-watching and coastal views. Don’t miss the Monhegan Museum, housed in what was once a lighthouse and residence – it showcases the history of the community and boasts an extensive collection of local artwork. There are a handful of quaint inns and cottage rentals to choose from, though note that some accommodations are only open May through October.
Terre-de-Haut, Guadeloupe
Flickr/ktylerconk
Terre-de-Haut, Guadeloupe
Les Saintes, a spectacular cluster of eight undiscovered islands situated just off the coast of Guadeloupe and accessible only by ferry or private yacht, is the very essence of French West Indies life – without the crowds, to boot. Terre-de-Haut is the most appealing of them all, with its attractive beaches, mouth-watering Creole cuisine, and laid-back French-speaking locals; it also has the most options for overnight accommodations of Les Saintes' islands. Beach bums will love the powdery white sands of the palm-lined Plage de Pompierre, while the spectacular underwater world of colorful reefs and exotic fish (attracting divers as renowned as Jacques Cousteau) makes scuba diving and snorkeling another huge draw. Rent a golf cart to get around (you won't find much in the way of cars here) and zip around to a different beach at dawn, midday, and dusk.
Vis, Croatia
Flickr/ktylerconk
Vis, Croatia
With its medieval villages, deserted beaches, ancient ruins, rambling olive groves, and the best vineyards in Dalmatia, Vis is poised to become the next "it spot" for sun and fun on the Adriatic. The winding streets of the two main towns – Vis and Komiza – are brimming with restaurants serving delicious seafood and Italian-style fare, while miles of sandy beaches, pebbly enclaves, and glittering shores attract sunbathers (Srebrna, a beautiful beach covered in large flat stones that appear silver in the sun, is one of the most beautiful). At just 2 hours by ferry from Split, Vis offers only three modest hotels, but visitors can also opt to rent apartments and villas.
Yap, Micronesia
Flickr/ktylerconk
Yap, Micronesia
Part of a remote tropical archipelago in the midst of the Pacific, Yap is the most intriguing destination in the island nation of Micronesia. Having managed to escape most outside influences, like colonization and mass tourism, the undiscovered island's traditional way of life remains both authentic and distinct: Legends are portrayed in colorful dances; village women dress in grass skirts, the men in brightly colored loincloths; and ancient stone money discs are still used as local tender (though the U.S. dollar is the official currency). Spend your days hiking among the island's rolling green hills, mangrove forests, and antiquated stone paths or, go off and explore the ocean’s coral reefs and swim with dolphins and magnificent manta rays.

5 affordable vaction

The price of becoming a temporary castaway needn't break the bank. In fact, some of the world's finest beach-lounging locales are pretty darn affordable. (And you better use up those miles before the airlines expire 'em all.) So join us with a cold drink and paperback — oh, what the heck: With all the money you're saving, spring for a hardcover!
St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Splurge on a pedicure — you'll be mostly barefoot on St. John. Cove after perfect cove look as if they were carved by an ice-cream scoop, and the underwater snorkeling trails are as plentiful as the footpaths among crumbling sugar plantations. If the beaches seem familiar, it's because they're among the most photographed in the world, thanks to the condo-free shores and the sailboats bobbing in baby-blue waters. In the town of Coral Bay, buy bikinis from the "store" inside a VW bus, order cheeseburgers off an old windsurfing board, and fall asleep to crashing waves in a breezy beach cottage for as little as $70. (Another plus: These days St. John is one of the only Caribbean islands you can get to sans passport.) And while St. John may be best known for ritzy resorts such as Caneel Bay, it's also home to Cinnamon Bay Campground, part of Virgin Islands National Park, which protects two thirds of the island. No tents required: You can rent one of the campground's 15-by-15-foot cottages, each with four twin beds, a fan, picnic table, and grill.
Florida Keys
Courtesy of Florida State Parks
Florida Keys
When you hit Mile Marker 37 on the Overseas Highway, the sugar-soft sand and swaying silver palms might trick you into believing you've cruise-controlled all the way to the Caribbean. No, this is still Florida, specifically Bahia Honda Key, a 524-acre state park with a pristine stretch of coastline. In fact, it's pretty much the best beach in the Keys—and its state-owned status means the cost to stay here is a fraction of what you'll spend elsewhere along the island chain. Book one of the park's six quiet Bayside Cabins: Each bungalow on stilts sleeps you and five friends, and has air-conditioning, heat (as if!), a kitchen and living room, plus a grill on a deck overlooking the lagoon. For those who need more action than just watching the waves, kayaks rentals are $10, and snorkeling trips inside the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary run less than $30 for three hours. Of the park's three beaches, two-mile-long Sandspur is the longest and it's ideal for swimming, with a gentle drop-off into the turquoise Caribbean, er, Atlantic Ocean.
Cat Island, Bahamas
Courtesy of Sammy T's Beach Resort
Cat Island, Bahamas
On most tropical islands, "rake and scrape" is what you do in the bottom of your purse after you get hit by hotel surcharges and overpriced rum drinks. On Cat Island, it's a type of Bahamian music you'll hear among the beach bars, as accessible as the coral-colored sands that fringe the island. Among the few accommodations on 46-mile long, fishhook-shaped Cat is Sammy T's resort, where seven redwood villas each have one or two bedrooms, air-conditioning, and a kitchenette.
Samaná Peninsula, Dominican Republic
Courtesy of Matthew Wakem, Aurora Photos
Samaná Peninsula, Dominican Republic
Air carriers such as JetBlue are making the Dominican Republic a hot zone with so many cheap flights. But we suggest flying into Santiago and then making the three-hour drive to the Samaná Peninsula. From January to March, it is prime whale-watching territory. Smart guests unpack in one of the 23 garden villas at Las Palmas and begin toasting themselves at the eight-mile-long Las Terrenas beach across the street. After relaxing, they have the chance to explore the rest of the 500-square-mile waterfall- and sand-strewn Samaná Peninsula. Skip the $85 guided trip to Cayo Levantado—too touristy—and instead cough up $10 for the boat ride from the nearby town of Las Galeras to Playa Rincón. The eight-mile talcum-powder-soft beach belongs only to the coconut trees and the fish shacks, where two bucks buys you a fried seafood lunch.
Anegada, British Virgin Islands
Courtesy of British Virgin Islands
Anegada, British Virgin Islands
More than 300 shipwrecks surround pancake-flat Anegada, but there's no need to dive for their booty when staying on this nine-mile-long British Virgin Island. That's because rooms at Neptune's Treasure have rock-bottom rates of $95 in the low season (April to December) and a whopping $15 more in the winter months. The nine color-splashed rooms are just 150 feet from the beach—one of many that attract sailors and BVI aficionados to this island, along with beaches named Loblolly Bay, Cow Wreck Bay, and Flash of Beauty. While you're busy visiting those, or snapping photos of the flamingos on a nearby pond, or just soaking in the sun, Neptune's staff is out catching fresh fish for dinner served—where else?—on the beach

Questions to Ask After 'I Will' but Before 'I Do'

by Jeff D. Opdyke
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
provided by
　
All over the country on Valentine's Day, men were down on bended knee proposing marriage. They spoke of love and affection and devotion. Few, however, mentioned what really matters: money.
Crass, maybe. But true nonetheless.
More from WSJ.com:
When you think about it, couples don't fight over love. They fight over money. They fight because one person didn't balance the checkbook or made a bone-headed investment without consulting the other. They fight because one partner exerts dictatorial control over the money, or because one has secretly amassed thousands of dollars in debt on a credit card, imperiling the couple's finances.
Whether the issues are big or small, money will prove a powerful force impacting your marriage -- sometimes overtly in the form of routine arguments; sometimes quietly as animosities seethe beneath the surface for years, only to explode into a potentially marriage-ending supernova.
What couples don't always grasp is that money is rarely the real culprit. It's the lack of communication, often stemming from a lack of knowledge about each other's personal financial quirks and beliefs.
So, some time between "Yes, I will marry you," and "I do," you and your partner need to have The Money Talk -- the key questions all couples should ask of one another.
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Here are four of the more important questions to ask each other, since they provide insight and information on how money will flow through your marriage.
1. What Are Your Assets and Liabilities?
This question is paramount because assets and liabilities are the basic building blocks of the financial life you'll live together. Assets (banks accounts, investments, retirement plans and a house) help you strive for the life you want. The liabilities (a mortgage, credit-card debt, auto loans and leases) will hold you back.
Your goal is to pinpoint where you are financially as a couple so that you can map out where you want to go together. That could mean determining how much you want to save each month for retirement, or how much you want to put into an account for a new house, a new car or an annual vacation.
It also could mean talking about how you each use debt and the amount of debt you each have -- and mapping out a plan to pay off as quickly as possible the combined debt you will have as a family.
The best way to approach this: Present each other with a copy of your net-worth statement, a simple list of all your assets and liabilities. And voice no judgments. Mocking a partner's choices will simply lead to future silence.
2. What Is Your Money History?
What you experienced financially as a child -- how your parents managed their bills, how they talked or yelled about money, what they taught you about saving and spending -- has shaped who you are today.
Problems arise in marriage because partners don't always see money from the same perspective. You might abhor debt for anything other than a mortgage, yet your spouse-to-be thinks nothing of putting lunch, groceries and the afternoon Slurpee on a credit card, and then paying the minimum each month and allowing the balance to roll over.
In talking to one another about how you each see money, you will begin to understand one another's money habits. That, in turn, will help you find a common approach for managing money successfully as a couple.
Neither of you will -- nor should -- get your way completely. Marriage is about compromise. A better understanding early on of how you each see and use money will give you the tools to find a middle ground you're each happy with when financial discord arises.
3. How Should We Divide Financial Duties?
In many marriages, one partner exerts financial dominance over the other, leaving the silenced partner anxious and angry. Other times, one partner shirks financial duties because of disinterest, leaving the other to shoulder the burden. Neither is fair.
Couples should determine how to divvy up the various financial obligations that exist. Maybe one takes charge of investing and the other balances the checkbook. Play to each other's strengths. If you're good at challenging bureaucracy, maybe you agree to handle the insurance companies and the medical bills.
The point is that you both have an obligation to the family's financial well-being, and both spouses need to be aware of the household's financial situation.
If one partner wants to opt out of the daily financial minutiae, that's fine, so long as the other spouse is OK with handling the full obligation. But even then, you need to remain aware of what's going on with the finances so there are no unsavory surprises.
4. Do We Combine Accounts or Operate Individually?
This is a divisive issue. Many financial pros argue that operating from individual accounts helps maintain marital peace. Since neither partner knows what happens in the other's account, there's no bickering.
Maybe. But it's far from perfect. Resentments can emerge if one partner is better at saving and always has money for larger, more meaningful purchases. Moreover, individual accounts mask the family's true financial position, which can hamper the main purpose of marriage: operating as a team.
If neither of you know how much money is really flowing through the individual accounts, nor how much is being saved and invested, then it's impossible to plan a future together.
That doesn't mean individual accounts can't work. They can. But they require a large degree of openness so that you can both work toward common goals.
Ultimately, all of these questions are about one thing: communication. Learn to talk about money early and often, and you can mitigate the financial tensions that are normal in all marriages.

Spring, Spring, Spring

Oh, the barnyard is busy in a regular tizzy,

And the obvious reason is because of the season

Ma Nature's lyrical, with her yearly miracle

Spring, Spring, Spring

All the hen-folk are hatchin'

While their men-folk are scrathin'

To ensure the survival of each brand new arrival.

Each nest is twitterin'

They're all baby-sitterin'

Spring, Spring, Spring.

It's a beehive of budding son and daughter life,

Every family has plans in view.

Even down in the brook the underwater life

Is forever blowin' bubbles too.

Every field wears a bonnet

With some spring daisies on it,

Even birds of a feather show their clothes off together.

Sun's gettin' shinery, to spotlight the finery,

Spring, Spring, Spring.

From his eyrie, the eagle with his eagle eye

Gazes down across his eagle beak

And a'fixin' his lady with the legal eye

Screams "suppose we fix the date this week!"

Yes, siree, spring disposes

That it's all one supposes

It's a real bed of roses

Waggin' tails, rubbin' noses

Each day is MOther's Day

The next is some other's day

When all is King...

From the movie called: SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS

Yep... that half and half from the song stuck in my head everytime I see spring with full of flowers, bugs, bees, butterflies, ladybugs and etc.

Unrealistic Dreams

A Dream is a lyric from Cinderella's Disney,

"A dream is a wish your heart makes...

"When you're fast asleep...

"in dreams you lose your heartaches...

"Whatever you wish for, you keep

"Have faith in your dreams and someday...

"Your rainbow will come smiling thru...

"No matter how your heart is grieving...

"If you keep on believing...

"the dream that you wish will come true..."

I love that song and the lyrics. I love to dreams and being a dreamer; however, I wonder am I being unrealistic in this real world? Am I dreaming of prince charming too much and not facing the true reality? Is this reality that I'm avoiding to?

If I won a million dollars or billion(would be nice), what is the first thing I want? I would go and make a movie. Doesn't everybody? Does that means I need to change my career? But even I did, would it be impossible? Because, you have to have projects... and who's the boss? Who would hire you? do I have experiences? Do I have to start all over again?? Do I have to go back to school? If so, which school? How would I get my foot in?

Would have a multi-million dollars answer to the questions? Like Hugh Howard, he quit in the middle of college as soon as his parent died and went to make a movie from the hollywood. He inherit ALOT of money. So that's what he did. He's major in lawyer but quit to go to hollywood and made it to himself without helps from others. All he ask for more cameras and everybody just laugh and think he is being silly. However, he kept on going and do the dreams that he dare to dream and his major hobby is airplanes, without him, there will be no commerical airlines such as Delta, U.S Airways and etc. Same with air forces and jets and etc... Nothing would happened if it wouldn't for him. He spend alot of money for himself and his dreams and make a name for himself too. Truth is, I don't care about making name for myself, although it seems that way if I am trying to make movies through Hollywood.... Or make movies in Canada... That's is what across my mind. Maybe I'm being unrealistic that Micheal Shanks being inspire me to do so... Yes, my favorite actor, he is inspiring me weather or not that he knows it. It doesn't matter. Point is that, what if I want to do that, mmmmmm??

What other unrealistic dreams? A man of my dream.... or a man who is my soulmate... Or is he not my soulmate? Am I making unrealistic of searching for my soulmate? The one that I hear about and wondering if that is true.... Or is my expectation is too HIGH that I need to low it down?? Or am I not loooking hard enough? Or am I just waiting for long lost love to come to rescue me like the Rapunzel (for those who don't know, it was a witch who got a little girl stuck up in tall tower and only way to climb over the window is to climb on her longest hair. The prince saw it and did the same of what the witch did by climbing over and both fell in love and he rescue her. Well, not the exact the same but get the idea). Anyway, there is no such thing like that. Point is, I know that it is unrealistic that no man would come and knock on your door and swept over your feet so the realistic would be seeing a stranger who is being a stalker and called the police.

Mmmmm, all I know is that I'm getting older and I do not want to change my career at this moment. All I want is earn good and stable money and to live in retire and travel around the world. There's no mice, squirrels, birds, deer are around to hlep to make a dream come true and clean up your mess.

dream...or nightmare?

I had a strange dream other night. I am currently dating someone but this dream I am dating this same guy, the moment I blink my eyes, I saw John, the narriastic personality disorder. *sigh* But I do know for sure that he doesn't have NPD. He doesn't drain my energy out but... he's being too vague half the time. I am having second thought about him. Don't get me wrong, he's really sweet guy but I have to ask more speaific question to know what's he really talking about.





For example, he did asked me do you know that two street names (wouldn't put a real names and numbers) and I have no idea. So I asked my dad, my dad thought for a moment. He said that's where the mall is at. So I send him the messages (via, thru converstation text). I admit at first I thought he was asking for direction then I realize I was assuming. Then he send back the message, yes that's the one. That was it. No clear or directly messages or whatsoever. I'm totally clueless what is this about as soon as I realize I was assuming then I put aside of the assumption and asked, "Ya being vague, what's important about that mall place?" Then he send message back, oh I'm sorry, I meant to meet there. I realize that he prefer to meet halfway to the mall. I don't mind but at least be clear what's about the first place. He wasn't.





Before that, he did mention about taking a week off and have vaction but he also mention about not going on vaction during that week because of doctor appointment. So, I was left in the hang. I don't know what his plans or what does he wants. Later, I learned that he's going to take a vaction with me but I haven't take days off from work because he haven't decided what to do. He did in the last minutes. I was like, "sorry, but I can't leave my work because I didn't request days off." He seems rather disappointed. I told him that you told me that you haven't decided and you are considering to stay with your doctor appointment. He's being too vague and not clear with direct. I have no idea what's he's planning to do.

Plus, he own 3 credit cards and he also owe alot of money as well as IRS. So, he's really broke and in a bad credit. I just learned that recently. I couldn't believe that he's paying for meals, trips(yellowstone park), and other things. He uses credit cards. I was kinda disappointed, too. Because I knew that (it may never happens) if I married to him, I would get a bad credit even I have a good credit before I met him. Yeah, it is ridculas(sp) but it is true fact that "us" women get the bad credits because of MEN, if we are married to them!! (mind you men, I know there are women out there who have bad credits, too, just not men). It just that it is soo annoying that I think it should be seprate and not put in two as one when comes to money situation.

For me, I notice that I'm keep meeting men who is lousy when comes to finically. As I mention before (or maybe not), maybe I just date millioniare, is there such thing as one (or more?).

Is it normal for guys to being too vague? I don't like it. I really don't.

World's Coolest Hot Springs

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From the icy tundra of Alaska to the arid desert of the Atacama, our molten-to-the-core planet is laced with underground plumbing that regularly springs a surface leak. And visiting these hot springs can be a therapeutic addition to any vacation.

An hour or two in a thermal pool—especially one surrounded by natural beauty and clean air—is just about the greenest way to relax and recharge, courtesy of our blue planet.

Blue Lagoon

Grindavik, Iceland

The Soak: Healing power on a massive scale—literally, as its real purpose is to supply hot water and electricity to 45,000 Icelanders—this lagoon just outside Reykjavik holds 1.6 million gallons of 99°F–102°F geothermal seawater laced with silica, minerals, and algae.

The Scene: With 400,000 visitors annually, Blue Lagoon has a theme-park feel. Still, a soak here is undeniably cool, like a communal pool party of Icelanders and tourists slathering silky silica mud on their faces and bodies.

When to Go: Year-round, but Iceland’s winters are notoriously glum with just a few hours of daylight, while summers are 24/7 celebrations since the sun barely sets.

Banff Upper Hot Springs

Alberta, Canada

The Soak: What’s a little pungent aroma when you’re surrounded by the majesty of some of North America’s most awe-inspiring peaks—including aptly named Sulphur Mountain? Discovered in 1884, these soothing 98°F–104°F waters are loaded not only with sulphate but also with calcium, magnesium, sodium, and bicarbonate.

The Scene: Set amid the glacier-studded panoramas of Banff National Park, the spring-fed pools are serviced by a retro-rustic 1930s bathhouse with splendid views of Mount Rundle. Hike the steep 3.5-mile switchback trail up Sulphur Mountain before a pre-sundown soak.

When to Go: Year-round, but for fewer crowds and peak foliage visit in the morning during early fall.

Pamukkale

Denizli, Turkey

The Soak: Known as the Sacred Pool, this divine dip in southwestern Turkey lives up to its name: as you float in spring-fed water that’s a relatively refreshing 94°F, look up at a cerulean Aegean sky and down at 2,000-year-old Greek and Roman antiquities scattered on the pool’s floor.

The Scene: The eye candy here is a panorama of gleaming white terraces—Pamukkale means “Cotton Castle” in Turkish—created as flowing water deposited layers of calcium carbonate. Soaking in these natural pools is no longer allowed, but you can snap photos and then visit the nearby Roman city of Hierapolis.

When to Go: Year-round, but early fall is particularly lovely.

Hot Water Beach

Waikato, New Zealand

The Soak: “No pain, no gain” is the motto at this unique beach just south of the North Island’s Mercury Bay: you have to bring a shovel and dig your own “hot tub,” which for two hours before and after low tide will fill with spring-fed water laced with calcium, magnesium, potassium, silica, and fluorine. Note: also bring a bucket to add cold seawater to regulate the temperature, which can emerge at a scalding 147°F.

The Scene: It’s a communal Kiwi beach bash, so arrive early to stake out your circle of sand.

When to Go: Year-round, but summer (December to March) is ideal.

Chena Hot Springs

Fairbanks, Alaska

The Soak: The adults-only Rock Lake, fed by sulfur-tinged springs, reaches a toasty 106°F, but the truly hot ticket is the blazing aurora borealis (northern lights), neon-hued curtains of charged particles that dance across the late-night sky above you.

The Scene: Rock Lake is part of the 105-year-old Chena Hot Springs Resort; located 60 miles from Fairbanks, it has 80 rooms and suites, plus an indoor springs-fed pool (chlorinated and 94°F), a spa, an ice museum, and dogsled tours.

When to Go: Year-round, but the northern lights are most spectacular from September to March.

Jigokudani Monkey Park

Yamanouchi, Japan

The Soak: The old adage “monkey see, monkey do” is apropos, as this mountain region’s Japanese macaques (a.k.a. snow monkeys) have taken such a liking to the steamy onsens (Japanese for “hot springs”) that they’ve claimed the best for themselves. All we hapless humans can do is watch—and then head to Yamanouchi town, where a dozen-plus traditional (no swimsuits) communal onsens await.

The Scene: Jigokudani means “Hell’s Valley,” and it is a trek to get to these secluded pools located at 2,790 feet and a mile-plus by foot through formidable forest. But persevering monkey fans will be rewarded.

When to Go: Winter, when the simian-filled springs are steamiest and skiers can hit the slopes at nearby 1998 Nagano Olympics site Shiga Kogen.

Thermae Bath Spa

Bath, England

The Soak: Enjoy a splash of history at Britain’s only natural thermal springs—the water is believed to have fallen as rain 10,000 years ago—which have vanquished stress for everyone from conquering Celts and Romans (their ancient baths are now a museum) to politicians and poets. Although the water surfaces at a red-hot 113°F, the spa’s intimate Cross Bath and rooftop New Royal Bath are a comfy 93°F.

The Scene: Paging Mr. Darcy! One of Britain’s loveliest Georgian cities, Bath is best known for its honey-hued limestone crescents and celebrated resident-author Jane Austen.

When to Go: Year-round.

Calistoga Hot Springs

Calistoga, Calif.

The Soak: There’s lots more than hot water on tap at this onetime hippie hangout in Napa Valley: Calistoga’s mud baths are as free-flowing as Merlot. Chill-out types will find an array of spas—from frayed-at-the-edges to five-star—offering 80°F–102°F geothermal pools and volcanic ash mud pits where sassy slathering is not verboten.

The Scene: Founded in 1885, Calistoga’s wines are known to loosen inhibitions and lips—as they did when Samuel Brannan christened it “the Calistoga of Sarafornia” (he meant to say the Saratoga of California).

When to Go: Year-round.

Dunton Hot Springs

Dolores, Colo.

The Soak: Yee-haw! This impeccably restored ghost town, located at 8,600 feet in the San Juan Mountains near Telluride, offers six ways to soak in waters ranging from 85°F–106°F and rich in calcium-bicarbonate, iron, and manganese with a pinch of lithium. The most authentic (and hottest) is under the stars at the source; the most private is the king-bedded Well House cabin for two.

The Scene: Twelve hand-hewn cabins, built by gold miners in the 1800s and given a five-star facelift, bunk up to 42 people. Social hubs are the Saloon (serving organic local cuisine) and the Bath House (with two geothermal pools).

When to Go: Year-round.

Puritama Hot Springs

Atacama Desert, Chile

The Soak: The high desert—and at 11,482 feet, we mean high—of this geyser-spiked South American region provides a dramatic backdrop for eight secluded pools named for the term “hot water” in the indigenous Kunza language. While not especially scorching at 91°F, they do, however, have a brilliant blue-green color and an ultrarelaxing aura.

The Scene: Maintained by luxury adventure resort Explora Atacama, the pools, north of San Pedro de Atacama, are open to the public but are rarely crowded.

When to Go: Year-round, but the weather is best from October to June.

Young dashing medical student

Mmmmm.... Can you believe it?? Other day, I have doctor appointment, just for a check-up to see "how-do-you-do?" kind of crap. I have an interpreter there since I'm deaf but yeah, I wear hearing aids and lip-reading and able to speak almost like an hearing person that doesn't have deaf accent (no offense to those who does, I just have some kind of gift.) Truth is, I often doesn't want to speak because I'm too modest more than I want to admit as well, I couldn't speak if there's a good-looking guy and I couldn't face or approch to them, especially those who are hearing. Yeah-yeah-yeah, I know, I have no problem talk (signing) to good looking deaf guys or semi-good-looking deaf guy. Whatever.... I just don't have the courage and other times, I just don't want to speak because they think I'm actually hearing and didn't believe that I'm actually DEAF! When I am Deaf!! Profound Deaf, that's for sure!! I can't hear, period. Yes, hearing aid helps but not as good as "hearing person". Beside, having interpreter helps because some people are FAST talker that I can't understand at all... zip, nada...

*ahem* Ok, now, about the good-looking young man, who happen to be medical student (possible internship-like). He came in and the interpreter actually jaw-dropped!!! The medical student noticed and he chuckled. I just looked at both of them and I was kinda shocked but no jaw-dropping. Thank goodness!! He introduce himself and told us that he's medical student and etc. Sadly, I couldn't remember his name. (yeah, yeah, I'm lousy with names as always!!) I looked at the interpreter and then back to medical good-looking guy student. I finally work up my courage and made my decision to speak up (normally, I rather interpreter to speak for me). I talked... He talked... we talked... He's flirting.. Oh yeah, he was very interesting in me!! He told me how much he impressed that I speak so well and able to lip-read. Once in a while, I glance to the interpreter when I missed what he said or didn't understood that small part. He asked me what I normally do after my work. I told him that I spend mostly my time studying GRE. (for those, who didn't know, it is SAT-like but for graduate student who finished with Bachalor degree.) He said, "oooh, ya going to be scientist?" Oh my god, his tone of voice that he is really getting more interesting in me. I nodded. He asked, "Don't you mean SAT?" I told him, "no, it is GRE, I have finished with my Bacholor of Science in General Biology." then I added, "I'm considering master degree for Biotechnology." He got MORE interesting in me. I have no idea if I'm blushing or not but he certain asking more questions that isn't relate any of my health and etc. Just more of gerenal questions sorta like... dating type of questions that ya normal asking when ya out for date. Truth is, I fight my urge not to blush too much. We talk for quite a while then finally changed the subject... back to medical talk....but it is still alittle akaward.

After we are done, he bring the "real doctor". He and the medical student came in together and talk for a while and told what mediences that i need and etc.... Typical routine... When they left, I'm almost tempting to ask the medical student to stay and want to ask him "are you single?" but I didn't have the courage.

After few months, I have another "check-up" again. I was soo hoping to see that same medical student but NOT!!! However, I saw the same interpreter. She remember so strongly and remember ever situation. She said, "he's really flirting with you and he's really interesting in you" I blushed for real. She asked me if I remember his name. Unfortunely, I didn't. Seem like she didn't either. Oh well...

Chemistry

I don't mean a major of Chemistry in class. I meant chemistry between men and women. I've been reading or hearing that word "chemistry" when they search for a connection or bonding with that person. Funny thing is that I did search for that. If there's no chemistry then we are not made for each other. Every guy that I met is all chemistry involve. I wonder is it really for lust and not love? Feelings for him is for lust... is Chemistry means lust?

I decided to date some guys that wasn't chemistry invovle so I did. I met one. I do like him alot but I don't know if I do love him or not. I do know that there isn't chemistry. So that means no lust and no love? Or do I love him just that there isn't chemistry but to care is the love. To care about him and thinking of him is love? I was anixious to see him because I enjoy his company. Everyday to see him then I get bored but to see him once a week then I don't get bored and we just catch up and get to know one another.

One thing I don't understand is that every guy I meet is usually broke or doesn't have the job or bad credit. I heard from somewhere that it is best to have relationship with someone who isn't have bad credit.

I'm starting to thinking about dating millionare because I'm tired of dating guys who poorer than me or bad credits or try to take advantage for my money even I'm poor myself. It does sound like I'm "gold-digger" if I want to go date millioniare but truth is I'm tired of dating men who taking advantage of my money when I want to date millioniare that I knew he wouldn't take advantage of my money... or is he??

5 scary times for your heart

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Our resident cardiologist, Arthur Agatston, MD, told Prevention that the first question he asks patients when they walk in his office is “How’s the traffic?”

It’s not small talk but a valid medical query. Being stuck in traffic raises blood pressure and triples heart attack risk. So if a patient has had a tough commute and her BP is elevated, he’ll recheck it later in the appointment. There are other surprising situations and times when the chance of heart attack rises dramatically. If you or someone you know has a history of heart trouble, here’s when to be watchful.

1. First thing in the morning

The risk of heart attack increases 40% in the morning, Harvard researchers estimate.

As you awaken, your body secretes adrenaline and other stress hormones, increasing blood pressure and a demand for oxygen. Your blood is also thicker and harder to pump because you’re partially dehydrated. All this taxes the heart.

Protect yourself: Build some time into your schedule so you can hit the snooze button and wake up slowly. If you’re a morning exerciser, warm up thoroughly so as not to additionally stress the heart. And if you’re on a beta-blocker, take it before bed so the medication is at full strength in the am.

2. On Monday mornings especially

Science shows there’s good reason to dread the first day of the work week.

Twenty percent more heart attacks occur on this day, probably because people are stressed and depressed about returning to work.

Protect yourself: Relax on Sunday, but try not to sleep in. Getting up early on Monday after sleeping late Saturday and Sunday can raise blood pressure even more because your body is fatigued and its natural rhythms are out of whack. Try to maintain a regular sleep/wake schedule all week.

3. After an indulgent meal

A five-course, calories-be-damned dinner can have an immediate impact on your heart health. Studies show that high-fat, high-carb meals constrict blood vessels, making blood more prone to clotting.

Protect yourself: If you must indulge, keep your portion sizes reasonable. A daily aspirin will also help prevent blood “stickiness.”

4. During unusually vigorous exercise

Having a heart attack while shoveling snow is a classic example of this.

The heart attack occurs because the victim isn’t accustomed to that kind of effort and stress hormones skyrocket, causing blood pressure and heart rate to jump.

Protect yourself: Regular exercise protects your heart. But increase your intensity level gradually.

5. At the podium

From the heart’s perspective, public speaking can be similar to unaccustomed exercise.

Extreme nervousness raises blood pressure, heart rate, and adrenaline levels, all of which can make the presentation itself a secondary worry.

Protect yourself: To counter these effects, some of my patients take a beta-blocker before speaking, flying, or doing anything that makes them overly anxious.

What If Jesus Meant All That Stuff?

Mind you, I'm not christian whatsoever... but this does makes me think.



What If Jesus Meant All That Stuff?
This radical Christian's ministry for the poor, The Simple Way, has gotten him in some trouble with his fellow Evangelicals. We asked him to address those who don't believe.
By Shane Claiborne

The Simple Way

To all my nonbelieving, sort-of-believing, and used-to-be-believing friends: I feel like I should begin with a confession. I am sorry that so often the biggest obstacle to God has been Christians. Christians who have had so much to say with our mouths and so little to show with our lives. I am sorry that so often we have forgotten the Christ of our Christianity.
Forgive us. Forgive us for the embarrassing things we have done in the name of God.
The other night I headed into downtown Philly for a stroll with some friends from out of town. We walked down to Penn's Landing along the river, where there are street performers, artists, musicians. We passed a great magician who did some pretty sweet tricks like pour change out of his iPhone, and then there was a preacher. He wasn't quite as captivating as the magician. He stood on a box, yelling into a microphone, and beside him was a coffin with a fake dead body inside. He talked about how we are all going to die and go to hell if we don't know Jesus.
Some folks snickered. Some told him to shut the hell up. A couple of teenagers tried to steal the dead body in the coffin. All I could do was think to myself, I want to jump up on a box beside him and yell at the top of my lungs, "God is not a monster." Maybe next time I will.

The more I have read the Bible and studied the life of Jesus, the more I have become convinced that Christianity spreads best not through force but through fascination. But over the past few decades our Christianity, at least here in the United States, has become less and less fascinating. We have given the atheists less and less to disbelieve. And the sort of Christianity many of us have seen on TV and heard on the radio looks less and less like Jesus.

At one point Gandhi was asked if he was a Christian, and he said, essentially, "I sure love Jesus, but the Christians seem so unlike their Christ." A recent study showed that the top three perceptions of Christians in the U. S. among young non-Christians are that Christians are 1) antigay, 2) judgmental, and 3) hypocritical. So what we have here is a bit of an image crisis, and much of that reputation is well deserved. That's the ugly stuff. And that's why I begin by saying that I'm sorry.

Now for the good news.
I want to invite you to consider that maybe the televangelists and street preachers are wrong — and that God really is love. Maybe the fruits of the Spirit really are beautiful things like peace, patience, kindness, joy, love, goodness, and not the ugly things that have come to characterize religion, or politics, for that matter. (If there is anything I have learned from liberals and conservatives, it's that you can have great answers and still be mean... and that just as important as being right is being nice.)

The Bible that I read says that God did not send Jesus to condemn the world but to save it... it was because "God so loved the world." That is the God I know, and I long for others to know. I did not choose to devote my life to Jesus because I was scared to death of hell or because I wanted crowns in heaven... but because he is good. For those of you who are on a sincere spiritual journey, I hope that you do not reject Christ because of Christians. We have always been a messed-up bunch, and somehow God has survived the embarrassing things we do in His name. At the core of our "Gospel" is the message that Jesus came "not [for] the healthy... but the sick." And if you choose Jesus, may it not be simply because of a fear of hell or hope for mansions in heaven.

Don't get me wrong, I still believe in the afterlife, but too often all the church has done is promise the world that there is life after death and use it as a ticket to ignore the hells around us. I am convinced that the Christian Gospel has as much to do with this life as the next, and that the message of that Gospel is not just about going up when we die but about bringing God's Kingdom down. It was Jesus who taught us to pray that God's will be done "on earth as it is in heaven." On earth.
One of Jesus' most scandalous stories is the story of the Good Samaritan. As sentimental as we may have made it, the original story was about a man who gets beat up and left on the side of the road. A priest passes by. A Levite, the quintessential religious guy, also passes by on the other side (perhaps late for a meeting at church). And then comes the Samaritan... you can almost imagine a snicker in the Jewish crowd. Jews did not talk to Samaritans, or even walk through Samaria. But the Samaritan stops and takes care of the guy in the ditch and is lifted up as the hero of the story. I'm sure some of the listeners were ticked. According to the religious elite, Samaritans did not keep the right rules, and they did not have sound doctrine... but Jesus shows that true faith has to work itself out in a way that is Good News to the most bruised and broken person lying in the ditch.

It is so simple, but the pious forget this lesson constantly. God may indeed be evident in a priest, but God is just as likely to be at work through a Samaritan or a prostitute. In fact the Scripture is brimful of God using folks like a lying prostitute named Rahab, an adulterous king named David... at one point God even speaks to a guy named Balaam through his donkey. Some say God spoke to Balaam through his ass and has been speaking through asses ever since. So if God should choose to use us, then we should be grateful but not think too highly of ourselves. And if upon meeting someone we think God could never use, we should think again.

After all, Jesus says to the religious elite who looked down on everybody else: "The tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom ahead of you." And we wonder what got him killed?
I have a friend in the UK who talks about "dirty theology" — that we have a God who is always using dirt to bring life and healing and redemption, a God who shows up in the most unlikely and scandalous ways. After all, the whole story begins with God reaching down from heaven, picking up some dirt, and breathing life into it. At one point, Jesus takes some mud, spits in it, and wipes it on a blind man's eyes to heal him. (The priests and producers of anointing oil were not happy that day.)

In fact, the entire story of Jesus is about a God who did not just want to stay "out there" but who moves into the neighborhood, a neighborhood where folks said, "Nothing good could come." It is this Jesus who was accused of being a glutton and drunkard and rabble-rouser for hanging out with all of society's rejects, and who died on the imperial cross of Rome reserved for bandits and failed messiahs. This is why the triumph over the cross was a triumph over everything ugly we do to ourselves and to others. It is the final promise that love wins.

It is this Jesus who was born in a stank manger in the middle of a genocide. That is the God that we are just as likely to find in the streets as in the sanctuary, who can redeem revolutionaries and tax collectors, the oppressed and the oppressors... a God who is saving some of us from the ghettos of poverty, and some of us from the ghettos of wealth.

In closing, to those who have closed the door on religion — I was recently asked by a non-Christian friend if I thought he was going to hell. I said, "I hope not. It will be hard to enjoy heaven without you." If those of us who believe in God do not believe God's grace is big enough to save the whole world... well, we should at least pray that it is.

Your brother,
Shane

Dealing with 10 Coworker Personality conficts and Change Career

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Dealing With 10 Coworker Personality Conflicts
by Marv Dumon (Contact Author Biography)

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In an ideal world, you get to work in a palatial, heavenly setting while you pursue your professional dreams of being CFO, controller, investment banking managing director, or private equity partner. Saint Peter (better known as human resources) lets you pass through the pearly gates with ease during interviews and you can treasure your professional lifestyle living in the clouds. You are constantly fed fresh grapes and berries as you sit on your golden rocking chair contemplating whether to give the green light on multimillion dollar projects.


In reality, your workplace is one place where people can be nasty, difficult, dysfunctional and downright brutish - and you still have to deal with them in a calm and professional manner. If this sounds like something you are dealing with - and quitting isn't an option - we'll help you get through these 10 common coworker dysfunctions to help you bring a little bit of heaven back down to earth.1. ArroganceArrogance is the byproduct of unhealthy levels of pride and ego. In technical fields such as finance and accounting, it is imperative that professionals continuously learn new things and increase their knowledge and wisdom base. Finance professionals also need to get along with a wide audience within the company, because they collect data and reports from a diverse set of groups within the company. Warning signs of arrogance include:
The tendency to waste people's time by pontificating
Looking for criteria other than business performance as a measuring device with peers (such as tenure, academic pedigree and prestige of career titles)
Habitually putting people down in order to artificially prop oneself up
Blatant disregard for the feelings of others, showing lack of maturity and emotional intelligence
Foul language, short sightedness and lack of tact If you are arrogant, this puts a mental and psychological block on your mind that prevents you from learning important new data. After all, you already think so highly of yourself, why should you need to improve? How do you know that you have too much ego? Your level of confidence should be in proportion to the amount of preparation that you have put in. Dealing with arrogant people takes a lot of patience, and a great deal of self-control. Learning to identify the people who have this trait and avoiding them as much as possible will protect your own reputation, whereas confronting the arrogant person may only make you look worse.2. Extreme "One-Upmanship" and PosturingWhen there is a nasty corporate culture of one-upmanship, colleagues are constantly trying to cut each other down, like a roving lawnmower slicing up blades of grass. Reveal a few things in your personal life, and it may be used against you by way of biting remarks. Engage in petty small talk and you might be looked down upon as the unfocused bimbo of the bunch.In the finance department, you'll see plenty of qualified people, and that alone can create an unusually competitive atmosphere, especially if there are low levels of trust and teamwork. How do you know there are unhealthy levels of posturing within your group? Disdain between coworkers, fakeness between peers, constant back stabbings (such as people taking credit for others' work) and petty posturing during meetings are signs of this common office dysfunction. People exaggerate their accomplishments, pad their resumes and pretend to have a frantic pace (when moving around the office) in a pathetic attempt to portray themselves as busy "rising stars" to the CFO. You have two choices: get the heck out of there or, just as nobly, focus on over-delivering. Because, as the saying goes, "Strive to be great, but remember to be good." At the end of the day, business results and performance are the only real sources of credibility. (Competition is huge in finance, which is what leads to some of these less-than-favorable character traits. Read Top 4 Most Competitive Financial Careers to learn which jobs could be the worst for this.)3. Irritability and Unnecessary Short FusesIn finance, there is a need for constant exchanges of accurate, relevant and timely operational, financial and accounting information. Unnecessarily short fuses reduce or prevent this flow of information. Irritability is a barrier to people doing their jobs. When people blow up or dish out nasty stares, coworkers and peers soon hesitate to raise important questions or request clarifications. When this happens, the quality of financial reporting suffers due to incomplete or inaccurate data.If someone does something bad to you (i.e., cuts you down at a meeting, or spreads unfair rumors about you in an attempt to torpedo your career), take it up with that particular person first. Do not take it out on everyone else by lashing out at people who need information from you. When principles are not at stake, be a pleasure to work with.Finally, in some finance settings, there is a highly delusional misconception that if you project yourself as a macho creature, then others will regard you as an important person or a high-caliber individual. However, without these observers seeing impressive, credible and sustained results out of you, you merely have the "idiot" label stamped in bold, red letters on your forehead.4. Fakeness: Inauthentic Relationships and Hidden MotivesBeing authentic is an important underpinning of effective leadership. People want to know that you say what you mean, and you mean what you say. Finance will have many accomplished people working under its banner, and some of them will not be entirely genuine. A department with low levels of trust resembles a royal court filled with scheming sycophants, not a professionalized outfit with dedicated finance and accounting staff. In the real world, certain people will always have hidden agendas and motivations. While good friendships will help the workplace setting be more enjoyable, the wise professional will have to be discerning in choosing who his or her friends are. As George Washington said, "Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence."5. ProcrastinationProcrastination is a symptom of overconfidence, apathy or lack of focus. Smart people with a solid track record at school and at prior work experiences may come to believe that they can "always step things up" at the right time and can afford slacking off here and there. However, complacency lowers your personal productivity and the productivity of your team. If you work in finance or accounting, people depend on you to provide accurate information in an efficient manner so that they can process their own work. A single bottleneck has the ability to shut multiple people's workflows down. Workers who have grown apathetic at their jobs, or who have lost focus (i.e., their personal life is interfering with their ability to execute at work) also tend to procrastinate. Some have found their particular job to be dull, and procrastination becomes the thrill-seeker's way of getting a rush out of attempting to finish a work project in highly condensed time frames. Quality of work is the first casualty, and the procrastinator's job quickly becomes the second. (Procrastination is one of the quickest paths out the door of a good firm. Read Making The Most Out Of Your Day, for some good time-management techniques that can help keep you on track.)6. Whimsical SpendingFinance and accounting professionals work with numbers most of the time - high dollar amounts that represent hard cash, securities, or illiquid assets on a balance sheet. Dealing with money all day makes some in this line of work think that they have a lot of money. Most of the professional's waking hours are spent on left-brained processes and rational thinking, and many finance professionals turn off the switch to reason, logic and prudence when they leave the office for the day. By night, you see their transformation into the spendthrift werewolf, howling at overly expensive sports cars (above their pay grade), or worse, at "models and bottles".The competitive atmosphere in finance can spill over outside of work, where coworkers compete to have the latest sports car, expensive watches, lavish travels and lush apartments. Finance professionals also want to uphold a certain "image of success" that their pay grade cannot afford, which is sometimes referred to as "drinking champagne on a beer budget".Wasteful spending among finance professionals only makes the workplace even more unnecessarily competitive; you have high income earners who are constantly broke, fighting for every scrap and crumb of bonus in the bonus pool. If you can exhibit the control you use to advise your clients, some of this "he who dies with the most toys wins" attitude will die down at the office, and your bank account will only grow. (Some of the largest paychecks can be earned by managing hedge funds. Read 10 Steps To A Career In Hedge Funds to learn how to secure a position in this challenging field.)7. SabotageThe saboteur of the group takes competitiveness to a truly dysfunctional level. There can be various motivations for sabotaging a team's or department's efforts. For example, the saboteur may want to see others fail, and thereby increase his or her relative standing (and compensation) within the group. Saboteurs may also strike in order to protect their own jobs. They will do harm to documents and databases in order to create more work for themselves, which they hope insulates them from being fired or laid off. Or, they may harbor a secret disdain toward their boss, peers, or company, as they may have been passed over for promotion, bonuses, or an attractive transfer.Whatever the reason, saboteurs tend to be highly selfish individuals. There isn't much you can do to protect yourself from these saboteurs except to keep on top of your work and to be conscious of these people. The selfish trait is picked up by good managers, and saboteurs are often passed for promotions because more focused peers are concentrating on how they can continually increase their contributions to the company. In the end, the saboteur only hurts himself.8. Turning Green With EnvyThe basis for a fulfilling and rewarding career is the opportunity to do your best to serve others in the line of work that is right for you. This is often found in a profession that you enjoy. In finance and accounting, there is a tendency to covet another person's position simply because of title, salary, or added responsibility. Often, the person coveting the role only has a minimal understanding of the significantly greater burden or skill sets needed to properly execute the duties of the coveted role. The one who covets tends to only look at the benefits, such as higher salary. However, professionals who find fulfillment with their line of work take ownership of their careers, and are team players. They know that no single person can run an entire department or organization. Professionals who covet someone else's job or title are more likely to be unhappy at work. If you work with a green-eyed wonder, don't fret. There are many ways to encourage this downer individual by offering praise or complimenting their current work, responsibilities and position. If you're this person, then take a moment to enjoy the fact that you have less responsibility and are therefore free to enjoy your weekends without bringing the stress of work home.9. Unhealthy Levels of Cynicism Finance and accounting professionals have to exercise a healthy level of "professional skepticism" in their line of work. The numbers these professionals deal with every day can be inaccurate, incomplete or irrelevant. The tendency to question data points can be a boon to your job description, but can snowball into a habit of unnecessarily questioning everything. Unhealthy levels of cynicism can lead to others being turned off during social interactions, afraid of the stream of negativity flowing out of the cynic's mouth. Others will develop a mental and psychological barrier with the cynic, preventing effective communication in the workplace.10. Killer Health HabitsThe job of the busy finance professional is to successfully juggle both short-term and long-term commitments. With a busy schedule, it is easy to fall into the trap of having unhealthy habits such as no exercise, lack of sleep and bad diet. Pressing priorities lead many professionals to "mortgage" their future health, and become complacent in this important area. And once one coworker starts sliding on this slippery slope, the rest can follow suit. Any individual who is encouraging an unhealthy lifestyle (both at work and in their off-time) will soon reflect the results of those unhealthy choices. Poor health, poor attitude and lack of attention are just a few of the effects of living with killer health habits. Maintaining a good fitness routine, healthy diet and sufficient amounts of sleep is absolutely critical for long-term success and a good quality of life.Parting ThoughtsThe good news is that although there may be many dysfunctional coworkers in your workplace or, worse yet, you've identified a few of these evils in your own workplace persona, we all possess free will. So, you can either chose to remove yourself from your workplace situation, or to stay and become a leader by setting a good example to others. The latter is probably the better choice, albeit the harder one. Small steps in this area result in giant leaps toward healthier work environments.Is the job you're in right now too much for you to handle? Read Six Steps To Successfully Switching Financial Careers to find the right career path for your needs.
by Marv Dumon, (Contact Author Biography)Marv Dumon serves as a mergers and acquisitions advisor for a middle-market financial services firm specializing in industrial and energy companies. He maintains established relationships with more than 500 mid-market private equity firms. He also serves as a national business and finance columnist for Examiner.com. Dumon's background includes experience in consulting, finance and operations with several organizations including two S&P 500 companies. He received a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin.
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Six Steps To Successfully Switching Financial Careers
by Glenn Curtis (Contact Author Biography)

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Breaking into the securities industry is incredibly difficult. Success takes years of study and work, followed by a few more years of "paying your dues". So, what happens if you finally reach the pinnacle, only to realize you've been climbing the wrong mountain?


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Financial professionals who aren't happy in their chosen field are not doomed to start at the bottom - unless of course they want to try their hand at surgery, then the bottom might be a good place to start. If you're a trader, analyst, broker or compliance officer looking to shift into another financial field, the good news is that with a little patience and hard work it is possible. In this article we'll explore the six steps you should take to make sure your career transition is a smooth one. (To learn more, see Career Shift: Get In The Driver's Seat.)Step 1: Swallow Your PrideIt's important to know right from the start that when you pursue a new career path, you'll likely have to take a cut in pay, and in title, in order to make the jump. For example, it's unrealistic for a seasoned trader to become a new stockbroker and expect to match his or her previous salary right off the bat. It takes a tremendous amount of time and patience to build up a client base and assets.As you'll come to learn, a successful career switch will require a lot of work and a lot of preparation. Don't expect to dive right in. (For more on the various professional fields, see Preparing For A Career As A Broker Or Trader, Becoming A Financial Analyst and Get A Job In Compliance.)Step 2: Hone Your Skills Before You Make the JumpYou will probably need or want to go back to school to learn about your new career path before you actually pursue it. For example, a person might go back to school to study personal finance or economics if he or she wants to become a financial advisor, or take an options trading classes to become a trader.In addition to schooling, you should also be prepared to study and sit for certain securities exams such as the Series 7 (for those looking to become a registered representative), the Series 55 (to become an equities trader) or the Series 87 (to become a research analyst). This obviously could take a significant amount of time and energy, so take some time to weigh this decision before you start saying your farewells to your boss and coworkers.Finally, when you start a new job, you may also be asked to "shadow" a more senior employee for a period of time to learn all of the idiosyncrasies that go along with the job. The time you'll have to spend job shadowing should also be factored into your decision. Step 3: Be Honest With Your Current BossOnce you know that you want to change careers you should talk to your boss about the decision. Your current boss probably won't be thrilled - especially if you are a top-producing broker - but, if you are upfront and honest about your reason for wanting a change, the odds are good your boss will understand.What's the best way to break the news?Just go for it. Don't beat around the bush. Explain why you want to make the switch, and don't be afraid to ask for help. Your boss might be able to help guide you into a new career and might have contacts to help you on your way. (For more interpersonal tips, see Deal Effectively With Difficult Clients.)Step 4: Find a MentorPrior to making any switch in positions you should try to find a mentor or someone who will be on your side, and will show you the ropes in the new job. Preferably, this should be someone with seniority. It will make the switch much easier.How do you find a mentor?Before actually making the big switch, try to network with other members of the target department at company or industry-related functions. Another possibility is tapping friends or acquaintances in that job beforehand to ask them about their experiences. Once you build up a rapport with someone you like and respect, you can ask if he or she would be willing to take you on as a protégé. You'd be surprised how willing most people are to help. But unless you ask, you'll never find out! (To learn more about the value of networking, read Trying On Potential Employers and The Benefits Of Joining A Professional Association.)Step 5: Don't Sell Yourself ShortIt was mentioned earlier that you should be prepared for a pay cut. This is true; however, switching jobs doesn't mean you should accept a rookie salary.During salary negotiations, be sure to emphasize your existing skill set and your educational and professional experience in the industry. Your previous position gave you knowledge and skills that the average new recruit has no chance of matching. Use this to your advantage to get the job you want. You can also use it to negotiate a slightly more favorable pay package. (For more tips on getting the job and salary you want, check out Taking The Lead In The Interview Dance and Negotiating For Employment Perks.)Step 6: Clear Your scheduleOnce you make the switch, you'll have to be ready for hard work. Anyone looking to transition into a new career should be prepared to come in early each morning and to leave late as he or she becomes proficient in the new job.Before starting the new position, try to complete any personal chores or tasks that you had planned such as fixing up the basement or putting a new roof on the house. After all, you will need as few distractions and stresses as possible.Bottom LineMaking a career shift within the securities industry is possible if you plan ahead and are willing to work hard. Your previous knowledge and experience can give you a boost, turning a treacherous mountain climb into a leisurely hike. If you are feeling trapped in your financial career, learn about your options in Finding Your Place In The FInancial Industry.
by Glenn Curtis, (Contact Author Biography)Glenn Curtis started his career as an equity analyst at Cantone Research, a New Jersey-based regional brokerage firm. He has since worked as an equity analyst and a financial writer at a number of print/web publications and brokerage firms including Registered Representative Magazine, Advanced Trading Magazine, Worldlyinvestor.com, RealMoney.com, TheStreet.com and Prudential Securities. Curtis has also held Series 6,7,24 and 63 securities licenses.