It is what it is by Tony Green

Note: this posting was intended to part of a blog based on my experiences as an employee in a Japanese company which was never launched.

Image of Yen Note

In a past position my sales team and our CEO were discussing what the customer’s reaction would be to an impending price increase and how we might present our case so the higher cost was more palpable. At one point he said, “It is what it is”.

Indeed, there are instances in sales where it might be better not to try and spin the situation and just be honest and work with your customer to get where you need to go.

Most customers appreciate when salespeople are being sincere with them even though they are discussing unpleasant things. Conventional thought dictates getting the ugliness out on the table benefits both parties.

From my time as a gaijin employee the saying would need to be adjusted to be consistent with reality. The perfect phrase escapes me but some ideas I had were,” “It is what we would like it to be” or “It is what we think it should be” or “It is what wanted it to be.”

When some form of customer issue existed management wanted to ignore the issue hoping the problem will go away. Stated another way, if a direction which been established and the market place changes resulting in different tactics becoming appropriate the inclination is to start the hoping things will work themselves out.

While this works on occasion typically it makes the long term solution more difficult.

I understand the concept of cultural difference and how entrenched these can be at many companies, however, at the end of the day people are people and most folks want to know the truth and have the facts presented in an upfront fashion. This leads to identification of the true problem and begins the required dialog ultimately generate solutions agreeable for both parties. The most important party of all, our customer, would be included.

I have learned from my brief time in sales a companies’ customers are the end game. In the end, it is what it is. Isn’t that the way things should be?

ObamaCare – why are we forgetting this is about affordable health care? by Tony Green

Doctor examining young girl

The first portion of the Affordable Healthcare Act or ObamaCare was enacted a few months ago.  As designed, Americans without access to reasonably priced health insurance can enroll with federal and state run insurance exchanges to select plans where financial assistance is available to help cover the cost. In light of bipartisan bickering people seem to overlook the reason the Affordable Health Care Act was drafted and legislated. The reality is many people cannot access to health care for themselves and their children. This, in the end, costs everyone since medical providers are required to care for insured patients and in many cases the expenses are absorbed by those who have health insurance. 

Is health care a right? The rest of the world thinks so. Canada, Australia, Europe and Japan all have national health insurance programs. Interestingly enough, the exchanges which were recently rolled out are similar to the Japanese systems on providing health care for its citizens.  

Japan’s National Health insurance created in 1958 by its National Health Care Act which was designed for people who are not eligible to be members of any employment-based insurance programs. All Japanese citizens, permanent residents, and any non-Japanese residing in Japan with a visa lasting one year or longer are required to be enrolled.  

The program is administered by local governments. Patients are free to select physicians or facilities of their choice and cannot be denied coverage. When the insured person uses a medical facility or hospital which accepts the National Health insurance, the patient pays a portion of the cost. The medical facility will then send invoices for the remaining amount to the National Health Insurance Federation, which reviews and pays the medical facility or hospital.

Hospitals, by law, must be run as non-profit and be managed by physicians since for-profit corporations are not allowed to own or operate hospitals. 

The United States is the single major power without universal basic health care for its citizens. The United States takes pride in being one of the world’s most progressive thinking nations is the rest of the world entirely off base by providing, at the least minimum health care at some for all of its citizens?? 

Accountability vs. Responsibility by Tony Green

Note: this posting was intended to part of a blog based on my experiences as an employee in a Japanese company which was never launched.

Japanese businessman

Working for a Japanese company as a Sales Manager with American customers presents certain challenges on a daily basis. On my first day of work my boss told me I would be responsible for sales and marketing in Canada, Mexico and the United States. No problem.

The management in Japan clearly stated the expectation of meeting the goal of penetrating our company’s products in the North America where currently we had no market share.  No Problem.

The problem was the folks in charge did not tell me the entire decision making and authority process would be based in Japan. The insight into the market place which I was hired to provide is appreciated, however, the team leader makes the call from the home office. Perhaps, I should have recognized a “gaijin employee” like me would never be allowed to possess any true authority. In my own defense, this was my first experience working for Japanese company.

In many companies you are compelled to take instruction/direction from management. My concern is what happens when all does not go according to plan? The foreigner gets singled out that he was not doing his job and takes the “bullet” so the team does not lose face.

I think ultimately the issue comes down to accountability versus responsibility. The expectation is you will manage our clients to where the business is profitable while maintaining a satisfied customer. As the customer representative your job is to make these activities happen. Responsible and accountable. Keep in mind you have no decision making authority in managing the specific accounts which you are responsible for. At least I am still accountable. Seems quite fair to me.

Why have I been through so many jobs by Tony Green?

Yes, my resume lists the many jobs I have had since I left the Navy over 13 years ago.   I take some solace since, in many cases, I needed to move on and obtain other positions sooner than later since my family relies on me to keep the bills up to date. Through all of my professional turmoil I am current with my mortgage; own both of my vehicles and my children are finished with their braces. In another sense, I am embarrassed since, in many cases; if you are laid off someone else has been chosen to keep around rather than you. More ever when you interview for the next position no one asks the company why they let you go. You always need to explain why they should hire you.

My longest stint between positions was nine months which was during the depth of the latest recession while my shortest lapse was six weeks from leaving the previous position to my first day at the new job. I cannot blame my previous employers in every case. Can I be at fault? Perhaps, or there may be other factors out of my control.  

During the interview process misrepresentations exist on both sides. The interviewee is pressed to get back to work so a strong tendency exists to tell the prospective employer what he/she wants to hear. On the other hand, if I can be honest, the reasons the employer are looking to hire is to get someone deal with tasks they would prefer not to deal with. Think of the issue this way, if a boss had a function which he/she truly enjoyed would they be thinking about bringing in someone else?

Therefore, it is of no surprise by the first ninety days on the job after the employee gains a full understanding for what they were hired for and the employer’s tactic to hide the true nature of the position has resulted in disillusionment on both sides.

I wonder if my resume would look better having longer gaps between positions and being employed at those positions for more time rather than having held more positions with shorter terms of employment.

My sister once told me she believes the career I seek is waiting for me. I think there is something out I am ideally suited for, a destiny I am not fulfilling by passing through various positions with limited possibility for growth.   If only I didn’t need to pay my mortgage every month. Perhaps, I could explore my full potential without ignoring my responsibilities as a father and a husband.  Will you hire me if she’s wrong and I never find the perfect position?

A trip on the bus by Tony Green

I was getting my car serviced on a Sunday a few months ago and since my wife was working I needed another way to pick up my car from the dealership once the maintenance was complete.  Then the thought came to mind, why not use the public bus?

Open seats on a public bus

As a child in growing in Philadelphia, as in many large cities, people depended on the public buses and subways to get from one place to another.   Now that live in the suburbs, which by nature is very spread out, having an automobile is almost a requirement to getting where you need to go.

At any rate, I checked on the Internet and found a bus route whose route happened to be within a block of my house which stopped within walking distance of the dealership. I walked to the bus stop well before the scheduled time of its arrival.  I would later discover as a result of reading the schedule incorrectly I missed a bus and had to wait another ½ hour until the next bus arrived.

Once I sat on the bus I remembered the annoyance of riding the bus from my childhood.

I recalled instances when passengers would get on the bus with large bags of what appeared to be junk. By the time the person hauled their gear onto the bus and paid their fare – almost five minutes had elapsed only to pick up one passenger.

Another thing which boggled my mind was, in my view, if I planned to take a bus I would make sure I know what the fare would be BEFORE I boarded. First you get the clueless look and after the bus driver would inform the prospective rider what the fare would be the person would gather what available change was in the various pockets of her jacket. I almost felt compelled to give the person a dollar to cover her fare just to get the damned bus moving.

Finally, during certain portions of the bus route which went through heavy traffic. What was the end result? The bus moved at a snail’s pace along the street which the pedestrians walking on the sidewalk made better progress.

Once I returned home in my newly serviced car, after having wasted half of the afternoon, I came to the conclusion driving may not be best way of commuting in all cases but in certain instances , especially this one, the public bus may not be the way to go either.