Do you remember pulling up to the gas pump and carefully filling your tank by rounding to the nearest dollar? Some of you may recall the days before auto-shut-offs when you would overfill your tank and have gas spill all over the side of your car and the pavement. And a select few of you may unfortunately recollect driving off from the station with the nozzle still in your tank and the hose dragging down the road. 

Some of the more age-experienced readers of this column may even reminisce about the days of the full-service station when a friendly attendant would not only fill your tank but check your oil and wash your windshield. “Fill ’er up!”

Believe it or not, there was a time when buying gasoline was straightforward. Then, along came a gazillion choices. It started in the 1970s with unleaded, and that was simple enough. Now, we have a variety of octane choices along with three different ethanol blends. I didn’t know I needed a master’s degree in petroleum engineering to fill my car with gas. 

Unfortunately, choosing your gas is just part of the process. Although I appreciate the whole pay-at-the-pump idea — as it prevents me from indulging in a Coke Zero fountain drink and a Snickers bar — I cringe at all the information I am often asked to submit at the pump and the seemingly endless questions I have to answer. Debit? Credit? Zip code? Fuel saver card? Car wash? And then, at some stations, I can’t concentrate because of the blaring music and the barrage of ads popping up on the display screen. I just want some gas, for Pete’s sake!

But, alas, I eventually surrender my name, rank and serial number and begin fueling. And, as I put the nozzle back in the pump and submit to accepting the entire pay-at-the-pump process, a message comes across the screen that I need to go inside the store to collect my receipt. Ugh. So I do — and I buy a Coke Zero fountain drink and a Snickers. 

Have a terrific Tuesday, and, as always, thanks for reading. 

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

Where you sit may say more about you than you think.

At home, the decision is relatively easy. Most of us have a regular place where we sit at the dinner table or while watching TV. And if someone takes that spot, look out. An Archie Bunker situation might arise. Meathead.

But what about at work or at a meeting of some sort? That’s where things can get interesting. 

According to Psychology Today, sitting in the end seat shows that you are the leader, or that you are in control, or that you are there to intimidate. Those are not shockers.

If you are in a middle seat, you may be sending a message that you are a part of the team, that you are approachable, or that you are there to collaborate. Makes sense to me.

Meanwhile, other positions may suggest meanings that are not as obvious. According to Wisestep, the most important tip is to be punctual so you can choose your seat. Then pick the spot with the best view, which means the “safest back area, best sight of windows, doors, other meeting attendees, projection or video screen.” The article also states that if you are trying to influence someone at the meeting, you should sit “where you can directly view each other and exchange eye contacts.”

The article continues by suggesting that you should avoid seats close to windows, as they may become a constant distraction and cause you to miss out on a significant point.

If all this seems like too much to remember, the writers suggests that you simply ask the host or the leader of the meeting where you should sit.

I had a boss who was particular about seating arrangements, especially at dinner meetings. He would have it all planned out in advance, being sure to connect the right people with each other.

Another boss was ingenious at picking out seats for himself at conferences or training sessions that were close to the exit doors. If the topics became boring, or if he became stuck with people he didn’t want to be around, he would be able to leave quickly and quietly. 

Bottom line, we can all accomplish more by choosing appropriate seats, and we can learn about others’ motivation by observing how they do, too.

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

As human beings, we tend to gravitate toward others who are similar to us. Similar backgrounds. Similar beliefs. Similar values. It’s natural, and it should not be condemned. Can we learn from others who are not like us? Absolutely, and we should. But, that doesn’t mean we should feel guilty or be judged negatively for choosing to spend our valuable time with those who are similar to us. 

Some call this elitism, selectionism, or even racism. I call it instinctive. And, it has nothing to do with the accent of a person’s voice, the origin of a person’s birth, or the color of a person’s skin. Or, at least it shouldn’t. But, if we are being honest, it does have a lot to do with a person’s age, income, education and interests. And, mostly, it has to do with having a common culture. 

I had a business partner many years ago who was smart, creative and talented, but we grew up much differently. He had never mowed a lawn before. Or shoveled a sidewalk. Or run a vacuum cleaner. We had vastly different perspectives on spending money and how to operate a business. The bottom line was that I needed the business to make money, and he didn’t. Needless to say, that relationship didn’t work out. Neither one of us were right or wrong, just different. 

When I meet new people, one of the first things I ask them is what their hometowns are. I can usually find some connection from there. When I lived in Nebraska, that was tougher to do, as I was an “outsider.” I had to find other things to connect with these folks on. Ultimately, I learned that if I wanted to fit in, I had to conform. So, I bought my family University of Nebraska shirts, and I started reading up on “Big Red” football so I could join in on the conversations. It worked. And, even though I had very little interest in Husker football, I enjoyed getting to know many wonderful people and learning about their other interests. 

So, what’s the message? Wanting to be around people like you is natural, but reaching out beyond your immediate circle is important, too. It doesn’t always work out as planned, but if you want to truly connect, you sometimes have to do something that isn’t so natural — conform. 

Have a terrific Tuesday, and, as always, thanks for reading. 

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

Are poll results news? Look at most any daily newspaper, and those editors clearly say yes.

Even so, some of us are beginning to wonder if the gathering of people’s opinions warrants news coverage at all. 

Don’t get me wrong. We do our own silly polls. You can find one on this newsletter. They are not scientific, or random, or meaningful in any real way — other than being entertaining, we hope. 

But, is it appropriate for the media to publish poll results that might sway public opinion?

Researchers have observed that people will frequently conform to a majority opinion, jumping on the bandwagon to be on the “winning team” of a leading candidate or a popular policy. But, for every study that shows how poll results may impact decisions, there is another showing that they won’t. 

Meanwhile, consider this. If you viewed poll results that said those who wear checkered shirts are 71% more likely to receive a job offer, or not get arrested, or win the lottery (or whatever impacts you), would you consider wearing more checkered shirts? Or, at least think about it the next time you went shopping or picked something out from your closet?

The most logical stuff I have read on this explained that polling itself is not the problem, but the reporting on the poll results is. Makes sense to me. After all, 53% of people surveyed say they refuse to participate in polls. 

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

Who came up with the 40-hour work week? And why?

According to a 2014 story from NBC News, eight-hour days “became rallying cries in the latter half of the 19th century, as workers in the building trades and similar industries marched together for better conditions.” The article also states that The Ford Motor Company “advanced the idea in 1914, when it scaled back from a 48-hour to a 40-hour workweek after founder Henry Ford believed that too many hours were bad for workers’ productivity.”

Work conditions are much improved thanks to the efforts of many in prior generations. Even so, a growing number of workers today think 40 hours on the clock per week is too much. A generation of workers are often criticized for not being willing to “put in the hours.”

The pandemic certainly didn’t help many employers with this dilemma. The idea of expecting employees to come to the office or work site on time and put in a full eight hours before heading home has seemingly become an idea of the past, at least for some.

With labor shortages aplenty, many some have given in to demands for reduced hours, more vacation and increased benefits because they don’t have a choice. Meanwhile, the companies that do this then often have greater expenses and less output, resulting in a decrease of profits and, ultimately, an increase in the consumers’ cost of the company’s products or services. In other words, inflation. This working-less approach is a vicious circle and one that we all seemingly end up paying for, one way or another.  

Meanwhile, the old adage that the road to success doesn’t have any short cuts will continue to prove to be true. It takes hard work. And 40 hours per week. 

Have a telling Tuesday, and, as always, thanks for reading. 

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

Are you a trusting person? Or do expect the worst from seemingly everyone? The answer to that question is most likely related to the last time you were hustled, who you were hustled by, and for how much. 

My father operated a gravel and excavation company, and like most small business owners, he needed to collect payment for services. I asked him if he ever got stiffed, and if so, what he did about it. His answer was simple. He said, “Hustle me once, shame on you. Hustle me twice, shame on me.” His choice of words were a bit different, but you get the idea. 

I have lived by those words. I am generally a trusting person, but I try not to make the same mistakes with the same people twice. If I do, I have nobody to blame but myself.

The unfortunate truth is that there are a lot of hustlers out there, and we most all can become easy prey in certain situations. When we do, we become less trusting of others. That’s a learned response, much like the reason we don’t put our hands on hot coals a second time. 

This might explain why the older that people are, the more cynical they seem to be. Maybe they have been burned more. Hustled more. Cheated more. Chalk it up to experience.

But, doesn’t everyone deserve a second chance? Maybe. That’s a roll of the dice and depends on how much of a gambler a person is.

Meanwhile, the world might be a better place if we could all be a bit more trusting — at least the first time. 

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.