Let's talk MILLIONS, BILLIONS and TRILLIONS

Which is greater $1 trillion or $990 billion?

Ok, most of you reading this blog know that $1 trillion is $10 billion dollars more than $990 billion. But, which number LOOKS bigger when it's spelled out like that?!?

When most people hear millions, billions, trillions, their eyes glaze over. Those numbers are really too big for most people to think about. So, I was thinking... how can we help others to understand?

Here are some options I came up with to resolve these issues and allow the American people to be truly educated and informed:

1. I think news media should be required to spell it out. When the government talks about a $1 trillion dollar deficit, they should be required to write out $1,000,000,000,000.00 so that people can see all the zeros. So, now when you say that you are cutting $56 million from the $1 trillion dollar deficit it would look like this:

   1,000,000,000,000

   - _____56,000,000

   999,944,000,000

2. Or, the government budget offices should be required to use analogies so that the common folk could understand and see it as it is... their money. In the above example, they could have us imagine that we were making $50,000 per year and the drastic cuts that the government is talking about would amount to you cutting $0.30 from your spending... or a person making $100,000 scraping together a way of saving $0.60.

Well, I don't think the government or media will be honest with us. So how about each of you doing your part? When numbers come out from Congress or the White House, let's all try to break it down to numbers that we can wrap our heads around.

If you're a visual person, check out this short YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWt8hTayupE.

Change & Beliefs

Every day I have the opportunity to meet someone new. Lately I have met so many terrific people. I am constantly amazed and excited to see the seeds of greatness within them. Their potential is so evident not just to me but to all who know them... "All" usually meaning everyone but them.

For example, someone I know very well once believed that she wasn't a good speaker / presenter. For decades, she dreaded any situation that involved standing in front of even 5 people and talking. It was a deeply held belief which was totally and only supported by her thoughts and emotions. There was no real empirical evidence to support this belief. In fact, to others she was a fantastic speaker.

Today if you check out her LinkedIn profile you'll see over 50 recommendations for her speaking abilities alone. Statements like: "Traci is a dynamic and engaging speaker / presenter..." and "Traci's presentation at the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) in Houston was the highlight of their 2008 EXPO. She established rapport and gained immediate credibility with her humor and in-depth knowledge of her subject. We were educated and entertained! What else can you ask for?"

Ok, yes, that person I know very well is me. You wouldn't know it now, but my beliefs were my beliefs and no matter what others said, I didn't believe them. No one could convince me to change my beliefs except for ME. But how do you convince yourself to do that?

Do you ever question your beliefs?

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Six Ways to Boost Brainpower: Scientific American

Six Ways to Boost Brainpower: Scientific American

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