I served as meeting planner, producer and presenter. Never Again! One role is enough.

As I should have been greeting arriving guests, I had all the little emergencies that naturally happen when trying to put on a show. The camera operators, sound technician and lighting technician were all very competent, but needed guidance about what I was trying to capture.

The MC got tied up in work, then in traffic and arrived just as the seminar was to start. In the rush I forgot to give him my carefully prepared introduction and he forgot to ask for it.

The three people in my skit arrived just as the seminar started.

The computer running the PowerPoint® presentations, which had worked flawlessly for the past three weeks decided to display the wrong information.

I was so busy with the urgent (the emergencies) that I ignored the important (greeting the guests).

After the seminar, I was busy talking with guests and could not get to the table where I had product to sell.

In the next quarter, I will be conducting another of these seminars at the same theater. I will hire someone more experienced than I as the meeting planner and producer so on the day of the event I can mingle with the guests. I will hire someone to staff the table to help customers purchase my product. My only responsibility will be to be a presenter.

I compiled a list of duties and required roles. You may divide the responsibilities differently or you may have other responsibilities, just ensure everyone know who is responsibility for each function.
Required Roles (each a different person)

Meeting planner: all aspects of the meeting including arranging suitable venue, contracts, releases, collecting fees, paying for venue, getting talent on site ahead of time.

Producer: all aspects of creating the video including lighting, sound, music, introductions, stage preparations, projectors and support equipment, arranging for testimonial, directing sound and lighting technicians.

Presenter: all aspects of the presentation including creating the presentation, visuals, skits, writing the introduction.

Presenter staff: support presenter including selling product.

But the productivity growth rate slowed and the companies started to feel pressure on their profits. In the 1950’s companies started to import cars to answer needs not addresses by the American manufactures (low cost: VW and Fiat; fun sports cars: Triumph, MG and Austin Healey; luxury: Bentley, Mercedes, Citroen, Rolls Royce). In the 1960’s entertainment products became a commodity and began selling based on cheaper price; and countries with lower wages could manufacture a TV set or tape recorder much cheaper than could the US. In 1966, Panasonic TVs sold for 1/3 the price of a Motorola TV and showed the same programs. Discount stores opened and buyers flocked to them in droves. The chain discount stores (Wal-mart is the more successful and most egregious) could shop all over the world for lower price and in most cases could dictate to the manufacturer how much they would pay. American companies could not continue to pay their workers the highest wages in the world and sell for less than other country so they had to move manufacturing to where the costs were lower. Employees in the manufacturing segment felt the pinch and shopped where their remaining dollars could go further.

With American consumers demand every lower prices, especially during economic downturns, the American manufacturer had little choice but to find places where manufacturing could be done for less.

Some companies saw that they could differentiate their products and keep a higher price. Examples in the automobile industry are Lincoln, Cadillac, Lexus and Ferrari. The profit on a Cadillac is higher than a Chevrolet, but the sales volume on Chevrolet is nine times greater than Cadillac (16,718 vs. 147,960 for December 2010). The demand and the profits are with the lower cost item.

So, in my humble opinion, the move to offshoring by the American companies is in answer to a demand by the American consumer.

In the 1950’s, Japan was a low cost manufacturer and increased their overseas sales. As the profits went up, the workers demanded higher wages and better benefits and received them. This drove up the cost of manufacturing, Japan lost their luster and the manufacturing moved to other countries. To keep costs down, Japanese companies have opened many plants in the US. (Toyota has plants in Mississippi, Kentucky, Texas, Indiana, Alabama and West Virginia; Honda Goldwing is manufactured in Marysville, Ohio; and Kawasaki is manufactured in Lincoln, Nebraska and Maryville, Missouri; plus many more examples).

As the costs in one country increase, manufacturers will move to new countries which will drive up the costs there and they will move again. Eventually, we will have a world economy where the cost of manufacturing will be similar throughout the world. This may take several generations. In the meantime, the countries with high standard of living will have to make a painful adjustment while the rest of the world catches up economically.

General Visas types:
Note: The country you are planning to visit may have additional Visa types or may have strict definitions of who can get each type of Visa.
Work Visa – you will be working as a native, probably paid by the company in the foreign country.
Business Visa – you will be visiting companies in the foreign country for the purpose of conducting business with them.
Tourist Visa – you will be visiting the country for the purpose of sightseeing or vacationing.
Family Visa – you will be visiting family members that live in the country.
Diplomat Visa – you are a member of the American government on official government business in the foreign country.
Student Visa – you will be going to school in the foreign country.

Duration of Visa:
Visas are valid for a fixed time from the time of issue. Some may be for six month, others for one year, five years or ten years. The maximum duration for a business Visa to China is six months, the maximum duration for a tourist Visa to China is one year.

Number of Entries:
Visas can be single entry or multiple entries. With a single entry Visa, you may enter the country only once. If you are on a one week trip and take a side trip out of the country, you may not reenter if you have a single entry Visa.

Multiple entry Visas allow more than one entry during the duration of the Visa.

Duration of Stay:
Some Visas have a duration of stay that is much shorter than the duration of the Visa. If you have a tourist Visa with a maximum duration of stay of 30 days and you wish to stay 90 days in the country, you will have to leave and come back before any stay of greater than 30 days.

Caution:
Do not make flight arrangements until you have your Visa!

I sent my passport to a Consulate in San Francisco for a Visa using United States Postal Service (USPS) Priority mail which they advertise as taking two days. In this case it took nine days. If I had already made travel arrangements, I could not have gotten my passport back in time. Never send your passport via USPS, use FedEx or UPS.

Me wife sent her passport to get a Visa only to find that the consulate was closed for 10 days for a holiday in the country she wished to visit. Embassies and Consulates usually close for the holidays of both the country they represent and their host country.

Second Passports:
It is possible, in rare circumstances, get a second passport.
1) To wish to visit a country that refuses to give you a Visa because of entries from certain other countries.
2) You need a passport for immediate travel because of delays in getting a travel Visa or some other foreign government process that required you to submit your passport. I believe an example of this could be that you are an American citizen in Brazil for a week. While there you plan to visit Argentina for a day. You are notified that you must travel to Togo, Africa, next week. If you submit your passport to the Togo Embassy or Consulate, you will not have it to travel to Argentina. A second passport could be sent for the Togo Visa while you continue to travel on your first passport.

Second passports are valid for a maximum of two years. The United States Passport agency is reluctant to issue a second passport; you may have to present a strong case to get one.

Visas are usually not much of a problem when traveling. Just be sure you research the countries you will be visiting and then request Visas early so if there is a problem you have time to rectify it.

Enjoy your travels.

Tap water in many countries is not safe for Americans to drink. It may contain bacteria, viruses, and parasites to which we have not developed a resistance.

Safe water

I have used tap water in the cities of USA, England, Ireland, Japan, Australia, Singapore, and Germany and never had a problem. If you have had similar safe experiences in countries other than where you grew up and those experiences are within the past ten years, please e-mail me at Hugh@HughCurley.com and I will add your countries.

Health Insurance

Before going to another country, verify your health insurance will cover your costs if you get sick or have an accident. If not, you may want to get additional coverage. Even with coverage, you will probably have to pay first (with cash) and get reimbursed later.

When I recently went to a Chinese hospital, they would take neither my Medicare health insurance, credit card or check.

Long term visit vs. short term

Some people argue that if you will be visiting a country for a longer period of time, it may make sense to drink the water the natives drink, get sick, become resistant to the pathogens, and enjoy the rest of your visit. This makes sense to me if you will be visiting the country for more than a few months. Trying to avoid the water can be a problem, and accidents will happen despite our best efforts.

If you are visiting for only one week, spending three days in the hospital takes a large part of your vacation or work time. Being careful seems to make more sense for a short visit.

What does “Don’t drink the water mean?”

Do not drink the water means also do not brush your teeth with the water. Do not ingest water while showering.

Also, remember that the food you eat was prepared with the water, the dishes the food was prepared in were cleaned with the water, the dishes the food is served in were washed with the water and the utensils you eat the food with were cleaned with the water.

The ingredients of your salad were probably washed in the local water.

When you get sick

If you discover you have digestive track discomforts (nausea, vomiting, fever, stomach cramps, diarrhea), get to a doctor or hospital immediately. Some times the problem will not go away without medical treatment.

When I realized I had diarrhea, I thought, “I have had this before and it is a nuisance.” I had work to do so I continued with my work. However, this was like no diarrhea I had before; about 20 minutes after eating, I got rid of all I had eaten. Within one week I was dehydrated and very weak having received no food value. Being run down, I contacted pneumonia and a fever of 103°F. It took about five weeks to recover.

Returning home

Returning to the US when the symptoms first strike may be an option, but it may also be unfair to you, to the cabin crew and to the other passengers. 1. The “Use seat belts” sign can be on for long durations prohibiting an emergency run to the lavatory. 2. The cabin crew probably cannot do anything for you if you get sicker or exhibit new symptoms. 3. While you have a fever, you are probably contagious. It is probably better to wait until: 1. the fever breaks and 2. the digestive track settles down.

There are many beautiful sites, both natural and man-made, and many lovely people in the various countries of the world. To be afraid to travel because of “the water” limits the wonders you can experience. Travel, just be careful.

Bon voyage

The tips below are based on my experience and meant to be a starting point for your own research. Where I list countries or money types, it is from my experience. If you have experience in other countries or with other currencies within the past ten years, please e-mail at Hugh@HughCurley.com and I will include your experiences.

Scene at one bank
Me: “I would like to use my credit card to get some local money.”
Bank Receptionist: “Do you have an account at this bank?”
Me: “No.”
Bank Receptionist: “I am sorry, we cannot help you.”

Scent at another bank
Me: “I would like to convert some US dollars to local money.”
Bank Receptionist: “Do you have an account at this bank?”
Me: “No.”
Bank Receptionist: “I am sorry, we cannot help you.”

One hotel I stayed at would give me local money and put it on the hotel bill, but only $25.00 per day.

One exception: The Bank of China will convert US Dollars to Chinese RMB and they did not charge me a fee. All you need is a passport and the US Dollars.

Short Term Stay

Upon Entering a Country

When entering a country, I use the money changer just outside of customs and immigration at the airport to change enough for the entire stay. I have found this is easiest and usually their rates are as fair as any. In some countries I have found it difficult to locate other places to change money.

One time when I knew I would be arriving in India about 1:00 a.m., long after the money changer closed. I changed my dollars for Indian Rupees at the Denver airport before I left.

You can usually change cash: US dollars, Canadian dollars, Japanese Yen and Euros are almost always accepted. In my experience, Indian Rupees are usually refused.

My experience with Traveler’s Checks from over ten years ago is that they were usually refused because so many have been counterfeited. The problem may have been corrected. Verify before buying Traveler’s Checks.

You can usually use your credit card to get the local money at the airport money changers; remember that the credit card companies view that as a cash advance and begin charging interest immediately. They also may add a foreign transaction fee. Frequently, the cash advance limit on the credit card is significantly lower than the credit limit. If you go to several countries and use this method, you may exceed your limit. It is my experience that the credit card companies get the best rates and it frequently is cheapest even with the interest and fees.

Also, before leaving your home country, notify your credit card companies what countries (with dates) you will be visiting. Unless you are a very frequent international traveler, they will probably balk at honoring a sudden request from overseas. I tried to get some money in Germany and my credit card company refused the transaction, called my wife in the US to verify I was in Germany, and then when I tried again, honored the request.

Also, if you have fraud detection on your credit card, you may have to notify them separately.

Getting More Money

There are times you may need more money that you got when you first entered the country. Most banks will not deal with you unless you have an account with them. For that reason, OPEN AN ACCOUNT IN THE USA with an international bank before going to the foreign country. My credit card is with Chase Bank, not common in Asia. HSBC is very common in Asia, so before travel to Asia, I may want to open an account with HSBC.

Transferring Money

On one trip to China, I needed several thousand dollars cash so asked my wife (in the USA) to transfer it to me. She was able to do that using Western Union.

Western Union said it takes about five to ten days to make a bank-to-bank transfer; a person-to-person transfer takes about one day.

The problem was that my wife and I are both on the checking account, but only I was on our two savings accounts. There was not enough money in the checking account and the bank would not let her transfer money out of the saving accounts to the checking account. She solved that problem by using my computer to make an online transfer. As soon as I returned home, we put her on the savings accounts also.

Bank Holidays

Plan ahead. Remember the time zone differences and be sure to transfer money before the weekend. Also, be aware of long bank holidays; Banks in China close for over one week for The Chinese New Year.

Long Term Stay

Several of us employees of an American company bid on an opportunity to work in Japan for one year. We would continue to be employed by our American company and paid in US dollars deposited into an American bank. When I heard that I was one of those selected and would be leaving in three months, I opened a bank account in a local bank (California) that was a subsidiary of a Japanese bank. When I arrived in Tokyo, I opened an account in the parent bank and was able to transfer funds quickly and easily during my stay.

Several of my peers who did not set up accounts in American banks that had a relationship with a Japanese bank had trouble transferring money for the entire year they were working in Japan.

Summary

I usually pay for my hotel with a credit card. If I rent a car, I pay a credit card. Other expenses can usually be covered with cash. Just be ready for the unexpected and do not get excited when it occurs – it will.

Jet lag is a bane to long distance travelers, but can be minimized or eliminated. Try these tips that I have learned from experience – having done both the wrong way and the way that works. I have made many long distance trips to Japan, China, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and Fiji as well as medium distance trips to Europe and have developed a these tips to help beat jet lag. Perhaps some of these tips will help you also.

1) Book your trips to arrive at your hotel between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Then after you check in, get to your room, make your safe arrival call, perhaps have a light dinner, it is time for bed. If you stayed awake on the plane, you will be ready for sleep and in the morning be refresh and ready for the day. On many trips to Japan, this worked because I departed San Francisco about 11 a.m., stayed awake for the trip and arrived at the Tokyo hotel about 6 p.m. ready for bed.

2) Several days before flying, start moving your sleep/wake cycle to the new time zone. I will try to catch naps during the night of the destination city and stay up during the day of the destination city. This works better sometimes than others, depending on what you have to do. Recently on a flight from Denver to Bangalore (India), I was adjusted but the first leg of the flight was canceled and I had to revert back to Denver time.

3) Definitely on the plane, keep your sleep/wake cycles in sync with the destination city. I flew from Hong Kong to San Francisco. Most other people slept most of the trip while I stayed awake watching movies and doing work on my laptop. When we landed in San Francisco at 8 p.m., I went to a hotel and slept while I imagine that most of those who slept on the plane stayed awake all night and then were tired the next day.

4) Eat light. On one trip to India, I was well adjusted even though I got to my hotel at 3:30 a.m. I got registered and slept until about 8 a.m. (I had gotten about 4 hours sleep on the plane just before arriving in India). For lunch, I ate too much and then went to my room to work. I got very tired and lay down for a short nap. My body thought this was night time so I went into a deep sleep for about two hours. When I woke up, I was so tired that after an hour I went back to sleep and got out of sync. It would have been better if I ate a light lunch and then exercised a little (a walk around the area, for example).

5) Drink lots of water for two reasons. First – The dry air on the airplanes will dehydrate you and the water will help keep your water balance more even. If you usually drink more than one cup of coffee or tea per day, cut back a little because the caffeine is a diuretic. Second – the trips to the lavatory will keep you blood flowing.

6) Use GoToWebinar, WebEx or one of their competitors and everyone can stay home.

If you have any tips on combating jet lag, other than the above, please post them here.

I hope this helps you enjoy your travel more.

Last week we found that the states get their power from the citizens of that state and I made the statement that the federal government did not get its power from the same source.

The federal government gets its power from the states.

The term “state” means sovereign or highest power. At the time the United States Constitution was being drawn up, each state was sovereign, answering to no higher authority except its citizens. (Note: this means no higher physical authority, the leaders at the time of the formation of our federal government were religious people who believed in a higher spiritual authority). No state at that time would voluntary surrender its sovereignty to form the larger government. However, each state realized that through cooperation, more could be gained than through inter-state bickering. The name for the new country, “United States,” is a tribute to the cooperation of the states while maintaining their sovereignty.

A similar development is occurring now in the formation of the European Community (EC). Each of the member countries is sovereign (a state) willing to surrender a part of its sovereignty for a greater good. The EC was formed primarily for economic benefits; it would be interesting to see where it goes in the next 200 years. This author pictures it following a similar path of the United States with a shifting of power from the States/Countries to the central government.

Articles and Sections of the U.S. Constitution that detail the relationship between the federal government and each of the states.
Article 1, Section 8 lists specific power of Congress:
Establish and maintain and arm and navy,
Establish post offices,
Create courts,
Regulate commerce between states,
Declare war and
Raise money.

Article 1, Section 9 prohibits Congress from:
Suspending habeas corpus,
Creating bills of attainder,
Passing ex post facto laws,
Passing laws giving preference to one state over another,
Taking money from the treasury except by duly passed law, and
Establishing titles of nobility (this applies to all branches of the government).

Article 1, Section 10 prohibits states from:
Making their own money,
Declaring war,
Doing things prohibited Congress in Section 9,
Taxing goods from other states
Having their own navies.

Article 4, Sections 1 and 2 provide “full faith and credit” to the laws of all other states.

Article 4, Section 4 states that the state derives its power from the people, guarantees that the federal government will protect the states against invasion.

Article 6 sets the Constitution and all laws and treaties of the United States to be the supreme law of the country.

The Constitution details the relationship between the states and the federal government, but did nothing to protect the rights of the individuals. Hence, before the states would ratify it, the original 10 amendments (Bill of Rights) were added. Amendments 1 through 9 are designed to protect individuals from abuses by the federal government.

Amendment 10 states that any power not granted to the federal government belongs to the states or to the people. “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” This amendment assured the states that the only powers they were surrendering were the powers listed in the Constitution. The states were to remain sovereign, except in the few powers they surrendered in the interest of cooperation with the other states.

The American Civil War tested the power of the states vs. the federal government when eleven southern states tried to secede from the United States. The federal government established its power that once becoming a member state, that state cannot withdraw.

In 1913, under Woodrow Wilson, the federal government wanted to pass an Income Tax but that was prohibited by the constitution. Any taxes collected by the federal government from the states had to be pro-rated based on population (Article 1 Section 8). (Note: there was an income tax to support the Civil War and in 1894 and 1895 but it was declared unconstitutional in 1895 (Pollock v. Farmers’ Loan and Trust Co.)). The top rate of taxing in 1913 was 6% for incomes above $500,000. This new source of income for the federal government allowed it to grow to its current massive size.

The gradual shift of power from the states to the federal government started during the Great Depression. States were unable to provide for their citizens and the federal government under Franklin D. Roosevelt stepped up to the task. Among actions on the part of the federal government were: 1) establishing welfare including social security and work groups, and 2) packing the Supreme Court with activist judges that greatly expanded many of the clauses giving much power to the federal government.

There are two movements now under way. The first is to replace the Constitution because it is out of touch with the current relationship of our state and federal governments. The second is to recognize that while the Constitution was our governing document, the United States became a world leader, and that we should revert back to that governance.

Question: Where does the state government get its authority to make laws, tax and punish (including incarceration and execution) its citizens?
Answer: From its citizens.
Inference: The citizens can take back that power when they believe the government is abusing its authority.

Note: this blog is about the powers claimed by the 50 individual states. Federal power comes from a very different source.

Note: this blog is to educate. If you read that the author is for or against anything, either you read in more than is written or the author inadvertently chose the wrong words and apologizes.

Consider long ago the individual with no social contact, wandering the earth in search of his next meal. He was bound by no government or social laws. Only those more powerful than our individual could incarcerate, tax, or execute him; in other words – a “might makes right” attitude.

As these individuals gathered in the form of tribes or towns for friendship, protection, sharing of workload, work specialization and other benevolent reasons, they needed guidelines to dictate behavior within the group. These guidelines, either oral traditions or written, were the early laws. To enforce the laws, an individual or a group was selected to interpret and enforce the laws. Frequently it had to be the strongest to handle the people who did not wish to submit to certain laws or any law.

Someone who did not want to submit to the will of those in charge could leave and try to find another tribe or town with more compatible laws. In the early day, laws would be created to resolve problems as they arose. In different regions or areas, different problems would come up and so laws were different.

As the tribe or town grew, projects for the common good became necessary. Converting a trail through town into a street needed to be completed by a central authority. Consider, if you will, what the street would be like if each individual had to build and maintain that portion that adjoined her property. This central authority needed money, so taxed each person who would benefit from the improvement. Other taxes could be to build a school, church or a town hall building. In these early days, taxes or their equivalent could be paid in money, product such as food or supplies, or work.

People would come together to discuss the laws and taxes and the penalty for violation. Because the tribe or town was small, the laws, taxes and penalty were personal and easily understood.

As town became cities, as transportation became faster, as communication became better we needed an overall government to administer for the greater good; hence the idea of states was born. In the United States of America, this refers to the original 13 states when the United States was formed, and it refers to the 50 states in the United States now. We could no longer have each town providing services and nothing between towns. The citizens of the states gave up their individual freedom for security, comfort, and to let others do what they could not do themselves.

The states created a set of laws dictating behavior in that state, a set of punishments for violation of those laws, roads to connect the cities, dams to control water flow within its boarder and militia for protection. As with the tribes or towns, the states acquired their power from the governed.

Before the Great Depression, the state government collected and used taxes to fund projects for the common good and protection of its citizens. During the Great Depression, many people in the states saw the devastated economic condition of many of their fellow citizens and following the lead of President Franklin D. Roosevelt implemented taxes to provide a safety net until the conditions improved. With these new taxes, the state took on the challenge of welfare. Should the state provide welfare for its citizens? The Russian Revolution of 1917 may answer that question. The citizens of Russia revolted against the Czars because they (the citizens) had nothing to lose and the Czars were rich. The citizens in states with welfare have the welfare to lose if they revolt; hence welfare may help keep the government stable.

As the towns became cities and the cities joined to become states, and the government of the state became more removed from the citizens and more powerful. As the tax rates became higher, and we get more and more laws in more complex language, the distance between the government the citizens initially created and the citizens themselves became much greater. Government and laws no longer seem personal as they once did. Our government now says, “Send us this amount of money or we will put you in jail.” The laws which we originally instituted to give us freedom have now mushroomed to become restrictive. The tax for welfare we originally instituted to help our neighbor has mushroomed to provide for ner-do-wells and generations of welfare families.

But, before you feel helpless and frustrated, before you complain, remember that the state in which you reside got its power to make laws, tax and punish from its citizens. The citizens can take back the power when they deem the state has exceeded its authority. The government we have today is the government a majority of the citizens of the state wants.

I have gone through the normal stages of life: being a child, being a parent and developing my career. Now, at 65 years old, I started slowing down for old age.

But about two months ago, I had an epiphany! I am not ready for old age; this is the first year of the second half of my life. I know a lot more now than I did the first year of the first half of my life. The more I thought about this, the happier and more energized I became.

First, as a child, I learned. Second, as a parent, I prepared the next generation. Third, as a career person, I contributed to the general good of society. Fourth, I am ready to help develop others so they can reach their maximum potential.

I see myself as fully active, helping others through speaking and coaching, and enjoying life as I pass the century mark. I see myself still riding a motorcycle and flying my private airplane. Why not? Cole Kugel legally and safely flew his Cessna 182 as pilot in command on his 99th birthday. So can I. So can you.

In the early 1900s people searching for a predictor of success settled on Intelligence Quotient or IQ. It seemed reasonable that more intelligence would: 1) open doors such as advanced education required for certain high prestige careers and 2) provide a means to figure out the secrets of success. Throughout the century, better tests and a wider variety of tests were created to more accurately predict success. The SAT was created to predict success in college, MSAT in management curriculum and LSAT in law school. Some tests were designed to differentiate between IQs of 70 and 80, others between 90 and 110 and others between 135 and 145. Each test had its special purpose, its supporters and its detractors.

But it became clear that while IQ was important, there were other factors that were perhaps even more important. Studies in the 1980s and 1990s showed that there was less than a 25% correlation between IQ and career success. We have all heard of taxi drivers with Ph.D.s and company presidents who cannot create coherent sentences. Stories abound that show wasted capability such as a person who scored very high on IQ tests, worked as a bouncer in a bar, parked his Harley motorcycle in his kitchen and read Greek and Latin classics in their original language.

We now know that there are many factors that affect success. The one I wish to focus on is emotional quotient (EQ). Today’s literature calls it “emotional intelligence” and abbreviates it “EQ.” For two reasons, I believe the term Emotional Quotient is more appropriate than Emotional Intelligence. First, the discussions center around the difference between intelligence (ability to reason) and emotion so I believe combining the terms emotional and intelligence may lead to confusion. Second, if we see emotional as an adjective and intelligence as a noun, it means a cognitive understanding of emotions, while the literature usually refers to the identifying, feeling and using emotions.

For example: In the past, we may have bought products based on the characteristic of the product. Today, with so many variations on products that can satisfy our need – frequently manufactured by the same company and packaged differently for different resellers – we have moved to relationship buying. We do not buy from someone we do not trust or like. We are much more likely to buy from someone we trust and like. Thus a person who has a high ability to recognize, identify and feel emotions in him/herself and others (high EQ) will become a more successful salesperson.

People with high EQ will have more friends and mentors in companies and thus advance faster than a person of equal (or perhaps greater) IQ.

Likewise, people with high EQ will be better liked and more appreciated in the community or in politics and be able to solicit more backers for their proposals.

Some careers require a high IQ just to get into the career. A study was done of 80 scientists with Ph.D. degrees and it was found that an IQ of about 120 was required to get into their program in college, but ten of fifteen more points of IQ did not predict their eventual success compared to others. Those with a higher EQ enjoyed more success. A conclusion from this study was that IQ set a floor or threshold for entry into the career, but that once that threshold was met, EQ determined the eventual success.

The benefit, if EQ a greater indicator of life success than IQ, is that EQ can be modified through a program of directed learning. Regardless of your IQ or current level of success, you can increase your EQ and thus increase your life success. You truly are the master of your destiny.