In our 2007 book , Contented Cows MOOve Faster, we included a chapter on the vital role a leader plays in communicating with his/her troops, and transmitting real world reality back up the line. We noted that, despite all the information transmission modes and methods now available to us (think Crackberry, podcasts, blast email, conference calls, et. al.) we do a poorer job of communicating, as in making meaning, than ever.

It’s not that we don’t use the available devices, in fact, quite the opposite. As the result of all the pitches, directives, updates, and FYI’s being constantly beamed about, most of us go thru the day feeling as though our lips are permanently fused to an informational fire hose. While the “word” may be getting out, it is impossible for the human mind to deal with all that stuff.

There are additional unintended consequences to this situation. The frantic effort to deal with the constant barrage of data simply wears people out. Working your way through a hundred or more emails (probably ten of which are worthwhile), realizing that more are simultaneously arriving over the transom is tedious and tiresome, not to mention a bit depressing. Exchanging voicemail messages nonstop via cell phone while driving across town to meetings is equally exhausting, and dangerous.

The jobless rate in Georgia leaped last month to the highest level it has reached in May since 1993.

The official rate rose from 5.3 percent in April to 5.8 percent in May, paralleling the large leap taken by the national unemployment rate.

“Georgia’s May unemployment report confirms that we are facing an increasingly difficult economic environment,” said Michael Thurmond, state labor commissioner.

Higher unemployment rates often mean that the labor market has weakened. However, economists consider the rate to be a lagging and somewhat inexact indicator.

A slowing economy typically does not immediately shove jobless rates much higher. On the other hand, an improving economy is often accompanied by rising rates as more people seek work.

Critics often argue that the official jobless rate understates problems. It does not include people who are out of work and have not been looking for a job. And it does not include ]]>Heraclitus, Change Management, and Innovationhttp://www.thedailyrecruiter.com/the-daily-recruiter-blog/heraclitus-change-management-and-innovation.htmlPhilip Aust, Ph.D.2008-06-20T19:12:16ZFor Your InformationThe Tipping Point: Energy forecasters predict $12 to $15 for a gallon of gashttp://www.thedailyrecruiter.com/the-daily-recruiter-blog/the-tipping-point-energy-forecasters-predict-12-to-15-for-a.htmlThe SearchLogix Group2008-06-10T21:19:27ZEnergy & Fuelby Dawn Turner

Senior Energy Advisor, Robert Hirsch recently told CNBC that the today’s gas prices will soon be referred to as “the good old days”. He, and other energy watchers, are predicting that the price of a gallon of gas could rise as high as $12 to $15 a and there is no solution in sight. Energy forecasters further predict that once gas prices reach those levels, gas rationing will need to begin. Don’t think it could happen? It did in the 70s. Yes, the 1970s, just a few decades ago. During that time OAPEC decided to penalize countries, namely the U.S., Japan, and Western Europe, because they were supporting Israel during the Yom Kippur War.

After the OAPEC embargo took effect in the 1970s, consumers in the U.S. bought gas when the government “said they could”. If your car’s license plate ended in an odd number, you were allowed to buy gas on odd numbered days. If your license plate ended in an even number, you were allowed to buy gas on even numbered days. Sounds pretty easy, doesn’t it? Well, it was, if your local service station had gas that is. It wasn’t unusual to drive up to a service stations and see a “No Gas” or an “Out of Gas” signs. The U.S. government never implemented gas rationing coupons, although they had printed during 1974 and 1975, in anticipation of a prolonged gas shortage.

The recent news about fuel prices, may be the kind of scenario that Malcolm Gladwell was referring to in his book called”The Tipping Point”. The premise of his book is that “little things can make a big difference”. The tripling of gas prices, that experts are predicting, will undoubtedly change life for all of us in a very, very big way.

“We live in a world where there is only about 1.2% more oil available each year, not enough to keep up with 1.5% annual demand growth.”- Charles T. Maxwell, senior energy analyst at Weeden & Co., known as the “dean of energy analysts.”

Imagine for one moment,