tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post1870713583368653589..comments2023-05-28T11:33:45.579-04:00Comments on Who Will Lead?: Movin' on Up! How George Jefferson SucceededWho Will Lead?http://www.blogger.com/profile/03743247788371223606noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-2877618005688463362014-03-15T15:44:42.616-04:002014-03-15T15:44:42.616-04:00Jason G. Ramage, MS, MBA, RBP
Senior Project Manag...Jason G. Ramage, MS, MBA, RBP<br />Senior Project Manager at BAI Inc - Meeting Client Challenges with Vision and Innovation<br />Top Contributor<br /><br />One of Malcolm Gladwell's books (Outliers) touched on that point Paul. If you haven't read it, I recommend it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-64010840448772444902014-03-15T15:44:16.828-04:002014-03-15T15:44:16.828-04:00Paul Byrne
President - Razoyo
I'm with you, J...Paul Byrne<br />President - Razoyo<br /><br />I'm with you, John. I do believe that we overstate the importance of individual effort and understate the role of luck (sometimes called randomness, though it isn't random at all, it is really just unforeseeable). <br />Hard work and good choices can lead to success, but, so can good luck (like not being born in Somalia, or, meeting the right people). There are plenty examples of people who work hard and are not successful, just as there are plenty of people who don't work so hard and make bad choices, but received their success with luck. <br />That is the problem with fiction, especially TV. Hard work is almost always rewarded with success when, it is not always the case. <br />I'm with you on the other arguments, though, especially minimum wage.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-63357375211880371792014-03-14T15:34:34.721-04:002014-03-14T15:34:34.721-04:00@Paul. I had to chuckle at your last sentence beca...@Paul. I had to chuckle at your last sentence because, as I was reading your comment, I was wondering if you were going to lighten up. :)) <br /><br />That said, you make a good point or two. I contend that The Jeffersons creates "the universe" in which I was trying to make a point about social mobility. Most people cannot succeed as entrepreneurs. George Jefferson succeeded in his fictional universe because he worked hard and made good choices. <br /><br />There are elements within our government -- specifically, the President and his party -- who are attempting to link a raise in the minimum wage. I don't accept their argument and I have used the "fictional universe" of The Jeffersons as a device to make my point.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06450950497954468546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-23588184842684433162014-03-14T15:34:10.087-04:002014-03-14T15:34:10.087-04:00Paul Byrne
President - Razoyo
I agree we can lear...Paul Byrne<br />President - Razoyo<br /><br />I agree we can learn from fiction, but, only in the sense of moral and human truth on a broader scale. While there are some fictional works that also provide practical instruction because the author is an authority on the subject (see The Goal : http://www.amazon.com/The-Goal-Process-Ongoing-Improvement/dp/0884270610), the Jeffersons wouldn't fall into that category. <br />The concern is that when an author creates a universe, everything works the way they want it to work, not necessarily the way is does in reality. A great example of this are the Horatio Alger rags-to-riches stories. Things worked out for his characters, but, because he created the universe they were in. <br />The value of fiction is that it can help us examine our own lives, behaviours, and relationships in a different light, but, we shouldn't expect things to work like they do on TV. I'm amazed how many people actually do expect that, though. <br />I hope you don't feel I'm backing out on my lightening up promise... this is light for me! ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-62880059500632008692014-03-14T09:40:59.018-04:002014-03-14T09:40:59.018-04:00Jason G. Ramage, MS, MBA, RBP
Senior Project Manag...Jason G. Ramage, MS, MBA, RBP<br />Senior Project Manager at BAI Inc - Meeting Client Challenges with Vision and Innovation<br />Top Contributor<br /><br />Would you not agree there are useful fictions? John Grisham writes fiction, and nobody is ever going to confuse his works with 1984, but that doesn't mean there isn't something to be learned from them. <br /><br />I could list book after book after book if you would like to argue why each is "not a valid comparison" for some reason or another. <br /><br />The Jeffersons aired in the 70s, a time when segregation and Jim Crow laws weren't all that distant a memory for some. And here's a show that depicts a black man who, through hard work and perseverance, made a success of himself. Perhaps that is just someone many people wanted, or needed, to see on TV. Is that really such a bad thing?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-45658687354201972052014-03-14T09:40:35.999-04:002014-03-14T09:40:35.999-04:00Paul Byrne
President - Razoyo
You're right. I...Paul Byrne<br />President - Razoyo<br /><br />You're right. I'll lighten up. Good advice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-28701475793334656302014-03-14T09:40:06.577-04:002014-03-14T09:40:06.577-04:00Jason G. Ramage, MS, MBA, RBP
Senior Project Manag...Jason G. Ramage, MS, MBA, RBP<br />Senior Project Manager at BAI Inc - Meeting Client Challenges with Vision and Innovation<br />Top Contributor<br /><br />Lighten up Paul. Nobody is telling you you should go run your life based on a TV show from the 70s.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-63262017071411207212014-03-13T17:23:09.258-04:002014-03-13T17:23:09.258-04:00@Paul. The use of George Jefferson as a narrative ...@Paul. The use of George Jefferson as a narrative device was simply a way of creating a context for the central theme of the post. I would love to get your comments on: the factors contributing to social mobility, the methods by which we can improve family stability and local schools or the research cited in the post. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06450950497954468546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-10474501099168473202014-03-13T17:21:02.696-04:002014-03-13T17:21:02.696-04:00While we can derive truth from fiction, the articl...While we can derive truth from fiction, the article discusses how George Jefferson succeeded at business which was neither germane to the plot of the show, nor was it real. He did not have a successful, business. We don't know if any of the writers had any clue about running a successful business. It was just assumed in the plot of the show that he was. <br />Comparing that to Orwell's 1984, which was a deep thought experiment instead of a setting for unending comic relief, seems like a stretch to me. In any case, there are many things we cannot learn from 1984, like, how to run a successful political campaign or how to structure an oppressive bureaucracy. <br />The effectiveness of those mechanism were part of the universe created by the author to enhance the story and move it along. There was no requirement that they be real, realistic or even fathomable. <br />Successful art helps us reflect or amuses us, it doesn't teach us how things actually work.<br />Paul Byrne<br />President - RazoyoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-5463606596028933272014-03-13T14:41:33.445-04:002014-03-13T14:41:33.445-04:00And 1984 was a fictional novel, but it doesn't...And 1984 was a fictional novel, but it doesn't mean we can't see truths in it.<br />Jason G. Ramage, MS, MBA, RBP<br />Senior Project Manager at BAI Inc - Meeting Client Challenges with Vision and Innovation<br />Top ContributorAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-34015362572199989422014-03-13T14:40:54.176-04:002014-03-13T14:40:54.176-04:00Paul Byrne
Uh... do I have to remind everyone tha...Paul Byrne<br /><br />Uh... do I have to remind everyone that George Jefferson was a fictional character?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-42119420548834853142014-03-11T12:48:26.349-04:002014-03-11T12:48:26.349-04:00Brilliant, John. Your best ever. Can’t wait to hea...Brilliant, John. Your best ever. Can’t wait to hear about the controversial push back you get from readers.<br /> <br />David AltshulerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-13840145601599425002014-03-11T11:53:57.162-04:002014-03-11T11:53:57.162-04:00As I read Who Will Lead? I feel like I am on journ...As I read Who Will Lead? I feel like I am on journey where the ultimate destination is unknown to me. I look forward to reading future issues and following the turns in the road they will bring. If I had to guess, I would guess we will never reach a destination as you continue to refer to your road map and select yet another course. It will be interesting!<br /> <br />EdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-16967712244658933312014-03-11T11:50:02.533-04:002014-03-11T11:50:02.533-04:00Larry Litowitz I knew I should have changed my nam...Larry Litowitz I knew I should have changed my name to Katz! Basically these studies confirm the analysis done in the Bell Curve that came out in the early 90's where you start in life is generally where you will end up. What is interesting is if you remember the Amos and Andy show it showed everyone working and trying to get ahead. It was taken off the air because of controversy surrounding bad stereotypes being portrayed. What is wrong with portrayal of people working and trying to get ahead in life. Much better than gangbanger movies.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com