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  • MICHAEL LODGE, NCPM
  • MEDIATION SERVICES
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  • WEDDING OFFICIANT
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The Business Blog

IT'S TIME TO TALK PEACE BETWEEN UKRAINE, RUSSIA AND THE EU

2/20/2023

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Michael Lodge, NCPM: The question has been asked if there can be peace talks established between Ukraine and Russia?  I believe there can be but it has to be independent and the US must remain on the sidelines.  The US is on the verge of escalating the war of Ukraine - Russia, to involve the United States in a possible nuclear war.  Senator Lindsey Graham has led the fight for war in Ukraine with Russia.  US leaders have acted recklessly.  

At the moment, both Russian and Ukraine do not have anything to offer each other.  Especially since western nations have sent so much money and military support to keep a war going.  The United States seems to be hoping for war to destroy Putin, and that is a dangerous strategy to take.  It may not just involve Russia, but could also involve China as an ally of Russia. 

ENGAGEMENT:  We need a starting point and strategically prepare for talks and envision a structure for negotiations.  That means we need to begin engagement with both sides. The US has done nothing to encourage engagement, so we must now use an outside source that is independent from the war, a neutral party to begin the engagement.  A neutral head of state.  This means broadening a peace process beyond Russia-Ukraine negotiations to include a separate negotiation involving neutral parties.  We need to find out and address what needs to be put on the table from both Ukraine-Russia. In order for the peace process to be engaged it needs neutral mediators to engage.  If you are a neutral head of state, stand up and take on this role and put together a good team.

Keep the status of Ukrainian territories seized by Russia undetermined pending the completion of negotiations.  The US has done too much damage and can no longer be trusted in the peace process. (US Institute on Peace)

The US has created a threat of nuclear war and have threatened both Russia and China.  However, if there is an agreement for negotiations the US must remain silent and remain on the sidelines.

CONCESSIONS:  As in any war, the lengthening of the conflict, the losses on each side and the political entrenchment of belligerents’ demands can make it more difficult, or even politically dangerous, for leaders to make concessions. The better chance of winning concessions will come from a broad process that can address the many issues in dispute, including many that risk hardening in place a new Cold War. These will include nuclear arms control, cyber warfare. 

The US, on their own, must address 
Russia’s role in distant conflict zones, and mutual accusations by Russia and the West that each is interfering in the other’s political systems. (US Institute on Peace)

UKRAINE:  While Ukraine’s territorial integrity and status seem like the biggest obstacles to a peace deal, issues such as the investigation of war crimes, accountability for rebuilding Ukraine and Russia’s future role in the region may prove more difficult.  The first objective is to bring about engagement and the forward discussions on peace.

RUSSIA AND THE EU:  The EU must engage with Russia quickly.  

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Critically, the European Union and Russia will have to reset their relationship, which collapsed after Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea. Europe’s sanctions on Russia and divestment from dependency on Russian oil and gas pose long-term costs for both sides. Enticing Putin to offer concessions to Ukraine might be achieved by creating a broader zone for negotiating his complaints against Europe, the United States and NATO. The key to all three negotiations is to ensure that they include regional neighbors and that all sides see a chance to make political and economic gains at different tables while also creating disincentives for prolonging the war. The question is not whether to talk to the Russians or not, it’s what to talk to them about — and when. (US Institute on Peace)

MEDIATION:  Thus, to bring peace between Ukraine and Russia, we have to engage aggressively with independent parties to lead the peace process.  Bring in a team of independent mediators and build a peace transition team.  Remember, a mediator never manipulates parties to a specific outcome, but, instead, manipulates reactive parties towards a peaceful and fruitful conversation, that can lead to peace.  Mediation is an opportunity for each side to present their case, and to get disputing parties to get back to the negotiation table again.

UNITED NATIONS:  The United Nations has done nothing to keep peace between nations.  The primary, the fundamental, the essential purpose of the United Nations is to keep peace. Everything it does which helps prevent World War III is good. Everything which does not further that goal, either directly or indirectly, is at best superfluous (HCL).  Thus, in this case the United Nations, with Russia on the Security Council and a veto vote, is not the place to put our trust on peace talks.

​America should never have been involved in the war between two nations.  We have been warned about these types of disputes by former statesman.  "The United States is the world's best hope, but if you fetter her in the interests and quarrels of other nations, if you tangle her in the intrigues of Europe, you will destroy her power for good and endanger her very existence - Henry Cabot Lodge".

Let's talk peace.


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BIDEN AND CONGRESS NEED TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT SPENDING CUTS AND THE NATIONAL DEBT

2/16/2023

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BIDEN IS A SWING AND MISS BOXER - NEVER CONNECTING WITH INFLATION

2/15/2023

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CPI - INFLATION IS UP AGAIN AND AMERICANS ARE CASH POOR

2/14/2023

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FULL CPI REPORT:  ​https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm

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The Debt Ceiling and Spending - Out of Control

1/27/2023

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Biden and Congress Need To Immediately Negotiate On Spending and Debt Ceiling

1/26/2023

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Corporate Wokeness Has To End

1/25/2023

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The Ethical Work By Biden Is To Negotiate On The Debt Ceiling

1/20/2023

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World Economic Forum Is A Cancel Culture

1/19/2023

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Co-Parenting Can Be Peaceful

1/18/2023

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We Need MLK

1/17/2023

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Leaders Resolve Conflicts In Their Businesses

1/16/2023

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Know Your Business

1/13/2023

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Wokeness Can Lead To Bullying In The Workplace

1/12/2023

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Business Owners Plan - Constantly

1/11/2023

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Business Partners Need To Know What Their Roles Are

1/10/2023

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Hire A Business Advisor With Business Experience

1/10/2023

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A Majority In Congress, But No Leader

1/4/2023

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Michael Lodge, NCPM, CRTP - What happens in the next few hours in Congress will tell us if we have people on our sides, or people against us.  Currently what we have in Congress is a majority on the Republican side that can't even decide who will be the speaker of the house.  That creates a show of chaos as there is internal fighting going on.  What do we need in a speaker?

We need a republican that is as nasty and mean as Pelosi.  One who will fight back, argue well, lead well, and unite his majority.  Keven McCarthy I am afraid is not that person.  He has no back bone, he sounds and acts like a democrat with an "R" by his name.  If he becomes speaker we will not have unity in the GOP congress.  We should step away from those members of Congress from California and New York.  California is viewed as a liberal state, even if you claim you are a conservative republican.  There are no conservative in California or New York.  Or at lease until they prove themselves.  The best bet would be to elect a speaker that is from another state, a conservatives state, that will fight for conservative values.

In business, with a liberal congress , we have been hit hard with inflation from overspending and increasing taxes.  As of January 1, 2023 we have a lot of new taxes that will affect the inflation on living in the United States.  Heating our homes, gas, transportation, food has increased so much that Americans are now making those hard decision.  Do I keep my business open or do I close it.  Do I cut back on gasoline so I can feed my family.  Credit card debt is the highest in history because wages have not kept up with inflation, and nor can it.

What happens in the choice of speaker makes a big difference on what happens going forward.  The republicans have a lot of work to do, no more chit chat, it means getting to work.  But to do that, you need a strong leader.
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It's A Tough Business Life in 2023

1/3/2023

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IT'S A TOUGH BUSINESS LIFE: I sat down with a healthcare client via zoom, who is in California, the other day and heard a voice that sounded like he was about to lose everything he had worked for. Skilled nursing facility that he had a contract with is going to cut him out of a contract and bring in their own team of PT's. When SNFS are hurting they sell and in comes new management with new teams. So we sat down and planned what he needed to do to survive and to have to bring in other sources of revenue. We are seeing this more and more as the pandemic and a chaotic recession hits businesses. There are options. We as business advisors need to explore those options with our clients. If you are in California, own a hospital or skilled nursing facility, and need a group to handle your PT, PTA, OT, OTA, Speech needs, let me know.

​I have a client that does what you need. Send me an email at: 
thebusinessadvisor@zmail.com
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Business Leadership Never Goes Woke!

12/21/2022

 
Michael Lodge, NCPM, CRTP - over the past few months we have had a good example of what not to do in business by reading and understanding what went wrong in Twitter.  Leadership was ignored as they adopted a "woke", "cancel culture political" environment.  Twitter employees goal was to use their power to destroy others, and the real business side of Twitter was kicked to the side and forgotten. 

We have leaned that when businesses become woke they create conflict within their companies and externally with vendors and the public at large.  Conflict costs money and wasted time of employees.  They don't know who to turn to, who to trust, and time is gone because they don't know what to do.  So from being an excellent employee they become the employee who does nothing.  Positive voices and action become silent and the woke environment takes over.  Good leaders are afraid to step in when they are needed most.  They become afraid and stop leading.

Woke is not ethical.  Woke is not productive.  Woke never makes money for the company.  Woke never creates new ideas.  Woke creates failure for a business to be a business.  Let's look at some of the leadership qualities that is needed to LEAD.
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    Michael Lodge is a Nationally Certified Professional Mediator specializing in business disputes, as well as family conflicts.  He has written three books and hosts an international podcast on IHeartRadio and other podcast media stations.

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  • HOME
  • MICHAEL LODGE, NCPM
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