In extending the offer, Craig related that he and his colleagues would like to add executive coaching to their service offerings. So, Barbara, Claudia McIntyre & I could continue to serve you and also help DG jump start their executive coaching practice. He also felt that some of his colleagues may be interested in having a mentor.

It is so hard to believe that Doescher Advisors is in its 14th year. We are not getting any younger, but we had not been able to come up with a succession plan. His offer could not have come at a better time. He said that we could be involved for as long as we would like to stay active advising clients.

We have sought counsel from several close advisors who are all enthusiastic about this opportunity. Therefore, we are excited to announce our plans to join forces with DG starting August 1, 2025. We will now be able to serve you indefinitely with expanded resources; and remain exclusively focused on you and your future success in the usual confidential manner.

Barbara, Claudia & I are very excited and blessed by this development which facilitates our opportunity to continue to serve clients.

Our next blog post will come from Doescher Group.

In addition to providing fact-based information about the Russian/Ukraine War, the book also discusses other important, related subjects. I told Horton at the end of the evening that, after reading his book, I was both depressed and angry. Below, I summarize some of the book’s key subjects. Please be aware that this is not intended to support any one political party; I consider myself to be an independent.

1. In Dwight D. Eisenhower’s last public comments as president, he said: “This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence — economic, political, even spiritual — is felt in every city, every State house, every office of the Federal government. In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.”

2. It’s interesting that a 5-Star General and war hero offered this warning as he left office.

3. The history that led to the current war in Ukraine began in 1989; according to “Provoked,” the war was predictable and wasn’t a surprise to those who understand the history.

4. You need to have a good, current, detailed map to understand this conflict.

5. According to Horton, Presidents George H. W. Bush, Clinton, George W. Bush, and Obama officially made promises to the Russian leaders that were later broken. I haven’t talked with any of the presidents, but I’m assuming they believed the “end justifies the means.” In my seven decades of life, I’ve found the end never justifies illegal, untruthful, or selfish actions.

6. These promises had to do with not recruiting countries that were formerly part of the USSR into NATO, due to the security risk to Russia. Horton uses the analogy that if Russia controlled Mexico, it would be a similar threat to the U.S.

7. Horton suggests that today, the military-industrial complex includes military contractors — but it also includes funding for certain university professors/researchers, think tanks, multiple not-for-profits, mainline media, lobbyists, and social media/tech businesses. All of them benefit from wars.

8. I think many of these organizations have been identified by Elon Musk/DOGE. For example, USAID has been targeted. I have my own personal USAID story that would support the recent findings.

9. Without judging the motives of U.S. government leaders over my lifetime, it seems that many believe we (the U.S.) should govern/control/influence all countries.

10. It also seems that some U.S. government leaders believe all countries should have democratic governments. As noble as their wish sounds, after spending significant time in a lot of different countries, many of which are developing nations in Africa, Central & South America, and Eastern Asia, I don’t believe that’s possible, based on their tribal histories, corruption, and decades of illegal behaviors by governments and businesses alike.

11. Based on the U.S. government’s actions over the past several decades, it seems that we do what is best for us.

12. Often, we align ourselves with leaders we can control, even though they may not be the best choice for the citizens of their country.

13. Sadly, Horton cites numerous cases where the CIA and FBI have stepped over the line and partnered with unsavory individuals to achieve their goals. Again, I think that recently, we’ve been officially finding out about these activities, including through the recent release of the JFK Assassination files.

14. For most of my business career, I would have said that I’m pro-capitalism and pro-small government. Horton and others have introduced me to the phrase “Crony Capitalism,” which is when certain laws are passed or regulations are developed by the government that benefit only a few and penalize the rest of us. I believe that “Provoked” puts a magnifying glass on this subject.

15. Horton reminds us that many, if not most, countries’ boundaries have changed over the years and they have long, complex histories over centuries. Often, outsiders like us don’t know or understand the history of the tribes and indigenous people.

MY AWAKENING: In 1998, I went on my first mission trip to Leon, Nicaragua. The people were very warm and friendly toward us, but I noticed graffiti painted on many building walls that clearly were protests of the U.S. So I asked the missionary, who happened to be an American, about them. He explained that for generations, the U.S. government was happy with the longtime dictator family governing Nicaragua. Eventually, the U.S. decided the family was no longer best for us (i.e., they were getting too close to the Russians), so the CIA conducted a coup and installed a new “democratic” leader. Ten years later, the U.S. government decided this leader was becoming too cozy with the Russians, so they attempted to oust him. You may have heard about Ollie North and the Contra-Sandinistas. The leader that we installed originally is still president. Is it a true democracy? Is he a good guy? Who knows.

16. I would like to reiterate that the U.S. often utilizes known criminals/bad guys to achieve its goals. If you lived in the country that was being impacted, how would you feel about the U.S.?

17. Several years ago, I read a book written by Rabbi Sacks, who coined the phrased “Pathological Dualism.” He would say (this is my translation) it describes instances where you disagree with someone, which is OK, but then you step over the line and demonize them. I believe that, at times, our leaders demonize other leaders.

ANOTHER AWAKENING: In 2008, my wife and I took our adopted Vietnamese son back to his home country. While there, we visited the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where the Vietnamese politician’s embalmed body is displayed under glass and open to the public to view. Clearly, in my mind, Ho Chi Minh was an evil person whom we were fighting to eliminate. The war ended in 1975 but, 33 years later, hundreds of Vietnamese citizens were patiently waiting in long lines to view his body and pay their respects to their “hero.” What do we know?

As I mentioned at the beginning, the book “Provoked” left me feeling depressed and angry. I feel like I have been lied to my whole life. I drank the Kool-Aid. I’m embarrassed to say that I was proud when President George W. Bush invaded Iraq to eliminate Saddam Hussein. Me, of all people! I lived through and lost friends in the Vietnam debacle!

If any of these comments strike a chord with you, I would highly recommend “Provoked.” Horton is a great writer and provides lots of details — and, as I already mentioned, he includes more than 6,000 footnote references.

P.S. Just for the record, I served six years in the U.S. Army Reserves and, in spite of its flaws/failures, I’m glad that I live in the United States.

During the past year, while attending a Plante Moran retirement reception, I spoke with Terri Pollock, a retired partner with a distinguished career who served on the Firm Management Team and as Auburn Hills Office Managing Partner. We probably hadn’t seen each other since Dan’s funeral.

After exchanging pleasantries, Terri said, “I don’t know if I’ve ever told you this; the job your brother did, as team supervisor to Jason Drake, was some of the best mentoring I have ever seen in all my years at the firm. It was extraordinary. Dan saw that Jason had unique talents beyond his accounting/audit role and how Jason really shined as a business advisor to internationally active clients. Dan ensured that Jason’s assignments were concentrated in that area where he flourished the most. Dan also passionately praised Jason’s skills to other Firm leaders, which paved the way for others to take notice and mentor Jason following Dan’s retirement.”

Terri’s comment was wonderful to hear, but it had even greater significance since it had recently been announced that effective July 1, 2024, 44-year-old Jason Drake would assume the role of managing partner at Plante Moran. Later, I heard directly from Jason, who told me that he credited Dan with his election, and he dedicated the honor to my brother.

Dan, thank you.

Dan’s Life Goal

Aspire to: Be a meek, trustworthy, humble man of integrity, full of gratitude expressed through generosity.

While that seems logical, it’s something many people find hard to accept and implement. One of the reasons for that is that we can get caught in a binary trap, and our thinking becomes stuck between two things: Keep doing what we’re doing, the way we’ve always done it, or drop the activity in question altogether.

But ratcheting down isn’t an either/or. Rather, it’s doing a little less — in all areas of our life — a bit at a time. Hence, we’re “ratcheting down” and adapting, not dumping the activities we’ve enjoyed doing.

This concept may especially be helpful for those of us who are baby boomers, although I believe it applies in a slightly different way — and could be equally useful — for those of you who are still youngsters. (Especially those with a Type A/Take the Mountain personality.) I’ve written a little about this in my book, “The Last Life Marathon,” where I highlight my transition from Plante Moran to Doescher Advisors. Along the way, I’ve discovered that the truth is this: More isn’t always better.

For those of us who are baby boomers, it’s important to accept the fact that our energy level diminishes with time. We just can’t do what we used to be able to do. To remain healthy, we need to accept that and learn to say “no” more often. Equally important is the ability to learn to do less of a certain thing. In other words, we need to learn to rachet down.

If you’re still counted among the younger folk, it helps to realize that you’re in the “Perfect Storm” of life — you’re likely to be married, you have young children who require a lot of your time, you have more responsibility at work or you’re building your own business, your spouse is assuming more responsibility at work or building their own business, you’re trying to maintain a certain level of fitness, and you’re answering leadership requests at church or your club. I think you get the point.

Time is a fixed commodity, and each of us only gets 24 hours a day. My advice is to invest in those hours wisely, and try ratcheting it down a notch or two. Just because you may be approaching the Fourth Quarter of your game, there’s no reason to completely give up on the things that bring you joy.

When I got to page 144, the author provided some really great support for seeking out mentors:

1. The term “mentor” comes from Homer’s epic “The Odyssey.” Before Ulysses went on a long journey, he chose a wise friend whose name was Mentor to guard, guide, and teach him. (Editor’s note: I didn’t know that!)
2. The author references a 22-year study that showed that 84 percent of those with mentors said they adopted at least some of the characteristics of their mentor.
3. According to the study, 87 percent of young adults expressed “positive” or “very positive” feelings about their mentors.
4. Although mentors are generally seen as temporary, the study indicated that 52 percent of the respondents reported that the relationship continued. As I’ve mentioned in the past, my mentor, Ken Kunkel, has advised me — and continues to do so — since 1970 (almost 55 years!).

Things a good mentor can teach you:

1. To take calculated risks.
2. To focus on your strengths.
3. To not worry about what others may think.
4. To follow your dreams.
5. To avoid wasting time (this is a big subject).
6. To become a giver.

In the past, I’ve mentioned a counselor who told me I have many mentors because I’m open to input. She went on to explain that many people aren’t like that.

So I ask: Are you open to input, even if it may hurt? If the answer is yes, I recommend seeking out a mentor or two.

For some time, ITR has been predicting the “Great Depression of 2030.” The Beaulieus believe there are demographic trends that are dominant and will cause significant financial distress for the United States. These trends include:

• Aging Population — We are an aging nation. In 2020, the U.S. population was 337 million; individuals aged 65 and older made up 55 million, or 16 percent, of the total population. The forecasted 2030 population is 365 million, and it is expected that 72 million baby boomers will account for 20 percent of that population
• Government Debt — The U.S. has a serious cumulative outstanding debt issue. In 2014, the debt exceeded the GDP, and the U.S. is the second highest-ranking debtor nation of all major countries. (Editorial comment: The U.S. debt increased significantly during and after the Covid pandemic. As of November 26, 2024, the U.S. national debt was $36 trillion. This is the total amount of outstanding borrowing by the U.S. federal government over the country’s history.)
• Social Security and Medicare payments account for 21 percent of the U.S. annual budget. In 2023, the federal government spent $1.35 trillion on Social Security, which is the largest single item in the federal budget. As of the end of 2023, the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASI) trust fund reserves were $2.6 billion. This was a net change of -$70.4 billion from 2022. In other words, it is bankrupt. 

In my November 11, 2024, post, I mentioned the Masters Forum, an executive development program. One of our presenters was Lester Thurow, the famous MIT economist. He was a fabulous speaker and was able to really connect with his audience. I’ve always remembered his answer to the question “How do you predict the future?” His answer was, “I don’t predict the future. I study current existing trends, determine if they will continue, and then mathematically calculate the impact 10, 20, and 30 years from now.” That’s exactly what ITR does.

Based on the Beaulieus’ book, they are very data-driven and compare many different very well-known and highly-quoted forecasts to the actual results. Shockingly, many of these forecasts aren’t very accurate, but they continue to be quoted in financial publications and the media.

Candidly, the book was a struggle for me due to the volume of data, but in light of the endorsements from my clients and their trade associations, I would recommend that, at a minimum, you visit Brian and Alan Beaulieu’s website and at least become aware that a very contrarian economic/financial prediction exists. 2030s Great Depression – ITR Economics

According to an old Chinese proverb, “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.” Similarly, St. Francis of Assisi professed that it is in giving that we receive. Leo Tolstoy observed that the sole meaning of life is to serve humanity. Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” Robert Louis Stevenson noted, “You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving.”

The value of giving ourselves — our time, talents, and money — isn’t just a nice proverb or a word of encouragement from a well-known figure. Research tells us that giving is a powerful means to personal growth and happiness. MRI technology has shown that giving activates the same parts of the brain that are stimulated by food and sex. The research indicates that when we help someone who is in need, we ourselves experience deep pleasure. Not to mention the fact that countless psychological tests reveal that the more generous a person is, the healthier and more productive they are.

So, if you’re setting goals for 2025, I would encourage you to contemplate this advice from TWAU and see what happens when you focus on “others.”

Other Books Published

The Last Life Marathon — Sage ADVICE from the LUCKY GUY Series

This book chronicles the transition my wife, Barbara, and I made when I left Plante Moran and we moved from Bloomfield Hills to Flint, where we started our own company: Doescher Advisors.
Buy on Amazon

My Journey to Discover the History About Black Racial Injustice in America — Sage ADVICE from the LUCKY GUY Series

In this book I chronicle my epiphany related to the treatment of Black Americans, which has led to our activities in our new hometown of Flint.
Buy on Amazon

Mentoring Books

As my readers know, throughout my life I’ve been a huge fan and a beneficiary of mentoring. The following books summarize some of the mentoring situations I’ve had the privilege of experiencing.

Frank & Me (100 Year Celebration) — Sage ADVICE from the LUCKY GUY Series

This book includes some of my favorite memories of Frank S. Moran, who was the co-founder of Plante Moran and my mentor until his death in 1997.
Buy on Amazon

The Ultimate Mentor — Sage ADVICE from the LUCKY GUY Series

In this book, I recall some of my favorite memories of Ken Kunkel, my Plante Moran team partner and mentor. Our relationship started in 1970 and continues to this day.
Buy on Amazon

My Spiritual Mentor — Sage ADVICE from the LUCKY GUY Series

This book honors my spiritual mentor, Roger VanNoord, who continues to mentor me and other businessmen. It also includes highlights of my faith journey.
Buy on Amazon

Our Mission Trips and Mission Mentors — Sage ADVICE from the LUCKY GUY Series

I wrote this book to honor my Mission Trip mentors. It features stories and pictures from more than 30 Mission teams that I’ve led in places around the world.
Buy on Amazon

Harley and the Old Man — Sage ADVICE from the LUCKY GUY Series

I thought people might enjoy the story of my mentoring experiences with a 12-year-old living at Whaley Children’s Center in Flint, Mich.
Amazon Link Coming Soon

During Covid, I published my first book.

Sage BUSINESS ADVICE From a LUCKY GUY!

This first book is a compilation of almost 300 of my blogs, with some embellishments and a special section honoring my six mentors.
Buy on Amazon

HUNTER EXTRAORDINAIRE — Sage ADVICE from the LUCKY GUY Series

My second book is a field manual that includes lots of great suggestions for new business development associates.
Buy on Amazon

REBOOT YOUR MIND for a Healthier Workplace — Sage ADVICE from the LUCKY GUY Series

This is another field manual filled with the most common issues that sabotage businesses. It’s a combination of practical business and psychological advice from a guy who has experienced both the best and the worst team behaviors.
Buy on Amazon

Build Your Own DREAM TEAM — Sage ADVICE from the LUCKY GUY Series

If you’re interested in a summary of the best practices utilized by the world’s most successful teams, you’ll want to read this book.
Buy on Amazon