The following article was written in June of 2012 for the newsletter of a national executive search firm –

New Paradigm

I am addicted to peanut butter. But it has to have nuts. In fact, I’m addicted to anything with nuts, but especially peanut butter. Every morning I have two slices of freshly baked toasted sourdough bread lathered with salted butter and a thin layer of peanut butter. I prefer Skippy, but any nutty peanut butter will do. Recently while eating breakfast, and listening to my regular morning talk show, I heard something that I have been expecting for a very long time.

The radio station was advertising for employees to work in their advertising and media relations department. And, not to my surprise were the conditions for employment. Applicants were expected to understand the basic principles of economics, finance, the current state of political events and to demonstrate some useful knowledge of a foreign language. The profound impact of this was not lost on my wife who was listening to the same station in another room. She soon appeared in the kitchen and asked if I had heard the report. What was particularly interesting to us was not only the general knowledge requirements, but the language expectation was neither defined, nor did it demand a specific skill level.

Consider the implications of these requirements. My sense was that the radio station was seeking applicants who could integrate a working knowledge of economics and finance into abstract observations of current world affairs. While the language requirement was not specific, it suggested that applicants were also expected to be at least minimally prepared to cross the new language barriers of a globalized business and media environment.

Currently a survey of major universities, including the CSU and UC university curriculum reveals that there is no general requirement for all students to complete a course in business, economics or a second language; this includes a dedicated course in the areas of public speech or oral and written argument, even though these skills are absolutely vital for resume preparation to advanced business planning and client presentations.

The following survey questions may help to define the coming paradigm. These questions and expressions are neither tricky, illusive or arcane. They are found everyday in business, the general media and, by any reasonable definition, will be considered common knowledge among well informed people. All can be answered with a short sentence in about one hour.

• Can you read with some comprehension a news story appearing in at lest one foreign news publication.
• Reasonably define the terms monarchy, aristocracy and democracy. How do each relate to a dictatorship, oligarchy and anarchy.
• What is a Republic.
• Reasonably define the European Union. How members are there. (within 5)
• There are thirteen countries which border the Mediterranean Sea. Name seven and describe some political significance for each within the last year. 
• Name one Balkan state and the sea it shares with Italy.
• How many countries are there in Africa. (within 10)
• What is La Raza, or the NCLR. What defines the organizations most extremist agenda.
• What is CORE. What is AWARE.
• Reasonably define the principles of capitalism, communism, socialism and fascism.
• How are the members of the U. S. President’s Cabinet selected.
• Who are your congressional and state assembly representatives.
• What is the Electoral College. (Bonus) How are the members selected.
• Provide a definition for the term economics.
• Reasonably define interest rate, annual percentage rate and capitalization rate.
• What is a balance sheet, and how is it different from an income and expense statement.
• In the parlance of finance what is a stock, an option and a derivative.
• What is meant by the expression “mark to market”, QE or economic deflation.
• What is the difference between monetary and fiscal policy. What department of the government prints the United States currency. 
• Can you draft a resume without a model, or speak uninterrupted for 5 minutes on a subject of your choice. 
• If asked, can you describe the principle elements of a business plan. 

Châz

Credo is the Latin word meaning “I believe”, and is the first word of many religious credos, or creeds, such as the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. But the word can be applied to any guiding principle or set of principles –