A Blemish on McKinsey
When I was in business school, I remember first hearing about McKinsey & Company – a management consulting firm – that charges a lot of money to solve problems for corporations, government, and non-profits (surprisingly many non-profits – especially in healthcare and eduction – can afford McKinsey).
Back then – about 35 years ago – I didn’t understand why major companies (engaged in financial services, media, asset management, telecommunications, technology, healthcare, energy, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, insurance, and more) whose executives are paid millions would pay McKinsey millions to solve problems that their executives were paid to solve. It never made sense to me even though the McKinsey employees were reputed to be the best and the brightest (McKinsey had the reputation of recruiting the top 1 or 2 male students from the top business schools back then. I’m guessing they still recruit the top students but don’t know how close they have come to gender parity) but the executives in these multinational corporations are also the best and brightest in their field. Read more 
The Open Secret Colleges and Universities Don’t Want You To Know
In 1984, the average tuition, room and board was about $4,600, which equates to $14,000 in 2024, taking into consideration the inflation rate, which means todays price of tuition, room and board should be about 300% higher than in 1984. But, we all know that isn’t the case.
The average tuition, room and board at a college or university (and it varies depending on whether the school is private or public) in 2024 is about $42,000 – about 900% more than in 1984. Most private schools cost $80,000 – $100,000 annually which makes people – and especially parents – wonder why have the costs of educating our kids increased so dramatically? Read more
Alice Waters: Put Your Menu Where Your Mouth Is
Recently, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) printed a piece on food and specifically the food of the south of France. Underlying the story is a question: Why are we so hungry for the food of the South of France right now? In trying to answer that question, Alice Waters, the 79-year old founder of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California said
We need to make our diets healthy by eating more fruit and vegetables and less meat, and we need to respond to climate change with farming methods that protect and renew the earth…which is what they’ve been doing in the south of France for centuries.
Executive Compensation at Advent Health (2022)
AdventHealth (formerly known as Adventist Health System until 2019 when the 501 (c) (3) “rebranded” itself) is one of the largest non-profit health care providers in the United States with more than 50 hospitals and hundreds of care sites in 9 states. Based in Altamonte Springs, Florida, AdventHealth is a very large system with dozens of separate tax-exempt non-profit and for-profit organizations.
This post looks at the executive compensation at Adventist Health System Sunbelt Healthcare Corporation (AHSSHC), the tax-exempt, non profit organization that provides management, leadership, and oversight to the affiliates. It is important to note there are dozens of other related and affiliated non-profits and for profit organizations related to AdventHealth that are not covered in this post. Read more
The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart: A Documentary to Watch
The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart is one of the most enjoyable (and nostalgic) documentaries I’ve ever watched. Although the film is fundamentally about a group, the underlying theme is the love story of three incredibly talented brothers who cared deeply for each other but by most accounts would never have stayed together and endured were they not siblings. And, finally, it’s the story of a music industry that didn’t always know what to do with a band that defied norms.
I’m a bit late to the game in writing about this documentary (it was released in 2020) because I just saw it and found the story so compelling that I had to watch it again to fully grasp all the details (hearing the music a second time was just a bonus). There’s the birth of a group that catapults into a band, the success and the ups and downs but there’s also the culture of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s and the realization the brothers were better together. Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, and Robin Gibb were all singularly musical but the songs they wrote and sang together exponentially outshined their individual gifts. Read more
Great Food Discoveries of 2023
2023 has been a banner year in my kitchen with 8 really great plant-based food discoveries made throughout the year including ice cream, chocolate, soup, cheese, granola, nuts, and salami. All 8 of these companies deserve a food Oscar for their healthy and delicious creations. Read more
20 Things I Wish I Knew About Health When I was 20
At 20 years old, most young adults feel invincible. With youth, muscle tone, and boundless energy, most 20-year olds can’t imagine their bodies not performing well or looking great. The Olympian, Shaun White recently told an interviewer “I’m not big on aging. It has been hard letting go of physical things that once were easy. I’m going into this new phase gracefully….It’s a humbling part of my life.” Those words were spoken by a 37-year old former pro snowboarder and the winner of three Olympic gold medals in snowboarding, and my initial thought was …wait until he turns 60.” All the more reason to take care of yourself so you can enjoy an active life. Read more
Executive Compensation at Liberty University (2022)
Liberty University (Liberty) – a private evangelical Christian university based in Lynchburg, Virginia – has been in the news quite a bit over the past few years. Seems the US Department of Education has been investigating Liberty for violations related to the public reporting of campus crime. Faced with a large fine (estimated to be $37 million), Liberty seems to be in the hot seat again (the Jerry Falwell, Jr sexual misconduct saga that resulted in Falwell’s resignation as President of the university hit the public forum in 2020), although $37 million is a drop in the bucket for Liberty who has more than $3 billion in net assets. Read more
Reine Vegan Cheese
Plant-based cheese (or vegan cheese) has been growing in popularity in recent years with growth expected to increase at an annual rate of 16% over the next 7 years, according to a market research report by RationalStat (a company that does market research, analysis, forecast and trends).
The growth is being fueled by turophiles (cheese lovers) who want the savory creamy texture of dairy-based cheese without the lactose, and for those seeking a healthier alternative to animal-based products. Read more
12 Things I Wish I Knew About Life When I Was 20
Life has a way of teaching us lessons that are often painful, expensive, or just inconvenient. Whenever I have an experience and question how I missed something or what took me so long, I make a mental note to make sure to tell my daughter so she doesn’t make the same mistake. That said, read on for a list of 12 things (in no particular order) I would have told my 20-year old self: Read more
Paddock Post 