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
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
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
12 Things I Wish I Knew About Non-Profits When I Was 20
Most people want to help others and in the US, that help is often made through donations to non-profits – organizations that are tax-exempt because they are deemed altruistic. But, non-profits are a big business in the United States with an estimated $500 billion in donations made annually to more than 1.5 million organizations that employe an estimated 15 million employees. Read more
I Learned to Boil Water Today
We moved into a new home recently (our last move; 9 major moves in 33 years has depleted my sense of adventure) and although the kitchen looked spectacular when I first laid eyes on it, I didn’t notice the ceramic glass stove top was induction, which means it’s not electric and it’s not gas – the two energy sources I’m familiar with using. Read more
Duke Energy Sucks: Handling Existing Customer Account Changes
We recognize the essential nature of our service and strive for excellence in all we do. We work our hardest to earn your confidence and trust every day. ~Duke Energy
There’s nothing like a monopoly in the US to make you think that maybe we don’t live in a first world country. Duke Energy, an American electric power and natural gas company headquartered in Charlotte, NC has a policy that no matter how long you’ve had an account and paid your bills on time, the company will not provide power to a new home unless they run a credit check, even if you prepay for the power. Ask them why? The standard answer is “it’s our policy.” That’s not a reason. Handling new accounts without a payment history is one thing; mishandling existing on-time paying customer accounts is quite another. Read more
Pets: IMHA and One Vaccine at a Time….
A few weeks ago, my daughter took her 6-year old female corgi to a new vet who gave the dog 3 vaccinations (rabies, leptospira, and bordetello). Five days later, the dog collapsed so my daughter took her to Burlington Emergency Veterinary Specialists (BEVS) where they admitted the dog.
Bloodwork indicated she was anemic: a PCV (Packed Cell Volume that is also called hematocrit) score of 23 compared to a normal 35, and an ultrasound showed an enlarged spleen which led to the diagnosis of Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA) where the body no longer recognizes healthy red blood cells as part of the body and develops antibodies to destroy them. Without enough healthy red blood cells, the organs are deprived of oxygen, or the animal is overwhelmed by a blood clot. Read more
How Alumni Dollars are Spent at the Association of Former Students of Texas A & M (Aggie Network)
The alumni association at Texas A & M is formally known as the Association of Former Students of Texas A & M and informally known as the Aggie Network. A tax-exempt, non-profit 501 (c), the Aggie Network’s mission is to strengthen the Aggie Network. How do they do this? The short answer is they raise revenue (about $30 million in 2020) and spend about 40% on programs (i.e. receptions, events, and other activities), 10% on general and administrative expenses and 10% on fundraising while the remaining funds (40%) are allocated to the general fund allowing the organization to accumulate $144 million in net assets. Read more
Where Does $100 to the Nature Conservancy Go (2021)?
The Nature Conservancy raises more than $1 billion a year and has nearly $8 billion in net assets (almost a billion more than the beginning of the year), making the organization one of the most well capitalized non-profits in the country. If you’ve ever wondered how a donation is spent but don’t feel inclined to read the dozens and dozens of pages of the IRS Form 990 (the tax return submitted to the IRS annually), then continue reading. Read more
Paddock Post 