THANK GOODNESS “THE NEW NORMAL” DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PERMANENT

THANK GOODNESS “THE NEW NORMAL” DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PERMANENT

By Domenick J Maglio PhD. Traditional Realist

The so-called “New Normal” was a rationalizing of anything that deteriorated in quantity or quality. It was the opposite of focusing on a specific problem and solving it. Instead it was an approach to accept individual and national lower standards and expectations. It is a lazy man’s way of managing an organization or one’s life.

This uninspired method of leadership in home, school and government is a, “don’t worry, be happy”, life approach. Your life will go on, just do not think about what was or could be but learn to accommodate yourself to the lowest common denominator of existence. These dismal standards and expectations are often repeated in our school system. The academic grade inflation has made report cards almost meaningless. Severe violent acts are out rightly ignored or have been assigned such weak consequences that the punishment does not act like a deterrent and often is a joke to acting-out students.

Parents have dumbed down their standards and expectations for their own children. Preschool children are no longer being potty trained at 18 months to two years old. Instead now they are not prepared to complete this milestone until 3 to 5 years old without the parents being seen as less than competent. Today’s parents are less concerned with assisting their child to be independent. Most do not comprehend the small window of opportunity to teach their offspring behaviors, skills, and moral values they need to be full functioning adults.

This lazy interaction with children, students and employees of not being in charge leaves individuals vacant vessels of how to be positive and properly react with others. This poor preparation has negatively affected the work force on all business levels. Poorly trained and motivated adults have resulted in inferior customer service and too expensive products. Foreign nations have stepped up to take advantage of economic opportunities worldwide.  They have improved their country’s standard of living through cheaper labor costs with more motivated workers. US corporations have outsourced more jobs, which has led to more work going overseas. Employment opportunities have gone to other countries and so have high salaries. Divorce is continuing to rise and while marriage rates continue to fall. Children’s counter productive actions will get more and more outrageous in school and in the job market.

According to the “new normal,” we Americans should accept this new reality. Employment opportunities with high pay will be rare and never return. College tuition will continue to rise for students so they will have more opportunities for loans that increase debt. Millenials will continue to live in their parent’s basement. Do not worry, it is the “new normal.”

The “new normal” is “leading from behind.” President Obama verbalized his foreign policy as leading from behind during his first term in office. He believed that the US leadership in the world was negative since some nations jealously viewed the US as an arrogant and self-righteous bully.

Whatever happens that is not positive can be justified by stressing that no one can reverse the negative results especially when one does not expect improvement. Therefore we all must accept that there is no reason to bang one’s head against the wall. The best and only thing for individuals to do is to lower their expectations and get on with the new reality. Former President Obama said that President Trump’s statement there would be 4% economic growth rate was ridiculous. It turned out Trump was able to improve it to 4.2& in 18 months. The “new normal” was obliterated.

Winners do not focus on excusing their mistakes but stress rehearsing things that will make them better in competing in activities. They strive to be better rather than accept mediocrity. On the other hand, the new normal has nullified the importance of merit and the work ethic to improve one’s performance in any area. The philosophy of accepting low standards, expectations and production has resulted in decline overall for the society.

Leadership comes from being courageous and knowledgeable on the front lines commanding others to do an excellent job. These people set high standards and expectations by their own performance, which inspires everyone around them.

By parents, teachers, businessmen, law enforcement and government officials demonstrating leadership qualities, people will become inspired to do better. People will emulate leaders for the results they have achieved. Positive role models challenge us to higher and higher levels of excellence. It is in the hands of all of us as we each have responsibilities to be positive authority figures.

Domenick Maglio, PhD. is a columnist carried by various newspapers, an author of several books and owner/director of Wider Horizons School, a college prep program. Dr. Maglio is an author of weekly newspaper articles, INVASION WITHIN  and a new just published book, entitled, IN CHARGE PARENTING In a PC World. You can visit Dr. Maglio at www.drmaglio.blogspot.com.