Matthew S. Chan Blog

Happy New Year!

I was pondering what I was going to write for my first post of 2009. I didn’t want to post anything relating to the onslaught of negative news everyone has been getting.

So, I was casually watching a recorded episode of Oprah thinking I was going to fast forward through the episode as I often do.  Then Oprah talks about this young singer named Charice that she had brought on months earlier and plays a clip of it.  I was intrigued because there was this clip where this young, petite teen-age girl is belting out her rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” song.

After watching that clip, I was hooked.  She went on to sing one of my favorite songs, Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On”.  Like Oprah and her audience, I was just blown away by this girl’s performance.

As if her talent wasn’t enough, her life story was very inspiring coming from very humble beginnings in the Philippines. Very moving indeed.

Normally, I would not write a post about some teen-age singer but I have to admit to being stunned and incredulous.  I truly believe that Charice Pempengco will one day take up the mantle now held by vocal sensations Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey.  With producer David Foster’s backing, I believe her inevitable first album will be a hit.

All I can say is go to Charice’s website at http://charicepempengco.com and treat yourself to the linked videos of her performance on the Oprah and Ellen Degeneres websites.

After that, drop by YouTube and do a search on “Charice Pempengco”.  Pick your favorite song that she has sung recorded on video.  I challenge anyone NOT to be inspired and moved by this young girl.

Simply incredible that voice on that girl.  You could swear it was actually Whitney Houston or Celine Dion actually singing themselves.

On YouTube, you will find Charice’s rendition of “I Will Survive” originally shown on ABC TV.  It is pretty intense.

On Oprah.com, there is a video of Charice singing with Celine Dion in concert.  Amazing.

In light of the Christmas season, I thought I would write a post that was more upbeat and positive than commenting on the depressing national economy that we are all going through.

I have always been a fan of Christmas music but I prefer contemporary versions of the traditional favorites.  In that spirit, I am listing my favorite Christmas albums that I think best represent the best of contemporary versions of traditional Christmas songs.

• Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas
• Faith Hill: Joy to the World
• Amy Grant: Home for Christmas
• Martina McBride: White Christmas
• Jessica Simpson: Rejoyce the Christmas Album
• Ally McBeal: A Very Ally Christmas Featuring Vonda Shepard
• Gloria Estefan: Christmas Through Your Eyes
• Vanessa Williams: Star Bright
• Peter Cetera: You Just Gotta Love Christmas
• Chicago: What’s It Gonna Be Santa
• Josh Groban: Noel

Surprisingly, used copies are available at relatively inexpensive prices at half.com and amazon.com.

I wrote this response to a friend who had a cousin who was doing his part to defend the auto industry and all the great things they have done lately. I agreed with most of the points brought up but I then discovered within myself what others may be feeling.  There is simply a “hate” and disgust of the Big 3 in the auto industry despite their recent achievements and accomplishments.  People hate their culture, the extortionistic union, and ongoing stupidity of management.  In many ways, people are willing to suffer the economic pain of the auto industry failing.

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Your cousin may be correct.  But if they Big 3 are so smart, why is it only American auto manufacturer’s dying?  Why are all the other U.S. based manufacturers like Honda, Toyota, etc. at least getting by?

One of the big reasons is the legacy costs where people feel entitled they should be taken cared of for life.  It is also the back-breaking unions that have been infamous for extorting the auto industry.  You have basically uneducated factory workers making extorted wage rates.  According to the UAW themselves, http://www.uaw.org/barg/07fact/fact02.php an assembler in 2006 made nearly $28/hr.  People with skills made $32/hour.  Add the very generous benefits thrown in and it becomes much higher than that.  Michigan’s cost of living isn’t substantially more than most places in the U.S.  I think a casual poll of the average person is that a high school grad with few skills making over $15/hour is quite good.  Premium pay is an extra 10%-25% pay, not DOUBLE what market rates should be.

So the UAW think they have been doing a good job for years protecting its workers.  This has been going on since I was in high school many years ago.  This is infamous.  And people also remember how stupid the Big 3 were for allowing the Japanese companies like Toyota and Honda made gains like they did over the last 20 years.  They did not make Americans proud like they once did 30 years ago.

Bottom line, there is very little sympathy for the auto industry because people remember these many things.  No one is sympathetic to a group of workers who has successfully extorted outrageous wages from management for decades.  No one is sympathetic to a group of workers who get life-long entitlements to the point it bankrupts the host company.  Most people in the U.S. do not get life-long entitlements. What makes them special and why should taxpayers be forced to fund it?  No one is sympathetic to an industry where many Americans won’t buy American despite their patriotic feelings.

Even the fact that the Big 3 going down will have a huge negative impact on the overall economy, people are still disgusted with them and won’t help them.  That tells you how much negative Karma the Big 3 have generated over the decades.

It is not simply an economic issue.  There is a “hate” issue against the Big 3.  That is why there is such a revolt against them.  The CEO’s say let the past be the past.  However, the “loan” they want will simply go and continue to support many of people and entitlements that got them there.  Chapter 11 will force a major restructure and culture shift in the auto industry like we have never seen before.

This was first posted on The TurnKey Publisher’s Blog….

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A couple of quick updates…

“TurnKey Publishing” is being typeset now.  There are some minor rewrites and re-edits to be done but is on track for an end of year release.

“The TurnKey Publisher’s Guide to Audio Publishing” is entering the major edit phase.  This book should also be released by the end of the year.

Bumped into some writer’s block along the way but slowly pushing through.

I have been following the news both on TV and online regarding the 2008 election results.  I have to say it was very gratifying and inspiring to watch.  As I wrote before, I was undecided for a long time.  Ultimately, I voted for Obama who I thought would be better for the U.S. for many reasons.

It is not so much that McCain was so bad.  It was simply because I found Obama more inspiring, symbolic, and ultimately more powerful to make changes that we desperately need.

In years past, I have leaned Republican primarily because of my economic views.  But having watched President Bush and the extreme “conservative” elements come out of the woodwork, I found it distasteful.  And having someone like Sarah Palin within the reach of the top position convinced me that I could not vote Republican this time around, no matter what my disagreements are on the Democratic economic policies are.

Like millions of people who helped vote for a landslide victory for Obama, I am both gratified and hopeful.  This landslide victory should send a message to the extremist Republicans that the need to take a more centrist view and approach to issues.  There has been a huge revolt against the presidency of Bush, the evangelicals, extreme conservatism, and his whole approach to government.

I am happy to return and vote Republican.  But if they don’t change their ways, I won’t be back even if it costs me more money.

Outside of these reasons, I ultimately found Obama very impressive, admired his intellect, and presidential demeanor.  I look forward to seeing what he will do between now and Jan. 20, 2009 when he enters office.

I hate this. I am usually pretty good at making decisions for myself.  You pick a direction and go.

This whole decision to figure out if I want Obama/Biden or McCain/Palin has got me in a quandary. I keep going back and forth but not sure what weighs on me more.

Frankly, I like John McCain and his record. He isn’t perfect but he is experienced and seen a lot in his years. But the thing that concerns me is that if anything happens to him with his advanced age, Sarah Palin just doesn’t do it for me especially when compared to Joe Biden as the competing VP.

I like what Barack Obama represents but there are still things that nag me about him. His lack of experience and I am not convinced he can deliver on all his promises.

I guess I will be like everyone else and just keep listening to the two camps compete. I will have to make a choice in less than 3 weeks. It looks to be a tough one for me.

This was first posted on the TurnKey Publishing Blog.

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I am happy to announce that I have published and released our first print-on-demand book. It is the first major step to updating our publishing business model.  The book is Jerry Hoganson’s “Making Money Through Mobile Home Investing”.

The book turned out great. Dealing with the printer was relatively smooth considering this was my first go-around.

My second print-on-demand book will be “TurnKey Publishing”, the long-delayed book on my publishing system.  The manuscript had to be updated and revised for the 6-month hiatus the project took.  The book should be available for pre-sale around the Thanksgiving holidays.

Last week, I had the great pleasure to attend the 3rd annual Jim Blanchard Leadership Forum here in Columbus, GA.  It isn’t often there is a collection of high-profile speakers and authors that come into the local area.  When I found out about it the Friday before the Monday-Tuesday event, I jumped on it.

The speakers were:  Dr. & Congressman Newt Gingrich, General Russel Honore, Daniel Pink, Thomas Friedman, John Maxwell, and GA Chief Justice Leah Sears.

I have to say each person made an impact on me in their own special way.  On Day One, I was impressed by how knowledgeable Newt Gingrich was in his presentation.  He went past political arguments to present his case on improving the health care system.

General Russel Honore of Hurricane Katrina fame gave a funny, entertaining but also very serious speech on preparedness.  I felt that more government officials should have heard his speech.  He gave me a perspective of public service that was inspiring.

On Day Two, GA Chief Justice Leah Sears gave a short speech on familes and education.  Her speech was much shorter than anticipated which led to an extended break.

Daniel Pink of “A Whole New Mind” was dynamic and brought a youthful energy into the presentations.  I loved his book which continues to resonate and impact me as I do business.

John Maxwell who has written many titles on Leadership (of which I have several in my bookshelf) gave his view of the 5-levels of leadership.  Those 5-levels made me reflect where I stood in my leadership abilities.

Finally, Thomas Friedman of “The World is Flat” and “The Lexus & Olive Tree” fame presented material from his new book “Hot, Flat, and Crowded”.  His talk was sweepingly huge and had global proportions.  He talked about “global weirding”, a flat world, that is growing in population exponentially.  I enjoyed his thoughtful and low-key approach.

The event was a success with around 800 people in attendance.  They provided two hot lunches and a hot breakfast as part of the event.  The part I did not like was that neither day were full days.  They were only partial days.  However, the 2-day event was only $299 which was a bargain for me especially since I did not have to travel as I normally do.

As the Leadership Forum ended, an announcement was made that Colin Powell would head next year’s line-up.  Colin Powell is an amazing role model, a tremendous thinker, and diplomat.  I will definitely be there for next year’s event.