I have meant to write a piece about the nature of decades. The meaning of decades… See why I may not finish it? the impact of large, but livable blocks of time. That type of thing. The first notes were made as background info for a speech about crises and innovation. It relied upon the year 1957. That speech was given in ’07. A fifty years ago, thing. Few, actually none of those present for that speech had been born then. None other than me, so of course most of that material was dropped. Late last fall I drafted an outline of 1968, and the years between 57-68, thinking that something “odd” was afoot about 50 years ago, 40 years ago stuff. Don’t worry if this is not connecting, for now, for me, these are just dots too. But 2008 is almost over. So far we have been able to escape 1968. Escape, but not forget, for some. Escape, but not remember, for most who read blogs. Perhaps I will finish those posts, but not now. For now I caution you all, those who remember, even foggily, and those who can look it up. I draw both groups to consider that 1968 gave way to 1969.

I have built and have known the builders of systems used to generate wealth, big money. None of us thought we were mining gold or silver. We each knew that we were building and selling the shovels, pans and picks for the miners. But we never sold “maps” to the locations of long lost wealth. I am constantly concerned by the number of people selling you maps. Not just because you won’t find wealth or have fun, but because you litter the roadside with wreckage, and they ruin the view with billboards.

Buy a map to the stars’ homes. Take some snapshots, buy souvenirs, enjoy more of the journey. That will be greater wealth than that millionaire’s secret to success. If you should make a couple million dollars on your own, you will meet honest money managers, someone to take care of the dirty details. Learn instead to share, to involve. These things don’t cost you anything, unless you’re one of the unlucky ones. In that case, they will cost you everything, and you will never get across the bridge.