Keep It Simple, Stupid. A Penny For Your Thoughts. Who Portrays You? It is 75′ Tall. My Thanksgiving.
Quote of the Week: “Good mashed potato is one of the great luxuries in life.” – Lindsey Bareham
Though “good mashed potato” is both a comfort food and one associated with the holidays, I take Lindsey Bareham’s quote in a different way. This quote highlights that a simple food, made with care (and plenty of butter!) can be a simple source of pleasure and enjoyment. To me, the key word is ‘simple’ and reinforces that we should all try to keep things from getting too complicated.
As we approach the holidays, the dynamics of travel, family, and too much food can make things difficult. Dividing your time with family, traveling through the never-ending turmoil of airports, and putting up with some family members can add angst to the holiday season. The holidays should promote cheer and happiness, but we all know that sometimes the holidays, for many reasons, can be a tough time of the year.
The ‘Keep It Simple, Stupid‘ (KISS) principle was first used by the US Navy, but has expanded and applied to design and systems in many industries. In the business world, Apple and Amazon have built systems that keep things simple for their customers and partners (in theory). Keeping it simple has many benefits and crosses back and forth into our personal and professional lives. Good mashed potatoes bring all of us a way to enjoy simplicity. Sure, you can add cheese, olive oil, cream, and roasted garlic to your holiday mashed potatoes…but maybe the holiday season is a good time to practice KISS. It is obvious that Clark Griswold never bothered to keep things simple:
The production of the penny has ended. There are billions of pennies in circulation, so no one can predict the penniless future. Factoids:
- In 2023, it cost U.S. taxpayers $179 million to produce 4.5 billion pennies.
- The U.S. mint reported that each penny costs 3.7 cents to make.
- Stopping the production of the penny will save the U.S. Mint $56 million annually.
- Rounding to the nearest nickel will become common place for cash-paying customers.
- By the way, the cost to produce each nickel is thirteen cents.
On the surface, it seems like no big deal. A customer paying with cash for an item costing $19.27 will simply pay $19.30. Then you dig in a bit and realize that the ‘no-penny’ currency strategy could affect point-of-sale systems, sales tax calculations, and federal compliance risks, especially with multi-state retailers.
Yes, pennies will remain legal tender. A friend reminded me of the old idiom: “A penny for your thoughts,” usually an ask for someone’s thoughts on a subject or question. Shane Profitt’s Penny to My Name – “I made million-dollar memories when I didn’t have a penny to my name….” Well said, Shane.
Thank you for your answers to the last Question of the Week: Who would you want to portray your life story in a movie?
- Tom Cruise or Mathew McConaughey
- I think Leslie Mann or Kristen Wig. It would have to be someone who is just as awkward and goofy!
- Sean Connery….just because he’s Sean Connery.
- Chris O’Donnell.
- OK, I gave it some thought. I would invite five for an audition: Jack Lemmon, Peter Sellars, Jon Bernthal, Daniel Craig, and Clint Eastwood.
Here is this week’s Question of the Week: What is your favorite holiday movie?
- The Rockefeller Christmas tree has arrived in New York City. This year’s tree is 75′ tall, will be lit with 50,000 LED lights, and topped with a 900-pound Swarovski-crystal star. The lighting ceremony is on December 3rd, and the tree will be in place until mid-January. The tradition started way back in 1931 and it is a really wonderful way to experience the holiday season.
- Pure Talent. I always enjoy listening to Don Henley. He was influenced early on listening to AM radio stations from his home in East Texas, which reached as far as New Orleans, Nashville, and across the border into Mexico. Those stations introduced Henley to blues, gospel, jazz, and rock and roll, paving the way for his future as an award-winning artist. My Thanksgiving is a song from his 2000 album Inside Job and speaks to him giving thanks for life’s blessings including his family and friends. Don Henley is Pure Talent.