ShareThisSo, it's all about the "headwinds."That's according to The Wall Street Journal this week, which noted that in a difficult economy, top business people are now consistently adopting the weather metaphor as an explanation for less-than-stellar performance.This could be my new family catchphrase. It's positively seductive.A headwind, of course, is a wind coming directly at a ship or plane and pushes it back, slows it down or even forces it to choose a different course. The point is that the wind itself is completely out of anyone's control.That's why top business folks are now routinely adopting the phrase. The Journal reports: "'As we look out, we've got to be realistic that we are facing some tough headwinds, particularly here in the U.S.,' according to Rick Wagoner, CEO of General Motors. Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang recently lamented that while they are working strategically '... we continue to face headwinds. ...' "As the Journal went on to say, "to hear executives tell it, headwinds are to blame for the weak sales of cars, tires, paint and books."The Journal paraphrases George Lakoff, a professor of cognitive science at the University of California-Berkeley, in saying that "citing headwinds seems to be a way to duck blame for all kind of business problems. ... even simple bad business decisions."Like I said, this metaphor could fit perfectly into my family's life, or at least into my life as a single mom of four.I'll never have to feel guilty again. Didn't pick up the Girl Scout cookies when I was supposed to, didn't get the kids signed up for T-ball in time, forgot the permission slip (again)? "Wow, sorry -- facing real headwinds at home."Late for that appointment, don't return e-mails? It's not me -- "Wow, faced some real headwinds coming in today." A girl could get used to this.Most of the time when this "stuff" happens -- meaning, when I do these things -- I feel responsible. Yeah, being a single mom isn't easy, but it's not exactly life on the frontier, either. I'm guessing I have it easier than many of my foremothers who were married.Though others may kindly go easy on me, deep down I know there just really isn't an excuse for not getting the permission slip in on time.But I can't help but be pulled in, so to speak, by "the headwinds" craze. My new answer to everything?OK, here's the problem. I wonder how long before my kids catch on. "Sorry I did poorly on that test, Mom. You know -- headwinds." "I was going to get to those chores, Mom, but wow -- really got into some headwinds." "So sorry I'm late/the driveway isn't shoveled/you name it -- headwinds."Why do I have a feeling this new trend among business leaders may play right into America's "I'm not to blame" culture?The Journal, of course, asks the right question. Business executives may blame "headwinds" for problems, but they don't seem too likely to credit "tailwinds," or the winds that make it easier for the plane or ship to move along, for success in easier times.Yep, the "headwinds" trend plays right into the American zeitgeist. So really, as tempting as it is, I'm going to try, and try hard, to resist it.It's just that in attempting to stand up to the culture, one is likely to encounter, well, some very powerful headwinds.(Betsy Hart hosts the "It Takes a Parent" radio show on WYLL-AM 1160 in Chicago. Reach her through betsysblog.com. For more stories, visit scrippsnews.com.)
Watch out for those headwinds
Submitted by SHNS on Thu, 02/14/2008 - 15:18
Paying taxes unites us. It also divides us. People can pay five and even six times more in state and local taxes than other folks in similar circumstances making similar incomes.
Who's got your number?
In one of the fastest-growing forms of identity theft, crooks are stealing tax refunds by swiping personal information and using it to trick the Internal Revenue Service.
