(Cracking the Code with Greg Kozera - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

Perception is your reality, but not necessarily THE reality! Or, said differently: What we believe to be true isn’t always the truth.

On June 19, 1865 (Juneteenth), the last of the slaves in the USA were freed. Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, but there was no internet or TV in the 1860s. Some slaves may not have been aware of this truth that they were free. Their reality was they were still slaves.

Harvey Mackay – entrepreneur, author, syndicated columnist and Hall of Fame speaker – said in a recent column, “Perception and reality have very different meanings. The problem happens when perceptions become a person’s reality. They see what they expect or want to see, disregarding what is actually true. Perceptions can impact decision-making in a variety of ways: bias and prejudgment, risk assessment, communication and relationships, problem solving and customer service.”

Too often I see people angry with each other or estranged by things said in a text message that were misinterpreted. Their reality isn’t based on truth. Without an honest live discussion, they will likely remain estranged. In a marriage, it is easy for one of the partners’ actions or words to be misinterpreted. Honest communication is important. Many times, I have said to Lynnda, “I didn’t know how that made you feel. I’m sorry.”

Here are some things we can do to avoid a perception that isn’t based on reality and truth;

∫ Listen by focusing on the speaker, not thinking about our response. Make eye contact. Avoid distractions.

∫ Be aware of non-verbal communication, like tone of voice and body language.

∫ Clarify and confirm. Ask questions and listen to the response.

∫ Be honest and sincere.

∫ Learn continuously. Stay informed about different cultures, perspectives and experiences to broaden understanding. Our trips to Europe and Asia and working with international companies have given us a different perspective of the world. Globally, people are much more alike than different. We now have friends all over the world.

∫ Seek diverse perspectives. Consult or listen to others with different viewpoints to get a better understanding of a situation.

∫ Be empathetic. Put yourself in others’ shoes.

∫ Keep an open mind. Be willing to change based on new information.

America is 249 years old this week. We are unique among nations. The USA is one of the few places in the world where personal liberty and economic opportunity exist together. People and companies around the world come to the USA because of our freedom, opportunity and security.

The American economy and the military protecting our freedoms run on energy. Energy impacts all areas of the economy. Dependable economical energy creates jobs and puts money in American pockets. We know single moms who drive 60-plus miles to work daily. A 50-cent difference in gasoline is a big deal for them. During World War II, my uncle marched past German tanks that had run out of fuel on his way to Berlin. In World War II, the USA was energy independent and fueled the free world. America can’t afford to depend on an unstable Middle East for oil or China for rare earth metals. Fortunately, we have natural gas and oil in abundance.

Shale Crescent USA and I personally are agnostic when it comes to energy. SCUSA’s mission is to create high-wage jobs in the region. Our success is dependent on economical/dependable energy, one of the main reasons manufacturers come to the USA. Energy is the Shale Crescent region’s competitive advantage over states like the Carolinas.

In Iceland, over 80% of their electricity comes from clean, renewable, geothermal energy. Geothermal is currently uneconomical here. The Netherlands and parts of Europe have dependable wind to produce electricity. The wind is variable. China and India have large coal reserves to provide baseload power. They also use renewables. Only the rest of the USA and Russia produce more natural gas than the Shale Crescent USA region, which produces twice as much natural gas as the entire nation of China.

China is the world’s leader in wind turbines and solar panel production. They are the world’s leader in rare earth metals production required for these products. The Communist Party of China would love to see the Shale Crescent leave its natural gas, the cheapest in the industrial world, in the ground and buy their windmills and solar panels. Manufacturing companies are leaving China. General Electric Appliances announced on June 29 that they are moving production from China to Louisville, Kentucky.

Many Americans’ don’t understand energy. Their perception of energy is based on their reality, not the reality. Many don’t understand baseload and intermittent power.

Our friend Bella lives far from a town and miles from the nearest interstate. She is on the electric grid, has natural gas, solar panels and batteries. Bella is mechanically inclined and has a Ph.D. in chemistry. If the power fails, Bella’s solar panels and batteries immediately come online. They can power her entire house for several cloudy days EXCEPT the clothes dryer, heat pump for air conditioning in summer and emergency resistance heat in winter. Natural gas takes care of cooking year-round and heat in winter. In the summer, when it is sunny for several days, Bella can sell power back to the grid and lower her bill. Bella understands how all energy sources can work together. Solar energy lowers her power bills but requires natural gas for a backup. Batteries are useful for storing excess produced energy. Bella doesn’t bet her life on solar power. She understands the reality of energy and that there is no current replacement for fossil fuels.

A big challenge is finding workers for the growth ahead. The Workforce Development Board of the Mid-Ohio Valley is working to solve the problem. “If you know someone ages 17-24 who is interested in working with the Trades we would love for them to attend our Apprenticeship Readiness Week July 7-11.” For more information or to register see: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Hu1sZHteE/

Happy Birthday America!

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Greg Kozera, gkozera@shalecrescentusa.com, is the director of marketing for Shale Crescent USA. He is a professional engineer with a Masters in Environmental Engineering and over 40 years of experience in the energy industry. He is a leadership expert, high school soccer coach, professional speaker and author of four books and many published articles.