Hartford Business Journal

28 Hartford Business Journal • October 29, 2018 • www.HartfordBusiness.com EDITOR'S TAKE Don't dismiss Stefanowski's chances G OP gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski has made few friends in the media. His reported lack of access on the campaign trail and reluctance to sate some reporters' and editorial boards' interview requests has led to skeptical and sometimes negative reporting by the Connecticut press corps. Some have said Stefanowski's elusiveness on certain issues and reluctance to be in the public spotlight are indications of a poorly run cam- paign that won't resonate with voters come Election Day. However, I think naysayers are wrong to dismiss Ste- fanowski's chances on Nov. 6. To be clear, this isn't an endorsement. In fact, I think unaf- filiated Oz Griebel is the most-informed candidate with the most realistic plan in this race, but Stefanowski is tapping into voter frustrations — much the same way President Trump did in 2016—that can't be overlooked. A recent poll that indicates the race is tightening backs up that claim. The former corporate and payday loan executive has run a straightforward campaign focused solely on cutting taxes — and government spending — to stimulate economic growth. He's far less interested in talking in-depth about other issues, like clean energy or health care, and he's not apologetic about it. As a result, he's drawn scorn and been labeled as uninformed by some in the media and his political rivals. He's also taken criticism over his pledge to eliminate the income tax over eight years. Those critiques are well-warranted. I don't see how it will be possible to elimi- nate 50 percent of the state's $20 billion in annual revenue at a time when we face a two-year, $4 billion-plus deficit and growing debt and long-term retiree pension and healthcare benefit costs. Even for someone who believes that tax cuts would stimulate economic growth in this state, the numbers don't add up and Stefanowski's promise is either aspirational at best or disingenuous at worst. But if we are trying to predict the outcome of this election, the focus shouldn't solely be on whether or not Stefanowski can convince the majority of voters that he can eliminate the income tax, while still keeping the state fiscally solvent. He simply has to convince enough voters that tax cuts are the most important priority this election cycle and that he's the best candidate to enact them — even if it doesn't mean eliminating the income tax entirely. It's a message that seems to be gaining momentum. According to the Oct. 23 Sacred Heart University/Hearst Connecticut Media poll, which showed Demo- crat Ned Lamont holding a slim 3.4 percentage point lead, the top issue driving voter behavior is the state's high tax burden. Meantime, an Aug. 23 Quinnipiac poll found that 49 percent of voters think eliminating the income tax is a good idea, even though a greater proportion of voters (56 percent) don't think it's realistic. There is real frustration about the direction of this state and the cost of living here. Stefanowski, who holds majority support from the all-important unaffiliat- ed-voter bloc, is trying to seize on that. Let's not forget, the Republican party has spent the last seven years criticizing Democrats and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy for enacting two of the largest tax increas- es in state history. Even if Stefanowski isn't the perfect — or even a likable — candidate, we can't dismiss the fact that the GOP has gained seats in the House and Senate in recent years and likely still has momentum. Even in dark blue Connecticut, President Trump remains a more popular politician than Malloy. Most Connecticut residents have already decided who they are voting for this November; the real fight for the next week-and-a-half is trying to influence the 22 percent of likely voters who told Quinnipiac pollsters earlier this month that they could still change their minds. If Stefanowski's cut taxes-and-spending message sticks, he can easily make up ground in a race in which voters aren't crazy about any of the major candidates. EXPERTS CORNER Tips for getting more work done By John Graham M ost everyone has figured out that performance expectations keep going up. To put it bluntly, we face the challenge of doing more in less time. And it's not about to change anytime soon. In the past, those with lots of experience fared well. But not today. Experience can hold us back, like running against a strong wind. Expe- rience is about what we've done in the past and it has value in a never-changing environment. On the other hand, expertise prepares us for what we must do next so we can face the future with confidence. The question, then, is how to tran- sition from experience to expertise, from looking backward for answers to looking forward with solutions. Here are 15 ways to do it: 1. Have the right mindset. Experi- ence short-circuits the thinking pro- cess. We go from zero to 60 in a split second. We tear into tasks because we've been there before and know what to do. It takes an analytical mindset when entering uncharted territory. 2. Figure out what you need to know. More often than not, problems, misunderstandings and confusion occur because we didn't ask enough questions — or, more likely any ques- tions. We get off on the wrong foot by not knowing what we need to know. 3. Give yourself time. Some say they do their best work in a crisis or at the last minute. It's also easy to deceive ourselves. Where does that leave us when we run out of time? The answer: in trouble and making excuses. 4. Work on it and let it sit. The best solutions rarely, if ever, occur on the first attempt. The human mind needs "noodling" time to work in the background without pressure. 5. Avoid confrontations. It isn't easy, particularly since we seem to possess an "urge to be right." When coming into contact with an oppos- ing view, the mind pushes back to re- gain its balance. It helps to view it as a signal to take a closer look before having a confrontation. 6. Never assume things will go smoothly. It's best to be prepared by anticipating what might go wrong. 7. Second-guess yourself. To avoid getting blindsided, ask yourself "what if" questions to foresee pos- sible outcomes. Then, when asked about alternatives, you can say you considered various options and why you chose this one. 8. Learn something new. If you can do your job without thinking about it, you're probably bored and under- productive. The human mind gets moving and stays active by coming up with new ideas. 9. Go beyond what's expected of you. It's easy to put up a "I've reached my limit" or a "I'm not paid to do that" sign. Everyone feels that way at times. If we do, we can count on dismal days ahead. 10. Be present. It's easy to be at work and not be present. The aver- age employee spends just under eight hours a week on personal stuff, most of it on email and social media. For those 18 to 34, add two hours a week, according to a staffing firm Of- fice Team survey. That's a day a week of not being present. 11. Ask questions. Have you started on a task and get into it only to discover you're on the wrong track? It occurs when we're too sure of ourselves or reluctant (embarrassed) to ask questions. Asking the right questions is a sign that your thinking about what you're doing. 12. Look for possibilities. Instead of just doing your work each day, take it to another level and interact with it so you get feedback from what you're doing. 13. Take a chance. It's invigorating to try something new. 14. Have clear goals. Start by ask- ing what you want to accomplish today, then add another for the coming month, and so on. When you know where you're going, the tedium fades away. 15. Eliminate confusion. We may not be in a position to control the confusion around us, but we can avoid adding to it. We can make sure our messages are accurate and complete so there's no misunderstanding. John Graham of GrahamComm is a marketing and sales strategy consultant and business writer. Contact him at jgraham@grahamcomm.com or johnrgraham.com. Opinion & Commentary Greg Bordonaro Editor John Graham

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