Jim Zitek is a well regarded speaker on the topics of Critical Thinking Skills and applying those skills to the economy and markets. This web site covers his current speaking topics. 

Jim Zitek is also an Investment Advisor with Feltl & Company, a Minneapolis based securities and investment-banking firm  where he manages individual investment portfolios using a top-down approach. He starts with the economy and works down to individual securities. 

He also writes and publishes an e-mail publication: Economic Update and a blog: Paradigm Adjustment. 

You can also e-mail him for more information at:jim@zitek.net

Critical Thinking Skills Make You A Better Decision Maker

Good decision makers, those who make correct decisions in a timely manner, are more successful.  The problem of course is that making good decisions is very difficult to do. There are lots of reasons including not enough information, uncertainty with the information you have, cause of problem not correct, goal not defined well enough, and data points flawed to name a few.  

Another concern has to be the source of your information. Unless you do your own primary research, much of your information comes from and is filtered by the media. But, media information is often over-dramatized, misinterpreted or simply incorrect. Headlines and sound bites do not provide adequate information or analysis. Consequently, media stories can often lead you in the wrong direction.

I have learned that you simply can't read more or watch more TV and expect to be better informed. To be better informed and make better decisions, you need to use a Critical Thinking Process that will give you more accurate, reasoned information and better alternatives.

The critical thinking process I use has seven basic steps. I simply tear an article or story into its parts; analyze the parts and then reassemble the article, but in a more informed way. 

Following are the seven steps.

1. Identify the argument (issue, conclusion and reasons used)

2. Define the ambiguous concepts and words

3. Uncover the author's assumptions

4. Examine the evidence (fallacies, evidence, statistics)

5. Identify missing information

6. Determine causes and effects

7. Draw conclusions 

This process, or one like it, will result in more accurate information and information that is in context. The kind of information and data points you need to make better decisions. 

Chose from three different presentations  

1. Where Does The Economy Go From Here?

Today’s economy and markets are fundamentally different than those of the past. Our economy has slowly changed from a market based, entrepreneurial economy to one that is Centrally Planned. Economic polices today are directed by politicians and lobbyists in Washington, DC rather than by manufacturers and the individuals who buy their products.

Also, every time there is a dip in consumer spending, the government rushes in to fill the dip with borrowed money. We have now accumulated over $15 trillion dollars in debt, which is not sustainable.

The Great Yellowstone Fire of 1988 is a good analogy of what’s happening to our economy.  The central planners in Washington DC insisted that every fire be extinguished immediately rather than letting fires burn up the undercover and dead plant matter – actually rejuvenating the forest. By putting out every little fire, the forest actually became a significant fire hazard. Lighting struck in June of 1988 and burned about 73,000 acres or 36% of the park and was only extinguished in late fall by rain and snow. A tragedy caused by central planning rather than natural forces.

Our centrally planned economy may be headed for the same kind of fate. Consequently, we must change the way we look at the economy and how we interpret economic data. This presentation, “Where Does The Economy Go From Here” does exactly that. It: 

1. Explains how this transformation to central planning impacts the economy and markets. 

2. Why the consensus view of the economy is often misleading.

3. What you must know about the key issues that will affect the performance of the economy and markets in the coming years – including the debt crisis, inflation, housing, employment and economic growth.

It is not about happy talk or doom; and it’s not the traditional rehash of consensus numbers and predictions. It’s different because it’s about reality. It’s about understanding where the economy is now and where its headed in the future so each attendee can define a strategy ahead of events that impact the market and not be forced to suddenly react to events that usually “surprise” the central planners. 

2. Help. The News Is Driving Me Crazy!           

It's time to stop talking back to the TV and throwing the newspaper against the wall. This presentation explains why information from the media is often unreliable and what can be done to turn biased, often misleading information into solid, reasoned information you can use to make better decisions.

This presentation discusses: 

1. A practical, seven-step, Critical Thinking Process anyone can use to get at the real story behind the news, 

2. How to build the breadth and depth of information you need, one story at a time, 

3. Then, how to focus on the critical pieces of information you need to make better, more timely decisions. 

Each participant will walk away with easy-to-understand, relevant information that can be implemented immediately when they get back to their desks. 

Depending on the size of the audience, this presentation can also be interactive allowing the audience to participate in the presentation/discussion.

 

3. Real Stories. No Sound Bites. No Headlines.

Teaser headlines may get you to a story; but once there, you may be disappointed.

When you need information about an issue, you need the complete story, in context and you need to understand the reasons for and against each argument.

This presentation, “Real Stories. No Sound Bites. No Headlines.” discusses a variety of current, relevant issues. Using our ClearVision Scenarios TM methodology, we focus more in depth (five to ten minutes) on a limited number of issues rather than a broad number of issues affecting the direction of the economy or markets. For example: what drives economic growth (GDP), housing, employment, oil prices, or inflation.

The audience may not hear their version of the story, but they will hear a hard-edged, objective overview of the selected issues that will give them a new perspective and a better understanding of each issue.

 Note: This presentation, as with all my presentations, are customizable in length and complexity to meet the specific needs of the audience.

More information about each presentation is available on the Presentations Page.

Call 612-424-5335 for date availability

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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