Advanced Praise
Bold, monumental, brilliant, and provocative. Bitz insightfully nails how America has lost its way and offers thoughtful solutions to find our way back. A courageous and important series.
Bob Vanourek, award-winning author and former CEO, Cordillera, Colorado
Winning Practices is one of the most important books that I have ever read. It is a badly-needed articulation of the problems besetting our country and the solutions to them.
Gary Fenchuk, award-winning developer and author of Timeless Wisdom, Midlothian, Virginia
Mark delves into some of our countrys biggest challenges and cuts through the politics. He takes you beyond the approaches of the right or the left and presents creative and practical winning ones.
Stephen McConnell, president of Solano Ventures, Scottsdale, Arizona
Winning Practices will never, ever leave the top of my desk; it is a comprehensive guide for life. Its insight and organization are amazing.
Dr. Story Musgrave, surgeon, Marine veteran, NASA astronaut, Hubble Space Telescope repairman, Kissimmee, Florida
Toward Truth, Freedom, Fitness, and Decency is an extraordinary study... as compelling a read as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking.... Very highly recommended for both community and academic library collections and... for students, political activists, and ordinary folk interested in the social, cultural, economic, and political issues that so trouble our country today.
Susan Bethany, Midwest Book Review, Oregon, Wisconsin
Winning Practices provides a road map for living a useful, happy and healthy life. I love it. It should be mandatory reading for every high school student.
Mitch Sill, retired CEO and owner of Road Machinery & Supplies, Duluth, Minnesota
Every chapter is worth reading and pondering.
Richard Kaufman, chair of Am store Corporation, Chicago, Illinois
Mark has written clearly and truthfully, a complete Operators Manual for Life. I will share the series with those who are dearest to me.
Haisook Somers, mother, volunteer, and philanthropist, Montreal, Quebec
I am profoundly impressed with the Flourish Series. Mark has delineated and backed up with facts and thoughtful analysis timeless truths and behaviors that will help many individuals lead more fulfilled lives. His work could not come at a better time. As fewer people learn these truths and behaviors from their families and faiths, an insightful, well-organized, secular expression of them becomes ever more important.
John Doyle, owner of Doyle Security Systems, Rochester, New York
I find myself staring off into space and pondering Marks ideas. I agree with what he says, and I am pleased to find so much well-synthesized and organized thought in one treatise.
Tom Ewert, retired federal judge, Naples, Florida
Mark blends his considerable experience to design a plan for America to not only grow but also to flourish. His practical and commonsense plan is a must read for all thinking Americans.
Carl Youngman, former CEO of more than twenty companies, Boston, Massachusetts
Winning Practices is thought-provoking and thoroughly interesting. It examines many of our countrys challenges and offers a comprehensive set of solutions. It is incredibly innovative and has stimulated many discussions among our family and friends. The books are a must-read for our countrys leaders and every American who is concerned about it.
Mark Danni, conductor, founding artistic director of Theatre Zone, and president of Kare Mar Productions, Naples, Florida
Even though I have a more biblical viewpoint of the world, the teaching and wisdom of Winning Practices should be mandatory reading for all first-year college students.
Kenneth Lockard, founder of numerous companies, CEO of Lockard Companies, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Winning Practices
of a Free, Fit, and Prosperous People
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information regarding the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher and author are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. The author and publisher made every effort to ensure the information contained in this book was true at the time of publication.
Published by Flourish Books
Naples, FL
flourishbooks.org
Copyright 2019 Mark W. Bitz
All rights reserved.
Thank you for purchasing an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright law. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the copyright holder.
Distributed by Ingram Content Group
For ordering information or special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Ingram Content Group LLC, One Ingram Blvd.,
La Vergne, TN 37086, 615.793.5000
Cover design by Night Owl Freelance
Cover art by Katiana Robles
Cataloging-in-Publication data is available.
Print ISBN: 978-0-9859504-7-7
eBook ISBN: 978-0-9859504-8-4
Audiobook ISBN: 978-0-9859504-9-1
Printed in the United States of America
3-31-2019
So you and future generations may realize
your full potential and do better than we have done.
Contents
Introduction
Section I
Chapter 7
Chapter 12
Section III
Purpose and Social Interaction
Symmetry and Nonlinearity
Optionality and Judicious Risk-Taking
Thrift and Investment
Figure 21: Present Value Annuity Formulas
Appearance and Congeniality
Structure and Stakeholder Inclusion
Accountability and Assignments
Incentives and Evaluations
Culture of Success
Evolution and Competition
Trials and Pilots
Continuous Improvement
Collegial Improvement
Love and Accommodation
Commitment and Fidelity
Nurture and Discipline
Literacy and Education
Government of the People
Supermajorities and Minority Accommodation
Chapter 44
Inclusion and Meritocracy
Meritocracy and Comparative Advantage
Transparency and Good Information
English as the National Language
Allies and Limited Treaty Powers
Leadership and Service
Introduction
Good intentions, idyllic wishes, and flawed policies do not improve peoples lives.
Like so many other Americans, I am a product of people who came to this country in search of a better life. Three of my grandparents were of Anglo-Saxon descent, and one was of German descent. My Anglo-Saxon ancestors came to America in the 17th and 18th centuries; my German ancestors arrived in the 19th century. And like so many other Americans, life improved for each generation of my ancestors throughout our countrys history. Sadly, this has not been the case for the current generation, as our nation no longer exhibits the vitality and promise that it did in prior decades.
Many American children live with one parent, grow up in poverty, and receive a poor education. Many families cannot access or afford proper healthcare. When adjusted for inflation, most American incomes stagnated for 28 years. Our country has unprecedented levels of debt. Unknown numbers of criminals, terrorists, and unvaccinated people enter the country illegally each year. Immigrant assimilation is no longer a priority, and a common language and culture no longer unify us. Inequality increases, as social mobility declines. Identity politics and polarizing policies, news, and speech divide us. Dysfunctional federal and state governments fail us.
