In contrast, a few guys where my brother worked went around office recruiting players for their new softball team and they joined a league. They signed up anybody who said they would play. They didn’t get a coach and never practiced. During games, they asked people where they wanted to play, not what their abilities were. As a result, outfielders couldn’t catch fly balls, infielders couldn’t catch ground balls, and they lost almost every game.

My message is simple. Pro sports teams take time to analyze demands of each position. They use best tools they have available to compare players to demands of those jobs. They have tools in place to monitor a player’s progress. They realize sooner rather than later if a person lacks raw ability to perform at a specific position. They also realize when that same person has raw ability to succeed at a different position. They have programs in place to train, coach, develop, and promote upcoming players before they need them.

Why don’t more companies learn to do same thing? There are plenty of good skill, attitude, and personality assessment tools that an employer can use to build models of jobs and measure individuals against those jobs. Generally speaking, mistakes in hiring could be brought to a halt. Poor performers could be promoted or moved laterally into different positions that played to their strengths. Training efforts could actually pay off and benefit company and its employees, particularly when tailored to individuals’ deficiencies and company’s needs.

Copyright 2001, Mason Duchatschek

5. Choose indemnity type coverage and avoid HMOs whenever possible. This lets you and your doctor maintain control of your medical care. There are no “networks”; you choose your own doctor and hospital and are free to switch at any time. There are no limits on travel, since this type of coverage is equally valid everywhere in country.

6. Take a separate plan if you travel outside U.S. Most U.S. plans provide weak foreign travel benefits and most worldwide plans provide weak coverage in U.S. SO it is best to carry separate plans tailored to your travel schedule.

7. Be aware of state issues. Each state controls its own health insurance laws. Four states – MA, NJ, NY and VT – make it nearly impossible for its individual citizens to buy affordable health insurance. The only legal way around this problem is to take out coverage while living temporarily outside these states.

8. Pay for 3 months of longer. You can save money by paying for more than one month at a time. Since most plans accept credit cards, it even makes financial sense to “charge it” at a lower premium rate and then pay off your own credit card over a few months. The premium discount will usually be lower than credit card finance charges.

9. Avoid lesser-known insurance plans. Health insurance premium rates are based directly on benefits that insurer pays out to policyholders. It makes no sense to enroll into a plan where there is a known issue of claims problems in order to find lower premium rates. Fortunately, market share leaders maintain an excellent reputation for claims handling. Stick to these market share leaders.

10. Use a medical savings account. If you could benefit from making your medical expenses fully tax-deductible, open a medical savings account. There are no account fees or charges for those who qualify for this plan.