Not Your Fault but Your Responsibility
Everyone can point to circumstances not of our own doing (impoverished family, highly pigmented skin, surname ending in a vowel, went to Podunk school, etc.) to justify our less-than-desired position. All may be true, but they do not excuse us from responsibility for our response. The ExemplarsOprah overcame a very disadvantaged upbringing to become a […]
The Worst Thing that Ever Happened?
His StoryA crestfallen friend bared his soul and shared his tale of woe with the expectation of a sympathetic response. Instead, I reconstructed his words and offered hearty congratulations. “Bob” told me that the failure of his business cost him his life’s savings and left him feeling ashamed. With his tail between his legs, he […]
Seek What is Right
I may have written a message that, despite its accuracy, will disappoint or enflame most. Rather than trying to solve the problem or change your mind, I want to encourage listening to more than the noise and, to the extent possible, receptivity to opposing viewpoints. FactsIt starts with a country’s obligation to enforce its immigration […]
Your North Star
The Case for ItWe generally have a good idea about what we want to do. We are decent people laboring at a professional endeavor, taking care of our families, indulging in pleasurable pastimes, and are reasonably happy. However, unless we discover and follow our purpose, we may succumb to the disorienting influence, even if well-intentioned, […]
Made for More
Why?Our moms were right; we possess and should use our talents. It goes beyond “to whom much is given, much will be required,” the biblically-inspired obligation declared in graduation speeches. We have an emotional need for challenge, growth, and success, Maslow’s esteem and self-actualization needs. Conversely, inaction, especially when coupled with awareness of unfulfilled potential, causes […]
Less is More
Last week, I relished my 2025 successes, but 2025 also had non-successes. While there were lessons learned from the “failures,” the most critical lesson came from selecting and focusing on my highest priorities. The LowlightsFor each failure, ask why and if the objective remains worthy of pursuit. My marketing plan did not adequately promote the […]
Looking Back – Forward
Reflecting on our 2025 activities goes beyond whether we met a goal; it is learning extracted from our experiences. Immeasurable is OKWe are instructed to set goals that we can objectively measure – how many, how far, etc., but some goals do not work that way. How do you measure a relationship’s increase in love? […]
Another Year
The end of the year marks the time for reflection. My thoughts first turn towards gratitude for the resources to write the blog and those who validate its value by reading it. Next comes a series of questions: What happened? Was it consistent with my purpose? What, if anything, do I change? In 2025, the […]
Generosity (In)Deed
Most of my stories start with me portraying myself as a chivalrous, larger-than-life figure. In a classic example of expectation vs. reality, I find myself humbled repeatedly by unlikely characters and circumstances, and today is no different. My example was fantastic until someone apparently far less capable than I outdid me. The Set-UpMy experiences with […]
Generosity in Spirit
After last week’s message on generosity, I was inspired to share my experience with Recoridas Nocturnas, which took place during a one-month stay in Buenos Aires, Argentina (part of a post-sale of the business trip ten years ago). Recorridas occurs every night, but there is no membership list or volunteer schedule. From the 20-40 assembled […]