RECENT POSTS
If it Bleeds it Leads
Me: My WIFI is constantly running slow. Why is this taking soooo long? WTAF? Reality: Really? You mean that service that instantly connects you to everything and everyone in the known universe, retrieves any piece of information you desire across space satellites,...
Gandhi Visits the Car Wash
You know those automatic change machines? The machines that allow you to feed in a dollar, and then they give you 4 quarters. Like at the car wash... Do you remember how insanely frustrating those machines can be? A slightly bent corner. A little crease in the...
Is good leadership “hard but fair”? Ask Private Pyle.
Running a business is HARD. Making tough decisions is HARD. Finding a balance between the pursuit of riches, and the desire to enrich the lives of our customers, co-workers, associates and loved ones...is HARD. Leading an organization requires that we simultaneously...
Hey Entrepreneur, Ever Feel This Way?
It’s a funny thing, trying to grow a business. It can be frustrating and freighting, and it can downright exhausting. But it can also be exciting and inspiring, and make the adrenaline course through your veins. That range of emotion lies in the fact that we are...
My Dog is a 17th Century Philosopher
"Let us then suppose the mind to be, as we say, white paper, void of all characters without any ideas; how comes it to be furnished?" - John Locke 17th century philosopher John Locke frequently expounded (and to some degree expanded) upon the notion that we are all...
The No-Go Ego
From the moment we are born, we are rewarded for being “right”. It is the fundamental building block of our educational system. In fact, we grow up learning to actually fear being “wrong”. We believe there is ridicule or shame in being wrong, and that there is...
Tony Soprano’s Thesis on Kinetic Image Processing
If a picture is worth 1000 words...what's a video worth? I wondered this very thing this morning, and surprise, surprise, surprise...there are plenty of articles on the topic. And some videos. Yep, research, statistics, polling...all sorts of ways to analyze this...
A List of Prerequisite Leadership Skills Required to Serve In Congress
*Note: This list is based on my own observations. If any member of congress should display any behavior indicating a truthful, consistent and genuine desire to serve his or her constituents needs before his or her own, please send name and evidentiary...
I Don’t Know, and That’s OK
Some people are afraid of it.Some people are unaware of it.Some people are unwilling to admit it. Some people are offended by it.Some people are angered by it.Some people are unwilling to accept it. There is a great power to the phrase “I don’t know”. The...
A Glorious Symphony of Destruction
What a magnificent word: SYMPHONYMost people think of symphony as an elaborate musical composition, engaging a variety of instruments to create a beautiful blend of sound and emotion. It can be so powerful as to transport us, mentally (and some would say...
Please Give Generously of Your Pizza
On April 21, 2013, a 2 year old from Los Angeles named Hazel was diagnosed with a tumor in her abdomen. During her treatments, her Mom would try to pass the time by playing games, taking walks, playing dress up, etc... Anything to pass the time and avoid...
Our Myopian State of Affairs
Have you ever been in conversation, or debate, or engaged about an important topic with a family member, a friend, an employee, a peer, a boss, whomever...and thought: This is SO obvious to me, why don't they get it? Have you ever had an epiphany about a certain...
Here’s why it Always Seems Like Yesterday
"Life goes too fast." OR "Seems like just yesterday." - We've all used phrases like these at one point or another, and countless other cliches as well. There was an "I love the 90's" show on TV some time ago, and it got me thinking about the speed at...
Get in the Damn Conversation
A friend of mine recently asked me: "What advice would you give your 26 year old self?" (I'm now 46!) We've all probably heard a question like this, or even been asked. And for most, there's likely a moment of hesitation...because...it's a pretty big question. There...
Walking the Walk
Today I wanted (and needed) to start my day with these four positive affirmations: 1. I have complete control over all of my goals and aspirations. 2. I can be a positive influence on every person I touch, by shaping my attitude around gratitude. 3. I can make...
Confidence Is Not Enough
It's morning, you're standing in front of the mirror...staring into your own eyes. Perhaps you're brushing your teeth. You're thinking about the day ahead, and the challenges at hand. Perhaps you've got an important meeting, or something that needs confronted at...
My renewed appreciation for gas station food
"Trade your expectation for appreciation and the world instantly changes." - Tony Robbins Those of you who live regionally will recognize the name Sheetz. For those who don't, Sheetz is simply the greatest gas station ever constructed. Sheetz isn't just a gas...
Six Inches to Freedom
Imagine you're at an unfamiliar home for an event or holiday. Say a distant relative's home, for a cookout on the 4th of July. You've just mowed through a half a dozen deviled eggs, after the 4 course meal that began with a "simple" hot dog. Then it starts to...
A Letter to Paul Harris
This article isn't just for Rotary members. If you are a Rotarian, I hope that you will read this...and share it with other Rotarians. If you are not a Rotarian, I hope that you will read this letter, and ask me questions about the organization. One that I believe...
Rise and Shine
We refer to the sunrise as that time when the upper edge of the sun appears over the horizon. It's really a beautiful event, seemingly regardless of where you are.But contrary to the notion, and to the words we use to describe it...a sunrise is nothing of the sort....
Father’s Day: Shitty Statistics and some Significant Sapience
Did you know that over 20MM children in our country live without their father? 20 MILLION. And countless studies have been made on the effect this has on children. In fact: 71% of high school dropouts, came from a fatherless home.85% of children with diagnosed...
Interrupting Andrew Jackson
"You must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing." - Andrew Jackson Funny thing happened with this morning's reflection, while I was reading a biography of Andrew Jackson. Really interesting dude, to say the very least. My mind started to look at some of...
Titanic Decisions
"The decisions you make are a choice of values that reflect your life in every way." - Alice Waters Despite the fact that there were 2,224 people aboard the RMS Titanic, there were 20 lifeboats, with a capacity of 1,178. Despite the fact that the maximum capacity of...
Today
Today I am grateful for another opportunity. To soak in the sun. To breathe in the air. To start the week anew. To refocus on the things that are really important.Today I am grateful for another chance. To pursue the excellence that I'm capable of. To find growth in...
5 Reasons I’d Rather Live In A Marvel Universe
I believe to most, movies are underappreciated, as an art form. Sure, they make billions of dollars, produce global celebrity and are a constant part of our news cycle...but I don't think they're really appreciated for all their complexities. Movies put us in touch...
King Louis Zamperini
Louis Zamperini was a US Olympic distance runner, who competed in the 5000 meters in the 1936 Berlin Olympic games. On its own merit, a memorable accomplishment. But this isn't what Mr. Zamperini is known for. After the Olympics, Louie was attending USC...
I Miss You Chris Cornell
"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything." - Plato I have a theory about music, and why the right music touches us so deeply. To explain, it requires...
Be Careful Who Picks Your Nose
"You can pick your friends. You can pick your nose. But never, pick your friends nose." - Coach Finstock, TEEN WOLF 1985 Ever notice that when you're 'out and about', if you run into someone from your neighborhood, or your town...it provides a little...
ROTARY and the Equation of Infinite Power
Growing up, I had always recognized the Rotary name and image (the Rotary Wheel), but never knew exactly what it was. As I became older, I associated it with a group of business people...and somewhat, to community service.In 2013, I began some difficult...
Self Improvement Solely for the Self is Certainly Selfish, at least in Some Circles
I know what you're thinking... "Wow, this dude is a Master of Alliteration". Right? (or perhaps you're looking up "alliteration" because you're a normal person) Any-who... This morning I received a text, inviting me to read this article. It's by a guy named Mark...