For centuries in moments of sharp civic discontent, anyone and everyone can take to the streets and demand change. The First Amendment protects “the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” From the Stamp Act boycotts of the 1760’s to the 1913 suffrage parade and […]
‘Make a Difference’ or ‘Make a Scene’ Read More »
I recently had an experience with someone who is a very black or white thinker. In their world it either ‘is’ or it ‘isn’t.’ To me that is a tough way to live especially when interacting with other people. It can lead to a lot of frustration. I’ve read that frustration occurs when someone does
Black or White Thinking Read More »
Early in my sales career I was told that a main part of my job was to turn a customer’s want into his need. Someone may want to purchase your product or service, but until they feel the need they likely will not. When I was discussing this adage with my Dad, a career salesman,
Turn Want into Need Read More »
Gratitude is not a feeling or an act. Gratitude needs to be a virtue and an attitude. Philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero, “Gratitude is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all virtues.” It is a thankfulness for what we “have” as opposed to looking at what we “don’t have?” God gave us what
The above line is taken from the book, Atomic Habits, by James Clear. What a powerful statement this is. Every action, positive or negative, is a vote. Reminds me of the American Indian parable, Two Wolves: One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My
Every Action You Take is a Vote for the Type of Person You Wish to Become Read More »
Forty years ago, my Dad shared a poem, The Station, with me. I have been an advocate of focusing on the journey and its passengers ever since. There is symbolism in the vehicle for the journey, a symbolism especially found in songs. Two major images for this vehicle are trains and boats. Trains have been
A well-used tenet in coaching football is the adage “low man wins.” It applies to line play as well as defeating blocks and tackling. It is all about pad level, getting into a low position enables a player to have more leverage on their opponent. Being lower to the ground provides a stronger base, more
This blog is material repurposed from my book, Guideposts and Godspeed for Your Journey. I am making it a Palm Sunday post at the start of Holy week because of its spiritual focus. Has this ever happened to you? Where you attend a dinner event and missed out on some great appetizers because the servers
The Appetizer and The Entrée Read More »
Measure twice, cut once is an adage I heard my father say over and over during the many home improvement projects we worked on at his house, as well as mine. It is a carpenter’s creed to double-check measurements for accuracy before cutting a piece of wood; otherwise it may be necessary to cut again,
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One of my favorite movies is Field of Dreams. So much so that on a business trip to Iowa, I added in a 3-hour diversion to visit the site where the movie was filmed. It was well worth it. Near the end of the movie, James Earl Jones character, Terence Mann, says the line, “for
For it is Money They Have and Peace They Lack Read More »
