Blog

I’ve been talking out loud to old friends and relatives who died years ago. Often, I do this when I’m out for a walk or driving in my car. My mom and dad get their share of my questions. They both died in 1999. As usual, my mom speaks up immediately and has all the …

I’ve never been a sound sleeper. For many years, I figured most bright people stayed awake thinking about stuff that had just happened or things that may be coming their way tomorrow. What a shock to learn that hours of continuous, deep sleep are actually considered healthy. …

Life is formed as we make an endless number of choices every day.  Some choices are recognized for being huge in the moment, like deciding to marry a specific person or taking a job in a city far away. Other choices are much more subtle and may even go unnoticed in the …

All over the place, I see signs that read, “We’re hiring.” Often, a signing bonus is offered for anyone who accepts a position. At the same time, I’ve noticed many small businesses needing to reduce their hours or even close for a day or two because of an employee shortage. …

I’m on the free-throw line with five seconds to go in the big game against Saint Patrick’s. Saint Cecilia’s eighth grade team trails by a single point. It’s all up to me. I look up at the stands, where there are at least a dozen fans rooting me on. I spot my mother, …

If you want a practice run on your level of patience, I advise you to make a quick dash from Midway Airport in Chicago to Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. I did so this weekend, thinking my 647-mile trip would provide an enjoyable 10 hours of bringing back the memories of my …

My friend Ray Bard sent me a wonderful little book of his. It’s called Fired Up! Selling: Great Quotes to Inspire, Energize, Succeed. Over the years, I’ve looked through dozens of books made up of famous quotes. This one is different in a number of ways. First of all, the …

At my age, you’d think I’d be smarter in a lot of ways. After all, years represent experience and experience should convert to wisdom. It hasn’t worked that way for me in all matters. I keep thinking people will automatically think the same way I do – that they will see and …

I’ve been spending too much time at the Riesen House Saloon in Gold Hill. It’s a drinking spot for out-of-luck miners and a few political hacks who come up from Carson City. One of those guys is Orion, who wears fancy boots and an oversized cowboy hat and claims he’s the big …

Running a successful company for 33 years required a bunch of stuff coming together. When strangers ask me how it happened, I smile and give a vague and easy answer: “Good luck and great employees.”   That’s an okay answer if I just want to move on quickly to catch a plane …