“I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round I really love to watch them roll No longer riding on the merry-go-round I just had to let it go" -John Lennon When I managed the Purchasing function for a large food company, a market adage we often quoted was, “The best cure for …
The Power of Praise
Praise is like rocket fuel! Not just any old praise, but sincere praise from someone we admire. Getting Personal I asked Claude about the best kinds of praise, and the answer rang true: -Specific and detailed -Authentic and sincere -Earned and deserved -Unexpected and unsolicited -From respected sources. Not a bad list, but it misses …
The Barricades of Heaven
Better bring your own redemptionWhen you come,To the barricades of heavenWhere I'm From. -Jackson Browne Song lyrics stick with me; sometimes providing inspiration, and other times, understanding. When I first heard the Jackson Browne lyric, it sounded blasphemous. Over the years, my thoughts changed. The song's title provides a hint: The Barricades of Heaven. The …
Lesson From Infinity
In my elder years, I’ve developed the regrettable habit of waking up at 3:30 AM, not refreshed, but too awake to go back to sleep. Rather than doomscrolling, I lie in bed and think. On a recent morning, my thoughts returned to a solitary beach stroll. The location was Neskowin, OR, where we rented a …
Escape
Who doesn’t like to escape? During Spring break, traffic is noticeably lighter in Minneapolis as residents vacate the northland for a brief respite in warmer destinations. Escape takes many forms. I enjoy sitting down with a cocktail at the end of the day. It’s not the healthiest thing I could do, but it’s a nice …
Closer To Fine
A person I’ve known a long time asked me a serious question: “Joy seems to have gone missing from my life. I don’t fit in. How does one find joy, meaning, and belonging?” I told her she should follow my blog. “Yeah, right,” she said. “But I’m not looking for a 7-habits recipe, I’m looking …
Moments of Being*
I’m amazed whenever I look in the mirror and am confronted by an old man. What makes the child we were, and the person we are, feel the same inside? What creates the apparent solidity of our inner self? Some claim we are our own architects. That’s true, to an extent, but our identity has …
Future-Proof Investing
I don’t often write about economic matters because most people find them boring, at least until they don’t. This is probably one of those times. I’m fascinated by markets. In the short run, they are driven as much by psychology as economic fundamentals. When the stock market is making new highs, people rush in, fearful …
A House Built On Rock
When I was young, my father told me the parable of the house built on rock. The parable is from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. It draws upon the analogy of two builders: one builds his house on solid rock, while the other builds his house on sand. The house built on rock stands firm …
Act Your Age!
Among my fond childhood memories are successful attempts at making my siblings laugh at inappropriate moments. Church services provided a perfect opportunity. We never missed church on Sunday, and when the minister began his sermon, a hush fell over the congregation. If I could make a funny face and catch my brother’s eye at the …
Towards A Life Well-Lived 