Are you crafting the life you want? Look online or talk to professionals these days and you’ll come away with the idea that that’s what you’re supposed to be doing. But lately, I’ve struggled to craft much of anything — not even a Popsicle stick figure. I have a pile of papers (affectionately referred to…
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How Much Does Opportunity Cost?
If you know me, you know I’m not rich (at least, I’m not as I write this). I grew up with zero money — my family depended on welfare. We were one of the families the church would gift a turkey for Christmas. There was never money for any extras. If I wanted to do…
Thoughts on Simple Pleasures
What does this look like to you? To some people, it might look like my teeny dog (Taydoh) doing what dogs do best — guarding the house with all eight pounds of fury, watching, noticing. Taydoh is a Yorkshire terrier, so he was specifically bred to keep his eye on rodents. It’s not an accident…
An (Almost) Forgotten Birthday
We all know the scenario as our cultural stereotyping tells it. “Dense” husband forgets wife’s birthday. Wife fumes, goes on social media, and gathers an army of people who will confirm for her that man is, in fact, dense. Husband fights ought of the doghouse with roses, a spa package, and at least one run…
How I Get Back My Creative Mojo When I Slump
Every once in a while, I have severe moments of apathy and self-doubt. It’s not because I’m in a creative rut or lack ideas. I have plenty of concepts. It’s not creative block. It’s just that, after extended periods of prolific creating, I lose a sense of whether any of the content matters or has…
What a 1963 Refrigerator Teaches About What People Want
A few weeks ago, my former colleague Tom Popomaronis posted an interesting video to his LinkedIn account. In the video, you see a 1963 refrigerator. The machine deserves kudos just from the standpoint it’s still completely functional, a testimony to the quality of the production. And the appliance is far from being a dinosaur no…
Why I Hired a Life Coach
If you needed to pick a word to describe me, it probably would be ambitious. I have a lot of projects and hobbies, and I go after a lot. Yet, this week, I hired and met with a life coach for the first time. What I didn’t get (but should have) Normally, kids get some…
You Probably Don’t Trust Me (But Here’s Why I Hope You Will)
Trust is such a loaded word these days. We’re used to companies delivering scandals. (Politicians, too, for that matter.) It’s common to be cheated on. Parents abuse their kids. Friends who swore loyalty disappear. And the media. Oh, the media. None of these realities negate the good still in the world. But collectively, they make…