Bad Bosses

This month marks my 40th year in the American workforce. Over the course of those four decades, I have experienced good bosses, bad bosses and bosses in serious need of therapy. I have also been a boss, served as my own boss and witnessed many bosses in action. I am sad to report that, in … Read more

You Can’t Cheat the Universe

“For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Sir Isaac Newton postulated his three laws of motion centuries ago, but the truth contained in his laws are just as relevant today as they were when he first formulated his theories in 1687. While you may often think of his laws as applying only … Read more

Baseball

Spring training games began this week and baseball once again returned to the fields and parks in Arizona and Florida. As winter fades and the winds bring just a hint of what is yet to come; hundreds of young athletes gather together to play a child’s game for fun and profit. I have always dreamed … Read more

Paradigms

Paradigms are usually defined as patterns or archetypes. I prefer to think of them as a filter that we apply to our lives. We all have established paradigms, from the way we prefer to get ready for work, to the systems we have established in our daily lives. Mom has a favorite way to bake … Read more

Don’t Drop Any Babies

I have taught or facilitated hundreds of seminars and attended almost as many programs over the course of my career.  As I look back on those workshops, some stand out as truly memorable and have been useful to me over the course of career. One truly unforgettable session was entitled “Expectations and Quality” and its … Read more

The Legend of the Starfish

While I was living and working in south Texas, I heard about the Legend of the Starfish. As the story goes, two priests, Father John and Monsignor Leo, were jogging along the beach on North Padre island when they came upon a stretch of sand where thousands of starfish had washed up, along with the … Read more

History Repeats

In chapter 33 of my book I talk about learning from history or you will repeat it. Never has that lesson been more important than this past week. The Health and Human Services department announced, with great fanfare and even more emphasis from the Press Secretary, that all health plans, offered to employees of religious … Read more

The Passing of Joe Paterno

Yesterday, Joe Paterno died. He was 85 years old.  He set and established records for most games won, bowl games coached, most bowl games won and many more accomplishments that may never be surpassed. He also positively influenced the lives of thousands of players, students, opponents and friends who were fortunate enough to have played … Read more

60 Years

This week, I celebrated my 60th birthday. This milestone birthday forced me to reflect on my life and future. I also realized that the longer I live, the more I become aware how much more I need to understand. My book for my children was my attempt to pass on what I have learned “the hard way” so that they … Read more

Foreword

Dublin lighthouse

This all began as a letter to my son and daughter, Matthew and Kristin. While I believe that a will is necessary, I also wanted to leave them some “pearls of wisdom” rather than just a cold legal document, after I had passed on. Back in the last century (I always wanted to say that), I … Read more