“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” – Edgar Degas
I’ve spent 7 of the last 8 weeks on the road. My travels took me from coast to coast and north to south – Atlantic Ocean to Pacific Ocean, Lake Michigan to Lake of the Ozarks, and crossing the Mississippi 4 times in a car and 8 times in a plane. Along the way, I visited 10 states plus the District of Columbia.
Food is always an important part of my journeys. Breakfast in a tucked away diner. Dinners in steakhouses and other restaurants accompanied with wine. Lunch at a hotdog stand. A wedding at a castle. Breaking bread at the family table on a friend’s farm.
Read More
Topics:
reflection,
friendship,
personal relationships,
family,
journey,
travel,
story,
people,
little lessons,
time,
wonder,
perspective
“As you get older it is harder to have heroes, but it is sort of necessary.” – Ernest Hemingway
The 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, was born on October 27, 1858. When he was only 19, he lost his North Star, when his father died unexpectedly. Roosevelt went on to be a prolific writer, war hero politician, and world adventurer. He was also the father to six children and died at only 60 years old. He became my boyhood hero when I read a library book about him, and now there are 29 different books about him in my office.
Read More
Topics:
family,
memories,
story,
listen,
little lessons,
father,
honor,
perspective
“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” – Carl Jung
A client and I were discussing reliable sources of information on our industry. After reviewing different websites and blogs, we moved onto individuals who offer insightful posts.
“Are you on Twitter?”, I asked.
Long pause. “Well, my Twitter account is really for my musician persona. I don’t use it for corporate work.”
Musician? That never came up in our previous discussions.
Read More
Topics:
reflection,
personal relationships,
generation,
honesty,
story,
people,
little lessons,
perspective
“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” – Kahlil Gibran
On Day One of the road trip, I was introduced to a great local diner. Reasonable prices, good service and most importantly, an endless cup of hot, black coffee. Looking around, you could sense this was where “the locals” hung out.
I had an 8:00am conference call Tuesday morning, so I arrived at the diner around 6:45. Sitting at the counter, I enjoyed a plate of eggs and ham, followed by a bowl of fruit. Read the daily news on my smartphone, plus caught up with some friends on social media.
My coffee cup was near empty, and it was 7:15, so I thought it was time to ask for the check. Just then, an elderly gentleman sat down in the chair next to me – passing the 3 available seats along the way. The waitress addressed him by name, taking his order for oatmeal. The coffee was poured without a spoken request.
He turned to me and said, “Good morning, how are you today?”
Read More
Topics:
story,
listen,
people,
little lessons,
kindness,
father,
social media,
parents
“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” – Warren Buffett
“The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” – Nelson Henderson
Lately, I’ve been thinking about my parents. A lot.
It started with finding a stack of letters my mother had saved. They were letters I’d sent to my parents when I was in the military.
Read More
Topics:
reflection,
family,
memories,
reactions,
mother,
story,
listen,
little lessons,
father,
future,
mail,
letters,
parents
"All man's miseries derive from not being able to sit quietly in a room alone." – Blaise Pascal
Because of my job as a consultant, I spend a significant amount of time away from home. Business travel isn’t glamorous, it isn’t miserable, it’s just part of my job. I’ve been a landscaper, a trash collector, a waiter and a soldier. Put into the proper perspective, life on the road isn’t that bad.
I’m fortunate and have wonderful clients. We’ve shared dinners that are more like a gathering of friends than a corporate event. Exchanging stories, including some “tall tales”, that bring smiles and laughter to the table. We create memories, not close business deals.
Read More
Topics:
reflection,
Reading and Books,
memories,
travel,
story,
people,
little lessons,
emotions
“Consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there.” – Josh BillingsOne day in 1981, a friend of mine asked me to cover for her for a few days at her part-time job. Little did I know that that favor would be the beginning of a life-long love affair……………………………with mail.
Read More
Topics:
goals,
friendship,
story,
mail,
letters
“Memory is the one paradise out of which we cannot be driven.” – Sacha Guitry
We were admiring the 1930 Cord on display at the museum, when we heard a voice say, “You know, the classic color was yellow.”
We turned to learn more from our new guide. “Oh yes, Cord was known for their yellow cars. Do they have the engine hood open on the other side? They were beautiful machines. Really ahead of their time. Did you see the one out in the car show? Retractable headlights. In 1930.”
“My husband had the chance to buy one once. $2,000. Which was a good buy. They sold new for $2,900. It was either buy the car, or date me for the next 3 years.” – said with a twinkling smile.
Read More
Topics:
memories,
story
“Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks.” – Samuel Johnson
One of my favorite pastimes is attending classic car shows. Walking down the rows, being surprised by the next discovery. Beautiful lines, glossy paint, and polished chrome transform ordinary vehicles into works of art.
At most amateur shows, there’s an opportunity to meet the owners. The conversation often begins with the origin story. “My grandfather bought this car back in 1935.” “It was just a rusting frame that I found in a junkyard.” “My first car was also a 1972 Skylark, only this one is worth a lot more.”
Most owners will explain why their car is unique – retractable headlights, V-12 engine, hidden storage panels. They encourage you to take as many photos as you want. Some even let you sit inside!
Read More
Topics:
story,
happiness,
joy
"You are the storyteller of your own life and you can create the legend or not." - Isabel Allende
For the past 18 months, my business partner and I have been making weekly trips to see a client in New Mexico. Staying in the same Marriott, we’ve become “regulars” to the staff. We often stop in the lobby lounge for dinner or a nightcap at the end of the evening. The bartenders and servers are friendly, sharing stories and listening to our boring tales. After a while, it feels like we’re friends.
Read More
Topics:
friendship,
story,
listen
