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Surviving the Greatest Danger to Our Culture
Like many of my fellow citizens, I watch the news with growing concern and, on some days, a hint of fear. I work hard to maintain a sense of perspective and as I review my current situation, I must admit that I have everything I need to make my way through this day with confidence […]
Continue ReadingA Call for Grace, Patience, and Good Humor
Grace is a state of thoughtfulness toward others. Patience involves calmly tolerating delay, confusion, or inefficiency; enduring pain or trouble without losing self-control; and refusing to be provoked or angered by an insult or perceived slight. Good humor is the ability to see, appreciate, or express what is funny, amusing, ludicrous or ironic in a […]
Continue ReadingWhat People Really Mean When They Lose It
When people say, “You suck,” what does it mean? I don’t like you (a little or a lot)? I disagree with you? I think you’re stupid? I think you’re mean? You drink too much? When they say “F- you!” what does it mean? I want you to have intercourse? I want you to be raped? […]
Continue ReadingHow Politics Mirrors Cultural Decline
Reading the most recent revelation about Trump’s disgusting comments about women should come as no surprise. Look at the culture that surrounds us today. Sex sells like never before. Celebrities strut their stuff; sports stars flout their physicality; movies feature immorality and violence as standard fare. Presidential campaigns are working hard to out-trash one another […]
Continue ReadingKids, Forget Micro-aggressions, Go Find Micro-opportunities!
As students flock back to college campuses this Fall, trigger warnings, micro-aggressions and safe spaces are all the rage. Someone started the notion that college kids are too vulnerable to read great literature if it contains themes or passages that may be tough to encounter, too weak to be subjected to harsh language, and too […]
Continue ReadingCan’t stop talking? You will be someone others avoid.
Several weeks ago I sat down with three other people for a networking coffee. None of us were friends, though we all knew one another’s names and had some sense of the work we do. After the usual introductions, our conversation touched on a variety of topics from leadership to emotional intelligence to millennial’s to […]
Continue ReadingBrexit Isn’t New. Have we Learned Our Lessons?
I have read a great deal about Brexit—United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union—both before the historic vote and in the aftermath. Several things strike me. At the risk of oversimplifying what I understand is a very complex situation, my first thought is that this type of action is not new. When people who […]
Continue ReadingThe key to successfully managing others: Start with yourself.
The key to successfully managing others: Start with yourself. Many managers today are over-stressed, under-appreciated, and always pressed for time. No wonder their teams don’t always get their best. No wonder, too, bad behavior tends to seep through organizations in tiny ways until suddenly people wonder why everyone is so unhappy. If you aspire to […]
Continue ReadingThe Wills and The Will Nots Disparity
For generations, we have lamented the growing disparity between the Haves and the Have Nots and blamed it for the degeneration that surrounds us. But this gap is a result of something more fundamental: the disparity between the Wills and the Will Nots. I had the privilege of attending the graduation ceremony for Leadership Waukesha […]
Continue ReadingEver Hear the Phrase “Easier Said Than Done?”
This is a common response when faced with a challenge to grow. You may have said it yourself. The words are true! It is always easier to talk about something than take purposeful action. Thus, the noise that surrounds us every day! And the millions of people who quietly trudge through day after unhappy day […]
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