I started blogging again recently in conjunction with the Lenten season. Rather than refrain from something, I decided to re-purpose some of my time for writing. For the most part, I’ve consistently published something every day, usually in the morning. I have covered leadership, faith, service, and coping with challenges. My mom told me that … More What’s your point?

Last night, our 70 lbs pit bull, Tuesday, was up to no good. I heard what sounded like something busting down a section of our fence. Calling out to Tuesday to no response indicated that something was awry. In the dark, I explored the fence line, finding our misfit dog, who led me to the … More Play dead

Where you are influences what you can achieve. Your understanding of your position and most importantly how well you use it determines everything about your chances of success. As former G.E. CEO Jack Welch exhorts, “If you don’t have a strategic advantage, don’t compete.” Know your craft, have a plan, and play to your strengths. … More Position matters

We all know the adage, “slow and steady wins the race.” We grew up with the tale Tortoise and the Hare. “Life is a marathon not a sprint.” Chapter 12 of the book of Hebrews exhorts us to run the race marked out for our lives with endurance. There is no shortage of wisdom (and … More Consistency over intensity

Someone was rude to me today and I am not sure why or that I handled it well. The specifics of the infraction and my response are less important than what I need to learn from the dynamics of rudeness itself and how to handle it going forward. I have been rude to people knowingly … More Dealing with rudeness

Children born into poverty in the Bible Belt have the least economic mobility of any other part of the US. Meaning, if you are born poor, you will remain poor and so will your children and your children’s children. This banner of the American south is not unexpected given our social and economic policy and … More I want to help!

Being a Rotarian means above all else a belief in “service above self.” While quasi-religious in sentiment, in practice it means volunteering. This year I am a volunteer judge for the Laws of Life writing competition. High schoolers submit essays about their lives and a group of random adults read and judge them on the … More A dead tree destroyed my house

There is a lot in life to fear. Death and taxes – am I right?! Fear is a powerful human response that can let us know when we are in danger. The amygdala in the brain is typically associated with how we process fear. In the Academy Award winning documentary Free Solo, the subject of … More Tell that fox I have work to do

How does a person of Christian conscience cut through it all with a meaningful response? It’s not enough to denounce white nationalism. It’s not enough or even meaningful anymore to connect it to Western European imperialism. It’s almost insulting to offer thoughts and prayers. Remember Paris? Remember the Pulse nightclub shooting, coincidentally, where 49 people … More Muslim blood in ChristChurch

A wise and unusually successful corporate CEO mentor told me that “the CEO does what no one else can do.” That was it. He gave no directive about what the CEO can or should do, just that the CEO does what no one else can do. I’ve pondered this maxim over the course of my … More Chief Existential Officer