Life is weird. Here is some stuff to feel better about.
Yesterday, I posted an essay that I would not consider my finest work. It wasn’t my first. It won’t be my last. Although I will try and avoid making the same mistakes. I got some head nods of approval because people are polite. Then my accountability partner sent me a 4-paragraph “WTF” message. Perhaps I… Continue reading Have Someone To Tell You When You Suck
The Prussian War Philosopher Carl von Clausewitz wrote at length about a comprehensive approach to geopolitics he coined “grand strategy”. This way of thinking encompasses the motivations, risks and rewards from any endeavor. We live in distracted times. Our two most precious commodities are time and energy. How do we maximize our time and energy… Continue reading Strategize Your Life Like an Old Prussian War Philosopher and Win More Battles Within
Yesterday felt like the sad last day of school. And it was a wonderful feeling. It was the satisfied and thankful kind of sad. On the other side of ship30for30, maybe it’s time to reassess. The best part about reaching goals is that you realized you had what it took all along. Then you start… Continue reading No Days Off. The New Paradigm.
Today is the final day of Ship30for30 and with it, the first 30 days of content for this website. I joined a cohort-based writing course to simply summon the courage to hit the publish button. I figured inertia would then take over. Box checked. So, I’ll be writing and publishing content for the next 500… Continue reading The End of the Beginning
In 1986, a fluctuation of 1/250 of one inch (0.01cm) caused the tragic death of 7 brave people attempting to launch themselves out of Earth’s orbit. Of course, this is about the Challenger space shuttle disaster. After a full review, it was found that differences in temperature were causing fluctuations in the gap between o-rings… Continue reading There are no little things. That’s it. That’s the lead-in.
Apparently, my dad died just after I got off the phone with the nurse. When my brother called a few minutes later to tell me our father has passed I thought he was playing some weird, sick joke. But alas no. Dad was gone. And in some strange way, so was my fear of disappointment.… Continue reading Has One Day Ever Clarified Things Above All Others? Here is mine.
I met my wife in a parking garage. WAIT. I promise it’s not as creepy as it sounds. And this story is not really about parking garages. A least not so much about the literal ones. More on that in a minute, we won’t keep my wife waiting. So yeah, we met in a parking… Continue reading How a Parking Garage Changed My Life. Wait. What?
Several years ago, I took a taxi home one night from a black-tie event at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. Feeling inspired by the elegant Rotunda and having imbibed a few cocktails, I was feeling talkative and a bit philosophical. I was just about to finish business school, was doing objectively well in most… Continue reading The Taxi Story
Last year I found myself at an unhealthy crossroads. I had turned 37. It had occurred to me that if I did not like this unhealthy condition I was in, it was on me to change it. Don’t like it? Get better. So being basic, I wrote down 37 goals. Some would be minor stretches.… Continue reading It Sucks to Suck. So I Got Better.
It’s not just a Michael Jackson song. It was a pivot point for me. A year ago this week, I had that uncomfortable look in the mirror. You might know the one, but I hope you don’t. It’s the one where you ask yourself how this happened. That day, I made an ultimatum with myself.… Continue reading The Man in the Mirror
Don't Like It? Get Better 