A close friend of my wife invited us to a celebration of her daughter’s high school graduation. Jenna’s a great kid who did very well in school and was involved in several extra-curricular activities. But at 18, she’s never had a real job. She applied at several boutiques in the mall but never made it…
A story in last Thursday’s newspaper tells about a mother who is upset that her 30-something daughter is panhandling. Apparently, the daughter has been unable to get pregnant and wants her husband to undergo a $10,000 medical procedure to improve his fertility. Even though the couple has a combined income of $80K per year, they…
If you woke up today and discovered that you had won millions in last evening’s lottery drawing, would you still work? Always a great conversation starter, the number of Americans responding ‘yes’ has declined from over 80% in 1955 to 66% in recent years according to Psychology Today. So what happens when there are people…
It doesn’t take a mechanical engineer to understand why a stool needs at least three legs to fully support and balance even the slightest weight. When trying to support and balance the challenging workplace relationship between your business and your young hires, consider the advantages of inviting their parents into the employment picture as the…
It made for a dreadful commute. The crater-like potholes dotting the main thoroughfare near my office were wreaking havoc on my car’s alignment. I wasn’t the only unhappy camper. The city was inundated with complaints from angry neighbors and shopkeepers who demanded repairs. Finally, a road-crew was sent to fill the gaping cavities and restore drivability…
The wife and I were out running errands on Saturday morning when we happened upon an unexpected and rare energy explosion. As we approached an intersection, we noticed a human billboard doing his very best to get the attention of the passing motorists; and getting attention from motorists is obviously what an individual in this…
Bodybuilding is the most narcissistic, self-absorbed ‘sport’ ever conceived. I can offer that critique as a former competitor, promoter of numerous state bodybuilding championships, emcee of the Mr. & Ms. Universe competition, and color analyst for ESPN’s bodybuilding coverage. (All of these things took place before Bill Clinton was sworn in, but my opinion has…
It’s 7:14 a.m. The breakfast is scheduled for 7:30 and, so far, I don’t see any of the meeting attendees milling around. Before heading into the ballroom to meet with the AV technician who’s there to help me set up for my 8:30 keynote, I decide to grab a cup of coffee and a light…
I’ll freely admit it; I bleed orange. I’ve loved the Denver Broncos with all my heart since my dad took me to Mile High Stadium when I was only seven to see them play the evil Oakland Raiders. (The Broncos were trounced, but I’ve been a fan ever since.) I say that at the risk…
Reflecting on those stories that impacted my work in 2011, I found the stories that either confirmed my opinions and beliefs, or challenged them to the core. Agree or disagree, for anyone that employs teens and young adults, these links are worth investigating. Wishing you a bright and prosperous 2012, and a healthy flow of…