NOTE: I realize that by publishing a post like this, I risk to lose the respect of some who will consider what I’m about to say as batshit crazy. Except, it’s not. It’s process. I am a white man in his early 50s. As such, my personal experiences have been more sheltered than most. There should be no way for me to effectively connect with people who are not like me, and who I’ll never meet in person, to convince…
I’m a white man. A well-educated professional. I am wealthy and have a modicum of power. I’m not a racist. I believe in the ideals of conservatism, but not with the radical form of it currently in Washington. However, I was raised to oppose democrats and am too proud to align with them. No, I don’t like a lot of what’s happening in Washington. I’m not a racist. I don’t hate women. I don’t hate immigrants. Hell, I need those…
Let me answer that up top—the idea that younger people are somehow more creative than older people is a fallacy. I’m older, I know. And no, I’m not just pleading relevance. There’s an actual reason. I’ve been in the creative field of advertising for nearly 20 years. The main thing I’ve learned over that time is that the engine of creative thinking is fueled by process. The purpose of which is to learn *how* to think. And that takes time. …
What Is America’s Brand? When I was a kid, the Vietnam war was winding down and we were all celebrating our nation’s bicentennial. Rocky had just come out and Star Wars was on deck. It was a good time to be an American. Of course the Iran hostage crisis hit, oil prices skyrocketed, and gasoline was scarce. But then Reagan came in with his “shining city upon a hill” vision, a strong arm against Russia, and sweeping economic ideals that…
I’ve been around long enough to notice some things. For example, if you want to be successful at ANYTHING you must be willing to laser focus on that thing for a long time. This year I committed to observing the traits of different people as a way to understand what separates successful people from people who are merely sustainable. But first let’s define success. Most anyone can become sustainable and be happy, and yes sustainability is considered a form of…
Someone out there needs to read this. Act One Twenty-seven years ago this morning I woke up hungover for the last time. The plan was to end my life. Alcohol had convinced me that I had no reason to go on. I was twenty-seven. I’d spent twenty-seven years wandering in darkness, trying to find a reason for living. Hope was gone. And on this day, it would all mercifully end. But then, in my darkest moment, light appeared. Along with…
