I had lunch with the mayor of a major city yesterday. He is a democrat. He is also innovative, charming and erudite. He said he targeted getting big companies into his city because he believed they could be generous donors to worthwhile causes and charities. “Mayor,” I said, “that sounds like a Republican sentiment.” “That’s…
Yesterday at Starbucks I had spread out my newspaper on the footstool in front of the comfy chair I was using. When my coffee order came up, I walked a few feet to retrieve it. A woman and her four kids piled into my chair and the chairs nearby. I walked back over kind of…
Thanks to my friend Joe Scarlett for sending the following: During this political season let’s be reminded of these wise words: You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by…
Darla and I went to see the new Adam Sandler movie “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan.” I love good comedy–sometimes even dumb comedy–and I’m no prude, but I was do disappointed with bits going over the top from funny to crass that I wanted to leave. My wife is an optimist, one of the…
Leadership Lessons ezine by Mark Sanborn
1. Get healthier Eat smaller portions Eat 5-6 times daily Stay hydrated Aim for a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity if you’re really serious, 2. Call a past customer and ask what you could do to get him or her back. 3. Send a thank you note. 4. Write a personal note of…
Some of my least favorite junk mail includes requests with the phrase “…please don’t break the chain.” Those words alone cause me to delete the email. It shows a lack of intelligence and/or effort on the part of the sender. Keeping “the chain” or any chain intact is not on my daily list of things…
The Freedom from Religion Foundation has sponsored some billboards across the U.S. that say “Imagine no religion.” That’s pretty easy. Imagine millions of hours of effort and billions of dollars of aid donated by faith-based organizations suddenly gone. Imagine tens of thousands of homeless people with no shelter because missions are closed, and as many…
We often use “voice” to refer to a leader’s message and style. Today I’m referring literally to your voice as used in your ability to speak. One of my dearest friends has lost his voice. He is a professional speaker in the advanced stages of cancer and side-effects from the disease have left him unable…
Now that it appears Obama has locked up the democratic nomination, it is important to give careful consideration to his qualifications, not just his ideas (and the same is true for McCain). Although a political activist prior, he was first elected to public office in 1996. From first elected office to president in 12 years?…