A bunch of years ago, when my company moved into the office building where we still reside, a number of people began using the stairs to get to our offices on the fifth floor. I had not been a part of that group until returning from a vacation in Positano,…
My daughters loved reading “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green. They also loved the movie. I watched it recently, after happening upon it on a cable TV movie channel. I thought it was very good. (If you don’t want to watch a movie that will make you cry,…
I was talking with my friend Jeff about the way I cannot get myself self to spend a ton of money on a fancy restaurant. He is very willing to spend a lot of money on a particularly good meal. Once in a blue moon I enjoy a super fancy…
I've been blessed to spend time in a bunch of wonderful countries. Whether it was short stays during vacations or the long backpacking trip I took after graduating college in 1984, travel abroad has been one of the most enriching, enjoyable, and memorable experiences of my life. I have learned…
I almost never have a problem falling asleep. But, when I wake up in the middle of the night (which happens more, the older I get), I often have had a hard time falling back to sleep. I know the reason—too much on my mind. As soon as I start…
Just over two years ago, after seeing the movie Fruitvale Station, and coincidentally, around the same time, reading the book The New Jim Crow, I wrote a blog post about the importance of seeing the humanity in people, and how that relates to being a leader. ("Be a Leader" is one of the Six…
I received quite a few notes after a recent newsletter article about feeling overwhelmed by the many “rules” about staying healthy, especially healthy eating rules. There are many rules, and there seem to be more each day. It can certainly feel daunting. If you review the “rules” carefully, they don’t…
I often tell the story of my experience, soon after college in the 1980s, searching for an apartment in NYC. I was eager to move out of my parents' house and into NYC for all of the reasons that readily come to mind (the easier commute to my NYC job,…
The following is excerpted from one of my most popular newsletter pieces along with some of the wonderful feedback I received. I was recently telling someone about the trip Marcie and I took to Europe 30 years ago with backpacks after college. When there was a week remaining before Marcie…
This is a guest post by Louis Savalli. Every day is the same. From the moment you drag yourself out of bed, you’re devoting your time to taking care of other things and people. Whether it’s your kids, spouse, colleagues, customers, your house, or your car – you barely get…
When my kids were little, I used to get sick several times a year. The kids were getting exposed to colds and other viruses at school and hadn’t built up immunities yet. They would catch the cold and bring it home. We tried to follow good hygiene rules (hand-washing, etc.)…
Many years ago, my wife (Marcie) and I were presented with the idea of hiring a personal chef. It sounded like an odd idea—like something for the super-rich. But, we did some research, calling around to various places (this was before Google had become our go-to). We found a chef…