“The word that is heard perishes, but the letter that is written remains.” Traditional Proverbs A gentleman is walking down the rustic, creaky-sounding pier as I finish the cleanup task on my boat, now in its lift in the designated boat slip for our condo. As he approaches me, he  introduces himself as Ross Brown, who is  renting a condo in Building F,  located on the eastern edge of our community, across the marina water channel from where we now stand. Ross is looking for help in towing … [Read more...]

“Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.”    Oscar Wilde The exceptional person in our world says exactly what they are thinking in any given situation. All of us know at least one person who rarely holds back their thoughts. They stand out. Such a ‘stand out’ is my wife Carol, known by our children and me as someone who “speaks her mind.” Some in our extended family would call it frank speech. While there are times I wish Carol would hold back a few words (sometimes a sentence or two), I … [Read more...]

“Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care, for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.”    The Buddha “Because I said so!” is a familiar statement – a parental proclamation we heard during childhood and probably have asserted to our own children. Representing a tactic to accomplish compliance without further argument, the request often came at the end of a frustrating conversation with a parent. Do you remember? Perhaps, you were one of the few of us who … [Read more...]

"Complexity is your enemy. Any fool can make something complicated.  It is hard to make something simple.”   Richard Branson Within your organization and family, do you ever want to throw up your hands, exasperated by the complexity of just about everything of importance? Does it seem at times that those surrounding us make things more complicated than necessary?  Perhaps even on purpose? Confucius, the great Chinese teacher and philosopher, commented on such frustrations when he said, “Life … [Read more...]

“Just whistle while you work Put on that grin and start right in to whistle loud and long Just hum a merry tune Just do your best and then take a rest and sing yourself a song When there’s too much to do Don’t let it bother you, forget your troubles Try to be just like a cheerful chick-a-dee And whistle while you work . . .” Source:  Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs She is singing along to a song being played as background music at the restaurant in Orange Beach, Alabama where we … [Read more...]

“You cannot change what you refuse to confront.”  (Source unknown) “Rob!” shouts Larry, jolting my mind out of deep thoughts during an ongoing conversation in which I am not engaged.  Unfortunately, the only word I hear is the last one – my name – which my son-in-law has purposely spoken louder to get my attention. (He’s probably a little upset at being seemingly ignored). Has this ever happened to you? Perhaps you have been the person not being heard. If so, you know how Larry … [Read more...]