A Perfect 4th: a Parade, a Juggler, and Yankee Doodle Dandy

I couldn't imagine a better way to spend the 4th of July. A parade that passes right by our street, featuring: the West Powelton Drummers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dOycOn9QKc&feature=youtu.be the Mummers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_3pr8uh9Q0&feature=youtu.be and Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPtcMjTrk1s&feature=youtu.be followed by Chris Ivey, Character Juggler, at the picnic afterward: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUD2QN21kTE&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-aNp3Nn8zI&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4RG1WVfeSY&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meCAVlElJlw&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxWlYNfmmGM&feature=youtu.be   and then capped … Continue reading A Perfect 4th: a Parade, a Juggler, and Yankee Doodle Dandy →

Better Feedback in Just 19 Words

"I'm giving you these comments because I have very high expectations and I know that you can reach them." In this Pinkcast, Dan looks at Daniel Coyle's book "The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups". In the book, Coyle highlights a large study of teachers giving feedback to students where it was found … Continue reading Better Feedback in Just 19 Words →

Sorry Nike and Colin, I’m Not with You on This One

I've generally been a fan of the public stances that Nike has taken on various issues, and I was a fan of Colin Kaepernick's decision to kneel during the National Anthem at football games. I like when celebrities or athletes use the platform they have available to them to address social issues. However, I don't … Continue reading Sorry Nike and Colin, I’m Not with You on This One →

Music Monday: Madonna and Bruce End 34-Year Slump

Proving that they weren't just flashes in the pan, Madonna and Bruce Springsteen returned to the top of the Billboard Charts with their newest albums this week. The last time these two held the top two spots was back in 1985, when Springsteen was on top with "Born in the USA" and Madonna held the … Continue reading Music Monday: Madonna and Bruce End 34-Year Slump →

I Can’t Even…

Long-time readers of my blog (i.e., my wife and children) will likely recognize where this photo comes from. For the rest of you, this photo was featured in yesterday's Wall Street Journal, in its most recent story about men's fashion. This post marks the fifth one I've written about the crazy men's fashion stories that … Continue reading I Can’t Even… →

A Five-Minute Job That Took Me Six Months to Do

Our air conditioning system stopped working last week, and after a few days of doing without it, we finally broke down and called a local service company. The "guy" who arrived looked like he had just graduated high school, but he couldn't have been older than his mid-twenties. Despite his youthful appearance, he was very … Continue reading A Five-Minute Job That Took Me Six Months to Do →

A Choice I Made as a Nine-Year-Old Determined My Career Path

Who would have known that a decision I made as a nine-year-old would have predicted the career I have chosen for the past 33 years. When I was about nine-years-old I discovered that I liked swimming, and with my parents' encouragement, I joined the local swim team. I think back then swimming was a more … Continue reading A Choice I Made as a Nine-Year-Old Determined My Career Path →

Is This the Best Grade School Performance Ever?

Every year, Cannes Lions explores the value of creativity in branded communication: from product and service development to the creative strategy, execution, and impact. Since I'm such a fan of commercials, I always look forward to seeing what the winning ads were from the Festival. The winning ad in the Film Lions category was a … Continue reading Is This the Best Grade School Performance Ever? →

Getting Better at Asking for Help

Help me if you can, I'm feeling down And I do appreciate you being round Help me get my feet back on the ground Won't you please, please help me - lyrics from Help! by the Beatles Unlike the Beatles, most, if not all of us, avoid asking others for help. There may be several … Continue reading Getting Better at Asking for Help →

A PSA for Men about Your Prostate and Your PSA

The current issue of AARP, the Magazine featured an informative and entertaining article, "Interview With a Prostate: The Misunderstood Gland". I know, it's hard to imagine an article about the prostate gland being entertaining, but it was a clever way to share useful information about the prostate that men might actually read. The article, written … Continue reading A PSA for Men about Your Prostate and Your PSA →