No one ever welfared their way to success! When I was young, I worked one summer for a landscaping company. In his pickup truck on the way to one of our jobs, the owner told us about a phone call he got from a guy responding to his Help Wanted ad. The guy asked the … Continue reading Life Tip #97
Self-Sufficiency
65% of Americans need Life Tip #24…Really!
Knowledge is money. Gain the first, keep the second. According to a poll released earlier this year by Creditcards.com, "over 65 percent of U.S. adults with debt don’t know when or if they’ll ever get out of it." Click the link below to read the story. I think much of our money woes stem from … Continue reading 65% of Americans need Life Tip #24…Really!
Earth: “See, this is why we can’t have nice things…”
This article speaks for itself: Dutch fence off tulip fields to stop selfie-takers crushing flowers. Come on people! We can do better than this! It reminds me of a great quote from the Simon Pegg movie Hector and the Search for Happiness: “There’s a big difference between being here, and being here to be photographed … Continue reading Earth: “See, this is why we can’t have nice things…”
Life Tip #39
The most valuable learning usually occurs beyond the classroom. By taking charge of your own learning, you will discover a world of information that never makes it into the school textbooks, or into the newsroom broadcasts, or even onto mainstream websites. For example, it took my joining the Peace Corps and living in Paraguay, South … Continue reading Life Tip #39
Life Tip #65
When it sounds too good to be true, it always is. When we were a very young couple, my wife and I were more than a little tempted by various schemes, including selling health supplements and peddling medical billing services. Thankfully, we turned these schemes down before it was too late. If you are … Continue reading Life Tip #65
Life Tip #271
The American Idiot: This next Life Tip is for anyone who might find themselves in the position of the “American Idiot.” I own the rare distinction of experiencing my two most embarrassing moments within the same 24-hour period. They both happened in Europe. I guess our most embarrassing moments are more likely to occur when … Continue reading Life Tip #271
Life Tip #127
“Go West, young man” still applies. In many of his books, but most notably in The Americans series, historian Daniel Boorstin chronicles some of the famous and not-so-famous risk-takers who helped to build up our country. In the book The Americans: The National Experience, Boorstin compares the social classes of early America with the social … Continue reading Life Tip #127
Life Tip #101
Newsflash—it’s not the president’s fault. If you ever need a “kick in the pants” version of motivation on self-sufficiency, check out Gary Vaynerchuck on social media. He is one of the many people whose videos and podcasts I listen to on my pre-dawn walks. He’s a social media marketing guru and just an overall inspiration … Continue reading Life Tip #101
Life Tip #114
College is not necessarily the answer to a successful life, if it ever was. While it still feels strange to hear this coming from me, I firmly believe that going to college right after high school (if at all) is not the best option for everyone. It wasn’t for me, it wasn’t for my son, … Continue reading Life Tip #114
Life Tip #202
Write your own script. Don’t let others, or circumstances, or your past set the agenda for your future. Don’t let your mom, or your dad, a friend, or a sibling write it for you. Don’t even let your significant other write it for you (although I strongly suggest that you include your significant other in … Continue reading Life Tip #202
Life Tip #184
How many more times will you ask yourself, What if? I love learning about histories: histories of people, societies, nations, everything. And I often find myself asking “What if” questions, like “What if the U.S. hadn’t entered the fight against Nazi Germany?” or “What if this or that politician had won an election instead of … Continue reading Life Tip #184
Life Tip #87
Go ahead, be misunderstood. I simply must drop one of my all-time favorite inspirational quotes right here and now. It comes from Ralph Waldo Emerson, one of America’s greatest writers and philosophers, in his essay Self-Reliance, which I recommend everyone read…twice. Emerson writes that to be consistent in one’s thoughts and actions, just for consistency’s … Continue reading Life Tip #87
Life Tip #3
Avoid the path of least resistance. Beware apathy in all areas of your life. I see it everywhere, and I’ve fallen victim to it myself. We become apathetic in our jobs and careers, in our relationships with friends and family, in our spiritual life, and in our own personal growth and development. It is when we … Continue reading Life Tip #3
Now This is the Right Attitude
I'll let this news story speak for itself. I would only add that this kid's got spunk! Our country needs more people with this kind of positive attitude, motivation, and courage to go out there and get what they want! While you may have heard this story, there is some footage of the young man … Continue reading Now This is the Right Attitude
The Skills Employers Wish College Grads Had
By Kathryn Buschman Vasel at Money Tree January 30, 2014 Turns out, the skills and education recent college graduates acquired during their time on campus might not be serving them well when it comes to proving their worth to potential employers. “Soft skills have deteriorated more than hard skills in the view of CEOs and recruiters … Continue reading The Skills Employers Wish College Grads Had
And the Moral of the Story Is…
By Kurt Borne January 27, 2014 One of our great traditions growing up was reading and listening to the timeless Aesop’s Fables. I honestly do not know if many kids today grow up learning the great lessons found in Aesop’s Fables. I certainly hope so. But if your parents weren’t able to share these with … Continue reading And the Moral of the Story Is…
Who’s Deciding History?
By Kurt Borne November 8, 2013 I recently heard a radio commentator remark on how, with the advancement of the Internet and the changing nature of news and publishing, we all have the ability and the duty to bring forth the truth about all things. I’ve often reflected on how the media and historians attempt … Continue reading Who’s Deciding History?
Greg Hartle’s “Ten Dollars and a Laptop” Project
This gentleman's career-life project speaks for itself, so I will not attempt to add to his amazing story. Greg calls it "An Epic Quest to Discover What It Takes to Succeed Starting From Scratch"...and it truly is. Learn all about Greg and his project here: "Ten Dollars and a Laptop"
Freelancing in America: Rise of the Contingent Workforce
By Dr. Woody September 30, 2013 We live in an on-demand world where speed is everything and companies better be prepared to keep up, or get left behind. Modern companies are faced with moment-to-moment fluctuations in reaction to market demands that require quick decision-making and agility to adapt to new trends. But these characteristics are … Continue reading Freelancing in America: Rise of the Contingent Workforce
Should You Bring Mom and Dad to the Office?
Employers Are Embracing the Involvement of Parents to Attract and Hold On to Talent By Anita Hofschneider September 11, 2013 Paul From was used to meeting the spouses and children of employees at company events. As chief executive of Central Wire Industries, a manufacturing firm based in Perth, Ontario, he has long held regular baseball … Continue reading Should You Bring Mom and Dad to the Office?
Kurt Borne 