While driving with my son last week, we were in need of gas. We neared a gas station selling unleaded for $2.39 a gallon. As we drove right by, he asked why we didn’t stop. When I told him that it was too expensive, he reminded me that I had told […]
Tag: No
Informed Decisions
Last week we took a spontaneous family trip to scout out the area that the Navy has asked us to make our home for two years come August. I am not much for spontaneity and prefer planning to winging it, but each time I let go and just let the […]
Lenses
I am not a photographer, but I appreciate a well-framed picture. I am not a painter, but I hang art that inspires me in places that matter. I am not an artist in a traditional sense, but I very much enjoy that act of creating. In fact, I believe we […]
Lift Operators
In a world of scarcity, we often speak of trade-offs, a tit for a tat, a quid for a quo, and finding the right balance. In a world of abundance, we don’t think in terms of or; we look for and. I’ve long cringed when I hear the term, “Work-Life balance”, […]
Recruiting Culture
I am a big college football fan. I don’t identify with a specific team or school in part because I enjoy the pageantry and traditions that span campuses across the nation. I’ve had the good fortune of seeing big games in big venues, with my most recent being an amazing […]
Outcomes
Anyone who is familiar with the Star Wars movies is likely even more familiar with the little green Jedi master, Yoda. If you’re anything like me, just the mention of the individual who had a hand in training nearly every Jedi gives me a reason to blurt out, “Do or […]
I’m A Quid
There are many Latin phrases that are prominent in our language and given the fact that a large part of my job (really any job for that matter) is grounded on relationship building and partnership strengthening, it comes as no surprise that I am hearing “Quid pro Quo” more than […]
Self-Limitation
Have you heard about the experiment done years ago on jumping frogs that were placed in jars with lids? To refresh your memory, the frogs had plenty of food and water, and due to their natural instincts, they continually tried to escape. They banged their heads on the lids again and […]
(Never)Mind the Gap
Each of us has tried out for teams (sports or otherwise), applied for jobs, and/or extended an invitation to another. There are and always will be times when the result is not to our liking. We don’t always make the final roster or get hired, and our invitations are sometimes […]
Dialoguers and Debaters
I enjoy thoughtful conversations on a wide range of topics and I am fortunate enough to have them with some extremely knowledgeable and passionate people. Because I have a rather diverse set of friends and colleagues, rarely a day goes by without at least one extremely thought-provoking conversation. And if […]
“About Time” Moments
We’ve all had those moments in life of sudden realization, inspiration, insight, recognition, or comprehension. And most of us aspire to have many more of them. We refer to those moments as “Aha Moments.” I seem to be having quite a few lately and continue to enjoy each one. As […]
Get Even Better Tours
I heard it again recently, two relatively senior Naval Officers talking about their personal involvement in helping someone be given the benefit of a “Get Well Tour.” Now those of us who have served or are serving in the Navy (and maybe other services have the same term) know exactly what this […]
The Mirror is Telling
I have the pleasure of speaking with and to each new Information Warfare Officer via video-teleconference (VTC). This is an opportunity I was afforded based purely on geography in my last job (I served as the Commanding Officer of a Command that shared the same base as the class) and […]
Best Athlete
When a professional sports team drafts athletes to join their team, there are multiple strategies. Some choose to draft the “best athlete” available, others draft a player based on perceived potential, others draft individuals that have a specific talent that will fill a specific need, and still, others make character a deliberate […]
Going Home
Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of going back to my hometown, Pleasanton, California. The purpose of the visit was to present a scholarship in my brother’s memory to a deserving member of Amador Valley High School’s Class of 2014. My parents and I did just that, but that […]
Permission to Suck
Last Friday, my wife sent me an e-mail that contained a time, an address, and these words “Guest speaker Megan McArdle will discuss her new book ‘The Up Side of Down: Why Failing Well is the Key to Success.’ She is also a Bloomberg columnist and economics blogger.” Those who know me […]
Shortcuts
Over the course of our life, we have likely been reminded that there are no shortcuts to meaningful achievement and that those who take shortcuts tend to be lazy (e.g. don’t want to work for what they want) or selfish (e.g. success at the expense of others). I’ve been told that […]
Awards Worth Having
Whether it be a simple thank you, a trophy, monetary compensation, or something else, we all appreciate being recognized for a job well done. Personally, a simple thank you or congratulations is more than ample for me. After all, the boost of serotonin that accompanies a sense of accomplishment feels […]
Helicopter Leadership
A military is able to project power through mere presence, the police often maintain order and nearly always alter behavior just by being within our field of view, and odds are our children act a little differently when their parents are with them. But what happens when presence becomes expected […]
I Hope This Works…
Though my personal interest in video games disappeared long ago, my son considers the time he spends playing them amongst his favorite. As a means of connecting with him and experiencing this aspect of his world, my wife and I were recently watching him play. Admittedly, my wife does this […]