April 13, 2026 Keeping it Real Why audiences don’t want polished presentations—they want someone who’s actually done the work In retirement, I’ve unexpectedly found myself being called upon as a speaker at national industry trade shows, conferences, and expos. No one is more surprised than I am. I never took Speech in high school, never performed in a play, never presented to a boardroom full of executives. The only meetings I led were daily production meetings at my company—and even those I eventually handed off to someone better at it than me. Yet now, I’m standing in front of 30, 40, sometimes 50 industry peers who’ve…
April 30, 2024 Just eat already! Want to know if you’re the type of friend who talks more than listens? Look at who has more food on their plate after a “catch up” lunch. If your plate still has most of your menu selection moldering on it, guess what, IT’S YOU! Yes, I know people eat at different rates of ravenousness, and some pick at their meals while others wolf them down. Correcting for that, I’m still convinced that the person doing most of the talking is not eating their meal as quickly as the poor companion who can continue forking food into their mouth while…
December 15, 2023 A MAN I’LL NEVER BE Being happy and content in one’s own skin, at work, at home and with family, should be a goal for everyone. It may be harder than it sounds, though. Do you always feel like people think they know who you really are? Do you have different “personas” for different areas of your life? Do people at work view you one way, and your family another? I don’t think there is any right or wrong answer necessarily, unless you feel conflicted or dishonest, like the writer of this Boston song “A Man I’ll Never Be.” A Man I’ll Never Be Lyrics…