Category: Life & Living

“Build a good name. Keep your name clean. Don’t make compromises, don’t worry about making a bunch of money or being successful — be concerned with doing good work.” - William S. Burroughs Years ago, doing good work was something lauded by organizations and businesses across our nation. My grandfather was an incredibly wise man, and a firm believer in that notion. Growing up, he always instilled in me that a strong work ethic - one bursting with morals and character - would lead to absolute fulfillment. He recognized such fulfillment as one of the greatest successes in life. Charles F. Glassman once remarked, “Some say if you want success surround yourself with successful people. I say if you want true and lasting success surround yourself with people of integrity.”…

“Frugality is one of the most beautiful and joyful words in the English language, and yet one that we are culturally cut off from understanding and enjoying. The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things.”  ― Elise Boulding The concept of “frugality” is often met with negative reactions, and truthfully, I’m not sure it’s deserving. It’s been defined as “the quality of being economical” – and for those of you who don’t know, economical means you are “careful not to waste money or resources; using no more of something than is necessary”. But I’m not naïve to the American culture – we’re an instant gratification society who believes name brands assign status and that…

"Everyone wants to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down." - Oprah Winfrey I’m sure you’ve all heard a friend, a coworker or a family member say the following when referring to another person: “they make really good money”. Let’s think about that statement for a moment. Yes, money helps provide for the necessities we as human beings all require: food, clothing, shelter. But those necessities don’t require a great deal of money in order to be carried out successfully. So, what do people mean then when they feel the need to make such a statement about another person? Are we saying they’re more secure than those accruing less? Are they wiser, more creative,…

“Living in your comfort zone can even be more stressful than pursuing your dream. So why are you accustomed to your stagnant life?” ― Oscar Bimpong Far too many of us live in a bubble, otherwise known as our comfort zone. We like what’s familiar, what makes us feel at ease - in a word, secure. But change is difficult if you never step outside the familiarity of your environment and try something new. I know people who will only dine at the same restaurant, vacation to the same destinations (even the same hotels), and choose to spend their lives living in the same place they were born and raised. While they probably don’t realize it, they’re an incredibly difficult group of people to engage with in a conversation. Their…

“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.”  ― Norman Vincent Peale The other day someone told me how they wished they had the same confidence that I had. I was dumbfounded to say the least. While there are many words one might use to describe me, to say I’m a man of confidence seems inaccurate. That is to me. But then I came across this quote, which truly made me stop and think for a moment. “It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you’re not.”  - Unknown People who possess great humility rarely perceive themselves as the rest of the world does. In fact, they’re often plagued by…