Your Money. Your Life.As we enter the countdown to a new year — 10 days to go — I'm reminded of an end-of-year ritual I started a few decades back. Last week, I mentioned that in 1999 I went on a six month walkabout along the Pacific Rim. About 4 years before that grand adventure, I was working two jobs to make ends meet (and pay off my student loans) when I read the book Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin. This book really did change my life and point of view about work, money, and…Keep Reading
If and WhenAt the end of 1999, I left my job, family, and all that was known and familiar to me to travel alone to Taiwan, the first stop on a 6-month mostly solo journey along the Pacific rim. When friends and family asked me why I would do such a thing, I said, "I don't want to wait til I'm 65 to travel the way I'd like to and see parts of the world a week or two of vacation doesn't allow me to do." It's almost a quarter of century since then (I can't believe it!!) and boy am I glad I had the presence…Keep Reading
Ignorance Isn't BlissRecently, we hired two different service providers to come to mom's house and fix the same problem. The sink in the basement into which the washing machine empties wasn't draining properly and threatened to overflow and cause a flood. The first provider is a licensed plumber who comes with his assistant and the two spend several hours working on the repair. They admit they're not 100% certain why the sink is stopped up, but they replace the trap (the U-shaped pipe beneath the sink) and the…Keep Reading
Does Size Really MatterSmall businesses shouldn’t price lower just because of lower overhead. Focus on value, customer experience, and profitability to grow sustainably!Keep Reading
Two Truths and a LieSince folks enjoyed my rumination on pumpkin spice and what it can teach us, it seems appropriate to dive a little into the history of the term Black Friday and what lessons it might hold for us, too. I’ll admit, I was today years old when I learned the meaning I’d always heard and assumed was true is actually a very good example of framing (or reframing). If, like me, you’re thinking Black Friday has something to do with retailers going from being ‘in the red’ (operating at a loss) until the…Keep Reading
You’ve Been ServedIf you don’t know, Atlanta restaurants are being dragged all over social media these days. The beefing began when very popular TikTok food reviewer Keith Lee came to the Big Peach and couldn’t get served at several restaurants. I'll admit that I like Lee. His reviews are always respectful, never snarky or mean. And, Lee himself is humble and grateful for his followers and the very real impact they have made together on small, independent restaurants from his hometown of Vegas to LA, Chicago,…Keep Reading
As we enter the countdown to a new year — 10 days to go — I'm reminded of an end-of-year ritual I started a few decades back. Last week, I mentioned that in 1999 I went on a six month walkabout along the Pacific Rim. About 4 years before that grand adventure, I was working two jobs to make ends meet (and pay off my student loans) when I read the book Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin. This book really did change my life and point of view about work, money, and…Keep Reading
At the end of 1999, I left my job, family, and all that was known and familiar to me to travel alone to Taiwan, the first stop on a 6-month mostly solo journey along the Pacific rim. When friends and family asked me why I would do such a thing, I said, "I don't want to wait til I'm 65 to travel the way I'd like to and see parts of the world a week or two of vacation doesn't allow me to do." It's almost a quarter of century since then (I can't believe it!!) and boy am I glad I had the presence…Keep Reading
Recently, we hired two different service providers to come to mom's house and fix the same problem. The sink in the basement into which the washing machine empties wasn't draining properly and threatened to overflow and cause a flood. The first provider is a licensed plumber who comes with his assistant and the two spend several hours working on the repair. They admit they're not 100% certain why the sink is stopped up, but they replace the trap (the U-shaped pipe beneath the sink) and the…Keep Reading
Small businesses shouldn’t price lower just because of lower overhead. Focus on value, customer experience, and profitability to grow sustainably!Keep Reading
Since folks enjoyed my rumination on pumpkin spice and what it can teach us, it seems appropriate to dive a little into the history of the term Black Friday and what lessons it might hold for us, too. I’ll admit, I was today years old when I learned the meaning I’d always heard and assumed was true is actually a very good example of framing (or reframing). If, like me, you’re thinking Black Friday has something to do with retailers going from being ‘in the red’ (operating at a loss) until the…Keep Reading
If you don’t know, Atlanta restaurants are being dragged all over social media these days. The beefing began when very popular TikTok food reviewer Keith Lee came to the Big Peach and couldn’t get served at several restaurants. I'll admit that I like Lee. His reviews are always respectful, never snarky or mean. And, Lee himself is humble and grateful for his followers and the very real impact they have made together on small, independent restaurants from his hometown of Vegas to LA, Chicago,…Keep Reading