Category Archives: Uncategorized

“Love your enemies.” —Jesus Nope, not going to do it. It makes a ton of sense to love friends, sure. To love our neighbors as ourselves. Even to love people from whom we might gain something. But to love our … Continue reading →

Dateline: two weeks after the election, everywhere, USA  . . . and another thing, Mr. President. Just wanted to say congratulations, shake your hand and all that. It’s been a long, hard election season, and we voters did a swell … Continue reading →

That morning at the conference, I deliberately decided that when lunchtime arrived, I was not going to eat dessert. I wanted to be sharp that afternoon. I was scheduled to interview an author, and I didn’t want a big glop … Continue reading →

In May 2004 at age 35, I officially opened my own editorial business. Five months later, my business officially failed. What followed was what my wife, Mary Margaret and I, today call “our poor season.” We weren’t poor by global … Continue reading →

When 20-year-old Burton “Pat” Christenson went to war in 1942, he took with him something tough men aren’t often known to carry. In addition to his rifle, grenades, and a trench knife, he carried a sketch pad. Pat joined Easy … Continue reading →

“Dad,” said my 9-year-old daughter, Addy. “Some kid in the park asked me if you’re a celebrity. Are you?” “What did you say?” I asked, curious about how she answered the question. “That you sign autographs, speak all over the … Continue reading →

This morning I’ve budgeted two hours to write a blog post. But so far it’s all trash. I’ve sat and sat and stared at my computer screen and scratched my head and looked up articles and phoned a lifeline and … Continue reading →

In most work cultures, an unwritten rule exists that you need to be busy all day long—or at least you need to look busy. Be busy, busy, busy—that’s the expectation. For instance, when I was working as a newspaper reporter, … Continue reading →

Have you ever thought through the differences between being efficient and being effective? Some leaders, particularly in this day and age of technological wonders, aim to be efficient above all else. The problem is that efficiency can become synonymous with … Continue reading →

Slightly more than 14 years ago—March 16, 1998, to be exact—a young flaxen-haired beauty and I rode the tramway to the top of a mountain in Palm Springs, California. We walked out into a sunny snowfield in a clearing in … Continue reading →