When I’m 64
I remember when I first heard McCartney sing that song. I could never imagine crossing the threshold. Back then, I was told by my peers, “Never trust anyone over 30!” I thought people were immortal, invincible and fearless. Boy was I wrong. Looking back over six decades, I attribute whatever success I may have had, in great measure, to luck….
Resolutions I’ll try to keep
Sydney J. Harris wrote for the Chicago Daily News and, later, the Chicago Sun-Times. He also authored 11 books and a syndicated column, Strictly Personal, that was regular reading for me when I was growing up. In 1980, he penned a New Year’s message focusing on those resolutions we love to make and so easily break. My friend, Russ White,…
Doing things for the right reasons
By Scott Westerman “Always question your motivation. Why you decide to do something is much more important than what you ultimately do.” What are the factors that impact the decisions you make in life? Are you in pursuit of purpose or personal glory? This has been on my mind lately as I’ve witnessed several incidents where chasing status and ego…
When it’s time for a change..
By Scott Westerman “The Only Thing That Is Constant Is Change” ~Heraclituse It’s impossible to stay in your comfort zone long without getting uncomfortable. Watch a satellite image of the inexorable progression of the weather across our continent and you begin to get a sense for the truth in the old saying that the only constant is change. Resist it…
Repetition
By Scott Westerman “Whatever we plant in our subconscious mind and nourish with repetition and emotion will one day become a reality.” ~Earl Nightingale My granddaughter is an exquisite teacher. She is filled with fearless inquisitiveness. When something interests her, she wants to explore it again and again, until it becomes second nature. At two and a half, she loves…
Remembering Ed Liebler
My good friend, Edward Charles Liebler left us on November 24. He was 79. In nearly two decades of friendship, he was my role model for a renaissance man. Born in Brown City, on April 6, 1939, he absorbed the classic American work ethic early and thought he might dedicate his life to the plethora of animals that populated rural…
The Eric Smith Madrigal Singers 20th Anniversary Performance
Once upon a time, in a place called Jacksonville, Florida, named for Andrew Jackson, who never set foot anywhere within it’s broad city limits, there were a city councilman, a bureaucrat, a semi-retired jazz festival producer and two telecommunications executives who had too much time on their hands. As they watched the pages of Jacksonville history turning, it occurred to them that many…
Facebook Adieu
On November 1, I will be shutting down my Facebook identity. It’s something that’s been on my mind for a long time. Beyond the popular privacy concerns, the biggest downside for me is how much time I end up spending there. In the days when I had a very public personal brand, I felt it was important to share a regular…
What’s Next?
No job is forever. It’s a fact that you will ultimately face a career change. Why not prepare for it now? My friend Tony Bordo was working on the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade when his job was eliminated. A lifelong fitness enthusiast, Tony decided to make his passion his profession and launched Tony Bordo Fitness. He’s a…
6 years later..
The fifth chemo is the worst. By now, you’ve watched her struggle with the poison four times. You don’t want to go to work. You want to be by her side. You want to help ease the pain. But you can’t do a damn thing about it. And that’s the worst part. The two of you actually agreed to pound…
