Writing: done is better than perfect.
The hardest part of writing often isn’t putting words on the page. It’s hitting send, submit, publish, or whatever finality is standing in your way. Done is better than perfect.
Category: Articles
Stouts: Welcome to the dark side of beer
Hello, darkness, my old friend. Stout is my favorite style of beer. What is a stout? And what are some of my favorites? Let’s find out.
LinkedIn Learning: worth the investment
LinkedIn Learning makes learning new skills easy and convenient. For me, it’s worth the investment, as the value far exceeds the cost. I recommend it to anyone, especially busy professionals who want to keep learning. […]
Coronavirus: a lesson in personal improvement
Summary
• Make sure staples are in stock — at home
• Embrace alternatives
• Be prepared
• Don’t ignore mental health
• Focus on what matters
North Texas Irish Festival
The first weekend in March is the North Texas Irish Festival. Held at the historic Fair Park in Dallas, it celebrates Irish and Scottish culture.
Take Action
One of my mantras for 2020 is “Take Action.” Check out a few tips that help me shift from standing still to moving forward.
What I learned from reading – Six Flags Over Texas: The First Fifty Years
I finished reading Six Flags Over Texas: The First Fifty Years by Davis G. McCown. Check out what I learned.
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
First on the reading list this year I wanted to revisit one of my favorite books. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck Published in 1939. Winner of the 1940 Pulitzer Prize for the Novel category. Aggregately ranked as the 27th greatest fiction book of all time by The Greatest Books (thegreatestbooks.org). Appears on many […]
The music of Tool — and a concert review
The elusive artist I speak of today is the prog-metal giants — Tool. I’ve been wanting to see them in concert for more than 20 years. That’s no joke. Since the first time I heard their music, I knew that I had to see them in concert. I had a few chances in the past, except fate had other plans. I didn’t know if the day would ever come. Earlier this week, it finally happened.
We made it to 2020.
Summary
— Start the new year on the right path.
— Resolutions versus goals.
— The choice is yours.
December 8th – a dark day in music history
Fifteen years ago, we lost a local legend and music icon. Darrell Lance Abbott, better known as Dimebag Darrell, was born in Arlington, Texas, in 1966. Dimebag is best known as the guitarist for the band Pantera.
My favorite quote – “Be the captain of your own ship.”
I collect quotations, and this is one of my favorites. I admit, I don’t know who said first, when, where, or in what context. I couldn’t find a definitive answer. Even though the author is unknown to me, their words have stayed with me.
What did I learn from my AS9100D internal auditor training class?
Summary –
• Processes should have inputs and outputs.
• Does it match, or is there a gap?
• Find ways to add value.
• Ask open-ended questions.
• Quality is everyone’s responsibility.
Ten tips for better mental health
Ten tips better mental health –
• Exercise
• Get off your ass
• Eat healthier
• Find a hobby
• Learn
• Connect
• Disconnect
• Breathe / Meditate
• Make mental health as important as physical health
• Talk to someone
Mental health and men
Men are less likely to discuss mental health. There’s sometimes a don’t ask, don’t tell mentality. There is a stigma with men. We often don’t like to ask for help or otherwise appear to be weak. We’re more likely to suppress problems, feelings, and emotions. […]
Welcome to Oktoberfest
A brief look at the history, things to do, beer, and food for one of the largest festivals in the world.
From an outsider looking in – what interests me about marketing?
Marketing may be a new career path for me.
Marketing is so much more than the 4Ps. It’s a complex, multi-sided, system of interrelated processes. It’s analytical, strategic, tactical, and measurable. It’s a combination of customers, products, and every aspect of your business. It involves solving problems and creating solutions.
What did you learn today at school?
In this part of the world, it’s back to school time. As you settle into that new, familiar routine, ask your kids about their day at school. But, ask the right questions. Instead of asking – How was school? – try this: What did you learn today at school?
The Gemba Walk – a process improvement exercise
“Gemba” is a term in Lean Six Sigma. Gemba is a Japanese word that means “the actual place.” The “Gemba Walk” is when you walk to the actual place and observe a process.
Intro to introverts
When I was in my early teens, someone said to me, “You’re such an introvert!” I don’t remember who said it to me, or the context, but I was embarrassed by it. I had a misconception about introverts. I felt ashamed and insulted by their comment…
