CoreCharacter: June 2006 Archives

« May 2006 | Main | July 2006 »

Jun30	I'm Not Sure Whether I'm Being Scammed Or Bilked Or Hoodwinked (There's Never A Thesaurus Around When You Need One) John Gratton June 30, 2006 Know More: Honesty, Money, Risk, Self-Discipline, Vigilance I'm very excited. I got an e-mail from a company offering a deal that is, in fact, too good to be true. All I have to do is collect some checks (they tell me where and how), put them all in my account, keep a generous percentage for my trouble, then simply send the remaining money to the organization. Hey, man, free money, more than $500 the first seven days, guaranteed. And, get this, I can do it full-time or part-time. Next week, I get a raise, a higher percentage of the deposits before I send my money to the organization. Yes! The FAQ section explains how Form 1099 works, that there are no start-up fees, and that I don't have to sell anything. This is one sweet deal, and I can't believe that out of the millions of people who have e-mail addresses, they picked me. I've sent away for the rest of the details. When I get them, you'll be the first to know. Posted at 6:50 PM \| Permalink
Jun30	Change The World Around You John Gratton June 30, 2006 Our self image, strongly held, essentially determines what we become. Maxwell Maltz Courage means to keep working a relationship, to continue seeking solutions to difficult problems, and to stay focused during stressful periods. Denis Waitley Positive thinking will let you... Continue Reading Posted at 6:20 PM \| Permalink
	Mingling 101: Ask Questions And Listen Carefully John Gratton June 30, 2006 I almost had to mingle yesterday, and it scared me. It's been too long since I've worked a room, as they say. I decided I'd better brush up on it, and who better to turn to than Brian Tracy: Many... Continue Reading Posted at 5:50 PM \| Permalink
	What's It Going To Take To Put You In This Car Today? John Gratton June 30, 2006 Have car commercials changed where you are? Normally, they show the car and shout about rebates or low interest. A thousand here, a few percentage points there. But now, the dealers around here are not offering $1,000 rebates. No, now... Continue Reading Posted at 5:20 PM \| Permalink
	My Mother Is Better At 70 Than She Was Three Decades Ago John Gratton June 30, 2006 To be 70 years young is sometimes far more cheerful and hopeful than to be forty years old. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. My mother just turned 70. I don't remember how she was 30 years ago, because I was just... Continue Reading Posted at 4:43 PM \| Permalink
Jun29	Self-Defense Against Sharks and Scams John Gratton June 29, 2006 Nearly everyone thinks he or she can write. If I had $1,000 for every time I’ve heard "Why pay someone when I can do it myself," I could buy a new Mustang. If you’re one of those, here’s a book... Continue Reading Posted at 5:56 PM \| Permalink
	So Much Good In The Worst Of Us John Gratton June 29, 2006 There is so much bad in the best of us and so much good in the worst of us, that it ill behooves any of us to find fault with the rest of us. Cree-L Kofford I learned this lesson... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink
	Cultivate Friendships With Hopeful People John Gratton June 29, 2006 Cultivate friendships with hopeful people. Surround yourself with friends who think positive, faith-producing thoughts and who contribute to a creative atmosphere. This will keep you stimulated with positive attitudes. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale I've had jobs where everyone got along... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink
	"Irregular Betting" Reported At Wimbledon John Gratton June 29, 2006 Take the No. 89 tennis player in the world and put him up against the what, No. 259 player in the world, and no one cares, right? But apparently someone did care. Bets on the Wimbledon match between Arlos Berlocq... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink
	Prickly, Edgy, Combative People Need Love, Too John Gratton June 29, 2006 From Marc McCormack, Never Wrestle With A Pig: In our constant search for consensus and harmony in the workplace, we sometimes are less than fair to the prickly, edgy, combative people in our midst. We resist them or avoid them... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink
Jun28	Gas-Saving Devices Mostly A Scam John Gratton June 28, 2006 From Bankrate.com: Over the years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has tested myriad gas-saving devices that burst onto the consumer scene. Experts say they all have one thing in common. "They don't work," says John Millett, spokesman for the EPA.... Continue Reading Posted at 12:34 PM \| Permalink
	Begin By Being Honest About Intents And Motives John Gratton June 28, 2006 From Randy Pennington and Marc Bockman, On My Honor, I Will: If we are to be people of honor, we must begin by being honest about our intents and motives. If we want to become a person of honor, we... Continue Reading Posted at 11:28 AM \| Permalink
	I Do I Do I Do John Gratton June 28, 2006 By Steven McCarty, published in Benefits Selling: I Do What I’m ToldThe first statement reflects our industry's compliance focus. Regulators and product companies are good at disseminating compliance rules. Unfortunately, the brain is hard-wired to break rules, even though it's... Continue Reading Posted at 10:32 AM \| Permalink
	Everything Of Value Has A Cost John Gratton June 28, 2006 "We spend our time envying people whom we wouldn't wish to be." Jean Rostand From Stephen Pollan and Mark Levine, It's All In Your Head: Everything of value has a cost. Career and business success don't come without a price.... Continue Reading Posted at 9:57 AM \| Permalink
Jun26	Would You Design A Product To Sell Cigarettes To Children? John Gratton June 26, 2006 A design firm hired Reell Precision Manufacturing to make a hinge for a display box. A Reell engineer named Joe Arnold had some ideas for the hinge, but he discovered that the display box would be used to advertise cigarettes... Continue Reading Posted at 10:45 PM \| Permalink
	Play Your Position John Gratton June 26, 2006 Kevin Liles grew up in West Baltimore, where he "stood a better chance of getting shot or thrown in jail than getting a good-paying and respectable job." The former rapper "rose from intern to president of Def Jam Records in... Continue Reading Posted at 10:18 PM \| Permalink
	Be The Change You Wish To See John Gratton June 26, 2006 The title is from Mahatma Gandhi, the rest is from Resonant Leadership by Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee: People who think they can be truly great leaders without personal transformation are fooling themselves. You cannot inspire others and create the... Continue Reading Posted at 9:41 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Bill Murray And Me On My Way To Work This Morning John Gratton June 26, 2006 My car is in the shop, so I've been on a bike all weekend, or have relied on family and friends for rides. It’s so easy to take those things and others for granted: family and friends, cars, refrigeration, indoor... Continue Reading Posted at 8:47 AM \| Permalink
	The Year Of Magical Thinking John Gratton June 26, 2006 I'm reading Joan Didion's account of the year following her husband's unexpected death. The first 49 pages are heartbreaking and compelling. I don't know what the rest of the book entails, but her sense of loss so far is nearly... Continue Reading Posted at 8:40 AM \| Permalink
Jun24	Make Your Body Happy – Drink More Water (I Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself) John Gratton June 24, 2006 I just saw a funny commercial, a bunch of college-age kids at a toga party, going wild, sloshing beverages all over each other. The cops come expecting to break it up, but everyone is drinking water. The punch line goes... Continue Reading Posted at 2:42 PM \| Permalink
	Daughters And Otters And A Little Thai Food Thrown In John Gratton June 24, 2006 Riding bikes today, my daughter asked how often I eat at a local Thai restaurant. I have socks older than this girl, and here she is, somehow, asking about favorite foods at exotic eateries. She proceeded to tell me all her favorites.... Continue Reading Posted at 8:07 AM \| Permalink
	Trick Your Eyes, Fool Your Teeth John Gratton June 24, 2006 By Kate Dailey, Men's Health: Cure Your Toothache Without Opening Your MouthJust rub ice on the back of your hand, on the V-shaped webbed area between your thumb and index finger. A Canadian study found that this technique reduces toothache... Continue Reading Posted at 7:12 AM \| Permalink
	Three Travel Tips For Your Summer Get-Away John Gratton June 24, 2006 From 1,000 Places To See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz: If you want to minimize time spent at airport security, double-check the Transportation Security Administration web site for the latest news regarding security regulations, wait times at airports, and... Continue Reading Posted at 6:12 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	WholeHealthMD Among The Best Sites For Health John Gratton June 24, 2006 My favorite health and wellness web site is Dr. Mercola. That's where I turn for health news and tips for better living, and a lot of the Saturday Sidebars are taken from there. Of course, WebMD is an excellent site,... Continue Reading Posted at 5:12 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Summertime White, A Forbidden Delight John Gratton June 24, 2006 The most delightful thing I've tried in a long time is a peach, but not just any peach, a Summertime White peach. They may be slightly smaller than their common yellow cousins, but they are firm and sweet and succulent... Continue Reading Posted at 4:12 AM \| Permalink
Jun23	Those Who Wander Are Not Necessarily Lost John Gratton June 23, 2006 Don't tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you have traveled. Muhammad To awaken in a strange town is one of the most pleasant sensations in the world. Freya Stark Those who wander are not necessarily lost.... Continue Reading Posted at 6:20 PM \| Permalink
	Teamwork Multiplies Effectiveness John Gratton June 23, 2006 "The test of an organization is not genius. It is its capacity to make common people achieve uncommon performance." Peter Drucker From Harold Myra and Marshall Shelley, The Leadership Secrets Of Billy Graham: Whether leading a large enterprise or a... Continue Reading Posted at 5:55 PM \| Permalink
	Life Is Bizarre And Inexplicable, And Why Not? John Gratton June 23, 2006 Life is like an old-time rail journey – delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. Jenkins Lloyd Jones The scientific theory I like best is that the rings of... Continue Reading Posted at 5:30 PM \| Permalink
	Don't Expect Customers To Envision Your Future, That's Your Job John Gratton June 23, 2006 "If I had asked my customers what they wanted, they'd have said a faster horse." Henry Ford From Tom Kelly, The Ten Faces Of Innovation: Ford had a point. Don't expect customers to help you envision the future. Make that... Continue Reading Posted at 4:40 PM \| Permalink
	Eiffel Tower Raised Money In Addition To National Pride John Gratton June 23, 2006 I like construction documentaries, like Hoover Dam, the Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge. I admire the determination of the men (mostly men, anyway) who had such good ideas and did such excellent and lasting work despite such great odds against... Continue Reading Posted at 3:35 PM \| Permalink
	Go With What You Know John Gratton June 23, 2006 "They didn't think that the public would accept a doll with breasts for children. I knew they were wrong." Ruth Handler, creator of Barbie. Wrong to the tune of 172,800 Barbie dolls sold every day. But it wasn't easy. She... Continue Reading Posted at 4:15 AM \| Permalink
Jun22	Talking Is Good John Gratton June 22, 2006 I have a friend who says "talk to me." I like that. And another friend who says, "you wanna hang out?" which means, "we need to talk." My daughter used to say, "let's go for a run," which often meant... Continue Reading Posted at 7:06 PM \| Permalink
	An Excellent Experience With Customer Service (From A Phone Company, No Less) John Gratton June 22, 2006 I had to call customer support for phone service at work. AT&T. I dreaded it. Those kind of calls usually can take days to complete, but I got lucky. A nice woman named Stephanie answered. Stephanie was bright, friendly, knowledgeable... Continue Reading Posted at 6:02 PM \| Permalink
	Acute Kidney Failure Or Birthday Cake? Let Me See… John Gratton June 22, 2006 I just got a call from a firm in town that does medical testing on willing subjects. They inject you with experimental drugs then watch what happens. I applied with them a few years ago, and went for a test,... Continue Reading Posted at 12:34 PM \| Permalink
	"Time" Is Most Popular Noun (I Would Have Guessed "Book" Or "Love" Or "Cell Phone") John Gratton June 22, 2006 I read this blurb in our paper today, and wonder how they know. I didn't find anything on how they did the research, but the idea intrigues me: For those who think the world is obsessed with "time," an Oxford... Continue Reading Posted at 11:06 AM \| Permalink
	I Owe You Everything John Gratton June 22, 2006 By Victor M. Parachin: The story is told of a young man hiking through the mountains, when a sudden blinding storm struck. Before long, the hiker's hands and feet grew numb as he wandered through the storm and snow in... Continue Reading Posted at 10:17 AM \| Permalink
	Value Is In The Eye Of The Beholder John Gratton June 22, 2006 From BusinessWeekOnline: Not only do magic advertising words not exist, several of them actually work against you. Here is one of five advertising words you should never use: Value Like quality, value has been ruined by overuse. Go back to... Continue Reading Posted at 9:21 AM \| Permalink
Jun21	Wanting It Often Isn't Reason Enough To Take It John Gratton June 21, 2006 One of the easiest ways to avoid temptation is to immediately give in to it. If you want it, buy it. If you see it, take it. If you can get it, grab it. The plan works, but it may... Continue Reading Posted at 1:43 PM \| Permalink
	Identity Theft Hitting Closer And Closer To Home John Gratton June 21, 2006 A couple of local people face prison following charges of identity theft. Apparently the thieves copied credit card information from the purse of a friend who was spending the night at their house. They used those numbers to access ATMs... Continue Reading Posted at 12:45 PM \| Permalink
	Bob Uecker Is A Great American John Gratton June 21, 2006 Bob "I Must Be In The Front Row" Uecker, Milwaukee Brewers announcer, star of Mr. Belvedere, tuba player for the 1964 Cardinals, is in the news because he has a stalker. I hope it is resolved okay, because because Bob... Continue Reading Posted at 11:45 AM \| Permalink
	Anti-Freedom Device Enables Parents To Spy On Offspring John Gratton June 21, 2006 Cell phones have given freedom to young adults that their parents never imagined. Unsupervised calling, complete privacy, text messaging, individual voicemail, all have enabled kids to pretty much do as they please, avoiding parents, cheating in school. Until now. Some... Continue Reading Posted at 10:42 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Body By Jake Guy Can Help Pump Up Your Business John Gratton June 21, 2006 "Sometimes, in life and in business, all the tools we need to succeed are just sitting there waiting for us to discover them. It may be something that exists around us, or something that exists within us. Until we reach... Continue Reading Posted at 9:45 AM \| Permalink
	This Is A Bill John Gratton June 21, 2006 It's always bad to get an envelope in the mail that has "THIS IS A BILL" printed on it in bold letters, all caps. I got one from the library, which I'm unhappy about because I'm one of their best... Continue Reading Posted at 8:47 AM \| Permalink
Jun20	Everyone Has An Opinion, Not Many Have A Voice* John Gratton June 20, 2006 I was in a meeting, a low-level flunky trying to figure out why I was there. Out of nowhere, the boss asked for my recommendation to fill a vacancy. The choice was obvious to me – so I named a talented... Continue Reading Posted at 2:02 PM \| Permalink
	Quality Is Meaningless John Gratton June 20, 2006 From BusinessWeekOnline: Not only do magic advertising words not exist, several of them actually work against you. Here is one of five advertising words you should never use: Quality This may be the most overused word in advertising, which is... Continue Reading Posted at 1:02 PM \| Permalink
	A Daring Adventure Or Nothing John Gratton June 20, 2006 To reach a port, we must sail, sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it. But we must not drift or lie at anchor. Oliver Wendell Holmes Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by... Continue Reading Posted at 12:02 PM \| Permalink
	Sure, Let The Boss Steal Your Ideas John Gratton June 20, 2006 From Mark H. McCormack, Never Wrestle With A Pig: [S]ome cynical types argue that bosses exist in large part to steal their subordinates' best ideas. That's one reason bosses are bosses. They have the ability to sit in a meeting,... Continue Reading Posted at 11:02 AM \| Permalink
	Oreos For Dummies John Gratton June 20, 2006 Apparently the easiest way to make a lot of money is to write a book about how to make a lot of money, and be sure to use the word "Millionaire" in the title. Since most of those seem to... Continue Reading Posted at 10:02 AM \| Permalink
	Students Ask For Time Off To Watch World Cup John Gratton June 20, 2006 Comments come first via e-mail, so I read them there. I received this comment, which refers to a post about the World Cup: John - I shared this with my students today right after they requested periodic breaks in class... Continue Reading Posted at 9:03 AM \| Permalink
Jun19	What Did You Expect? (Besides Vera, Chuck And Dave) John Gratton June 19, 2006 Paul McCartney had his birthday yesterday, June 18. He is 64. If that number means nothing to you, you should go out and get yourself a life. Or at least a couple of new CDs. McCartney wrote "will you still... Continue Reading Posted at 3:28 PM \| Permalink
	World Cup Lesson Number Two: Always Have A Plan B, At Least John Gratton June 19, 2006 We were out of business for the duration. In some countries, door-knocking missionaries just can't knock on doors during the World Cup. People in England certainly didn't want to be bothered – they were, in fact, pretty adamant. So we... Continue Reading Posted at 2:04 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The More You Have, The More You End Up Wanting John Gratton June 19, 2006 "Material possessions aren’t inherently bad. A Mercedes 300 isn’t evil. It's the endless and constant pursuit of material possessions, and the belief that those possessions have the power to make you happy, that is problematic. You see, the more you... Continue Reading Posted at 1:11 PM \| Permalink
	What Is Your Name Worth? John Gratton June 19, 2006 Sixth grade. I walked home from school and met two kids I knew but did not hang out with. They were going to the lumber yard to climb on the stacks of wood, and invited me. I should have been... Continue Reading Posted at 12:13 PM \| Permalink
	The Clock Isn't Really The Competition John Gratton June 19, 2006 Kelly sent a comment late Friday to which I couldn't respond fully until now. Her question is insightful and well-reasoned, and deserves a similar response. Here's the best I could do: Kelly, thank you. Thank you for your patience. I... Continue Reading Posted at 11:10 AM \| Permalink
	Another Father's Day For The Old Man (And Not A New Tie In Sight) John Gratton June 19, 2006 Father's Day began early. My married daughter stopped by Saturday afternoon with pumpkin bread, my favorite, and a much needed kitchen appliance. Her sisters wanted her to come for Father's Day dinner, but I knew she wouldn't. Her job for... Continue Reading Posted at 10:06 AM \| Permalink
Jun17	Happy Father's Day, Dad – You Are My Hero John Gratton June 17, 2006 Another Father's Day, and I’m looking forward to spending time with my kids. But I'm also looking backward to times spent with my dad. Dad married young and was devoted to his wife and six sons. He dropped out of high... Continue Reading Posted at 9:17 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Strawberry Beatles Forever John Gratton June 17, 2006 Of course, I was aware of the Beatles, but I never cared. Our neighborhood gang was out playing that Sunday night in 1964, when everyone else rushed into their houses to watch them on Ed Sullivan. My family watched, but... Continue Reading Posted at 8:05 AM \| Permalink
	Summere Health: Skin Rashes John Gratton June 17, 2006 By Sally Farhat for MSN Health & Fitness: You might develop a rash because of too much sun, brushing up against certain plants or from bug bites. Even some medications, like birth control and blood pressure pills, don’t mix well... Continue Reading Posted at 7:04 AM \| Permalink
	Raspberries John Gratton June 17, 2006 From Dr. Joseph Mercola: Different types of berries do contain varying levels of nutrients, and can therefore be more beneficial for certain types of illness. Raspberries Raspberries are rich in anthocyanins and cancer-fighting phytochemicals such as ellagic, coumaric and ferulic... Continue Reading Posted at 6:03 AM \| Permalink
	Summer Reading, All Summer Long John Gratton June 17, 2006 June is more than half-way done. If you haven't picked a book for your summer reading fun, let me suggest one – All Summer Long by Bob Greene. Greene was a long-time columnist for the Chicago Tribune who appeared in... Continue Reading Posted at 5:02 AM \| Permalink
	Take Two Tuna Sandwiches And Call Me In The Morning John Gratton June 17, 2006 From PsychologyToday.com: It sounds like a bad joke, but fish can stop dementia in its tracks. A team of California researchers found that a diet rich in fatty oils from cold-water fish can halt the progression of dementia – even... Continue Reading Posted at 4:01 AM \| Permalink
Jun16	Are We Rich, Dad? John Gratton June 16, 2006 It's late, well after midnight, another busy Friday over. I had the day off and spent it with my children, and five hours of it with my grandchildren. My married daughter brought us lunch. It was a good day. I'm... Continue Reading Posted at 11:28 PM \| Permalink
	Amoral And Larcenous Geezers John Gratton June 16, 2006 From Bob Greene (not Oprah's trainer), The 50-Year Dash: I saw a man try to sneak into a half-price event open only to senior citizens. The cutoff age was 55, which I thought was pretty generous. And this guy, I... Continue Reading Posted at 9:02 AM \| Permalink
	We Used To Take Turns Going Outside To Point The Antenna At St. Louis Or Cape Girardeau, For Pete's Sake, Depending On Whether The Football Cardinals Were Home Or Away John Gratton June 16, 2006 I got out of the web design business the same way I got into it – kicking and screaming. I quit because I couldn't keep up with the technology. I was spending half my work week just reading and figuring... Continue Reading Posted at 8:04 AM \| Permalink
	What Are The Chances Of Being Reincarnated As A Race Horse? John Gratton June 16, 2006 The third-place finisher at the Kentucky Derby this year lives near me, Steppenwolfer. He's been in all the papers lately, like the Springfield Business Journal, which reported the following: The guy who owns the horse paid $375,000, but has already... Continue Reading Posted at 7:02 AM \| Permalink
	World Cup Lesson Number One: Don’t Tackle The Impossible John Gratton June 16, 2006 I don't care how good you are, there are some things that can't be done. I learned that as a young missionary in England, during the 1978 World Cup. Part of our daily routine was knocking on doors, and frankly,... Continue Reading Posted at 6:02 AM \| Permalink
	Where Are The Entrepreneurs When We Really Need Them? Right Where They Should Be, Working John Gratton June 16, 2006 From Dan Strutzel, AdvantEdge Magazine: When scores of politicians, special interest groups, talking heads, and economists are busy complaining, assigning blame, and making excuses, it is tempting to believe that our country has lost its edge and that things are... Continue Reading Posted at 5:04 AM \| Permalink
	Podcasting Makes Good Business Sense John Gratton June 16, 2006 From Erin Flynn, Wealth Manager, June 2006: Podcasts allow busy professionals to time-shift their consumption of content. More importantly, [professionals] can share their insights with a select audience. For a low price, anyone can go to a vendor like audioblog.com... Continue Reading Posted at 4:04 AM \| Permalink
Jun15	Job Alert Results Sometimes Surprise Me – I Must Be More Qualified Than I Thought John Gratton June 15, 2006 Every Wednesday, I get an e-mail from careerbuilder.com with a list of job openings for which I am – according to keywords in my resumé and work history – uniquely qualified. Apart from five years as a laborer in a... Continue Reading Posted at 1:50 PM \| Permalink
	Compared To You John Gratton June 15, 2006 In It's All In Your Head (I told you I can't quit reading it), there is a chapter on not comparing yourself to others. It is funny because the comparisons are things like "not earning more than $100,000 like your... Continue Reading Posted at 12:50 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Break Out The Leaches, You Have Too Much Blood John Gratton June 15, 2006 I am eligible to donate blood today, my 106th pint, but I'm not going. I signed up for my blood center's Triple Crown Donation program, so I will give on a certain date later this month. My first donation, in... Continue Reading Posted at 11:50 AM \| Permalink
	Rock, Paper, Scissors Is Good Enough For Me John Gratton June 15, 2006 My experience with judges is limited to one divorce, a couple of traffic fines and six hours of jury duty. I think few judges would be comfortable in with a barrel of monkeys. Humor is not their modus operandi. But... Continue Reading Posted at 10:47 AM \| Permalink
	Forgoing My Right To Remain Silent About Luxurious Baths John Gratton June 15, 2006 At the back of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine is a small ad with Ed McMahon saying, "A relaxing bath is something we all have a right to." The ad is for a company that makes elderly-friendly bathtubs, which is a... Continue Reading Posted at 9:08 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Service Schmervice (Boy, Do They Have My Cell Phone Provider Nailed) John Gratton June 15, 2006 From BusinessWeekOnline: Not only do magic advertising words not exist, several of them actually work against you. Here [is one of] five advertising words you should never use: Service Have you ever heard an ad promising lousy service? Of course... Continue Reading Posted at 8:08 AM \| Permalink
Jun14	Something To Write Home About John Gratton June 14, 2006 A couple of the girls stopped by at lunch. One of them went to my desk, under guise of using the bathroom, and typed this note for me, which I found about six hours later: Hello, Father. Just to tell you... Continue Reading Posted at 9:56 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Cultivate Mindfulness And Seek Resonance John Gratton June 14, 2006 From Resonant Leadership by Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee: Leaders are often advised to focus on the rational mind and on the mechanics of business – planning, organizing, and controlling resources (including people) – and to leave the soft stuff... Continue Reading Posted at 9:02 AM \| Permalink
	St. Peter Don't Call Me 'Cause I #!$%@!! Can't Go John Gratton June 14, 2006 My friend Dave Coverly ran this cartoon in our local paper a while back, and it created some disturbance among local readers who just don't have enough to do. Apparently several subscribers took offense at the thought of St. Peter using... Continue Reading Posted at 7:08 AM \| Permalink
	To Kill A Mockingbird Really Doesnt Have Much To Do With Killing Mockingbirds But It's A Pretty Good Read John Gratton June 14, 2006 "I swore never to read again after I gained no useful information about killing mockingbirds from To Kill A Mockingbird." Homer Simpson I love the texture and intimacy of Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, or Willa Cather's My Antonia,... Continue Reading Posted at 6:02 AM \| Permalink
	The Inconceivable Journey: Shackleton’s Antarctic Adventure John Gratton June 14, 2006 I just watched a documentary called Shackleton’s Antarctic Adventure, "the greatest survival story of all time." Wow! The series of unfortunate events Shackleton and his men endured is so hard to believe it seems made up, more Rob Reiner than... Continue Reading Posted at 5:02 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	At Least The Lawyers Won't Starve John Gratton June 14, 2006 John MacIntyre reports that in 1986, there were only two law firms that recorded $100 million in gross revenues. In 2005, there were 184 law firms that recorded $100 million in gross revenues. Five law firms recorded gross revenues in... Continue Reading Posted at 4:02 AM \| Permalink
Jun13	I Know, Let's Get Liquored Up And Putt Some Balls And Smoke And Cuss In Front Of Children John Gratton June 13, 2006 No sooner had I typed the words "family first," when the phone rang. It was my daughter, wanting to play miniature golf. It was 9:30 at night, I was tired, and I still had all this blogging to do. So... Continue Reading Posted at 1:38 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Vitruvian Man Oh Man John Gratton June 13, 2006 "Man is the measure of all things. Every part of the whole must be in proportion to the whole." From Leonardo da Vinci In His Own Words: It seems da Vinci got it right. To be truly successful, all parts... Continue Reading Posted at 12:28 PM \| Permalink
	Coming Up For Air John Gratton June 13, 2006 "There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do." Freya Stark Beth Sawi's book, Coming Up For Air: How To Build A Balanced Life In A Workaholic World, can help us... Continue Reading Posted at 11:30 AM \| Permalink
	Where Caring Isn’t Just A Word, It’s Our Slogan John Gratton June 13, 2006 From BusinessWeekOnline: Not only do magic advertising words not exist, several of them actually work against you. Here [is one of] five advertising words you should never use: Caring Do you really believe your company cares more about your customers... Continue Reading Posted at 10:31 AM \| Permalink
	Music Can Awaken Your Heart John Gratton June 13, 2006 Don't tell Jack Canfield, but I found his CD Awaken Your Heart At Work in a $3.95 discount rack. There are a few audio books to listen to ahead of this one, so I haven't listened to it yet, but... Continue Reading Posted at 9:31 AM \| Permalink
	Sports Scandals: Imperfect Game John Gratton June 13, 2006 Dave Golokhov has an article at FOXSports.com about sports scandals, everything from NBA to NHL to Boston Marathon to figure skating. Here's one about kids and baseball: The advantages of a fake ID are usually to ameliorate the opportunities for... Continue Reading Posted at 8:18 AM \| Permalink
Jun12	Apparently The Reason We Have Fire Extinguishers At The Office Is To Put Out Our Pants John Gratton June 12, 2006 Columnist John MacIntyre, who writes about society’s numbers in Figuratively Speaking, reports on a survey by CareerBuilder.com about lying at work: 19 - Percentage of workers who say they tell lies at the office at least once a week. 26... Continue Reading Posted at 9:09 AM \| Permalink
	Don't Blame Me, Blame My Intermittent Ignorant Blogger Disorder John Gratton June 12, 2006 I don't think much of so-called diseases like Intermittent Explosive Disorder, which apparently lead to uncontrolled angry, sometimes violent, episodes if not properly medicated. As I said, I view them more as excuses for poor behavior rather than a biological... Continue Reading Posted at 8:08 AM \| Permalink
	If A Company Has To Tell You They Have Integrity, Watch Out, They're Hiding Something John Gratton June 12, 2006 From BusinessWeekOnline: Not only do magic advertising words not exist, several of them actually work against you. And chances are, you're using at least one of them in your advertising now. Here [is one of] five advertising words you should... Continue Reading Posted at 7:07 AM \| Permalink
	Small-Time Crooks, Part One John Gratton June 12, 2006 Here's a good one, and by good, I mean pretty much pathetic: Two guys – "business partners" – went door-to-door selling magazine subscriptions they never intended to deliver. For cover, to get the easy sympathy sell, they pretended to be... Continue Reading Posted at 6:06 AM \| Permalink
	Why Does My Cell Phone Provider Only Hire People Who Are Rude, Thoughtless, Indifferent And Slow? John Gratton June 12, 2006 I dread my monthly visit to my cell phone service provider. They are rude, thoughtless, indifferent and slow. It shouldn’t take 45 minutes, just to give them money. There are four customer service stations, but rarely more than two are... Continue Reading Posted at 5:05 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	No Insurance Against Stupidity John Gratton June 12, 2006 Does anyone get away with this stuff? An insurance agent in a nearby city received a complaint from the Missouri Department of Insurance for taking money from a customer but then not purchasing the policy. The agent, according to the... Continue Reading Posted at 4:04 AM \| Permalink
Jun10	Bad Days Begone John Gratton June 10, 2006 I'm done for the day, another busy Saturday just about gone. To unwind, I've been reading fellow KnowMoreMedia bloggers, and was intrigued by a post Maria Palmer has about having bad days. We all have bad things happen, unforeseen things,... Continue Reading Posted at 11:14 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Two Tricks Your Body Should Know John Gratton June 10, 2006 These healthy tips are from Kate Dailey at Men’s Health: Breathe UnderwaterIf you're dying to retrieve that quarter from the bottom of the pool, take several short breaths first – essentially, hyperventilate. When you're underwater, it's not a lack of oxygen... Continue Reading Posted at 8:02 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	When Someone Forces You To Water Ski At Gunpoint (Why Else Would Anyone Water Ski?) John Gratton June 10, 2006 Here are some tips from MayoClinic.com to help you stay safe when riding the wake. Wear a life jacket. Bright colors are most visible. Seek out low-traffic areas. Avoid heavily traveled boating lanes and areas reserved for fishing. Stay visible.... Continue Reading Posted at 7:08 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Don’t Lose Your Cool Over Heatstroke John Gratton June 10, 2006 By Sally Farhat for MSN Health & Fitness: As it gets hotter, we’re more likely to sweat and lose water. During exercise, children's temperatures rise faster than adults, which puts them at a greater risk. A sign of heatstroke at... Continue Reading Posted at 6:06 AM \| Permalink
	Strawberries John Gratton June 10, 2006 From Dr. Joseph Mercola: Different types of berries do contain varying levels of nutrients, and can therefore be more beneficial for certain types of illness. Strawberries came in second to blueberries in the USDA's analysis of antioxidant capacity of 40... Continue Reading Posted at 5:08 AM \| Permalink
	Going To London To See The Queen John Gratton June 10, 2006 From 1,000 Places To See Before You Die Calendar: "On the second Saturday in June, England honors its queen with the official celebration of her birthday, the Trooping the Colour. All the queen’s horses and all the queen’s men depart... Continue Reading Posted at 4:05 AM \| Permalink
	Does This Tie Make Me Look Stupid? And Other Responses To The Impossible Question We All Get Asked John Gratton June 10, 2006 Lots of comedians have tackled the impossible "Do I look fat" question for men and women. It is a lose-lose situation, with no answer you won’t regret. Here are some possible responses, repeated often online. They won’t keep you out... Continue Reading Posted at 3:03 AM \| Permalink
Jun 9	I'm A Big Fan Of The Nightingale-Conant Quote Of The Day John Gratton June 9, 2006 I receive a Motivational Quote Of The Day from Nightingale-Conant, and recommend that you sign up, too. Reading at least one profound thought each day is always useful. Another advantage is that they offer discounts that are not available otherwise.... Continue Reading Posted at 10:07 AM \| Permalink
	Happiness Is An Inside Job – Nothing External Will Make You Happy John Gratton June 9, 2006 From It's All In Your Head: Thinking Your Way To Happiness by Stephen M. Pollan and Mark Levine (read this book – I mean it): Life is short, so if you can afford to indulge a bit now and again,... Continue Reading Posted at 9:03 AM \| Permalink
	Protect Your Pass Codes From Identity Thieves John Gratton June 9, 2006 Identity thieves have more tricks than ever. So should you. From Sid Kirchheimer in AARP The Magazine: Guard The CardsNine percent of traceable ID thefts in 2004 occurred during transactions offline, the cyberspace term for being out and about. Perhaps... Continue Reading Posted at 8:08 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Using Words Correctly Enhances Your Value And Your Image John Gratton June 9, 2006 From Glossary of Misused Words & Phrases, printed in communication briefings: Some of these sentences contain words that are often misused. How many can you find and fix? 1. Bill was adverse to the program for awhile. 2. Jane was... Continue Reading Posted at 7:05 AM \| Permalink
	The Whole Secret Of Life (And It's Not "Venezuelan Beaver Cheese") John Gratton June 9, 2006 Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable. Sidney J. Harris I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where... Continue Reading Posted at 6:06 AM \| Permalink
	Why I Gave Up Baseball, Football And Peanut Butter John Gratton June 9, 2006 I was a Cardinals fan, baseball and football, until 1988. I watched or listened to nearly all the games. Eventually I noticed that my children didn’t like games – I would watch alone while they played outside. So I gave... Continue Reading Posted at 5:00 AM \| Permalink
Jun 8	How About Some Humor In Those Hallowed Halls John Gratton June 8, 2006 From The Leadership Secrets Of Billy Graham by Harold Myra and Marshall Shelley: When one hears laughter in the halls of an organization, when humor and good spirits enliven the breaks, when serious discussions are broken up by humor, it's... Continue Reading Posted at 9:05 AM \| Permalink
	Protect Your Computer From Identity Thieves John Gratton June 8, 2006 Identity thieves have more tricks than ever. So should you. From Sid Kirchheimer in AARP The Magazine: Scrub That SoftwareEvery home computer should have security software that updates regularly. Every user needs to resist the bait from con artists who... Continue Reading Posted at 8:05 AM \| Permalink
	Sports Scandals: Caught In A Rat Race John Gratton June 8, 2006 Dave Golokhov has an article at FOX Sports about sports scandals, everything from NBA to NHL to Boston Marathon to figure skating. Here’s one about horse racing: The simple things in life can be completed without breaking a sweat, but... Continue Reading Posted at 7:05 AM \| Permalink
	Intermittent Explosive Disorder My Eye (Which Ought To Give You A Clue About What I Think Of Intermittent Explosive Disorder) John Gratton June 8, 2006 Dr. Ellen Weber, BrainBasedBusiness, asked what I think about Intermittent Explosive Disorder and why there is an increase in people who have it. I’m not a doctor, but IED appears to be people with tempers blowing their tops and breaking... Continue Reading Posted at 6:05 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	500 Is Important Because It Is Between 499 And 501 John Gratton June 8, 2006 My children show different levels of interest in what daddy does. The one who reads here most often asked if I enjoy blogging. I do, but I hadn’t thought of it in those terms. I enjoy blogging the same way... Continue Reading Posted at 5:05 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun 7	Brahms' Third Racket John Gratton June 7, 2006 Basil sits with his eyes closed, enjoying a rare moment of relaxation with a bit of food and music on a cheap tape player. Cybil sticks her head in, nags him about some project, walks away and says, "And turn... Continue Reading Posted at 10:01 AM \| Permalink
	Kristin, I Hate To Tell You, But – You Stink John Gratton June 7, 2006 "That’s okay, Kristin, you did good," lied her mother. "Good job, honey, good job." How can it possibly be good for Kristin* to be told she did a good job? She just gave up two base hits and walked 11... Continue Reading Posted at 9:08 AM \| Permalink
	Protect Your Monthly Bills From Identity Theft John Gratton June 7, 2006 Identity thieves have more tricks than ever. So should you. From Sid Kirchheimer in AARP The Magazine: Mail SafeStop writing checks altogether. Even if you don’t, drop bill payments at a post office or a U.S. Postal Service mailbox. That’s... Continue Reading Posted at 8:01 AM \| Permalink
	Success Can Be Yours In Three Days John Gratton June 7, 2006 From Jack Keeter, president, Pacific Sales and Marketing, published in Benefits Selling, June 2006: Sometimes in life we might feel a little out of balance. If you don’t figure out a formula that will keep you in balance, there’s a... Continue Reading Posted at 7:01 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Here's A Novel Idea: An Individual Held Accountable For Company’s Fraud John Gratton June 7, 2006 From Accounting Today, June 5-18, 2006: In one of the largest fines ever handed down to an individual charged with accounting fraud, a federal judge has ordered the former chairman and chief executive of Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. To pay... Continue Reading Posted at 6:01 AM \| Permalink
	Here I Am Again, 32 Years Later John Gratton June 7, 2006 I’m sitting in a park where I used to sit in 1974. There are the tennis courts I first played on in this town, the pool where all those girls tanned, the softball fields. Our old house is just up... Continue Reading Posted at 5:01 AM \| Permalink
Jun 6	Visitor 5,000 Has Been And Gone And I'm Not Even Going To Mention It, Because Numbers Are Just A Means To An End John Gratton June 6, 2006 I was tempted to note the visit of guest 5,000 at CoreCharacter, as I did number 4,000, but I realized that a lot of Know More Media authors have that many visits a week, and lots of blogs have that... Continue Reading Posted at 12:05 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Protect Your Checks From Identity Thieves John Gratton June 6, 2006 Identity thieves have more tricks than ever. So should you. From Sid Kirchheimer in AARP The Magazine: Frustrate ForgersAll it takes to empty your bank account, says fraud fighter Frank W. Abagnale (the former con artist in Catch Me If... Continue Reading Posted at 10:11 AM \| Permalink
	Spanish Paralympians Set Standard So Low They Need Lifts In Their Shoes Just To Reach Bottom John Gratton June 6, 2006 The Spanish Paralympic Committee produced fake documents for 10 of the 12 members on their 2000 Paralympics basketball team, falsely claiming that they had IQs below 85. With an amazing performance, their intellectually able team captured the gold medal... Continue Reading Posted at 9:04 AM \| Permalink
	Does This Cartoon About Suicide As A Business Solution Bother You? John Gratton June 6, 2006 Does this bother you? The caption reads, "Henderson, the firm can’t afford to keep you and it can’t afford to let you go. We’re hoping you’ll do the honorable thing." The cartoon appears in Accounting Today, of all things,... Continue Reading Posted at 8:08 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Set Yourself Apart John Gratton June 6, 2006 From Benefits Selling, June 2006: Suzanne Bates, president and CEO of Bates Communications, offers the following tips on how to set yourself apart from a plethora of others in your field. Write a book. This is the quickest way to... Continue Reading Posted at 7:07 AM \| Permalink
	Blame Someone Else And Get On With Your Life John Gratton June 6, 2006 Times have not become more violent. They have just become more televised. Marilyn Manson I’ve been on a calendar but I’ve never been on time. Marilyn Monroe If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a... Continue Reading Posted at 6:06 AM \| Permalink
	Improper Accounting Seems To Be A Faster-Spreading Plague Than American Idol John Gratton June 6, 2006 From Practical Accountant, June 2006: The New York State comptroller has filed a securities fraud lawsuit against Qwest Communications International, also naming several of the telephone company’s former top executives, former directors and auditor, Arthur Andersen. The suit alleges that... Continue Reading Posted at 5:05 AM \| Permalink
Jun 5	Thanks, For Nothing John Gratton June 5, 2006 I received a thank you card today, unexpected, out of the blue, for doing a small, forgotten thing, nothing, really. It all started with The DaVinci Code. I was going to see it with a friend who canceled two hours... Continue Reading Posted at 9:09 AM \| Permalink
	Protect Your Trash From Identity Thieves (That’s Right, You Heard Me, Protect Your Trash) John Gratton June 5, 2006 Identity thieves have more tricks than ever. So should you. From Sid Kirchheimer in AARP The Magazine: Shred The EvidenceFeed any unwanted mail bearing sensitive information into a crosscut shredder. While assiduous tearing by hand can do the job, $75... Continue Reading Posted at 8:08 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	More, Um, Errors In Accounting Showing Up At Fannie Mae John Gratton June 5, 2006 "The image of Fannie Mae as one of the lowest-risk and 'best-in-class' institutions was a façade," said James B. Lockhart, acting director, OFHEO. "Our examination found an environment where the ends justified the means. Senior management manipulated accounting, reaped... Continue Reading Posted at 7:07 AM \| Permalink
	Never Eat More Than You Can Lift John Gratton June 5, 2006 I’m thirty years old, but I read at the thirty-four-year-old level. Dana Carvey Today you can go to a gas station and find the cash register open and the toilets locked. They must think toilet paper is worth more than... Continue Reading Posted at 6:06 AM \| Permalink
	Video Taping Nude Women While They Tan Shouldn’t Require The Constitution To Determine Whether It Is Wrong (One More Reason I Gotta Quit Reading The Paper) John Gratton June 5, 2006 A guy who secretly video taped women undressing in his tanning salon thinks his case should be dismissed because "the law under which he is charged is unconstitutional." He says the law is too "vague." It always amazes me that... Continue Reading Posted at 5:09 AM \| Permalink
Jun 3	Laughing Spirits Of Ha Ha Tonka Never Fail To Please John Gratton June 3, 2006 Another favorite hang out is Ha Ha Tonka State Park, over by Camdenton, Missouri. The park is, according to the Missouri State Parks web site, "a geological wonderland: sinkholes, caves, a huge natural bridge, soaring bluffs, and Missouri's twelfth largest... Continue Reading Posted at 9:09 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Top 100 Albums Of All Time (Actually, The Top Four Albums On My Shelf) John Gratton June 3, 2006 Sigh, here we go again, another list of so-called top albums of all time. This one is from NME.com, which I assume use to be the New Musical Express, and the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums. They... Continue Reading Posted at 8:08 AM \| Permalink
	Before You Head Out, Brush Up On Basic Safe-Boating Rules John Gratton June 3, 2006 From MayoClinic.com: Learn to swimThe American Red Cross offers swimming courses for everyone. Take a boating-safety courseTopics typically include what to do in an emergency, navigation basics, and the effects of wind, water conditions and weather. Wear a life jacketStock... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink
	Blueberries John Gratton June 3, 2006 From Dr. Joseph Mercola: Different types of berries do contain varying levels of nutrients, and can therefore be more beneficial for certain types of illness. [B]lueberries rank #1 in antioxidant activity compared to 40 other fresh fruits and vegetables. They... Continue Reading Posted at 6:01 AM \| Permalink
	Summertime Health: Food Borne Illnesses John Gratton June 3, 2006 By Sally Farhat for MSN Health & Fitness: Along with the fun of summer comes the "fun" of summer sicknesses. But don’t worry. Follow our handy guide, and you should stay healthy all summer. [M]any foods become breeding grounds for... Continue Reading Posted at 5:00 AM \| Permalink
Jun 2	Who Are Your Heroes? John Gratton June 2, 2006 "Would you like a quick and easy way of determining your own sense of honor or that of your coworkers or employees? Simply answer this question: Who are your five favorite heroes or heroines? You can tell a lot about... Continue Reading Posted at 9:19 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Protect Your Credit From Identity Thieves John Gratton June 2, 2006 Identity thieves have more tricks than ever. So should you. From Sid Kirchheimer in AARP The Magazine: Monitor All AccountsThough some banks alert you to unusual activity on a credit card, it’s more likely you’ll detect a crime before your... Continue Reading Posted at 8:10 AM \| Permalink
	I Have A Little Temper, But Very Few Regrets John Gratton June 2, 2006 It’s true, I have a temper. I keep it deep inside, hidden behind stacks of better habits and covered by layers of self-control earned through years of practice. My little temper rarely gets through all that, but sometimes I can... Continue Reading Posted at 7:17 AM \| Permalink
	CassTel Pays Big For Former President’s Conspiracy John Gratton June 2, 2006 Cass County Telephone Company is paying a $1 million fine and returning $3.6 million in rate credits as a settlement of a complaint filed by the Missouri Public Service Commission. It is "the largest ever imposed by the PSC against... Continue Reading Posted at 6:16 AM \| Permalink
	A Reminder That Communication Swings Both Ways John Gratton June 2, 2006 My daughter, the softball player, left two comments on a post about coaching her right out of her natural swing. In one, she said I was making fun of her. In the other, she expressed disappointment that I apologized in... Continue Reading Posted at 5:15 AM \| Permalink
Jun 1	Indispensable Prerequisites For Success John Gratton June 1, 2006 A real decision is measured by the fact that you've taken a new action. If there's no action, you haven't truly decided. Tony Robbins The ability to discipline yourself to delay gratification in the short term in order to enjoy... Continue Reading Posted at 11:28 AM \| Permalink
	Protect Your Documents From Identity Thieves John Gratton June 1, 2006 Identity thieves have more tricks than ever. So should you. This is from Sid Kirchheimer in AARP The Magazine: Lighten Your WalletThe most frequent source of information for ID thieves is you. [A]mong victims who knew how their numbers were... Continue Reading Posted at 10:26 AM \| Permalink
	And This Week’s Huge Settlement For Improper Accounting Comes From… John Gratton June 1, 2006 "Tyco International Ltd. will pay $50 million to settle allegations by the SEC that the company inflated its earnings by more than $1 billion between 1996 and 2002," according to an article in Practical Accountant, June 2006. "The SEC’s suit... Continue Reading Posted at 9:39 AM \| Permalink
	Sports Scandals: Will The Real Flockton Grey Please Stand Up John Gratton June 1, 2006 Dave Golokhov has an article at FOX Sports about sports scandals, from NBA to NHL to Boston Marathon to figure skating. I like them because the perpetrators get in trouble every time. Here’s one about horse racing: Flockton Grey, a... Continue Reading Posted at 8:19 AM \| Permalink
	Another Trip To The Library, Another Stack Of Books, Another Busy Week John Gratton June 1, 2006 One way I know that I’m too busy is that I don’t go to the library at least twice a week. It had been nine days since my last visit, so I wanted to go last night, but a friend... Continue Reading Posted at 7:23 AM \| Permalink

« May 2006 | Main | July 2006 »

Jun30	I'm Not Sure Whether I'm Being Scammed Or Bilked Or Hoodwinked (There's Never A Thesaurus Around When You Need One) John Gratton June 30, 2006 Know More: Honesty, Money, Risk, Self-Discipline, Vigilance I'm very excited. I got an e-mail from a company offering a deal that is, in fact, too good to be true. All I have to do is collect some checks (they tell me where and how), put them all in my account, keep a generous percentage for my trouble, then simply send the remaining money to the organization. Hey, man, free money, more than $500 the first seven days, guaranteed. And, get this, I can do it full-time or part-time. Next week, I get a raise, a higher percentage of the deposits before I send my money to the organization. Yes! The FAQ section explains how Form 1099 works, that there are no start-up fees, and that I don't have to sell anything. This is one sweet deal, and I can't believe that out of the millions of people who have e-mail addresses, they picked me. I've sent away for the rest of the details. When I get them, you'll be the first to know. Posted at 6:50 PM \| Permalink
Jun30	Change The World Around You John Gratton June 30, 2006 Our self image, strongly held, essentially determines what we become. Maxwell Maltz Courage means to keep working a relationship, to continue seeking solutions to difficult problems, and to stay focused during stressful periods. Denis Waitley Positive thinking will let you... Continue Reading Posted at 6:20 PM \| Permalink
	Mingling 101: Ask Questions And Listen Carefully John Gratton June 30, 2006 I almost had to mingle yesterday, and it scared me. It's been too long since I've worked a room, as they say. I decided I'd better brush up on it, and who better to turn to than Brian Tracy: Many... Continue Reading Posted at 5:50 PM \| Permalink
	What's It Going To Take To Put You In This Car Today? John Gratton June 30, 2006 Have car commercials changed where you are? Normally, they show the car and shout about rebates or low interest. A thousand here, a few percentage points there. But now, the dealers around here are not offering $1,000 rebates. No, now... Continue Reading Posted at 5:20 PM \| Permalink
	My Mother Is Better At 70 Than She Was Three Decades Ago John Gratton June 30, 2006 To be 70 years young is sometimes far more cheerful and hopeful than to be forty years old. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. My mother just turned 70. I don't remember how she was 30 years ago, because I was just... Continue Reading Posted at 4:43 PM \| Permalink
Jun29	Self-Defense Against Sharks and Scams John Gratton June 29, 2006 Nearly everyone thinks he or she can write. If I had $1,000 for every time I’ve heard "Why pay someone when I can do it myself," I could buy a new Mustang. If you’re one of those, here’s a book... Continue Reading Posted at 5:56 PM \| Permalink
	So Much Good In The Worst Of Us John Gratton June 29, 2006 There is so much bad in the best of us and so much good in the worst of us, that it ill behooves any of us to find fault with the rest of us. Cree-L Kofford I learned this lesson... Continue Reading Posted at 11:00 AM \| Permalink
	Cultivate Friendships With Hopeful People John Gratton June 29, 2006 Cultivate friendships with hopeful people. Surround yourself with friends who think positive, faith-producing thoughts and who contribute to a creative atmosphere. This will keep you stimulated with positive attitudes. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale I've had jobs where everyone got along... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 AM \| Permalink
	"Irregular Betting" Reported At Wimbledon John Gratton June 29, 2006 Take the No. 89 tennis player in the world and put him up against the what, No. 259 player in the world, and no one cares, right? But apparently someone did care. Bets on the Wimbledon match between Arlos Berlocq... Continue Reading Posted at 9:00 AM \| Permalink
	Prickly, Edgy, Combative People Need Love, Too John Gratton June 29, 2006 From Marc McCormack, Never Wrestle With A Pig: In our constant search for consensus and harmony in the workplace, we sometimes are less than fair to the prickly, edgy, combative people in our midst. We resist them or avoid them... Continue Reading Posted at 8:00 AM \| Permalink
Jun28	Gas-Saving Devices Mostly A Scam John Gratton June 28, 2006 From Bankrate.com: Over the years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has tested myriad gas-saving devices that burst onto the consumer scene. Experts say they all have one thing in common. "They don't work," says John Millett, spokesman for the EPA.... Continue Reading Posted at 12:34 PM \| Permalink
	Begin By Being Honest About Intents And Motives John Gratton June 28, 2006 From Randy Pennington and Marc Bockman, On My Honor, I Will: If we are to be people of honor, we must begin by being honest about our intents and motives. If we want to become a person of honor, we... Continue Reading Posted at 11:28 AM \| Permalink
	I Do I Do I Do John Gratton June 28, 2006 By Steven McCarty, published in Benefits Selling: I Do What I’m ToldThe first statement reflects our industry's compliance focus. Regulators and product companies are good at disseminating compliance rules. Unfortunately, the brain is hard-wired to break rules, even though it's... Continue Reading Posted at 10:32 AM \| Permalink
	Everything Of Value Has A Cost John Gratton June 28, 2006 "We spend our time envying people whom we wouldn't wish to be." Jean Rostand From Stephen Pollan and Mark Levine, It's All In Your Head: Everything of value has a cost. Career and business success don't come without a price.... Continue Reading Posted at 9:57 AM \| Permalink
Jun26	Would You Design A Product To Sell Cigarettes To Children? John Gratton June 26, 2006 A design firm hired Reell Precision Manufacturing to make a hinge for a display box. A Reell engineer named Joe Arnold had some ideas for the hinge, but he discovered that the display box would be used to advertise cigarettes... Continue Reading Posted at 10:45 PM \| Permalink
	Play Your Position John Gratton June 26, 2006 Kevin Liles grew up in West Baltimore, where he "stood a better chance of getting shot or thrown in jail than getting a good-paying and respectable job." The former rapper "rose from intern to president of Def Jam Records in... Continue Reading Posted at 10:18 PM \| Permalink
	Be The Change You Wish To See John Gratton June 26, 2006 The title is from Mahatma Gandhi, the rest is from Resonant Leadership by Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee: People who think they can be truly great leaders without personal transformation are fooling themselves. You cannot inspire others and create the... Continue Reading Posted at 9:41 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Bill Murray And Me On My Way To Work This Morning John Gratton June 26, 2006 My car is in the shop, so I've been on a bike all weekend, or have relied on family and friends for rides. It’s so easy to take those things and others for granted: family and friends, cars, refrigeration, indoor... Continue Reading Posted at 8:47 AM \| Permalink
	The Year Of Magical Thinking John Gratton June 26, 2006 I'm reading Joan Didion's account of the year following her husband's unexpected death. The first 49 pages are heartbreaking and compelling. I don't know what the rest of the book entails, but her sense of loss so far is nearly... Continue Reading Posted at 8:40 AM \| Permalink
Jun24	Make Your Body Happy – Drink More Water (I Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself) John Gratton June 24, 2006 I just saw a funny commercial, a bunch of college-age kids at a toga party, going wild, sloshing beverages all over each other. The cops come expecting to break it up, but everyone is drinking water. The punch line goes... Continue Reading Posted at 2:42 PM \| Permalink
	Daughters And Otters And A Little Thai Food Thrown In John Gratton June 24, 2006 Riding bikes today, my daughter asked how often I eat at a local Thai restaurant. I have socks older than this girl, and here she is, somehow, asking about favorite foods at exotic eateries. She proceeded to tell me all her favorites.... Continue Reading Posted at 8:07 AM \| Permalink
	Trick Your Eyes, Fool Your Teeth John Gratton June 24, 2006 By Kate Dailey, Men's Health: Cure Your Toothache Without Opening Your MouthJust rub ice on the back of your hand, on the V-shaped webbed area between your thumb and index finger. A Canadian study found that this technique reduces toothache... Continue Reading Posted at 7:12 AM \| Permalink
	Three Travel Tips For Your Summer Get-Away John Gratton June 24, 2006 From 1,000 Places To See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz: If you want to minimize time spent at airport security, double-check the Transportation Security Administration web site for the latest news regarding security regulations, wait times at airports, and... Continue Reading Posted at 6:12 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	WholeHealthMD Among The Best Sites For Health John Gratton June 24, 2006 My favorite health and wellness web site is Dr. Mercola. That's where I turn for health news and tips for better living, and a lot of the Saturday Sidebars are taken from there. Of course, WebMD is an excellent site,... Continue Reading Posted at 5:12 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Summertime White, A Forbidden Delight John Gratton June 24, 2006 The most delightful thing I've tried in a long time is a peach, but not just any peach, a Summertime White peach. They may be slightly smaller than their common yellow cousins, but they are firm and sweet and succulent... Continue Reading Posted at 4:12 AM \| Permalink
Jun23	Those Who Wander Are Not Necessarily Lost John Gratton June 23, 2006 Don't tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you have traveled. Muhammad To awaken in a strange town is one of the most pleasant sensations in the world. Freya Stark Those who wander are not necessarily lost.... Continue Reading Posted at 6:20 PM \| Permalink
	Teamwork Multiplies Effectiveness John Gratton June 23, 2006 "The test of an organization is not genius. It is its capacity to make common people achieve uncommon performance." Peter Drucker From Harold Myra and Marshall Shelley, The Leadership Secrets Of Billy Graham: Whether leading a large enterprise or a... Continue Reading Posted at 5:55 PM \| Permalink
	Life Is Bizarre And Inexplicable, And Why Not? John Gratton June 23, 2006 Life is like an old-time rail journey – delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. Jenkins Lloyd Jones The scientific theory I like best is that the rings of... Continue Reading Posted at 5:30 PM \| Permalink
	Don't Expect Customers To Envision Your Future, That's Your Job John Gratton June 23, 2006 "If I had asked my customers what they wanted, they'd have said a faster horse." Henry Ford From Tom Kelly, The Ten Faces Of Innovation: Ford had a point. Don't expect customers to help you envision the future. Make that... Continue Reading Posted at 4:40 PM \| Permalink
	Eiffel Tower Raised Money In Addition To National Pride John Gratton June 23, 2006 I like construction documentaries, like Hoover Dam, the Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge. I admire the determination of the men (mostly men, anyway) who had such good ideas and did such excellent and lasting work despite such great odds against... Continue Reading Posted at 3:35 PM \| Permalink
	Go With What You Know John Gratton June 23, 2006 "They didn't think that the public would accept a doll with breasts for children. I knew they were wrong." Ruth Handler, creator of Barbie. Wrong to the tune of 172,800 Barbie dolls sold every day. But it wasn't easy. She... Continue Reading Posted at 4:15 AM \| Permalink
Jun22	Talking Is Good John Gratton June 22, 2006 I have a friend who says "talk to me." I like that. And another friend who says, "you wanna hang out?" which means, "we need to talk." My daughter used to say, "let's go for a run," which often meant... Continue Reading Posted at 7:06 PM \| Permalink
	An Excellent Experience With Customer Service (From A Phone Company, No Less) John Gratton June 22, 2006 I had to call customer support for phone service at work. AT&T. I dreaded it. Those kind of calls usually can take days to complete, but I got lucky. A nice woman named Stephanie answered. Stephanie was bright, friendly, knowledgeable... Continue Reading Posted at 6:02 PM \| Permalink
	Acute Kidney Failure Or Birthday Cake? Let Me See… John Gratton June 22, 2006 I just got a call from a firm in town that does medical testing on willing subjects. They inject you with experimental drugs then watch what happens. I applied with them a few years ago, and went for a test,... Continue Reading Posted at 12:34 PM \| Permalink
	"Time" Is Most Popular Noun (I Would Have Guessed "Book" Or "Love" Or "Cell Phone") John Gratton June 22, 2006 I read this blurb in our paper today, and wonder how they know. I didn't find anything on how they did the research, but the idea intrigues me: For those who think the world is obsessed with "time," an Oxford... Continue Reading Posted at 11:06 AM \| Permalink
	I Owe You Everything John Gratton June 22, 2006 By Victor M. Parachin: The story is told of a young man hiking through the mountains, when a sudden blinding storm struck. Before long, the hiker's hands and feet grew numb as he wandered through the storm and snow in... Continue Reading Posted at 10:17 AM \| Permalink
	Value Is In The Eye Of The Beholder John Gratton June 22, 2006 From BusinessWeekOnline: Not only do magic advertising words not exist, several of them actually work against you. Here is one of five advertising words you should never use: Value Like quality, value has been ruined by overuse. Go back to... Continue Reading Posted at 9:21 AM \| Permalink
Jun21	Wanting It Often Isn't Reason Enough To Take It John Gratton June 21, 2006 One of the easiest ways to avoid temptation is to immediately give in to it. If you want it, buy it. If you see it, take it. If you can get it, grab it. The plan works, but it may... Continue Reading Posted at 1:43 PM \| Permalink
	Identity Theft Hitting Closer And Closer To Home John Gratton June 21, 2006 A couple of local people face prison following charges of identity theft. Apparently the thieves copied credit card information from the purse of a friend who was spending the night at their house. They used those numbers to access ATMs... Continue Reading Posted at 12:45 PM \| Permalink
	Bob Uecker Is A Great American John Gratton June 21, 2006 Bob "I Must Be In The Front Row" Uecker, Milwaukee Brewers announcer, star of Mr. Belvedere, tuba player for the 1964 Cardinals, is in the news because he has a stalker. I hope it is resolved okay, because because Bob... Continue Reading Posted at 11:45 AM \| Permalink
	Anti-Freedom Device Enables Parents To Spy On Offspring John Gratton June 21, 2006 Cell phones have given freedom to young adults that their parents never imagined. Unsupervised calling, complete privacy, text messaging, individual voicemail, all have enabled kids to pretty much do as they please, avoiding parents, cheating in school. Until now. Some... Continue Reading Posted at 10:42 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Body By Jake Guy Can Help Pump Up Your Business John Gratton June 21, 2006 "Sometimes, in life and in business, all the tools we need to succeed are just sitting there waiting for us to discover them. It may be something that exists around us, or something that exists within us. Until we reach... Continue Reading Posted at 9:45 AM \| Permalink
	This Is A Bill John Gratton June 21, 2006 It's always bad to get an envelope in the mail that has "THIS IS A BILL" printed on it in bold letters, all caps. I got one from the library, which I'm unhappy about because I'm one of their best... Continue Reading Posted at 8:47 AM \| Permalink
Jun20	Everyone Has An Opinion, Not Many Have A Voice* John Gratton June 20, 2006 I was in a meeting, a low-level flunky trying to figure out why I was there. Out of nowhere, the boss asked for my recommendation to fill a vacancy. The choice was obvious to me – so I named a talented... Continue Reading Posted at 2:02 PM \| Permalink
	Quality Is Meaningless John Gratton June 20, 2006 From BusinessWeekOnline: Not only do magic advertising words not exist, several of them actually work against you. Here is one of five advertising words you should never use: Quality This may be the most overused word in advertising, which is... Continue Reading Posted at 1:02 PM \| Permalink
	A Daring Adventure Or Nothing John Gratton June 20, 2006 To reach a port, we must sail, sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it. But we must not drift or lie at anchor. Oliver Wendell Holmes Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by... Continue Reading Posted at 12:02 PM \| Permalink
	Sure, Let The Boss Steal Your Ideas John Gratton June 20, 2006 From Mark H. McCormack, Never Wrestle With A Pig: [S]ome cynical types argue that bosses exist in large part to steal their subordinates' best ideas. That's one reason bosses are bosses. They have the ability to sit in a meeting,... Continue Reading Posted at 11:02 AM \| Permalink
	Oreos For Dummies John Gratton June 20, 2006 Apparently the easiest way to make a lot of money is to write a book about how to make a lot of money, and be sure to use the word "Millionaire" in the title. Since most of those seem to... Continue Reading Posted at 10:02 AM \| Permalink
	Students Ask For Time Off To Watch World Cup John Gratton June 20, 2006 Comments come first via e-mail, so I read them there. I received this comment, which refers to a post about the World Cup: John - I shared this with my students today right after they requested periodic breaks in class... Continue Reading Posted at 9:03 AM \| Permalink
Jun19	What Did You Expect? (Besides Vera, Chuck And Dave) John Gratton June 19, 2006 Paul McCartney had his birthday yesterday, June 18. He is 64. If that number means nothing to you, you should go out and get yourself a life. Or at least a couple of new CDs. McCartney wrote "will you still... Continue Reading Posted at 3:28 PM \| Permalink
	World Cup Lesson Number Two: Always Have A Plan B, At Least John Gratton June 19, 2006 We were out of business for the duration. In some countries, door-knocking missionaries just can't knock on doors during the World Cup. People in England certainly didn't want to be bothered – they were, in fact, pretty adamant. So we... Continue Reading Posted at 2:04 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The More You Have, The More You End Up Wanting John Gratton June 19, 2006 "Material possessions aren’t inherently bad. A Mercedes 300 isn’t evil. It's the endless and constant pursuit of material possessions, and the belief that those possessions have the power to make you happy, that is problematic. You see, the more you... Continue Reading Posted at 1:11 PM \| Permalink
	What Is Your Name Worth? John Gratton June 19, 2006 Sixth grade. I walked home from school and met two kids I knew but did not hang out with. They were going to the lumber yard to climb on the stacks of wood, and invited me. I should have been... Continue Reading Posted at 12:13 PM \| Permalink
	The Clock Isn't Really The Competition John Gratton June 19, 2006 Kelly sent a comment late Friday to which I couldn't respond fully until now. Her question is insightful and well-reasoned, and deserves a similar response. Here's the best I could do: Kelly, thank you. Thank you for your patience. I... Continue Reading Posted at 11:10 AM \| Permalink
	Another Father's Day For The Old Man (And Not A New Tie In Sight) John Gratton June 19, 2006 Father's Day began early. My married daughter stopped by Saturday afternoon with pumpkin bread, my favorite, and a much needed kitchen appliance. Her sisters wanted her to come for Father's Day dinner, but I knew she wouldn't. Her job for... Continue Reading Posted at 10:06 AM \| Permalink
Jun17	Happy Father's Day, Dad – You Are My Hero John Gratton June 17, 2006 Another Father's Day, and I’m looking forward to spending time with my kids. But I'm also looking backward to times spent with my dad. Dad married young and was devoted to his wife and six sons. He dropped out of high... Continue Reading Posted at 9:17 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Strawberry Beatles Forever John Gratton June 17, 2006 Of course, I was aware of the Beatles, but I never cared. Our neighborhood gang was out playing that Sunday night in 1964, when everyone else rushed into their houses to watch them on Ed Sullivan. My family watched, but... Continue Reading Posted at 8:05 AM \| Permalink
	Summere Health: Skin Rashes John Gratton June 17, 2006 By Sally Farhat for MSN Health & Fitness: You might develop a rash because of too much sun, brushing up against certain plants or from bug bites. Even some medications, like birth control and blood pressure pills, don’t mix well... Continue Reading Posted at 7:04 AM \| Permalink
	Raspberries John Gratton June 17, 2006 From Dr. Joseph Mercola: Different types of berries do contain varying levels of nutrients, and can therefore be more beneficial for certain types of illness. Raspberries Raspberries are rich in anthocyanins and cancer-fighting phytochemicals such as ellagic, coumaric and ferulic... Continue Reading Posted at 6:03 AM \| Permalink
	Summer Reading, All Summer Long John Gratton June 17, 2006 June is more than half-way done. If you haven't picked a book for your summer reading fun, let me suggest one – All Summer Long by Bob Greene. Greene was a long-time columnist for the Chicago Tribune who appeared in... Continue Reading Posted at 5:02 AM \| Permalink
	Take Two Tuna Sandwiches And Call Me In The Morning John Gratton June 17, 2006 From PsychologyToday.com: It sounds like a bad joke, but fish can stop dementia in its tracks. A team of California researchers found that a diet rich in fatty oils from cold-water fish can halt the progression of dementia – even... Continue Reading Posted at 4:01 AM \| Permalink
Jun16	Are We Rich, Dad? John Gratton June 16, 2006 It's late, well after midnight, another busy Friday over. I had the day off and spent it with my children, and five hours of it with my grandchildren. My married daughter brought us lunch. It was a good day. I'm... Continue Reading Posted at 11:28 PM \| Permalink
	Amoral And Larcenous Geezers John Gratton June 16, 2006 From Bob Greene (not Oprah's trainer), The 50-Year Dash: I saw a man try to sneak into a half-price event open only to senior citizens. The cutoff age was 55, which I thought was pretty generous. And this guy, I... Continue Reading Posted at 9:02 AM \| Permalink
	We Used To Take Turns Going Outside To Point The Antenna At St. Louis Or Cape Girardeau, For Pete's Sake, Depending On Whether The Football Cardinals Were Home Or Away John Gratton June 16, 2006 I got out of the web design business the same way I got into it – kicking and screaming. I quit because I couldn't keep up with the technology. I was spending half my work week just reading and figuring... Continue Reading Posted at 8:04 AM \| Permalink
	What Are The Chances Of Being Reincarnated As A Race Horse? John Gratton June 16, 2006 The third-place finisher at the Kentucky Derby this year lives near me, Steppenwolfer. He's been in all the papers lately, like the Springfield Business Journal, which reported the following: The guy who owns the horse paid $375,000, but has already... Continue Reading Posted at 7:02 AM \| Permalink
	World Cup Lesson Number One: Don’t Tackle The Impossible John Gratton June 16, 2006 I don't care how good you are, there are some things that can't be done. I learned that as a young missionary in England, during the 1978 World Cup. Part of our daily routine was knocking on doors, and frankly,... Continue Reading Posted at 6:02 AM \| Permalink
	Where Are The Entrepreneurs When We Really Need Them? Right Where They Should Be, Working John Gratton June 16, 2006 From Dan Strutzel, AdvantEdge Magazine: When scores of politicians, special interest groups, talking heads, and economists are busy complaining, assigning blame, and making excuses, it is tempting to believe that our country has lost its edge and that things are... Continue Reading Posted at 5:04 AM \| Permalink
	Podcasting Makes Good Business Sense John Gratton June 16, 2006 From Erin Flynn, Wealth Manager, June 2006: Podcasts allow busy professionals to time-shift their consumption of content. More importantly, [professionals] can share their insights with a select audience. For a low price, anyone can go to a vendor like audioblog.com... Continue Reading Posted at 4:04 AM \| Permalink
Jun15	Job Alert Results Sometimes Surprise Me – I Must Be More Qualified Than I Thought John Gratton June 15, 2006 Every Wednesday, I get an e-mail from careerbuilder.com with a list of job openings for which I am – according to keywords in my resumé and work history – uniquely qualified. Apart from five years as a laborer in a... Continue Reading Posted at 1:50 PM \| Permalink
	Compared To You John Gratton June 15, 2006 In It's All In Your Head (I told you I can't quit reading it), there is a chapter on not comparing yourself to others. It is funny because the comparisons are things like "not earning more than $100,000 like your... Continue Reading Posted at 12:50 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Break Out The Leaches, You Have Too Much Blood John Gratton June 15, 2006 I am eligible to donate blood today, my 106th pint, but I'm not going. I signed up for my blood center's Triple Crown Donation program, so I will give on a certain date later this month. My first donation, in... Continue Reading Posted at 11:50 AM \| Permalink
	Rock, Paper, Scissors Is Good Enough For Me John Gratton June 15, 2006 My experience with judges is limited to one divorce, a couple of traffic fines and six hours of jury duty. I think few judges would be comfortable in with a barrel of monkeys. Humor is not their modus operandi. But... Continue Reading Posted at 10:47 AM \| Permalink
	Forgoing My Right To Remain Silent About Luxurious Baths John Gratton June 15, 2006 At the back of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine is a small ad with Ed McMahon saying, "A relaxing bath is something we all have a right to." The ad is for a company that makes elderly-friendly bathtubs, which is a... Continue Reading Posted at 9:08 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Service Schmervice (Boy, Do They Have My Cell Phone Provider Nailed) John Gratton June 15, 2006 From BusinessWeekOnline: Not only do magic advertising words not exist, several of them actually work against you. Here [is one of] five advertising words you should never use: Service Have you ever heard an ad promising lousy service? Of course... Continue Reading Posted at 8:08 AM \| Permalink
Jun14	Something To Write Home About John Gratton June 14, 2006 A couple of the girls stopped by at lunch. One of them went to my desk, under guise of using the bathroom, and typed this note for me, which I found about six hours later: Hello, Father. Just to tell you... Continue Reading Posted at 9:56 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Cultivate Mindfulness And Seek Resonance John Gratton June 14, 2006 From Resonant Leadership by Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee: Leaders are often advised to focus on the rational mind and on the mechanics of business – planning, organizing, and controlling resources (including people) – and to leave the soft stuff... Continue Reading Posted at 9:02 AM \| Permalink
	St. Peter Don't Call Me 'Cause I #!$%@!! Can't Go John Gratton June 14, 2006 My friend Dave Coverly ran this cartoon in our local paper a while back, and it created some disturbance among local readers who just don't have enough to do. Apparently several subscribers took offense at the thought of St. Peter using... Continue Reading Posted at 7:08 AM \| Permalink
	To Kill A Mockingbird Really Doesnt Have Much To Do With Killing Mockingbirds But It's A Pretty Good Read John Gratton June 14, 2006 "I swore never to read again after I gained no useful information about killing mockingbirds from To Kill A Mockingbird." Homer Simpson I love the texture and intimacy of Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, or Willa Cather's My Antonia,... Continue Reading Posted at 6:02 AM \| Permalink
	The Inconceivable Journey: Shackleton’s Antarctic Adventure John Gratton June 14, 2006 I just watched a documentary called Shackleton’s Antarctic Adventure, "the greatest survival story of all time." Wow! The series of unfortunate events Shackleton and his men endured is so hard to believe it seems made up, more Rob Reiner than... Continue Reading Posted at 5:02 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	At Least The Lawyers Won't Starve John Gratton June 14, 2006 John MacIntyre reports that in 1986, there were only two law firms that recorded $100 million in gross revenues. In 2005, there were 184 law firms that recorded $100 million in gross revenues. Five law firms recorded gross revenues in... Continue Reading Posted at 4:02 AM \| Permalink
Jun13	I Know, Let's Get Liquored Up And Putt Some Balls And Smoke And Cuss In Front Of Children John Gratton June 13, 2006 No sooner had I typed the words "family first," when the phone rang. It was my daughter, wanting to play miniature golf. It was 9:30 at night, I was tired, and I still had all this blogging to do. So... Continue Reading Posted at 1:38 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Vitruvian Man Oh Man John Gratton June 13, 2006 "Man is the measure of all things. Every part of the whole must be in proportion to the whole." From Leonardo da Vinci In His Own Words: It seems da Vinci got it right. To be truly successful, all parts... Continue Reading Posted at 12:28 PM \| Permalink
	Coming Up For Air John Gratton June 13, 2006 "There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do." Freya Stark Beth Sawi's book, Coming Up For Air: How To Build A Balanced Life In A Workaholic World, can help us... Continue Reading Posted at 11:30 AM \| Permalink
	Where Caring Isn’t Just A Word, It’s Our Slogan John Gratton June 13, 2006 From BusinessWeekOnline: Not only do magic advertising words not exist, several of them actually work against you. Here [is one of] five advertising words you should never use: Caring Do you really believe your company cares more about your customers... Continue Reading Posted at 10:31 AM \| Permalink
	Music Can Awaken Your Heart John Gratton June 13, 2006 Don't tell Jack Canfield, but I found his CD Awaken Your Heart At Work in a $3.95 discount rack. There are a few audio books to listen to ahead of this one, so I haven't listened to it yet, but... Continue Reading Posted at 9:31 AM \| Permalink
	Sports Scandals: Imperfect Game John Gratton June 13, 2006 Dave Golokhov has an article at FOXSports.com about sports scandals, everything from NBA to NHL to Boston Marathon to figure skating. Here's one about kids and baseball: The advantages of a fake ID are usually to ameliorate the opportunities for... Continue Reading Posted at 8:18 AM \| Permalink
Jun12	Apparently The Reason We Have Fire Extinguishers At The Office Is To Put Out Our Pants John Gratton June 12, 2006 Columnist John MacIntyre, who writes about society’s numbers in Figuratively Speaking, reports on a survey by CareerBuilder.com about lying at work: 19 - Percentage of workers who say they tell lies at the office at least once a week. 26... Continue Reading Posted at 9:09 AM \| Permalink
	Don't Blame Me, Blame My Intermittent Ignorant Blogger Disorder John Gratton June 12, 2006 I don't think much of so-called diseases like Intermittent Explosive Disorder, which apparently lead to uncontrolled angry, sometimes violent, episodes if not properly medicated. As I said, I view them more as excuses for poor behavior rather than a biological... Continue Reading Posted at 8:08 AM \| Permalink
	If A Company Has To Tell You They Have Integrity, Watch Out, They're Hiding Something John Gratton June 12, 2006 From BusinessWeekOnline: Not only do magic advertising words not exist, several of them actually work against you. And chances are, you're using at least one of them in your advertising now. Here [is one of] five advertising words you should... Continue Reading Posted at 7:07 AM \| Permalink
	Small-Time Crooks, Part One John Gratton June 12, 2006 Here's a good one, and by good, I mean pretty much pathetic: Two guys – "business partners" – went door-to-door selling magazine subscriptions they never intended to deliver. For cover, to get the easy sympathy sell, they pretended to be... Continue Reading Posted at 6:06 AM \| Permalink
	Why Does My Cell Phone Provider Only Hire People Who Are Rude, Thoughtless, Indifferent And Slow? John Gratton June 12, 2006 I dread my monthly visit to my cell phone service provider. They are rude, thoughtless, indifferent and slow. It shouldn’t take 45 minutes, just to give them money. There are four customer service stations, but rarely more than two are... Continue Reading Posted at 5:05 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	No Insurance Against Stupidity John Gratton June 12, 2006 Does anyone get away with this stuff? An insurance agent in a nearby city received a complaint from the Missouri Department of Insurance for taking money from a customer but then not purchasing the policy. The agent, according to the... Continue Reading Posted at 4:04 AM \| Permalink
Jun10	Bad Days Begone John Gratton June 10, 2006 I'm done for the day, another busy Saturday just about gone. To unwind, I've been reading fellow KnowMoreMedia bloggers, and was intrigued by a post Maria Palmer has about having bad days. We all have bad things happen, unforeseen things,... Continue Reading Posted at 11:14 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Two Tricks Your Body Should Know John Gratton June 10, 2006 These healthy tips are from Kate Dailey at Men’s Health: Breathe UnderwaterIf you're dying to retrieve that quarter from the bottom of the pool, take several short breaths first – essentially, hyperventilate. When you're underwater, it's not a lack of oxygen... Continue Reading Posted at 8:02 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	When Someone Forces You To Water Ski At Gunpoint (Why Else Would Anyone Water Ski?) John Gratton June 10, 2006 Here are some tips from MayoClinic.com to help you stay safe when riding the wake. Wear a life jacket. Bright colors are most visible. Seek out low-traffic areas. Avoid heavily traveled boating lanes and areas reserved for fishing. Stay visible.... Continue Reading Posted at 7:08 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Don’t Lose Your Cool Over Heatstroke John Gratton June 10, 2006 By Sally Farhat for MSN Health & Fitness: As it gets hotter, we’re more likely to sweat and lose water. During exercise, children's temperatures rise faster than adults, which puts them at a greater risk. A sign of heatstroke at... Continue Reading Posted at 6:06 AM \| Permalink
	Strawberries John Gratton June 10, 2006 From Dr. Joseph Mercola: Different types of berries do contain varying levels of nutrients, and can therefore be more beneficial for certain types of illness. Strawberries came in second to blueberries in the USDA's analysis of antioxidant capacity of 40... Continue Reading Posted at 5:08 AM \| Permalink
	Going To London To See The Queen John Gratton June 10, 2006 From 1,000 Places To See Before You Die Calendar: "On the second Saturday in June, England honors its queen with the official celebration of her birthday, the Trooping the Colour. All the queen’s horses and all the queen’s men depart... Continue Reading Posted at 4:05 AM \| Permalink
	Does This Tie Make Me Look Stupid? And Other Responses To The Impossible Question We All Get Asked John Gratton June 10, 2006 Lots of comedians have tackled the impossible "Do I look fat" question for men and women. It is a lose-lose situation, with no answer you won’t regret. Here are some possible responses, repeated often online. They won’t keep you out... Continue Reading Posted at 3:03 AM \| Permalink
Jun 9	I'm A Big Fan Of The Nightingale-Conant Quote Of The Day John Gratton June 9, 2006 I receive a Motivational Quote Of The Day from Nightingale-Conant, and recommend that you sign up, too. Reading at least one profound thought each day is always useful. Another advantage is that they offer discounts that are not available otherwise.... Continue Reading Posted at 10:07 AM \| Permalink
	Happiness Is An Inside Job – Nothing External Will Make You Happy John Gratton June 9, 2006 From It's All In Your Head: Thinking Your Way To Happiness by Stephen M. Pollan and Mark Levine (read this book – I mean it): Life is short, so if you can afford to indulge a bit now and again,... Continue Reading Posted at 9:03 AM \| Permalink
	Protect Your Pass Codes From Identity Thieves John Gratton June 9, 2006 Identity thieves have more tricks than ever. So should you. From Sid Kirchheimer in AARP The Magazine: Guard The CardsNine percent of traceable ID thefts in 2004 occurred during transactions offline, the cyberspace term for being out and about. Perhaps... Continue Reading Posted at 8:08 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Using Words Correctly Enhances Your Value And Your Image John Gratton June 9, 2006 From Glossary of Misused Words & Phrases, printed in communication briefings: Some of these sentences contain words that are often misused. How many can you find and fix? 1. Bill was adverse to the program for awhile. 2. Jane was... Continue Reading Posted at 7:05 AM \| Permalink
	The Whole Secret Of Life (And It's Not "Venezuelan Beaver Cheese") John Gratton June 9, 2006 Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable. Sidney J. Harris I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where... Continue Reading Posted at 6:06 AM \| Permalink
	Why I Gave Up Baseball, Football And Peanut Butter John Gratton June 9, 2006 I was a Cardinals fan, baseball and football, until 1988. I watched or listened to nearly all the games. Eventually I noticed that my children didn’t like games – I would watch alone while they played outside. So I gave... Continue Reading Posted at 5:00 AM \| Permalink
Jun 8	How About Some Humor In Those Hallowed Halls John Gratton June 8, 2006 From The Leadership Secrets Of Billy Graham by Harold Myra and Marshall Shelley: When one hears laughter in the halls of an organization, when humor and good spirits enliven the breaks, when serious discussions are broken up by humor, it's... Continue Reading Posted at 9:05 AM \| Permalink
	Protect Your Computer From Identity Thieves John Gratton June 8, 2006 Identity thieves have more tricks than ever. So should you. From Sid Kirchheimer in AARP The Magazine: Scrub That SoftwareEvery home computer should have security software that updates regularly. Every user needs to resist the bait from con artists who... Continue Reading Posted at 8:05 AM \| Permalink
	Sports Scandals: Caught In A Rat Race John Gratton June 8, 2006 Dave Golokhov has an article at FOX Sports about sports scandals, everything from NBA to NHL to Boston Marathon to figure skating. Here’s one about horse racing: The simple things in life can be completed without breaking a sweat, but... Continue Reading Posted at 7:05 AM \| Permalink
	Intermittent Explosive Disorder My Eye (Which Ought To Give You A Clue About What I Think Of Intermittent Explosive Disorder) John Gratton June 8, 2006 Dr. Ellen Weber, BrainBasedBusiness, asked what I think about Intermittent Explosive Disorder and why there is an increase in people who have it. I’m not a doctor, but IED appears to be people with tempers blowing their tops and breaking... Continue Reading Posted at 6:05 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	500 Is Important Because It Is Between 499 And 501 John Gratton June 8, 2006 My children show different levels of interest in what daddy does. The one who reads here most often asked if I enjoy blogging. I do, but I hadn’t thought of it in those terms. I enjoy blogging the same way... Continue Reading Posted at 5:05 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun 7	Brahms' Third Racket John Gratton June 7, 2006 Basil sits with his eyes closed, enjoying a rare moment of relaxation with a bit of food and music on a cheap tape player. Cybil sticks her head in, nags him about some project, walks away and says, "And turn... Continue Reading Posted at 10:01 AM \| Permalink
	Kristin, I Hate To Tell You, But – You Stink John Gratton June 7, 2006 "That’s okay, Kristin, you did good," lied her mother. "Good job, honey, good job." How can it possibly be good for Kristin* to be told she did a good job? She just gave up two base hits and walked 11... Continue Reading Posted at 9:08 AM \| Permalink
	Protect Your Monthly Bills From Identity Theft John Gratton June 7, 2006 Identity thieves have more tricks than ever. So should you. From Sid Kirchheimer in AARP The Magazine: Mail SafeStop writing checks altogether. Even if you don’t, drop bill payments at a post office or a U.S. Postal Service mailbox. That’s... Continue Reading Posted at 8:01 AM \| Permalink
	Success Can Be Yours In Three Days John Gratton June 7, 2006 From Jack Keeter, president, Pacific Sales and Marketing, published in Benefits Selling, June 2006: Sometimes in life we might feel a little out of balance. If you don’t figure out a formula that will keep you in balance, there’s a... Continue Reading Posted at 7:01 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Here's A Novel Idea: An Individual Held Accountable For Company’s Fraud John Gratton June 7, 2006 From Accounting Today, June 5-18, 2006: In one of the largest fines ever handed down to an individual charged with accounting fraud, a federal judge has ordered the former chairman and chief executive of Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. To pay... Continue Reading Posted at 6:01 AM \| Permalink
	Here I Am Again, 32 Years Later John Gratton June 7, 2006 I’m sitting in a park where I used to sit in 1974. There are the tennis courts I first played on in this town, the pool where all those girls tanned, the softball fields. Our old house is just up... Continue Reading Posted at 5:01 AM \| Permalink
Jun 6	Visitor 5,000 Has Been And Gone And I'm Not Even Going To Mention It, Because Numbers Are Just A Means To An End John Gratton June 6, 2006 I was tempted to note the visit of guest 5,000 at CoreCharacter, as I did number 4,000, but I realized that a lot of Know More Media authors have that many visits a week, and lots of blogs have that... Continue Reading Posted at 12:05 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Protect Your Checks From Identity Thieves John Gratton June 6, 2006 Identity thieves have more tricks than ever. So should you. From Sid Kirchheimer in AARP The Magazine: Frustrate ForgersAll it takes to empty your bank account, says fraud fighter Frank W. Abagnale (the former con artist in Catch Me If... Continue Reading Posted at 10:11 AM \| Permalink
	Spanish Paralympians Set Standard So Low They Need Lifts In Their Shoes Just To Reach Bottom John Gratton June 6, 2006 The Spanish Paralympic Committee produced fake documents for 10 of the 12 members on their 2000 Paralympics basketball team, falsely claiming that they had IQs below 85. With an amazing performance, their intellectually able team captured the gold medal... Continue Reading Posted at 9:04 AM \| Permalink
	Does This Cartoon About Suicide As A Business Solution Bother You? John Gratton June 6, 2006 Does this bother you? The caption reads, "Henderson, the firm can’t afford to keep you and it can’t afford to let you go. We’re hoping you’ll do the honorable thing." The cartoon appears in Accounting Today, of all things,... Continue Reading Posted at 8:08 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Set Yourself Apart John Gratton June 6, 2006 From Benefits Selling, June 2006: Suzanne Bates, president and CEO of Bates Communications, offers the following tips on how to set yourself apart from a plethora of others in your field. Write a book. This is the quickest way to... Continue Reading Posted at 7:07 AM \| Permalink
	Blame Someone Else And Get On With Your Life John Gratton June 6, 2006 Times have not become more violent. They have just become more televised. Marilyn Manson I’ve been on a calendar but I’ve never been on time. Marilyn Monroe If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a... Continue Reading Posted at 6:06 AM \| Permalink
	Improper Accounting Seems To Be A Faster-Spreading Plague Than American Idol John Gratton June 6, 2006 From Practical Accountant, June 2006: The New York State comptroller has filed a securities fraud lawsuit against Qwest Communications International, also naming several of the telephone company’s former top executives, former directors and auditor, Arthur Andersen. The suit alleges that... Continue Reading Posted at 5:05 AM \| Permalink
Jun 5	Thanks, For Nothing John Gratton June 5, 2006 I received a thank you card today, unexpected, out of the blue, for doing a small, forgotten thing, nothing, really. It all started with The DaVinci Code. I was going to see it with a friend who canceled two hours... Continue Reading Posted at 9:09 AM \| Permalink
	Protect Your Trash From Identity Thieves (That’s Right, You Heard Me, Protect Your Trash) John Gratton June 5, 2006 Identity thieves have more tricks than ever. So should you. From Sid Kirchheimer in AARP The Magazine: Shred The EvidenceFeed any unwanted mail bearing sensitive information into a crosscut shredder. While assiduous tearing by hand can do the job, $75... Continue Reading Posted at 8:08 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	More, Um, Errors In Accounting Showing Up At Fannie Mae John Gratton June 5, 2006 "The image of Fannie Mae as one of the lowest-risk and 'best-in-class' institutions was a façade," said James B. Lockhart, acting director, OFHEO. "Our examination found an environment where the ends justified the means. Senior management manipulated accounting, reaped... Continue Reading Posted at 7:07 AM \| Permalink
	Never Eat More Than You Can Lift John Gratton June 5, 2006 I’m thirty years old, but I read at the thirty-four-year-old level. Dana Carvey Today you can go to a gas station and find the cash register open and the toilets locked. They must think toilet paper is worth more than... Continue Reading Posted at 6:06 AM \| Permalink
	Video Taping Nude Women While They Tan Shouldn’t Require The Constitution To Determine Whether It Is Wrong (One More Reason I Gotta Quit Reading The Paper) John Gratton June 5, 2006 A guy who secretly video taped women undressing in his tanning salon thinks his case should be dismissed because "the law under which he is charged is unconstitutional." He says the law is too "vague." It always amazes me that... Continue Reading Posted at 5:09 AM \| Permalink
Jun 3	Laughing Spirits Of Ha Ha Tonka Never Fail To Please John Gratton June 3, 2006 Another favorite hang out is Ha Ha Tonka State Park, over by Camdenton, Missouri. The park is, according to the Missouri State Parks web site, "a geological wonderland: sinkholes, caves, a huge natural bridge, soaring bluffs, and Missouri's twelfth largest... Continue Reading Posted at 9:09 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Top 100 Albums Of All Time (Actually, The Top Four Albums On My Shelf) John Gratton June 3, 2006 Sigh, here we go again, another list of so-called top albums of all time. This one is from NME.com, which I assume use to be the New Musical Express, and the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums. They... Continue Reading Posted at 8:08 AM \| Permalink
	Before You Head Out, Brush Up On Basic Safe-Boating Rules John Gratton June 3, 2006 From MayoClinic.com: Learn to swimThe American Red Cross offers swimming courses for everyone. Take a boating-safety courseTopics typically include what to do in an emergency, navigation basics, and the effects of wind, water conditions and weather. Wear a life jacketStock... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 AM \| Permalink
	Blueberries John Gratton June 3, 2006 From Dr. Joseph Mercola: Different types of berries do contain varying levels of nutrients, and can therefore be more beneficial for certain types of illness. [B]lueberries rank #1 in antioxidant activity compared to 40 other fresh fruits and vegetables. They... Continue Reading Posted at 6:01 AM \| Permalink
	Summertime Health: Food Borne Illnesses John Gratton June 3, 2006 By Sally Farhat for MSN Health & Fitness: Along with the fun of summer comes the "fun" of summer sicknesses. But don’t worry. Follow our handy guide, and you should stay healthy all summer. [M]any foods become breeding grounds for... Continue Reading Posted at 5:00 AM \| Permalink
Jun 2	Who Are Your Heroes? John Gratton June 2, 2006 "Would you like a quick and easy way of determining your own sense of honor or that of your coworkers or employees? Simply answer this question: Who are your five favorite heroes or heroines? You can tell a lot about... Continue Reading Posted at 9:19 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Protect Your Credit From Identity Thieves John Gratton June 2, 2006 Identity thieves have more tricks than ever. So should you. From Sid Kirchheimer in AARP The Magazine: Monitor All AccountsThough some banks alert you to unusual activity on a credit card, it’s more likely you’ll detect a crime before your... Continue Reading Posted at 8:10 AM \| Permalink
	I Have A Little Temper, But Very Few Regrets John Gratton June 2, 2006 It’s true, I have a temper. I keep it deep inside, hidden behind stacks of better habits and covered by layers of self-control earned through years of practice. My little temper rarely gets through all that, but sometimes I can... Continue Reading Posted at 7:17 AM \| Permalink
	CassTel Pays Big For Former President’s Conspiracy John Gratton June 2, 2006 Cass County Telephone Company is paying a $1 million fine and returning $3.6 million in rate credits as a settlement of a complaint filed by the Missouri Public Service Commission. It is "the largest ever imposed by the PSC against... Continue Reading Posted at 6:16 AM \| Permalink
	A Reminder That Communication Swings Both Ways John Gratton June 2, 2006 My daughter, the softball player, left two comments on a post about coaching her right out of her natural swing. In one, she said I was making fun of her. In the other, she expressed disappointment that I apologized in... Continue Reading Posted at 5:15 AM \| Permalink
Jun 1	Indispensable Prerequisites For Success John Gratton June 1, 2006 A real decision is measured by the fact that you've taken a new action. If there's no action, you haven't truly decided. Tony Robbins The ability to discipline yourself to delay gratification in the short term in order to enjoy... Continue Reading Posted at 11:28 AM \| Permalink
	Protect Your Documents From Identity Thieves John Gratton June 1, 2006 Identity thieves have more tricks than ever. So should you. This is from Sid Kirchheimer in AARP The Magazine: Lighten Your WalletThe most frequent source of information for ID thieves is you. [A]mong victims who knew how their numbers were... Continue Reading Posted at 10:26 AM \| Permalink
	And This Week’s Huge Settlement For Improper Accounting Comes From… John Gratton June 1, 2006 "Tyco International Ltd. will pay $50 million to settle allegations by the SEC that the company inflated its earnings by more than $1 billion between 1996 and 2002," according to an article in Practical Accountant, June 2006. "The SEC’s suit... Continue Reading Posted at 9:39 AM \| Permalink
	Sports Scandals: Will The Real Flockton Grey Please Stand Up John Gratton June 1, 2006 Dave Golokhov has an article at FOX Sports about sports scandals, from NBA to NHL to Boston Marathon to figure skating. I like them because the perpetrators get in trouble every time. Here’s one about horse racing: Flockton Grey, a... Continue Reading Posted at 8:19 AM \| Permalink
	Another Trip To The Library, Another Stack Of Books, Another Busy Week John Gratton June 1, 2006 One way I know that I’m too busy is that I don’t go to the library at least twice a week. It had been nine days since my last visit, so I wanted to go last night, but a friend... Continue Reading Posted at 7:23 AM \| Permalink

A discussion about business ethics, character traits, integrity, and values

Advertise

Related Resources

recent comments

sponsored ads

topics

subscribe

Current News

resources

Support This Blog

archives

blogroll

business social media

Know More Media - Ethics

know more media network

we support unitus

PRWeb

Influencer

ProductivityGoal

CallCenterScript

AdHurl

TheBizofKnowledge

LandingTheDeal

CustomersAreAlways

HealthCareVox

BrainBasedBusiness

TheInsurancePolicy

MarketingBlurb