Perspective

Recently, one of my friends posted a comment on a popular social media site lamenting the impending removal of an orchard of aging Gravenstein apple trees that was adjacent to her property.  Her comment expressed her sadness that the orchard was being removed to make way for “yet another vineyard”.  While I, too, have a sense of loss every time I see a Gravenstein orchard being removed, I do not feel that a vineyard is a bad result. 

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Well, not exactly.  Mackie (aka Rowdy MacDuff), the sweet Scottie puppy who came into my world on May 31st of this year is now a “teenager” and, boy, do I have a whole new level sympathy for the parents of real teenagers.

All of a sudden, Mackie no longer knows own name.  He also appears to have developed a selective deafness.  If he is not the first one fed, he will immediately and loudly start playing hockey up and down the …

On the afternoon of April 3, 2012, I got the phone call that I had been waiting for.  My BDCo co-workers were no doubt amused when I emerged from my office to announce that I was now a “puppy Mama”.  Earlier that morning, the puppy that was destined to become mine had been born.

Fast forward to May 31st and I am driving to the Sacramento airport after work to take delivery of one small black Scottish Terrier boy.  At 10:15 pm, I arrive at cargo and …

Well..the supreme court decision to uphold the health care act has been decided and many of our peers have been commenting on the tax issues. I, personally, thought the decision would go the other way.  It’s one thing to require taxpayers to buy something from the government, like Medicare, but quite another to require citizens to buy something from private, for profit, companies. As usual some of my peers are missing the big picture by commenting on all the tax issues. In my humble opinion, we have been witnessing a continual expansion of government power …

Not long ago, my BDCo cohort Geni wrote a blog about scars or “tattoos” from our life stories. Recently I have had a couple of close encounters with my past that have caused me to, somewhat unwillingly, revisit parts of my own life story.

The chain of events was placed in motion in February when I was contacted by a former classmate with whom I had kept in touch regarding the upcoming reunion of my high school graduating class.  I was promptly added to the reunion group on a popular social media site and, being like the fish who sits at …

Is it sunny, slightly overcast or down right nasty in “your world”?  Well that may depend on what I am referring to.  My blog always has a business spin but this time I am asking about you.  That’s right you, the dad, mom, daughter, son, aunt, uncle, sister, brother.  I know you must at least hold one of those titles.

Personally, I have moved from slightly overcast to bright and sunny.  How about you?

That’s right, I am done with doom and gloom that has surrounded so many people …

There are apps for weight loss, for learning how to read, and even an app for your unborn child to choose his (her) own name.  In a world  full of “apps”  it is easy to seek a technical solution for every problem.

Unfortunately for most businesses (and for many individuals) some problems cannot be solved through automation alone. 

Look at sales and marketing. How many businesses have sought to boost their lagging sales by implementing a new CRM system? If your biggest sales and marketing problem is finding a contact’s address, then …

Here we go again.  Another year has begun and we all are looking forward to brighter days.  So what are you doing to make today better than yesterday?  Yes, it is up to you to make change happen.  If you really think the government or anyone else for that matter is going to save the day, you need to wake up and do a reality check.  In other words, quit making excuses and start doing something to improve your situation.

I believe that as our society has grown, it …