Author Archives: site author

In January of 1984 I read a sentence that helped change my life. “Very important people have told me that they prefer good listeners to good talkers, but the ability to listen seems rarer than almost any other good trait.” That’s a quote from Dale Carnegie’s book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, whichContinue reading “Secret Weapon”

Several years ago I heard a story that got my attention. It was about predicting the winner of a piano competition. The predictors were in three different groups. One group only heard the piano players. One only saw the piano players and the third both saw and heard the piano players. Since the purpose ofContinue reading “I’ll Show Them”

I’ve mentioned the influence my Dad had on me in many of my posts. I was lucky enough to have an amazing Mom too. One of her more common sayings was, “You’ll get used to it.” That often was regarding a food I didn’t care for, but it also applied to other things in myContinue reading “Mom Was Right”

I’ve been competitive all my life. I’ve always wanted to be first. I didn’t handle losing well at all. As I got older I still had a burning desire to win, but was better at dealing with losses, at least in public.  In the last few decades I found a healthy way satisfy my urgeContinue reading “Being First”

Last week an NFL player was running for a touchdown. Just before reaching the goal line he showed off by letting go of the ball. It cost his team the touchdown and ultimately the game. It reminded me of a line a sports commentator said years ago about another bonehead play. “Stupid gets you beat.”Continue reading “The Tail is Already Mine”

Being a rancher my dad often needed to make purchases for our place. The list included cattle, horses, feed and often used equipment. His motto was “What’s mine is mine and what’s your’s is negotiable.” I’ve also seen other members of my family drive a hard bargain. That hasn’t been my strength.  However, long agoContinue reading “Bargain Hunting”

About forty five years ago I was at my parents house playing basketball with friends. I came in limping. My dad saw me and said, “You know until you get to be about thirty you keep doing those things you did as a kid and you hurt yourself. After fifty things start hurting on theirContinue reading “Ice for the Soul”

When my daughters were little they went to lots of summer camps, music camp, cooking camp ect. One day they asked me if I ever went to camp. I said,”Yes, camp Francitas.” Our family ranch was on the outskirts of a small Texas ghost town, Francitas. I wasn’t interested in any camps. I was busyContinue reading “P Times 5”

I really like to eat. I was hungry for ten years when I became a teenager. I decided in my mid twenties to modify what I ate. I started cutting out empty calories, food with no nutritional value except calories. Eliminating all those foods would be too hard, so I focused on what I calledContinue reading “Empty Calories”

My dad grew up in the dust bowl during the great depression. It left a lasting impression on him. One of the main lessons he taught me was to save my money. I started when I was seven years old. I’ve heard several financial professionals speak in my adult years. Every one of them talkedContinue reading “Dust Bowl Wisdom”