Business Consultant | C-Suite & Managing Director-Level Leader | Interim Executive for Middle-Market Companies | Manufacturing Champion | Financial, Operational, Organizational Improvement | PE Executive Coaching | Writer
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This holiday is more than a break—it’s a tribute. To every American who’s forging their dream in difficult times, who keeps showing up, who keeps building a better life for themselves and their families: you deserve to be honored. Wishing you a safe, restful Labor Day.
I like it just as it is, too! It's a beautiful work.
“Life is made up of little things. It is very rarely that an occasion is offered for doing a great deal at once. True greatness consists in being great in the little things.” — Charles Simmons
Paul Millicheap, who writes as Brian Bilston, is a British poet and author. He wrote "America is a Gun". If you have never read it - or given it some thought - maybe you'll find it worth your time....
A few things in the news this week caught my eye—some alarming, some eye-opening, all worth thinking about... Here's My Two Cents:
So it's good to see that, despite having his show cancelled by CBS, he's going to be okay.
Mike Johnson has to be the weakest Speaker of the House I have ever witnessed. He epitomizes everything about the concept of a "yes man". Every time I see him I see and hear a little boy trying so hard to play the role of an adult.
America - and our reputation globally - is being dismantled and destroyed in front of our eyes.
President Donald Trump stated on his social media platform, Truth Social, that the United States had acquired a 10% stake in Intel and that the government "paid nothing" for the shares. Intel CFO David Zinser said today that the semiconductor giant received $5.7 billion from the U.S. government.
Raise your hand if you're really surprised that RFK, Jr. is creating chaos and inflicting lasting damage and disruption as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Ummmm....I'm not seeing any hands....
Interesting to see the Fox News viewer mob attacking Trey Gowdy for suggesting that it's majority white males to blame for mass shooting. His argument does against the propaganda that audience is spoon fed every night.
The problem isn’t that we don’t know what to do. Knowledge isn't the problem. Discipline is. Resolve is. No one is coming to do your work for you. It's on you.
Do leaders cut too quickly because it’s easy to measure — while rebuilding talent is harder to see on a spreadsheet? If you stepped into a struggling company after months of such uncertainty, what would you focus on first: cost savings, or the talent that remains?
Cost of Trump's D.C. Occupation: $1.1M per day. Cost to operate public housing for D.C.'s entire homeless population: $169,226 per day. It's not about what this country can or can’t afford. It’s about priorities.
And exactly how much is this costing per day?
Why won't the good people of Maine just stop voting for her? Send her home.
Absolutely amazing! I've already been to YouTube to learn more, Acid Rain. Thank you for your terrific post!
I could not agree more, Amos Magliocco. Well said.
Very interesting article, Jon Cooper. Thank you for the link. Now the question is: will this show play as well in places like Chicago, New York and Baltimore. I feel certain this is just the beginning.
You are right, of course. Point taken. There are just days when the frustration becomes overwhelming.
You may never watch FOX News - you may hate the network - but if you subscribe to traditional cable or satellite providers, a portion of your monthly bill goes to the FOX Network. Wouldn't it be great - and more fair - if we were given the option to opt out and not support FOX in any way?
Has any journalist or news organization fact-checked every word of that comment? Have any challenged a single word of it?
We're banning the diary of a Jewish girl murdered by the Nazis. Let that sentence sink in. This is what intellectual and moral decay looks like. #BannedBooks
Great picture! Good morning and afternoon to you!
Great picture!
And yet nobody seems to really care, Robert Reich. Democracy is being demolished in front of our own eyes.
That line has absolutely been crossed, Garrett M. Graff. And it has all transpire in plain site of two co-equal branches of government, the entire GOP, every Democrat, every mass media organization and every citizen of the United States. Where are we to turn?
Fascinating video clip. That river bed looked awfully dry! Let's hope the water remains to keep the area alive.
Good luck, Gareth L. Powell. Here's hoping it finds a terrific home.
Watching what is happening to the America I knew and loved is soul crushing.
Sergey Lavrov is serving as the public face of an evil, soulless government that illegally invaded a neighboring country and has been raining missions, bombs, bullets and death on its people for more than 1,250 days already. Why would anyone ever believe a single word his large mouth utters?
It's difficult to tie a tie with all that hand makeup on, Mrs. Betty Bowers.
You should be, Doug Auman. That's a terrific capture. Very nicely done!
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This is really gorgeous, Andrii Frolov. A beautiful balance of darkness, light and reflection. Excellent work!
Having an opinion isn’t a competition—respecting others matters more than being the loudest voice. Remember: not every topic requires your commentary. Sometimes dignity looks like listening instead of reacting.
Okay, that is absolutely not the answer I was expecting. 🙁
That really is beautiful, HansJur! Where was the picture taken?
"The Nickel" by Michael Reno Harrell. And it's a very sweet story. Give it a listen:
Politics used to be a war of ideas. Now it's just a war. We traded the art of dialogue for the noise of outrage, forgetting that a conversation requires both talking and, most importantly, listening.
Excellent point, Real Facade. Spot on.
They say 'you're not alone,' but that's the whole problem. I am surrounded by people I am now alone with. She was my sanctuary from that feeling.
This is such a great quote!
I'm off to learn more about Tardigrades! Thank you for the inspiration!
This is such a gorgeous photo!
I can tell you from experience with struggling companies, when situations become untenable, it's the most talented employees who leave first. We have not yet begun to see the long-term effects and damage this administration is so enthusiastically creating.
Why isn't this story getting more attention? Less than a week after that much publicized summit in Alaska, Putin appears to be sending a message to Trump, Europe and NATO.
Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump met in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025. On August 21, 2025, a Russian missile strike targeted and caused extensive damage to a factory in Mukachevo, western Ukraine, that is owned by Flex, an electronics manufacturing company headquartered in Austin, Texas.
Wonderful advice and post, Emily. Thank you. Wishing you a beautiful and blessed weekend ahead.
He is absolutely exhausting. You simply can't go an hour - never mind a day - with thoughts hearing him spew lies and self-congratulatory nonsense. Please Mr. President - I beg of you - give it and us an occasional rest. You've become far too exhausting.
It's all too easy to get caught up in all the "Breaking News" outrage we're exposed to every day. But remember to breathe. Disconnecting for a bit and focusing on what you're grateful for can restore your peace of mind. Hope is not lost; it's waiting for you to find it again.
Sean Hannity is the personification of the expression "All hat, no cattle". The best way to improve your critical thinking is to intellectually outgrow Sean Hannity.
It is incredibly disappointing and irresponsible for J. D. Vance to call the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia "Joe Biden's war". It's become too obvious that some media outlets will allow this administration to spread misinformation or disinformation however it suits them.
Why does it seem so many people haven't heard of - or struggle mightily with - the Golden Rule? Here's my wish for you - and maybe something to think about, too:
I have watched income inequality get worse year over year. I have watched political disunity grow worse year over year. Since both strongly favor the "haves" over the "have nots", I honestly can't see it getting any better any time soon.
Good luck, Dean! 🤞 Make that great luck! Land that job.
You will not be alone.
Wednesday reminder: You’ve already made it halfway through the week. That’s not just surviving—that’s momentum. Every small step forward counts, and you’re building something bigger than you realize. The weekend isn’t the only thing worth reaching for. #WednesdayWisdom
Yes, Kenn Pike - more of this! Much more of this!
Excellent points and post, Jennifer Porter.
Nice spelling, too! This is hilarious.
I do remember he was criticized during his last Oval Office visit for not wearing a suit. Wouldn't this be a terrific choice?
You mourn the person, yes—but also the version of yourself that only existed when they loved you. The cruelest part? Time doesn’t heal. It just teaches you how to limp gracefully.
This is a great album.
I understand and completely agree with you, Benjamin Dreyer. I find him totally exhausting.
That's a wonderful question and thought! Thank you for a little Monday motivation!
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That's a terrific description, Felicia Day! Well said.
Good list, Monarch.
Think traveling troubadour reporting on contemporary issues. Think "young Bob Dylan", with a John Prine voice and knack for storytelling. He's Jesse Welles and his musical style is a blend of folk, country, classic rock, and even Motown. He's special. Give "The Poor" a listen.
Some loves don’t fade—they leave a mark so deep it feels safer never to try again. The hardest courage is opening a heart still shaped by what it lost.
Here's my vote for "Don't Let Me Down" by The Chainsmokers...
Thank you for the link, Don Brown. The Atlantic is still a fine read.
"The world's going crazy and nobody gives a damn anymore..." More and more, as I read the news of the day, I'm reminded of the opening lyrics to "Brother" by The Kinks. Give it a listen...
Sometimes the people who light our lives the brightest are the ones we can’t quite reach in the way we wish. Cherish them anyway. Admire them anyway. Let them remind you to follow your own passions—anywhere, and at any age
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This is such a beautiful way to put it—love really is the closest thing to magic we get in this world. That someone can become your sanctuary, your joy, and your greatest ‘what if’ all at once… it’s breathtaking. Thank you for sharing this; it made me smile.
Ulta Beauty and Target are ending their partnership that brought 600+ Ulta shops into Target stores by August 2026. Target shares fell 2% on the news - another setback for the retailer struggling with flat sales and stock prices down 50% since 2021 highs. #retail #business #target
There are only two strategies that will work today: completely ignore the PPI "anomaly" and just talk about tomorrow's meeting with Putin OR flood the zone with administration talking heads to explain why this data is misleading and focus instead on the billions we're realizing from tariffs.
How about Leonard Cohen’s “Anthem” - it contains the beautiful metaphor “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”
A brilliant turn of phrase, Karim Wafa-Al Hussaini. This is one I will certainly remember. Well said.
A wonderful thought and a beautiful line, Kimberly Vanderhorst.
Stop waiting. Stop hoping. No one’s coming to fix your life. Every choice is yours. Every consequence too. The hero you’re waiting for? It’s you. Own your life, or someone else will.
It must be an overwhelmingly wonderful feeling, Devin. It is great to see Barnes & Noble giving "The Bakery Dragon" such prominent recognition. Congratulations on your success! Here's hoping there are even more accolades coming your way!
Division is the oldest trick in the book. The future belongs to those who build bridges, not walls — and who remember that “us” is always stronger than “me vs. you.”
Spirit’s “turnaround” looks more like a stall-out — bankruptcy fixed the debt, not the demand problem. Its low-cost model is squeezed from above by majors and below by new entrants. Without a partner or merger, survival odds seem pretty slim.
Normally, I would absolutely agree with you, Jim. BUT...I sense these rankings mean something to both Texas and Penn State (#2) alumni and their coaches. They're both new to the top of the polls. That can create real expectations.
Both political parties have mastered defining their audiences—and feeding them news that reinforces their biases. The result? People only get information that fuels hatred for those who think differently. No one is ever encouraged to even see a different point of view. How do we break this cycle?
With today's AP Poll Top 25 release -- the first ahead of the 2025 season -- Texas Longhorns made more history ahead of a highly anticipated campaign. The Longhorns came in at No. 1, earning 25 of the 64 first-place votes, for the first time ever. What do you think of this first college poll?
Remembering the profound message of "A Bug's Life". It started with a joke about "just one ant," but it ended with a revolution. "Just one ant" can seem insignificant, but in the right moment, it can be the spark that lights a fire. #Inspiration #MakeADifference
“A member of the public, appreciating that the Maxwell grand jury materials do not contribute anything to public knowledge, might conclude that the Government’s motion for their unsealing was aimed not at ‘transparency’ but at diversion – aimed not at full disclosure but at the illusion of such.”
This is absolutely true, Bill Madden.
The reported deal for Nvidia and AMD to pay a 15% revenue share to the U.S. government for China export licenses is widely seen as unprecedented. While export controls are common, this form of revenue-sharing as a condition for a license is a new and unusual approach. What are your thoughts?
You’ve probably heard the advice: "Be the CEO of your own life." Sounds powerful… until you’ve actually been a CEO. But I’ve learned something the motivational books and posters don’t tell you: The healthiest professionals I know don’t run their lives like corporations. Maybe you shouldn't either.
This might well be just the first test of a scalable strategy.
And income inequality will almost certainly get worse in the years ahead. Income inequality seems to have been plenty sustainable up to now.
Happy Sunday! Make it a great one. Be great in it.
Very interesting article that deserves attention. This is one of those topics that you never really hear about, but people should absolutely know about. Thank you for the link to a very informative and important piece.
That's a very interesting and humorous graphic, Micah Warren.
As a resident of North Carolina, I am angered to see these funds being held up when they are approved and desperately needed. Maybe our Governor can follow the lead of Tim Cook and gift Trump with another one-of-a-kind glass engraving on a 24-karat gold base to further feed his unquenchable ego.