The warriors in the Iliad … Pa in the Little House stories … and you and me. We all want to improve and excel. But why? There are good ways to answer that question–and some incredibly destructive ones as well. Questions? Comments? Ideas for future episodes … or interview subjects? Email Mike and Mark.
The devil’s playground
Idleness is the enemy of the soul. Therefore, the brothers should have specified periods for manual labor as well as for prayerful reading. We believe that the times for both may be arranged as follows. … With these sentences St. Benedict begins chapter 48 of his influential Rules. I’ll spare you the history lesson except to say that his short …
Jane Austen’s manual for … sarcasm
What is sarcasm? Can it be acceptable? What is the most effective form of feedback? The Workplace Book Club is back! This time we tackle an excerpt from “Emma,” another novel by Jane Austen. (Download our free excerpt and discussion guide.) If you think you’re about to read a bit of a romance novel, you’re in for a treat. Austen …
What you should study in school (or life)
I recently had the chance to speak to the incoming freshmen in the Honors Program at my alma mater, Eastern Kentucky University. Back in my day, we didn’t have fancy launch banquets. But then again, I started there almost 30 years ago, which means I sat at a table of people 30 years younger than me. First things first: You …
The business case for slowing down
“Leaders are readers.” You’ve probably heard that before. But is it true for reading fiction? A long-time reader sent this article from Harvard Business Review: “The Case for Reading Fiction.” Why is reading literature showing up in a respected business journal? This is ground we have covered before: The ancients were so good at culture-building that we are still living …
Socializing homeschool kids (and workplaces?)
If it weren’t for my wife’s prompting, I would not have pursued so seriously the connection between my kids’ classical, homeschooled education and the needs of the workplace. So I owe a specific debt of gratitude to my beautiful wife and to our four kids. And to others who helped us along the way. “Others” include Classical Conversations, the homeschool …
Is what you are chasing worth it?
What if you had to stare at dust, constantly, for years on end? What if that is what you are doing right now? In Dante’s Divine Comedy, the poet (c.1265-1321) portrays himself as the narrator on a tour of Hell, Purgatory and Paradise. Set aside your theological issues: The epic is one of the world’s most important works. Dante’s story …
Please argue with your customers
I have observed a lot of sales professionals over the years. There are three kinds: If you want to know if you are dealing with a thriving sales professional, look to the long-term outcome. Some salespeople are charming, some are not. Hot spells and cold spells come and go. Many have long careers. But over time, the thriving sales professional …
Influencers in your business
The sexy idol on a pole It was a small naked woman on a pole. She represented the power of the female … sex … abundance … wealth. … And her influence eventually caused the downfall of a nation. You probably didn’t come here for a Sunday school lesson, but here’s the short version: When God gave the Israelites the …
Habits in the workplace
Make of this what you will: James Clear‘s best-seller, “Atomic Habits,” has helped so many people because it seems do-able. That is, you can have powerful results just by making small, daily changes. What if you did that with your workforce? A famous Victorian educator argued as such: The formation of habits is education, and education is the formation of …