Yes, they’ve done it again! Wal-Mart knocked Exxon Mobile out of the top slot to once again rule the Fortune 500. Ironically, Wal-Mart surpassed Exxon Mobile by more than $120 billion in revenue while the retail industry suffered a harsh economic downturn which led to store closings, tremendous job loss, and bankruptcies from coast to coast. While…
As a keynote speaker and seminar facilitator, I have to accept the harsh reality that my every attempt to reach every participant in every audience is a lost cause. In fact, I learned that very early in my career. As a result, I now focus on clarifying my message in the hope that those who…
I first heard the commercial on April 1st, so obviously I assumed it was simply an April Fool’s joke. However, apparently the joke’s on us. And it certainly will be if we don’t show restraint. KFC, previously known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, has unleashed a menu monster that would shock even the Earl of Sandwich!…
I’ve had the phenomenal pleasure of working with teachers and school officials at every level for several decades. I’ve lost count of the number of in-service presentations I’ve made over the years, and I’ve always been impressed by the fact that teachers love to continue learning themselves! We’ve all had at least one special teacher…
Let me share a few figures with you that should shock you if you’ll pause to think about them for just a moment! There are 4,146 colleges and universities in the U.S. alone. There are approximately 15.9 million students enrolled in the nation’s colleges and universities this year. Average tuition, room and board (for in-state…
Sometimes I’m baffled by some of the most elementary trends I observe from day to day. It’s almost as though the more basic they become, the more difficult they are to understand. Ironically, some things seldom CHANGE. For as long as I’ve been professionally keynoting and facilitating seminars, there has always been a demand for…
Some of life’s most powerful messages can be found in analogies which surround us as we go about our daily routines. Sadly, far too many people are focused elsewhere and therefore fail to learn a valuable lesson. Others simply prefer to avoid these lessons and are then destined to suffer the consequences time and time…
As a young soldier early in my military career, I was accepted into the U.S. Army Signal School Photo Lab Course conducted at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. I was enthralled with this particular post as we shared quarters and classrooms with members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, foreign services and the…
I find it truly amazing that some of life’s best lessons … most powerful anecdotes … and most rewarding parables are the most simplistic. Ironically, perhaps that isn’t necessarily a good thing. Some lessons are so elementary that many don’t take them seriously. There’s a fantastic metaphor that’s been passed on for generations that has…