Archives

This is my archives page. Here you’ll find all my posts arranged by date. Thank you.

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2024

2023

December 25 The Christmas Truce of 1914
December 19 Don’t “go to Abilene.” How a group can avoid making bad decisions.
December 12 Why are we so hesitant to say “I was wrong”?
December 5 Focus on things you can change – the power of Niebuhr’s Serenity Prayer
November 28 Don’t be too discouraged by the low points in life or too emboldened by the high points
November 21 This year, my vineyard was decimated by Downy Mildew – lessons learned
November 14 Announcement – 2024 Travel with Friends trip
November 7 Run at your problems
October 31 Social Intelligence post #4 – Be aware of your physical presence and how it impacts others
October 24 How to respond to the worst part of your day
October 17 There’s a difference between an achiever and a leader.
October 10 Travel with Friends trip to the British Isles
October 3 “You are the very best at what you do.”
September 26 Social intelligence – post #3 – Bringing proper closure to relational encounters and events
September 19 Social intelligence – post #2 – Be sensitive to how long you talk in conversations
September 15 You’re invited to the British Isles Facebook Group
September 12 Social intelligence – post #1 – Know the optimum volume needed in conversations
September 9 I’m taking 48 friends to the British Isles next week – here’s how you can participate
September 5 Benjamin’s first building project (spacial recognition and vision).
August 29 The value of reflection
August 22 Choose to be an optimist
August 14 Is life simply the sum of your choices?
August 8 In relationships, try to say “yes” more than you say “no”
August 1 The Juilliard String Quartet taught me an important lesson about how to have a respectful and productive conversation
July 25 Are you an optimist or pessimist?
July 18 Two words that can help navigate conversations: “No comment.”
July 11 “My mother’s kiss made me a painter.” The power of affirmation.
July 4 Understand the dangers of “Echo Chambers”
June 27 Avoid the “curse of knowledge”
June 20 “Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.” Eleanor Roosevelt
June 13 Every day, practice being the person you someday want to be
June 6 When speaking, use your audience’s vocabulary, not your own
May 31 My dog Buddy has some annoying idiosyncrasies, but I love him nevertheless
May 23 Understanding the thoughts of a mentally ill person
May 15 Do things sooner rather than later
May 9 Live in the now
May 4 Never be a spectator of…
April 25 At one point in your life you wanted most of what you now have. Why keep moving the goalpost?
April 18 Pursue life-giving relationships and activities, not life-draining ones.
April 11 Everyone needs a reason to get out of bed in the morning
April 4 Don’t overreact to life’s ups and downs
March 28 Be kind to one another
March 21 Emotional intelligence: a key element in close friendships
March 16 Most people don’t notice you. This fact will either disappoint you or give you peace.
March 7 What does a cup holder and a 220-volt car charger have in common?
March 5 Only 4 cabins left for September British Isles cruise
February 28 When you make a mistake, if you admit it and make full restitution, your relationship with the other party can be better than it was before the incident
February 21 Slow down and notice the staggering beauty that surrounds you
February 15 Don’t worry about low-probability events (or, don’t worry at all)
February 7 Let’s write New Year’s resolutions—for each other
January 26 Minority Rule—insisting on unanimous consent is often unnecessary and even detrimental
January 17 Critique and argument are keys to progress
January 14 2023 Travel with Friends trip to the British Isles
January 10 Five best books I’ve read in the past five years

2022

December 28 Is it okay to shoot the messenger?
December 16 Video of Travel with Friends 2022 trip to Italy, Turkey, Greek Isles
December 13 Train you must
December 6 Ode to my 70th birthday
November 29 What did you learn today?—a habit that will change your life
November 22 Don’t judge someone by their worst moment or their worst trait
November 11 Was it okay for me to tell a scary story at my grandson’s birthday party?
November 8 Sometimes, take a “chill pill.”
November 1 Don’t try to control things you can’t control
October 25 Frequency illusion – we notice things that are top-of-mind
October 18 Adopt the Kaizen Strategy; pursue continuous improvement
October 11 False causality – it’s hard to know what caused what
October 4 Our memories are riddled with inaccuracies
September 27 Fallacy of the single cause
September 20 Study success more than failure; learn from successful people
September 13 Attitude is (almost) everything
September 6 Beware of being beguiled
August 30 Wonderful things happen around a meal
August 23 Fait accompli – the decision is already made
August 16 Justice and love are blind
August 2 Keystone habits will enhance your life
July 26 L’esprit de l’escalier – “now, I know what I should have said”
July 19 One ship sails east, another sails west – choose your direction in life
July 12 It’s not about the cheese
July 5 Leaders, when choosing team members, avoid the matryoshka doll syndrome
June 30 Triple consciousness in conversations
June 21 Comfort one another
June 14 Talk to strangers
June 7 The power of a smile
May 31 Starting this week, I’m adding an expression of gratitude to my morning routine
May 28 Report on my trip to Europe and an invitation to travel with friends
May 24 In conversations, sometimes it’s best to “be a little deaf”
May 17 Know the difference between biblical absolutes, spiritual convictions, and personal opinions
May 10 Get the monkey off your back
May 3 Sometimes we don’t notice what’s important
April 26 Your environment may be limiting your growth
April 19 Sometimes we’re responsible for solving a problem, not because we caused the problem but because we’re the only one in a position to fix it.
April 17 Join me on an incredible trip to Italy, Greek Isles, and Istanbul – September 23-October 7
April 12 Spotlight syndrome – don’t let people manipulate what you focus on
April 5 Why are we reluctant to say, “You’re better at this than I am; please take over”?
March 29 Three phrases that will enhance personal integrity and sustain relational peace
March 15 Don’t waste people’s time
March 10 Attend a virtual information meeting about the Greek Isles cruise in September
March 8 We need a venue in which we can share our developing thoughts without worrying about being judged or criticized
March 1 Anticipating an experience and striving to make it happen is often more satisfying than the actual experience
February 22 Diffusion of responsibility – Why did 38 bystanders do nothing when Kitty was murdered?
February 15 You don’t have to have an opinion about everything
February 8 “I wish you bad luck,” says Chief Justice John Roberts to his son’s graduating class
February 1 You really need a hobby
January 29 Join me on a trip to Italy, Turkey, and Greek Isles – September 2022
January 25 Fortune favors the brave
January 18 What you can do, do.
January 11 A most unpleasant feeling is to be in the midst of an argument and suddenly realize that you are wrong
January 4 Books I read in 2021

2021

December 14 What is the happiest animal on earth?
December 7 Let’s call each other comrade
November 30 Orchestrate conversations
November 24 I traveled to Peru with friends; here’s a video of our trip
November 16 Survivorship bias
November 9 Leaders: When you have a goal or project to achieve, ask who not how.
November 2 Carefully craft verbal greetings
October 26 Utopian Thinking
October 19 Are you an independent thinker and courageous conversationalist?
October 12 We all need help getting through a dark period of life
October 5 Do you watch Fox News or MSNBC? Avoid the pitfall of binary bias.
September 28 Why does my grandson hate me?
September 21 What did you do today? What did you learn today?
September 14 It once was lost, but now it’s found – the joy of recovery
September 7 Character: the most important trait of a leader
August 31 The ostrich effect – why do we avoid unpleasant news?
August 24 Being in a good mood and being an optimist can lead to bad decisions
August 17 Leaders, never underestimate what a focused, motivated group of people can accomplish
August 10 How to eliminate financial stress. Every organization and family needs a viable budget.
August 3 When will you eat your last meal? You never know when you’re experiencing something for the last time, so enjoy every moment.
July 20 Sometimes, we just need to “drop it”
July 13 Normally $450; on sale now for $215 — don’t be snookered by the anchoring effect
July 6 She talks too much
June 29 Be an expert in at least two areas
June 22 Don’t weaken your argument by adding auxiliary, weak points.
June 15 Direction is more important than speed and movement is better than inactivity
June 8 Don’t let perfect be an enemy of the good
June 1 Long-range planning — a town in Germany is building a “Time Pyramid” that won’t be finished until 3183
May 25 There’s a time to speak and a time to be quiet
May 18 Don’t be misled by isolated occurrences or biased information
May 11 When empathy is not enough
May 4 The power of incremental growth
April 27 We are all wrong about many things
April 20 Everyone needs a mystery box
April 13 Walk—on uneven surfaces, dirt, and golf balls
April 6 Generation effect: we learn more when we’re not “spoon-fed”
March 30 Five healthy coping mechanisms
March 23 Don’t take a side until you hear both sides
March 16 Have an out-of-body experience
March 9 The halo effect and the horn effect — don’t be snookered by either one
March 2 Most strengths have a corresponding weakness
February 23 AstraZeneca made a major blunder. We often make the same mistake.
February 16 Leaders, when pursuing stretch goals, you may doubt yourself and your organization may push back. This is to be expected.
February 9 The newest existential threat to humanity’s wellbeing
February 2 The endowment effect – why we’re reluctant to get rid of things
January 27 How do you go bankrupt? Gradually then suddenly.
January 26 The Pomodoro Technique – how to work more efficiently
January 19 Notice, savor, and enjoy small, slow, and simple things
January 12 Having too much grit is often disadvantageous; sometimes we need to quit
January 5 Don’s best of 2020 – book, meal, wine, travel experience, person, thought, concert, family member

2020

December 29 Books I read in 2020
December 22 Analogical thinking – learn how to connect dots
December 15 In relationships, try to say “yes” more than you say “no”
December 8 The paradox of choice – why it’s better to offer fewer choices
December 1 Don’t judge someone by their worst moment or their worst trait
November 24 The “end of history illusion” – your life is about to drastically change
November 17 Baggage and blessings from the past – the strong undertow of family of origin
November 10 On a regular basis, audit your personal finances
October 27 The curse of knowledge – part 4
October 20 Use extreme examples to remind yourself of helpful ideas
October 13 Here’s a four-minute video of my vineyard
October 6 Find your own nature preserve
September 29 Museum of the Bible returns thousands of items to Egypt and Iraq; the anatomy of a good confession
September 22 Leaders, choose team members who are better than you; avoid the matryoshka doll effect
September 15 Why would you subscribe to T-Mobile because Catherine Zeta-Jones recommends it? Don’t fall for the celebrity effect
September 8 Four must-read books
September 1 Four horsemen of the marriage apocalypse
August 25 Do you want to improve your relationships? Properly respond to relational “bids.”
August 18 Don’t overuse superlatives, potent words, or punctuation marks!!!!!!
August 11 Don’t ask a barber if you need a haircut
August 4 Some things are necessary but not sufficient
July 28 When you have a setback in life, avoid these three traps
July 21 It’s hard to see all aspects of a complicated situation
July 14 Understanding Ockham’s Razor will help you solve problems
July 7 Was Ernest Shackleton a good leader?
June 30 When possible, delay making decisions
June 23 Speaking truth to power
June 16 Fundamental Attribution Error
June 13 Ready to travel again? Join me on an unforgettable journey to the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and the Amazon Rainforest
June 9 Mission, vision, and goals: the future—continuum. A lesson for leaders.
June 2 Develop listening skills
May 26 Implicit egotism
May 19 Small gifts and gestures can make a big impact
May 12 Know your strengths and weaknesses and focus on your strengths
May 5 Curse of Knowledge – part 3
April 28 What will be the longterm affect of the pandemic on society?
April 21 Counterfactual thinking
April 14 Comforting others during a pandemic
April 7 What I’m learning during the pandemic
March 24 Last impressions can be lasting impressions
March 10 Numbers matter; you can’t manage what you don’t measure
March 3 Have more than just one focus in life
February 24 We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their behavior
February 22 Let’s travel together in 2020 (only 2 spaces left on the Peru trip)
February 14 Three types of inquiry
February 4 The mystery of prayer
February 2 How to benefit from a multitude of counselors
January 28 Robust discussion is an invaluable tool
January 21 Five frogs sat on a lily pad…
January 14 Don’s “best of 2019”
January 7 How to learn from reading

2019

December 31 The best 5 books I read last year
December 24 Be devoted to one another
December 17 The challenge of present bias
December 10 Don’t underestimate how difficult it is to communicate well
December 3 “Mother’s kiss made me an artist” – The power of affirmation
November 30 Join me on a cruise to Italy, Croatia, Turkey, and Greek Isles
November 26 We all interpret reality differently
November 19 I’m bothered by drivers who are at the front of the line at a traffic light but don’t move when the light turns green—a lesson for leaders.
November 12 A beaver ate one of my vines, then he ate four more
November 5 Don’t talk excessively about your issues
October 29 The 9-hour 4-hour flight – the value of constant communication
October 22 Avoid lopsided conversations
October 15 This thought will help those who are self-conscious
October 8 A good technique for resolving conflict and misunderstandings
October 1 Domains of knowledge and ignorance
September 24 Things found “along the way”
September 17 Fine-tune your work habits
September 10 Why can’t we control our speech?
September 3 Sometimes it’s best to start without the end in mind
August 27 It’s amazing how much an organization can accomplish if no one cares who gets the credit for progress
August 20 Which is more reliable, intuition or deliberation?
August 13 Be kind, be honest, work hard
August 6 Your memories shape who you are
July 30 Followers: leaders “see” things other people don’t see, so sometimes you must simply trust your leader and follow
July 23 Learning from people’s obsessions
July 16 Don’t assume that all people have leadership skills
July 9 Mission, vision, and goals—how they differ and why all three are important
July 2 Six things you can easily do that will enhance your life (and they don’t cost money)
June 25 Don’t let bad endings control how you feel about an experience
June 18 Sometimes, all of us are not smarter than one of us
June 11 Beware of fake news and biased reporting
June 4 Don’t get caught without a pencil
May 28 Sometimes, leaders must make major decisions quickly
May 21 Sometimes, good enough is good enough
May 14 Resist abnormality
May 7 Ready, fire, aim
April 30 Who’s the real perpetrator?
April 23 Leaders: don’t let your personal capacity limit the capacity of your organization
April 16 Constructs that constrict
April 9 I don’t envy, and neither should you
April 2 Breaking barriers
March 26 Leaders: does your team benefit from synergy or suffer from antagonism?
March 12 The pain of pretending
March 5 The difference between managers and leaders
February 26 Virtue is found in moderation
February 19 Accept people in different seasons of their lives
February 12 Explore the universe without leaving your home
February 5 The curse of knowledge, part 2 – control how much knowledge you share
January 29 Don’t be shackled by stuff
January 22 Get a daily DOSE of these four “happy” chemicals
January 15 Three phrases that will greatly enhance your relationships
January 8 List your regrets
January 1 Don’s “best of 2018”

2018

December 25 Five best books I read in 2018
December 18 Take initiative
December 11 Have a healthy balance of these three types of relationships
December 4 Periodically, take a chill-pill
November 27 Details are important
November 20 You’re not as good as you think you are
November 13 An untrained mind – part one – don’t think the same thought twice
November 6 Don’t coddle your children (or adults)
October 30 The curse of knowledge syndrome
October 23 Have a bias toward action
October 16 Look farther down the road
October 9 Focus on making fewer, more important decisions
October 2 Find joy in the journey
September 25 The power of culture
September 18 What makes you cry?
September 11 Was this manipulation or motivation?
September 4 Humans have more in common than we do differences
August 28 I’m worried about Artificial Intelligence
August 21 Savor special moments
August 14 Don’t pick up the baby
August 11 My trip to Peru
August 7 Leaders, your most important job is to build and manage a great team — part 3 of 3 – develop your team
July 31 Was this an employee problem or an employer problem?
July 24 Leaders, your most important job is to build and manage a great team — part 2 of 3 – choose great team members
July 17 Leaders, your most important job is to build and manage a great team — part 1 of 3 – understand the importance of building a great team
July 10 Enjoy the benefits of hospitality
July 3 Getting into another person’s mind
June 26 Allow yourself some “Popeye moments”
June 19 Organized abandonment
June 13 Big lessons can be learned in small settings
June 6 Multitasking is a myth
May 30 Leaders: use the power of appreciation
May 23 The difference between sympathy, empathy, and compassion
May 16 Three things every person needs: identity, community, and purpose
May 9 Upon whose back is the monkey
May 2 Resting face; engaged face
April 25 When communicating, be succinct
April 18 Avoid the hot stove effect
April 11 Don’t waste people’s time
April 4 Add margins to your life
March 28 Stay flexible—“90% of the time we were off course”
March 21 Diversity in a pasta dish and in the workplace
March 14 Thought provoking questions that prompt interesting conversations
March 7 Be careful how you offer advice and critique
February 28 Between expectations and reality—challenge and progress and discouragement and frustration
February 21 Sometimes, think like an anthropologist
February 14 “Yes, but on the other hand…” (the value of dialectic thinking)
February 7 Leaders: if you plan well, major projects can be accomplished quickly
January 31 Three techniques for better conversations: “ding, dong, later”
January 24 Consider: you may be wrong
January 17 Don’s “Best of 2017” – books, meal, wine, new friend, concert, fun experience, travel moment, new project, self-insight
January 10 The power of forgiveness
January 3 6 best books I read in 2017

2017

December 27 Sometimes, fake it
December 20 Leaders: maintain a “helicopter perspective” on your organization
December 13 Don’t be too discouraged by the low points in life or too emboldened by the high points
December 6 Silence: the key to a respectful, productive conversation
November 29 Focus on things you can change; the power of Niebuhr’s prayer
November 22 Do the hard thing
November 15 Abandon the idea that there is only one soul mate for you; the ideal partner is the one you create
November 8 Avoid intellectual atrophy
November 1 Leaders: carefully choose who you listen to
October 25 Join me on a trip to London, Paris, and Rome
October 18 The placebo effect
October 11 Perception vs reality
October 4 It’s never too late to chart a new course
September 27 Leadership is messy
September 20 Avoid situations in which a “no” is more powerful than a “yes”
September 13 Conflict is inevitable; combat is optional. Pursue peace in relationships.
September 6 Own your problems
August 30 Leaders: craft vision that is both bold and credible
August 23 Reflect on the past but don’t dwell on the past
August 16 When you’re uninformed, don’t let people take advantage of you
August 9 Leaders – adopt the Kaizen strategy; pursue continuous improvement
August 2 Leaders: lead collaboratively
July 26 Make your bed every morning – generate “success momentum”
July 19 Be angry (occasionally)
July 12 Leaders, develop trust among your team members
July 5 Beware of the spotlight syndrome
June 28 Meditate on positive thoughts
June 21 Pursue win-win situations
June 14 Use focus groups and test
June 7 Don’t waste people’s time
May 31 Three phrases that will enhance personal integrity and sustain relational peace
May 24 Expand your learning environment; get into a “larger tank”
May 17 Pay attention to leemurs
May 10 Don’t be constrained by artificial limits and barriers
May 3 Benefit from organized abandonment
April 26 Avoid the Semmelweis reflex
April 19 Pursue individuality and community
April 12 Think carefully about how you frame issues; consider how to take advantage of default settings
April 5 Have good manners
March 29 Food – one of life’s great connectors
March 22 “I’m glad…” – benefit from the power of gratitude
March 15 Take time to think
March 8 Don’t be high-maintenance or tolerate those who are
March 1 Exercise more; eat less
February 22 Start a good habit; stop a bad habit
February 15 Diversify
February 8 Leaders: There’s a difference between being an achiever and a leader; be both
February 1 Anticipate Pyrrhic victories and know when to avoid them
January 25 Don’t underestimate what one person can do
January 18 Anticipate life’s ups and downs
January 11 Embrace three things that will enhance your happiness
January 9 Lead Well workshop – September 27-28, Dallas, TX
January 4 Sometimes be a little deaf

2016

December 28 Set goals
December 21 My six favorite, free web sites you can subscribe to
December 14 Six best books I read in 2016
December 7 Acknowledge and be grateful for, how other people have helped you get where you are
November 30 Learn the slow “yes” and the fast “no”
November 23 Close the knowing-doing gap
November 16 Take responsibility for your choices
November 9 Run at problems
November 2 Leaders: measure what you manage
October 26 Be curious; embrace the interrogatives
October 19 Beware of listening to your own voice
October 12 Think outside the trapezoid
October 5 Be resilient
September 28 Leaders: seek the input of other people
September 21 When you offend someone, confess and ask forgiveness
September 14 Seek happiness, not just joy
September 7 Leaders: Lead
August 31 Make friends
August 24 Utilize the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon
August 17 Don’t give people what you like; give what they value
August 10 Don’t make excuses for character flaws and bad behavior, thinking “that’s just who I am.”
August 3 Do things sooner rather than later
July 27 Develop your vocabulary
July 20 Develop a “yes” approach to life
July 13 Copy others
July 6 Leaders: master the “helicopter perspective”
June 29 Be careful about making assumptions
June 22 Tell jokes
June 15 Spread hope
June 8 Have more behind the counter than you put on the shelf
June 1 Learn from bad role models
May 25 Bring proper closure to relational encounters and events
May 17 Don’t say this to someone who is hurting
May 10 Pursue excellence
May 4 Allow for exceptions to rules
April 27 Adapt: what got you to where you are might not get you to where you need to be
April 20 Learn from successes and failures
April 13 Smile
April 6 Distinguish between maintenance and strategic actions and do both
March 30 Cultivate your intellectual nutrient base
March 23 Be diligent
March 16 Don’t let emotions control your life
March 9 Have a “Popeye moment”
March 2 Start with the end in mind
February 24 Discover your blind spot
February 17 Balance breadth and depth
February 10 Do what matters
February 3 Upgrade your conversations
January 27 Seek first to understand, then to be understood
January 23 4 bucket-list goals I completed in 2015
January 20 Don’t worry about sharks. Worry about cows or mosquitoes.
January 13 Don’t be superstitious
January 9 5 best books I read in 2015
January 6 Always carry a pencil
January 2 Four significant thoughts that have become more clear to me in 2015

2015

December 30 Visit the genba
December 26 5 most popular posts in 2015
December 23 Don’t go to Abilene
December 16 Don’t allow painful experiences to inordinately affect your life
December 9 Be content with less stuff
December 2 Comfort others
November 25 Believe in people and have high expectations of them (the Pygmalion Effect)
November 18 Collaborate
November 11 Speak up
November 4 Develop your version of the Apgar Score
October 28 Network
October 21 Be skeptical; fine-tune your crap detector
October 14 Utilize four-minute conversations
October 7 Avoid the diminishing-expertise syndrome
September 30 Filter and edit your speech
September 23 Forgive others
September 16 Encourage robust dialogue
September 9 Maintain a bucket list
September 2 Be grateful for the sacrifices of others
August 26 Pay attention to details
August 19 Sometimes, fake it
August 12 Play hurt
August 5 Frame effectively
July 29 Resist bullies
July 22 Be curious
July 15 Control your thoughts
July 8 Do more
July 1 Embrace significant thoughts
June 24 Value times of silence in conversations
June 17 Beware of the ambiguity of meanings
June 10 Get into a larger tank
June 4 Be frugal – get rich slowly
May 28 Stop to smell the roses
May 20 Consider the position from which you’re complaining
May 13 Look at your lens
May 6 Include these three phrases in your conversations
April 29 Be optimistic
April 22 Reduce large goals to doable units of work
April 15 Set and accomplish goals
April 8 Travel extensively
April 1 Anticipate and reflect
March 25 Initiate
March 18 Read
March 11 Have vision – all things are created twice
March 3 Get ‘er done
February 25 Prioritize and focus
February 18 Don’t waste people’s time
February 11 Don’t overreact to life’s highs and lows
February 4 Be kind
January 28 Consider that you may be wrong
January 21 Develop keystone habits
January 16 Don’t be superstitious
January 14 Accept responsibility for your life
January 7 Expand your context
January 6 Always carry a pencil

2014

December 31 Decide when enough is enough
December 10 Avoid the hot-stove effect

2 Replies to “Archives”

Lonnie Craven says:

November 24, 2023 at 9:54 am

Will you soon be writing about the books that you have read in 2023? I always enjoy reading some of the books that you review.

Reply
1. Don McMinn says:
  
  November 27, 2023 at 7:36 pm
  
  Lonnie, thanks for asking. I don’t share like I used to…a comment on every book. In the past several years, in December, I write a post called “Best of 2023” and that will include some of my favorite books. You must be a reader. What is your favorite: fiction or nonfiction?
  
  Reply

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