Archive for February 2012
Gratitude journal: The unplanned, unexpected, spontaneous nap
An early dismissal from daycare because of snow convinced my wife that there would be no afternoon nap today. And 99 out of 100 days, this would be true. Then this happened. First time for everything. Probably the last time, too.
Read MoreAnother Starbucks zombie reject
A few readers were kind enough to send me this clip of another man, albeit fictional, refusing to be a Starbucks zombie. He pulls it off considerably better than I ever could. A true man after my own heart.
Read MoreLook. Someone ruined lollipops.
Gratitude journal: The life-altering surprise visit
My wife brought my daughter to school today for a surprise visit, appearing about five minutes after the final bell had rung to end the school day. I can’t tell you how much this reenergized me for the rest of the afternoon. A flying-leaping-death-defying hug from that little munchkin can completely change my outlook on…
Read MoreI am not a Starbucks zombie.
I recently read in the Harvard Business Review that Starbucks seeks to train its customers at nearly the same level as its employees. This is why a Starbucks cashier will convert my request for a medium coffee into a grande when passing the order onto the barista. It’s not for the barista’s benefit (since everyone…
Read MoreThe positive, vicious circle of weight loss
When trying to convince a friend who wants to lose weight that exercise (not diet) is the most important part of any weight loss plan, I explain that exercise initiates the most positive vicious circle that I know. When you begin exercising, two things happen: Your appetite goes down. Your energy level increases. I didn’t…
Read MoreSesame Street is better with friends. A whole lot of well organized, hyper-attentive friends.
Gratitude journal: Time zones (I know. Weird, huh?)
Tonight I am grateful to time zones, which are usually a pain in the ass but have been a blessing to me as Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend begins publishing around the world. Thanks to time zones, I can spend my early morning hours before work speaking to my editor and publicist in the UK…
Read MoreBreakfast and The Beatles (and a little chair dancing)
Have you ever seen a better breakfast?
Read MoreI can only hope that my students were playing videogames or watching TV or playing with fire when Rick Santorum was speaking.
One of the most important lessons I try to teach my students is the importance of admitting a mistake and possessing the moral integrity to apologize and make it right. Ask any one of my students, past or present, how I feel about mistakes, and they will tell you that the first, best and most…
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