Archive for May 2017
Shorter is almost always better
I am and will always be an admirer for anyone who understands that the shorter sermon, the shorter meeting, the shorter training session, and the shorter story are almost always the best versions of those things. Time is our most precious commodity. In truth, it’s our only precious commodity. Honor it as such. When standing…
Read MoreBest tweet ever
I’ve been using Twitter since 2008. My handle is @MatthewDicks. Jump on a platform early enough and your name is always available. I receive much of my news via links provided by the people and news organizations I follow on Twitter. I communicate with friends, acquaintances, and business associates via tweets. I tweet at Donald…
Read MoreIncompetent, racist, or both?
I just don’t get it. Last summer, it was Paul Ryan taking a selfie with a sea of white Republican interns. Last November it was Mike Pence taking a selfie with a sea of white Republican Senators and Congresspeople. Last week it was Donald Trump announcing the passing of House’s healthcare bill in the Rose…
Read MoreI don’t like teachers who act like jerks
Q. My third grade son recently came home in tears saying he didn’t want to go to school anymore because he was punished for talking during silent reading. The teacher kept him in from recess. I think this is horrible. It isn’t a teacher’s job to destroy a child’s love for school. Instead of constant…
Read MoreI made an old lady cry. I asked if I was wrong. Readers responded.
After an avalanche of responses to the post about the incident in which I made an old woman cry in a McDonald’s, I have some thoughts if you’re interested: 1. The thoughtful, respectful nature of the responses was remarkable, especially considering they were so heavily skewed against me and my decision. While most people thought…
Read MoreThings I Do #7: I cut corners
In my relentless, obsessive desire to get ahead and be productive, I purposely attempt to cut every corner in every hallway in order to shorten the distance between the two points and perhaps recapture a little lost time. This is ridiculous, of course. Unless I am walking an endless array of hallways for hours and…
Read MoreMy three greatest acts of storytelling cruelty
I like to think that I have been a supportive and positive force on the thousands of storytellers who I have performed alongside over the years, but I’ve also had moments when my judgment and disposition was less than ideal. My three most despicable moments as a storyteller: 1. On Thursday night at Infinity Hall,…
Read MoreHow to improve church attendance
A good movie trailer can pack a theater. Perhaps a good church sign can pack the pews. And perhaps I might not find myself in the position of reluctant atheist had I received encouragement like this to attend church on a regular basis.
Read MoreI may learn to bake if it’s always this cute
Financial PTSD: The perfect description of a persistent affliction
I was listening to Troy Carter, music manager and CEO of Atom Factory, on the podcast How I Built This, when he said something that rang so true to me: When asked if he worries about going broke again now that he’s a successful founder and investor, he said, “When you grow up poor, you…
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