Archive for December 2018
Moments of Note 2018
At the end of every year, I take stock in all that the previous 365 days have brought. It’s an exercise I recommend to everyone as a means of bringing some meaning and clarity to all that has come before. Days, weeks, months, and even years have a way of flashing by in an instant…
Read MoreSpeak Up Storytelling: Chuck Fedolfi
On episode #30 of the Speak Up Storytelling podcast, Elysha Dicks and I talk storytelling! In our followup segment, we talk about upcoming dates (including a workshop in Seattle this summer) and my weekly storytelling newsletter. Next, we talk about finding and collecting stories in your everyday life using “Homework for Life.” We talk about fusing…
Read MoreFind your people
I was sitting in section 331 at Gillette Stadium last week. The Patriots were at midfield and driving to the end zone. Instead of the typically crisp passes from Tom Brady to his cast of suspect wide receivers, New England was running the ball, opening up large holes for the running backs to exploit. With…
Read MoreI went to see Hamilton last night despite the ridiculous hype that accompanies it.
Elysha and I went to see Hamilton last night. After seeing Elysha writing amusing but envious posts on Facebook in response to our many friends who were seeing the show during its brief stop in Hartford, I decided to pivot and give her tickets to the show for Christmas in lieu of my original plan.…
Read MoreI engaged with celebrity culture for a month. Here is what I discovered.
One of my 2018 goals is this: Select three behaviors that I am opposed to and adopt them for one week, then write about my experiences on the blog. During the month of October, at the suggestion of a reader, I spent at least 15 minutes every morning reading the TMZ website in an attempt…
Read MoreTime to set some goals for 2019. And perhaps a goal or two for me, too.
As the New Year approaches, you will undoubted see and read many articles on why New Year’s resolutions never work and are best avoided. It’s a trope that media outlets love to roll out at the end of December. It’s nonsense. New Year’s resolutions (and goal setting in general) work for those who are actually…
Read MoreI was visited by the Ghost of Christmas Yet-to-Come. Kind of.
Years ago, I was sitting in a diner with a client, coaching him to become more successful in life. I was talking about my personal philosophy and explain my approach to my life when he said, “I wish I had died like you. I think that’s the answer to my problems.” He went on to…
Read MoreMy 2018 Christmas Haul
Every Christmas, I take inventory of the holiday gifts that my wife gives me. Some people wish for cashmere sweaters, the latest gadget, stylish watches, and jewelry. My hope is often for the least pretentious, most unexpected, quirkiest little gift possible, and she never fails to deliver. When it comes to gift giving, Elysha is…
Read MoreJust before all the good stuff is the real good stuff
I’m writing this at 6:45 AM on Christmas morning. It’s one of my favorite times of the year. It’s been one of my favorite times of the year for all of my life. The moment just before. The time between preparation and delivery. The interlude of anticipation. I have always loved this moment. The proximity…
Read MoreSpeak Up Storytelling: Christina Fedolfi
On episode #29 of the Speak Up Storytelling podcast, Matthew and Elysha Dicks talk storytelling! In our followup segment, we talk about an error in a previous podcast, upcoming show and workshop dates (including a workshop in Seattle this summer), a Pulp Fiction secret revealed, and more. Next, we talk about finding and collecting stories in…
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