By Chris Brady People don't like to be told what to do. Even children are not very receptive to instruction. So when governments set out to take over peoples' freedoms (which means, quite simply, government telling people what to do instead of people making their own choices) they have to get crafty. Some serious skill is required. … [Read more...]
The Pursuit of Happiness
May 11, 2011 by Leave a Comment
By Chris Brady "Don't make that face! It might freeze that way!" It's a silly little thing parents say to kids. We've all heard it. Even as children we knew it wasn't true. But now I'm aging and I realize something profound: it was true! There are lines in my face representing the most dominant facial expressions I've been making all these … [Read more...]
The Key to Creativity – Don’t Pity the Fool
April 27, 2011 by 1 Comment
By Chris Brady "Most people can't dream too big, cause they have things to keep." --song lyric by Sugarland In the days of monarchs, in which nearly every hill or dale was the domain of a small feudal lord called Sir or Count or Duke, court jesters were often employed. These professional fools were given license for a free and crazy … [Read more...]
The Best Leaders Have Fun
April 13, 2011 by Leave a Comment
By Chris Brady "It's kind of fun to do the impossible," said Walt Disney. "People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing," wrote Dale Carnegie. "I never did a day's work in my life. It was all fun," said Thomas Edison. "If you watch a game, it's fun. If you play it, it's recreation. If you work at it, it's golf," … [Read more...]
Counter-Productive Compassion
March 30, 2011 by Leave a Comment
By Chris Brady According to Ronald Reagan, some of the most dangerous words were, "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help." Reagan in that one little quip summed up what plagues much of the United State's current condition. Author W. Cleon Skousen coined the term "Counter-Productive Compassion" to describe what I see displayed across … [Read more...]
Finishing Well
March 24, 2011 by Leave a Comment
By Chris Brady There is an abundance of sayings that address the concept of beginning something. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step," and "starting is more than half of finishing," are just two that come immediately to mind. But finishing is more important than starting. In my lifetime, I've seen a lot of people … [Read more...]
The Underground Railroad
March 15, 2011 by Leave a Comment
By Chris Brady If leadership is about attacking the status quo and railing against injustice, then the unsung and often unnamed heroes of what came to be known as the "Underground Railroad" are a great example. A loose network of sorts, committed to aiding escaped slaves to reach freedom, existed in the North American colonies at least as … [Read more...]
Help Others Win
March 4, 2011 by Leave a Comment
By Chris Brady One of the most important things to understand about leadership is that it is not about YOU. People who crave what leadership can provide, thinking that this entails perks, power, position and status, are really not fit for the position. Reluctant leaders, a term that at first seems like an oxymoron (as opposed to the … [Read more...]
An Unsung Heroine
February 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment
By Chris Brady Leaders lead because it is the right thing to do, because it is "in them," and because they were born for it. Sometimes, it even gets recognized. For this reason, I particularly like it when historians dig up lost stories of selfless sacrifice by unsung leaders. This exerpt from Alan Axelrod is interesting, partly … [Read more...]
Fruit On the Tree
February 11, 2011 by 1 Comment
By Chris Brady "Whenever you purpose to consult with anyone about your affairs, first observe how he has managed his own; for he who has shown poor judgment in conducting his own business will never give wise counsel about the business of others." - Isocrates, letter to Demonicus It is curious to me how quickly people are to proffer … [Read more...]
