Once upon a time, there was a little girl. With her birthday just days away, her parents announced that as part of her gift, she could pick any restaurant she wanted to go to for dinner. She debated and deliberated. She hemmed and hawed. She asked her mom where shethought she should go. She asked her dad, too, but neither offered an answer. It was up to her, they said. The little girl really wanted to go to Luigi’s, the pizza parlor downtown. She quite fancied the old brick walls and the smell of the wood burning stove. And watching the thick-forearmed men shape the dough and toss it into the air was a show in itself. But then she thought of the longer drive. Money was tight, and she figured her parents wouldn’t be too happy about having to spend extra money for gas and pizza that was more expensive than the other place just down the street (which wasn’t nearly as good.) She also knew that her dad was in the middle of a big project at work, and he might appreciate a shorter meal …
Archives for May 2010
5 Musts for a Meaningful Marriage
The other day I received a nice email from a woman who shared, "I was at the conference in Milwaukee last week and really enjoyed your message -- thank you! Very positive and I just left thinking...wow, they must have a really fun marriage." What a nice thing to say and very timely, since we were celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary the same week. Man, if every decade goes this fast then I might as well accept the fact that I'm going to be ninety years old in about 25 seconds. Seriously. Ladies and gentlemen: time is not our friend. Jason and I are a good team. Usually people who are having fun make it look easy, but in the case of marriage, it is something you really have to work at. There's a fine line between routine and boredom, and between being comfortable and taking things for granted. So, in reflecting on these amazingly awesome 10 years with Jason I've identified my 5 MUSTS for a meaningful marriage. Give 'em a read and let me know what makes your marriage …
Speaking Snapshots: Sticky Cup
Several years ago, we held an official Escape Event, in which we challenged Kim & Jason Nation to "do something fun that is inspired by one of your favorite movies!" Jim and Lisa Warsinske borrowed a bit from Driving Miss Daisy and Chevy Chase's Vacation, and not only won six movie tickets, but created a perfect way to have fun in ANY economy. I've been sharing this little gem with audiences everywhere I go. Here's a clip from a recent speaking gig in Milwaukee: Learn more about bringing Jason in to your organization to help them turn stress into laughter, rejuvenate their passion, and achieve work life balance. …
Your Life Isn’t Bland and Boring…Is It?
I spoke at a national conference in Milwaukee the other day. After the gig, Kim and I took a nice walk along Lake Michigan. Perched on the shore, like a regal, otherworldly vessel prepared to set sail on a grand adventure, is the Milwaukee Art Museum. I have always been awed by the grand majesty of this architectural gem. It’s breathtaking. Remarkable. Inspiring. I couldn’t help but think: if something like this is possible, why do boring, bland buildings even exist? And of course they don’t just merely exist -- they are the norm. Obviously, this is an extreme example of pretty remarkable architecture. Buildings like this are rare. But that’s exactly my point. Why settle with something so average, boring, and unremarkable? …
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New Jelly Bean Inspired Greeting Card Sets
It was the classic dilemma of childhood. You walk into a candy store, greeted by the jingling bell tied to the front door. Your feet shuffle across the black and white tiled floor to the glass case showing off its colorful assortment of sugary goodness. Holding everything from fudge to to gumdrops to saltwater taffy, it was willing to part with its carefully guarded yummy treasures -- at a price. You'd plunk your handful of pennies down on the counter and begin the thoughtful deliberation. Sadly, the days of being able to buy candy for a penny are behind us, and the old fashioned corner confectionery stores have been overrun by the generic big box behemoths. Perhaps equally distressing is that in an age where everything seems to be digital, virtual, and anonymous, we're slowly losing the art of the handwritten note. It is with that yearning for yesteryear that I am happy to announce the release of some pretty sweet greeting card sets. The die-hard fans who've been with us from …
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Chuck’s Investment (What Would You Do?)
There once was a man named Chuck who had a few years left 'till retirement -- the final stretch. The previous forty years of his life had been truly awesome. He felt blessed being the dad to four amazing kids, now all grown. He enjoyed challenging and rewarding work. He took opportunities to coach some of the kids' sports teams and to travel to memorable places. He and his bride of 41 years were best friends and partners on the crazy journey (and crazy it often had been.) Chuck was now the big 6-0 and was in good health, as opposed to many of his peers. Good or bad, his life had been filled with a constant state of busyness. Even with retirement on the horizon, with four grown kids, four in-laws, even more grandkids, and countless home projects - the weekends were still quite busy. He had assumed life would get simpler and quieter once the kids were out of the house. Being empty nesters for almost ten years, he finally resigned himself to the reality that his life was busier than …
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Life Will Be Easier When…
Ever find yourself saying, “Life will be easier when...”? If you’re a parent, you can fill in the blank mighty easily. Life will be easier when... ...he can sleep through the night. ...she can feed herself. ...he can tell us where it hurts. ...she goes to school. ...he makes it to the NBA and buys me a ginormous house in Hawaii. This is a diabolical game that Adultitis likes us to play, because it gets us wishing away time, distracts us from the present, and keeps us focused on the negative. …
Speaking Snapshots: Fancy Dinner
Lots of people have fancy dinnerware. Most of them never actually use it for dining, however. We're worried that we might chip or break the plates, effectively ruining our sets for good. So we keep them stored safely away in specially made furniture called china cabinets, eternally waiting for a "special occasion." In this three-minute video, recorded from a speech at the National WIC conference, I challenge the definition of "special occasion." For more food for thought on this concept, check out the post Why It Might Be Time for a Fancy Dinner. Learn more about bringing Jason in to your organization to help them turn stress into laughter, rejuvenate their passion, and achieve work life balance. …
Out In The Wild
So my buddy Brett Farmiloe spotted one of our books out in the wild at a book store in San Diego. As an author, it is very exciting to see one of your babies all grown up and out on its own. Also interesting to see what kind of company he is keeping. (Feel free to add any humorous captions in the comments.) P.S. Good news! You don't have to be in San Diego to pick up one of these mini Escape Adulthood books. You can find them at the Lemonade Stand or Amazon.com. They're tiny, colorful, contain some great tips, and make great gifts. (Can't confirm whether or not they'll help you have better sex, however.) P.S.S. The more I think about it, the more I object to the book Sex For Dummies. I don't think Dummies should be having sex. It could be why we have as many problems as we do... …
Connect Four and the Game of Life
I remember playing Connect Four when I was a kid. It’s like Tic-Tac-Toe on steroids (of the Barry Bonds head-enlarging variety.) It takes a while for a kid to get the hang of it. Early attempts are marked by a series of regular beatings (especially if you’re playing with an aunt three years your senior who never lets you win). But it really gets exciting when you start to figure it out and things get competitive. It’s a simple game, but there’s a lot of strategy and critical thinking involved. …