What I really need… or want! One day driving on a busy street in my neighborhood I noticed little girl and boy in their yard holding up signs, flagging down cars. On the lawn a few adults sat in lawn chairs watching and laughing. I was about to keep going when I […]
“You’re under no obligation to be the same person you were 5 minutes ago.” – Alan Watts By Tom Peterson Do you feel stuck, that things just aren’t working? It may be that you simply need some time off to get some distance. You may want to talk through your goals and dreams […]
By Tom Peterson Beginning this month, licensed barbers, stylists and other beauty professionals in Illinois are required to take a one-hour training to help them recognize signs of domestic violence. Over time they will take further courses. While they aren’t required to report suspected cases they can now point victims to resources that […]
“I am convinced that only by setting aside half the planet in reserve, or more, can we save the living part of the environment and achieve the stabilization required for our own survival.” —E.O. Wilson [Fox-in-the-Hen-House Note: As I post this, Climate change denier Scott Pruitt is being tapped […]
The Yin and Yang of Growing Your Cause: Incremental Improvement and Breakthrough The best way to grow your nonprofit or cause is to do two seemingly opposite things at once. First, incrementally improve the things— the programs, revenue streams, branding, public relations—that are already working well. Or at least seem to have […]
We’ve all sat through talks where some blowhard toots his own horn about saving the world: I did this and I did that. Look how wonderful I am, look how great my work is. He ends by asking for the audience’s support. At best a few people may join up and at […]
You’ve already know about the 80/20 rule so this is a reminder—because four-out-of-five times it will help you focus on what’s important. In 1906 economist Vilfredo Pareto was studying land ownership in Italy and found that 20 percent of the people owned 80 percent of the land. The remaining 80 percent of […]
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.” — Mark Twain Many big efforts happen like this: Get clarity on what you want to do, define your goal Make a plan to reach […]
The cavalries charged The Indians fell The cavalries charged The Indians died Oh, the country was young With God on its side — Bob Dylan By Tom Peterson In 1692 Martha Carrier was accused in Salem, Massachusetts, of being a witch. She […]
“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” — Albert Einstein By Tom Peterson The “rover” we earthlings sent to explore the next planet over was named through a contest by sixth-grader Clara Ma: Curiosity. But it was seven thousand adults who spent five years to make the mission happen. The $2.5 billion […]
