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Warhol, Time and Palm Springs

May 11, 2018 – 10:35 am

I recently saw the Andy Warhol exhibit at the Palm Springs Art Museum and appreciated his art beyond the iconic Campbell’s tomato soup can prints and the colorful Marilyn diptych. We know he enjoyed more than 15 minutes of fame as he embraced commercialism, palled around with rich patrons like Mick Jagger at Studio 54, and was openly gay in an era when it was harder to be out. But Warhol also liked ephemera, penned simple line drawings in his early years, and snapped personal portraits of non-celebrities. Three decades after his death, we are still fascinated with him because he saw things differently. Wandering the Modernist museum, it was obvious how Warhol’s wide-ranging creativity still looks vibrant and cool today. He was a true changemaker.

“They say that time changes things but you actually have to change them yourself.”

The exhibit continues through May 28th.

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Resolutions waning..?

January 22, 2018 – 1:53 pm

Perhaps you’ve seen the acclaimed movie Darkest Hour and were reminded of the copious number of pithy Winston Churchill quotes. One I like is:

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

These are helpful words at the end of January when many of us lose passion for our resolutions. There is actually a Quitter’s Day. Strava, a social network for athletes, researched when people lose motivation to keep moving towards their New Year’s goals and it seems enthusiasm wanes pretty quickly. Quitter’s Day is January 12th. Strava says friends can help you through this time. Specifically, their research shows exercising with friends boosts your likelihood of sticking with sports and health goals compared with going it alone. Whether flying solo or running with the pack, have the courage to continue!

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Wisdom from Winnie-the-Pooh

January 11, 2016 – 12:43 pm

“Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

There are a lot of great quotes from A.A. Milne’s books. When I came across this one, it at first seemed like words from an inspirational office plaque. I’d forgotten they’re spoken by Christopher Robin to give Pooh a boost. Good to remember his words if you’re feeling down on dreary winter’s day. It’s true – that little voice in our heads can say mean things that you’d never actually say to another person! Don’t be your harshest critic. Be like Pooh, have some tea and honey, walk with friends, and know you’re not a Bear of Very Little Brain.

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Resolution – Read More

January 4, 2014 – 6:52 pm

Frank Bruni wrote a thoughtful resolution article in the New York Times titled For 2014, Tweet Less, Read More. I’m not wasting my time tweeting (I waste it in other ways!) but I do want to read some missed classics (Anna Karenina), study countries through literature (France), and refresh my art history knowledge with well chosen books (I’m a fan of DK books and want to read Art That Changed the World).

Bruni writes about the fevered pitch of public discourse and the lack of online etiquette. How does this relate to reading? Well, Bruni suggests that more reading encourages an understanding of broader viewpoints. It allows for deliberation and “forces a pause.” How welcome that would be to our current aggressive and ineffective political shouting matches!

I can’t fix the rude rants in public forums. But I can read to my increase my knowledge – both for perspective and to grasp the facts accurately. As we’ve all heard before, the best conversationalists truly listen. So I’m going to “listen” to a broader range of books this year. What’s on your bedside table?

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Just say no (authentically)

May 30, 2013 – 8:44 pm

This goes beyond saying no to drugs. As one mom blogger puts it, “I realized that I don’t really miss the things I’m saying no to.”

Lindsey Mead Russell writes about being present in one’s life and thinks “no” has a lot to do with that. I agree. Many people make demands on your time – only by consciously choosing to spend our hours on our top priorities will we be calmer and fit in what truly matters. No is hard until you realize the power in it. Say “No” because something else is more important… “No” because someone else is more important… And “no” because it doesn’t contribute to your life’s purpose. Russell reports feeling more “even-keeled.” Something to say “yes” to.

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A Room of One’s Own

March 15, 2013 – 10:47 am

“A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.”
Virginia Woolf

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer inadvertently sparked a national debate about work-at-home arrangements after her recent decision to end telecommuting at Yahoo. Oddly, it’s not a debate I’m personally part of anymore, no longer being an employee or manager in the corporate world. My home office is preferable now. My work is flexible, family-friendly and devoid of time-wasters like donuts and office politics. Oh, it’s also exactly my style (see a corner of my office in the pic) and doesn’t have those weird fabric-covered cube walls.

Of course, some people aren’t cut out for the home office whether they’re self-employed or an employee. But I don’t think Mayer’s move is the wave of the future. It’s old fashioned. I can be productive in a room of my own – no lanyard key card ID required.

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How to Start the New Year

January 7, 2013 – 11:29 am

“Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.”

Alan Cohen (author of inspirational books including Chicken Soup for the Soul)

That kind of takes the pressure off New Year’s resolutions – doesn’t it? No need for big plans and preparations. Simple, small steps in the right direction are all you need. It’s like the chaos theory, or butterfly effect, of resolutions. One tiny action can result in significant change.

I found this quote in a Huffington Post feature on how to Inspire a Fresh Start in 2013, where you’ll find several other inspiring quotes.

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Banking 101

October 8, 2012 – 11:57 am

“It is well enough that people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning.” Henry Ford

Funny but sad at the same time. And when Henry Ford said this, we weren’t hearing daily news about problems at a global level, making it even harder to grasp. I think a financial education needs to start young and discovered that Vanguard has an excellent program aimed at teaching basic financial concepts called My Classroom Economy. The curriculum covers kindergarten through 12th grade and teaches kids about budgeting, saving and resisting impulse buying. Older students work with an investment simulator to track how their mix of assets grows (or not).

Vanguard’s program turns the class into a economic system where students earn school dollars for classroom jobs and can spend their dollars at the class store. My Classroom Economy is free. Share it with a teacher today!

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Short Elevator Speeches Take More Time

September 12, 2012 – 8:53 pm

“If you want me to give you a two-hour presentation, I am ready today. If you want only a five-minute speech, it will take me two weeks to prepare.”

Most agree Mark Twain said this. Yet other speakers (Churchill) had similar quotes about brevity being the soul of wit. I’ve been smiling about it since I’ve been writing several short scripts for demo, or explainer, videos. Writing short takes longer – no doubt! These “shorts” are one minute, maybe two in length, and serve as an elevator speech in video. Can you describe your USP (Unique Selling Proposition) in 60 seconds? It’s hard.

Yet, in our fast world, the ability to relate benefits quickly translates into business success. I’ve been heartened to see new entrepreneurs in our uncertain economy. Learning to communicate concisely will benefit them.

See how some new businesses are communicating their elevator speech at www.timgoodspeed.com.

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Judging a Book by its Title

September 4, 2012 – 1:42 pm

“Title-mania afflicts the greatest as well as the humblest.”

How strongly does a book title impact your decision to read it? I’d bet they’re as important as catchy wine labels – and that books and bottles are bought for those reasons alone. In author Andy Martin’s commentary in The New York Times, Is This Title OK?, he explores the difficulties of finding the right title. An author may agonize over a title only to have the publisher reject their favorite. Looking at current bestselling fiction, you see titles ranging from descriptive (The Boy in the Suitcase) to obscure (Beautiful Disaster). Some titles truly give you the flavor and subject of the story while others try too hard to be arbitrary and stylish.

I recently read Alexander Fuller’s Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness and thought that was a great title (and book). Another book I read attracted me with its funny title – I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids. Do you have a favorite book title?

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