Mortgage rates
When I bought my first house, mortgage rates were at 18%. We put 30% down with help from my parents. The owner, who was the aunt of a friend, gave us a 5 year loan at 12 %. We felt so very lucky. We knew that buying a house was the best investment. In California, […]
Your personal brand
Brands are defined as how others see you. A brand is your reputation. Spending 1/2 day with Vistage Speaker Alyssa Gelband, my CE group revisited branding, messaging and communicating who they and their companies are in this very digital world. As we took branding apart, I began to wonder how accurate my self-perception was versus […]
How do we work through transitions?
At the Modern Elder Academy in Santa Fe last weekend, we discussed transitions at length. It was as if we took a jewel and turned it around to examine all its facets slowly and carefully. We don’t often pay attention to how a jewel is constructed. Or how it is shaped by outside forces. Or […]
Modern Elder
On my way to a retreat at the Modern Elder Academy, I wonder what is a modern elder? As opposed to what? An old school elder? An old hipster? A wise old crone? ( by far my favorite descriptor l). Would they attract participants to the wise old crone academy? Hmm. Maybe not. Advertised to […]
National Debt
This week the US debt pushed past $40 trillion. Why does national debt matter to us as individuals? Are we supposed to pay for that? Where is the money going? Well, according to the NY Times, The Key Factors Driving the Debt are: Rising Spending: Costs for defense, military operations, and safety-net programs like Social […]
Creating a safe crucible
A crucible by my definition is a large cup made from neutral substances that can be heated to high temperatures without changing its nature or contaminating the metal that is being transformed from solid to liquid. It has been used for millenniums to separate pure gold from alloys or waste. Gemini AI says a ” […]
Ephemeral?
Chasing the latest and greatest AI tools feels like children chasing bubbles at the park. The bubbles are big, small, lovely, and floating past. They pop so quickly. Time to chase the next and the next. Giggles, excitement, getting covered in soapy popped bubbles, all part of the experience. When the bubble maker dips into […]
Builder, connector, community activist
Last night I attended the Cope Award dinner for my dear friend Beth Adkisson in Newport Beach, CA. I knew Vistage Chairs from all over the US who were close with Beth were invited, I just didn’t think they would all show up. Boy, was I wrong. Beth was roasted with love and humor. Skits […]
Creating connections
Fútbol (soccer) is not a deep tradition in the U.S. So hosting the FIFA 2026 World Cup has been enthralling for many Americans who never really watched it the way they watch American football, baseball and basketball. Since these are the national teams, even the Manchester United backers or Barca fans are watching their teams […]
Working on the business
Vistage Members know that business leaders excel when they work on the business not in the business. So, what IS their business? Can the leaders and everyone else who works for the organization articulate the Vision, Mission, Values and Behaviors that drive them forward? Can they name the top 3 Strategic Initiatives and Key Performance […]