When being bamboozled is a good thing
Posted on April 19, 2013
Hobo: “What exactly is your persuasion on the big man?” Boy: “Well, I want to believe, but…” Hobo: “But you don’t want be bamboozled. You don’t want to be led down the primrose path. You don’t want be conned… Continue reading →
A sad state of affairs for America’s news media
Posted on April 17, 2013
Two journalists—Gwen Flanders, a breaking news editor at USA Today, and Arin Greenwood, associate editor for HuffPost DC—spoke at an Independent Public Relations Alliance luncheon I attended earlier this month… Continue reading →
Alzheimer’s, my mom and David Hilfiker of Joseph’s House
Posted on April 6, 2013
It was late afternoon on a perfect October day, and I was walking across the neatly landscaped grounds of the retirement community where my parents live. My mom was next to me, stopping to look at plants and flowers… Continue reading →
Powering through those painful ‘slog’ days
Posted on April 2, 2013
When I began The Wayward Journey in the fall of 2011, I noted that there are many ups and downs on the road to establishing your own business. One of the bumps that I often stumble on is staying motivated… Continue reading →
Hey, dreamer, start paying attention to your firm’s goals!
Posted on March 27, 2013
I rarely remember my dreams; and when I do, they generally aren’t about work. Usually some childhood fear rears its ugly head, and once again I am reliving the anxiety of forgetting my homework, failing a test… Continue reading →
Free e-tools and apps for the busy professional
Posted on March 21, 2013
We’ve all had those exasperating moments at the office when we stomp and fume, “There’s got to be a better way of doing this!”… Continue reading →
Technology, generations and the joy of creating
Posted on March 12, 2013
A visit from a five-year-old, the recent purchase of an iPhone 5 and fond memories of recording my own “shows” with a Craig 212 tape recorder got me thinking about technology, generations and creativity… Continue reading →
Don’t be a creature of habit, change your routine!
Posted on March 6, 2013
The other day I had one of those Aha! moments. It was such a small thing that at first I didn’t think much of it. But as I contemplated my “discovery,” I realized it had repercussions… Continue reading →
Is America the best place on Earth for entrepreneurs?
Posted on February 27, 2013
Now that I’m self-employed, I run into a lot of other independent business people. Call us indies or solo practitioners—we’re the ones with the big ideas and the not-so-big bank accounts… Continue reading →
Love, leadership and Valentine’s Day
Posted on February 14, 2013
Flip through radio stations or your own collection of CDs and MP3s, and I bet every other song will be about some aspect of love or romance. Looking for love, falling in love, falling out of love, breaking up… Continue reading →
Why is delegating so hard? Let me count the ways
Posted on February 12, 2013
I am not the best at delegating. And judging by the volume of “how-to” articles on this subject in journals like HBR, I’m not alone. Many executives and leaders fall down when it comes to delegating… Continue reading →
Snow-deprived in D.C.
Here in D.C., it’s sunny and clear in the Land of Unsnow. Up north, it’s wall-to-wall snow; it’s our Snowmageddon of a few years ago times two… Continue reading →
‘What is it you do again?’ or how to explain the indie life
Posted on February 8, 2013
It’s surprising how you can be working in the same profession, doing the same kinds of things you’ve always done, but if you’re not attached to a company you become an enigma in the minds of many… Continue reading →
Add one more to the pile of discarded technology
Posted on February 5, 2013
My first and oldest iPod died last week. The dreaded Sad iPod icon appeared on the screen… Continue reading →
5 keys to better time management in your organization
Posted on January 30, 2013
Perhaps you made it a New Year’s resolution to better manage your time. If you did, you’re not alone. I have wrestled with time management for most of my career… Continue reading →
13 trends for 2013, courtesy of Ford Motor Company
Posted on January 25, 2013
Last month, Ford released its first-ever trend report, “Looking Further with Ford: 13 Trends for 2013.”… Continue reading →
10 sure-fire ways to disengage and be left alone
Posted on January 23, 2013
If you’re like me, there are times when you just want to be left alone. No phone calls, no emails, no tweets, no text messages, no interruptions or meetings… Continue reading →
Brand awareness and a glass of red wine
Posted on January 17, 2013
On one of the warmer afternoons we had last week, Debbie and I escaped to The Winery at Bull Run, where we tried a couple of the red wines… Continue reading →
‘I’ve got a name’ or personal branding 101
Posted on January 15, 2013
Why does Jim Croce’s “I’ve Got a Name” come to mind whenever I hear the words “personal branding”?… Continue reading →
The true measure of a man
Posted on January 11, 2013
The other day, I was at Annandale Florist, a family-owned business that recently closed its doors after 56 years. A group of us were helping the owner, Gary Sherfey, clean out the shop… Continue reading →
7 tips for achieving your New Year’s resolutions
Posted on January 8, 2013
There’s something noble about resolving to improve yourself or better the world. On the other hand, we humans seem hardwired for failure… Continue reading →
Very Inspiring Blogger and Sunshine Awards
Posted on January 2, 2013
With the beginning of the New Year, I’d like to gratefully acknowledge two blogging awards that David Kanigan nominated me for last year—the Very Inspiring Blogger Award and the Sunshine Award… Continue reading →
4 fears you need to eliminate to become more creative
Posted on December 20, 2012
In my last post, I wrote about the power of prototyping, something that the international design firm IDEO has used quite effectively to help companies become more innovative… Continue reading →
Try prototyping to jump-start your next project
Posted on December 11, 2012
It was the night before a client meeting where we would be discussing ideas for a brochure, and I spread out on my kitchen counter some photos I had pulled off the Internet and some preliminary copy I had drafted… Continue reading →
Giving and the high performance leader
Posted on December 6, 2012
Starting with Thanksgiving and continuing throughout the holiday season, most of us spend a lot of time thinking about giving… Continue reading →
Story time isn’t just for bedtime
Posted on December 4, 2012
“Hey, kids, who wants to hear a story?” As a child, those words were music to my ears and still are today. After all, who doesn’t like to hear a good story?… Continue reading →
Powerball, homelessness and having enough
Posted on November 30, 2012
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about “how much is enough,” mostly in the context of my little PR and marketing firm… Continue reading →
Content marketing, storytelling and blogging
Posted on November 20, 2012
“Content marketing” is all the talk these days among marketers and advertisers… Continue reading →
Letting go and moving on
Posted on November 14, 2012
Last month, I wrote about the power of forgiveness and how learning to forgive yourself (as well as others) is essential for personal growth and change… Continue reading →
Exercise, health and having a purpose
Posted on November 8, 2012
Exercise is one of those things that you either love or hate. All my life, I have firmly been in the “hate” camp. Forcing myself to exercise just seems to be the low point of my day… Continue reading →
Psst! Does your organization have a gossip problem?
Posted on November 6, 2012
Dave Ramsey’s most recent EntreLeadership Advisor newsletter is entitled “Silence is Golden” and is on the debilitating effect that gossip can have on a workplace… Continue reading →
The captain is on the bridge
Posted on November 1, 2012
My son gave me a copy of “Around the Year with Emmet Fox: A Book of Daily Readings” for Christmas last year… Continue reading →
Leadership, Sandy and ‘being prepared’
Posted on October 29, 2012
Hurricane Sandy is just making landfall, but its massive power has been felt up and down the East Coast… Continue reading →
Is time on your side when it comes to social media
Posted on October 25, 2012
Do you think you can manage your social media each day in just 18 minutes? Lisa Buyer of Search Engine Watch, picking up on the popular time management book by Peter Bregman called “18 Minutes,” suggests that it’s possible… Continue reading →
Judging the value of a college degree
Posted on October 23, 2012
Recently, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance ranked “the worst majors for your career.” Kiplinger looked at the likelihood of graduates finding employment in their field… Continue reading →
Forgiveness
Posted on October 18, 2012
Forgiveness is a wonderfully liberating and healing act. It frees you to move on, to advance to new stages in your life… Continue reading →
‘Nothing happens until someone sells something’
Posted on October 16, 2012
A common lament among employees-turned-entrepreneurs is that they are unaccustomed to scratching for business… Continue reading →
In life it’s always good to ‘test drive’ major changes
Posted on October 11, 2012
The USA Today Money section recently ran a story advising Baby Boomers to “test-drive” retirement while they are still working. That’s good advice, I thought, and I’m living it… Continue reading →
‘Do it now!’ or intentional vs. accidental growth
Posted on October 9, 2012
I’ve been reading selections from John Maxwell’s new e-book, “The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth,” which hit digital book stores last week…Continue reading →
Rachel Carson and ‘pigtail’ light bulbs
Posted on October 4, 2012
Last week was the 50th anniversary of the publication of Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring,” the book that many say launched the environmental movement…Continue reading →
6 lessons from the journey, one year in
Posted on October 2, 2012
This past week marks the one-year anniversary of The Wayward Journey.… Continue reading →
Entrepreneur meets leader in Ramsey’s ‘EntreLeadership’
Posted on September 27, 2012
I attended a seminar last week by best-selling author and “get-out-of-debt” money expert Dave Ramsey… Continue reading →
Exploding the boundaries of social media
Posted on September 25, 2012
There was a time when I paid a lot of attention to “the Other” and all those post-modern concepts that preoccupied academia during the “culture wars.”… Continue reading →
The brothers Morris, together again
Posted on September 20, 2012
When my brother and I were younger, we sometimes were mistaken for each other, as if we were twins… Continue reading →
On the threshold of a dream…
Posted on September 18, 2012
Have you ever felt that you’re standing on the threshold of a dream? Maybe you’ve gotten in on the ground floor of the “next big thing.” Or you’re part of something that just might change history… Continue reading →
Dealing with uncertainty
Posted on September 14, 2012
In these economic times, you can’t really escape uncertainty. Even Warren Buffett, I would guess, lies awake some nights wondering if he invested in the right companies… Continue reading →
Do you suffer from passive-aggressive neatness?
Posted on September 4, 2012
I seem to go through these phases: One day I’m a lazy, disorganized slob; the next I’m a super-charged neatnik who absolutely must control his environment… Continue reading →
Marketing is dead. Long live marketing!
Posted on August 29, 2012
Here’s how to get a few extra hits on your blog or website: Declare something that is obviously not dead (yet) “dead,” as in: “The Internet is dead. TV is dead. Print is dead. Blogging is dead.”… Continue reading →
Happy birthday, Augie!
Posted on August 23, 2012
Once upon a time, I had many obsessions. I was obsessed with money, success, work, clothes, my house and lawn—you name it… Continue reading →
Become a missionary for your cause or company
Posted on August 22, 2012
On Saturday, I returned home from a mission trip to Mozambique where I had the privilege of working with a group of Methodist missionaries who are making a difference in rural Cambine…Continue reading →
The lessons I take to Mozambique
Posted on July 31, 2012
This Friday, I leave for Mozambique, part of an 11-member mission team that will spend two weeks in Africa… Continue reading →
It makes no sense to have a plan if you don’t review it
Posted on July 26, 2012
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the importance of having a written plan—whether that’s a business, financial or life plan—and the value of writing things down… Continue reading →
‘What are we doing about this?’
Posted on July 24, 2012
Have you ever received an e-mail or note from a boss or board member—usually with an article attached—that simply says, “What are we doing about this?”… Continue reading →
6 lessons we can learn from U.Va.’s leadership crisis
Posted on July 19, 2012
Most of the time I’m proud of my alma mater, the University of Virginia. But when it was in the news so much last month, I cringed with each new report of trouble… Continue reading →
Are you adding value to your organization?
Posted on July 17, 2012
“Make yourself indispensable” is one of those career bromides you often hear when you’re first starting out, but how many people really do make themselves indispensable… Continue reading →
Good-bye resources, hello 50 posts
Posted on July 16, 2012
Last Thursday marked my 50th post on The Wayward Journey… Continue reading →
The value of a written plan
Posted on July 12, 2012
It’s been said that we spend more time planning vacations and weddings than we do our careers, finances or business… Continue reading →
I’m back…
Posted on July 10, 2012
I honestly did not intend to go “dark” for a whole month when I last posted on June 7. But one thing led to another, and so today I am ending a longer-than-expected hiatus… Continue reading →
Facebook fatigue…and remembering Ray Bradbury
Posted on June 7
Friends, do you suffer from Facebook fatigue? LinkedIn lassitude? Twitter torpor? No longer gaga for Google+?… Continue reading →
Passion and integrity from Alan122 of Detroit
Posted on June 5, 2012
I have become a fan of “Shouting from the Rooftop,” a blog by Alan122… Continue reading →
Burger King delivers…and the world’s biggest bride
Posted on May 30, 2012
Yes, it’s a strange juxtaposition, but as Dave Barry would say, “I am not making this up.”… Continue reading →
‘Things couldn’t be better’
Posted on May 25, 2012
Many years ago, when I first came to Washington to work as a newsletter editor, I got to know my printer’s sales representative pretty well… Continue reading →
How many of these 10 habits are you ‘passionate’ about?
Posted on May 22, 2012
My thanks to David Kanigan at Lead.Learn.Live. for putting me onto an excellent piece by M.A. Tohami called “The 10 Habits of Passionate People.”… Continue reading →
8 things you absolutely have to do to make it as an indie
Posted on May 17, 2012
Seven months into my new life as an independent public relations practitioner, and I am still learning every day… Continue reading →
Maybe success is “living meaningfully well”
Posted on May 15, 20
When I embarked on the Wayward Journey last September, I dreamily contemplated a sabbatical of self-examination, writing and study, coupled with starting my own business… Continue reading →
I’m no Alton Brown, or 7 lessons learned from (not) cooking
Posted on May 10, 2012
Sure, I’ve been known to watch the Food Network, but that doesn’t mean I’m a foodie… Continue reading →
Making our way around the Internet
Posted on May 8, 2012
We bloggers often direct our readers to the work of others. In fact, that is the whole point of blogging—to share with each other… Continue reading →
Celebrating the loss of my late mustache
Posted on May 4, 2012
It’s been a year since I shaved off and unceremoniously washed down the sink a 35-year companion and confidante—my mustache, my friend, my alter ego! … Continue reading →
Hats off to longevity and late bloomers
Posted on May 1, 2012
I’ve been reading in small doses Jacques Barzun’s acclaimed “From Dawn to Decadence: 1500 to the Present.”… Continue reading →
Hard evidence that soft leadership skills matter
Posted on April 25, 2012
It’s interesting that Inc. and the McKinsey Quarterly both had articles this week on what you might call the softer or “emotional intelligence” side of leadership… Continue reading →
Are you a filer or a piler?
Posted on April 20, 2012
Tax season has again come to a close, bringing with it many firm resolutions to be better organized next time around… Continue reading →
Avoid these 10 pitfalls when having ‘difficult talks’
Posted on April 17, 201
Having what executive coach Alan Cohen calls a “difficult talk” with an employee, business partner or client isn’t easy… Continue reading →
Remembering Robin Johnston: ‘Mission accomplished’
Posted on April 12, 2012
Sometimes events stir up memories. Disparate strands become tangled. Thoughts converge. Then sweet reflection, followed by a blessed “Aha!” moment… Continue reading →
‘If ever there were a spring day so perfect’
Posted on April 9, 2012
If ever there were a spring day so perfect, so uplifted by a warm intermittent breeze that it made you want to throw open all the windows in the house and unlatch the door to the canary’s cage… Continue reading →
Climbing on the bus is just the beginning of the journey
Posted on April 5, 2012
From literature and cinema we learn that momentous changes can net larger-than-life results… Continue reading →
Are you watching your business or just letting it be?
Posted on April 3, 2012
I’m not a big fan of going to the dentist, but there is one thing my dentist does that leaders and business owners can benefit from, and that’s having a “watch list.”… Continue reading →
Leadership lessons from Jobs, Isaacson and Collins
Posted on March 30, 2012
If you didn’t have time to read Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs, you can now read a shorter, condensed take on the Apple cofounder’s management style… Continue reading →
‘Strumming my six-string’ or how I met Parker
Posted on March 28, 2012
I have a Parkwood acoustic guitar that I call Parker. He and I have been together now since the fall of 2007… Continue reading →
Change isn’t an iPhone app
Posted on March 26, 2012
I was in a meeting the other day, and someone threw out the phrase “change management” as if it were an app you could download… Continue reading →
Random thoughts on this fine spring day
Posted on March 21, 2012
What a glorious morning. I watched for a little while as the men laid sod at Debbie’s house… Continue reading →
Learning to lead and live from David Kanigan’s blog
Posted on March 19, 2012
There are some excellent blogs out there, and one that I highly recommend is Lead.Learn.Live. by David Kanigan… Continue reading →
Putting balance in your life in 7 key areas
Posted on March 15, 2012
How many of us have achieved that elusive balance in our lives—successfully juggling career, family, exercise, learning, volunteering, and faith and spirituality?… Continue reading →
Try a little online kindness, it may be contagious
Posted on March 8, 2012
Last week I had the opportunity to hear a number of excellent speakers at several venues… Continue reading →
The ‘quiet’ storm: unleashing the power of introverts
Posted on March 1, 2012
By now, you’ve probably heard about Susan Cain’s new book, “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking.”…Continue reading →
‘Catch-up’ Thursday: eParachute and entrepreneurship
Posted on February 23, 2012
Last November, when I posted on the remarkable longevity of Dick Bolles’ “What Color is Your Parachute,” I noted that a new electronic version of the book was being readied…Continue reading →
Ding, ding, ding: 20 posts in 20 weeks!
Posted on February 16, 2012
When I published my 20th post last week, WordPress gave me a gold star… Continue reading →
Reassessing Steve Jobs
Posted on February 9, 2012
My post last month about Steve Jobs drew more comments than anything I’ve written about so far… Continue reading →
Emotional intelligence, or confessions of a male model
Posted on February 1, 2012
I’ve spent more time than I care to admit poring over stock photos on websites like bigstock.com, looking for images I can use for my JMC website… Continue reading →
What we need is more giving and less getting
Posted on January 26, 2012
Watching President Obama deliver his State of the Union speech Tuesday night, I thought of another young, charismatic president, John F. Kennedy… Continue reading →
Seriously, it’s okay to promote yourself
Posted on January 19, 2012
For most of my career, I’ve been a “PR guy.” It’s been my job to make my bosses look good… Continue reading →
The ups and downs of a solo career
Posted on January 11, 2012
Flying solo can have its moments of doubt and despair, as in, “What the heck was I thinking when I decided to start my own firm? Who’s going to pay the mortgage?” … Continue reading →
WWSJD (What Would Steve Jobs Do)?
Posted on January 4, 2012
I’ve been reading Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs, which describes the late Apple CEO’s obsession with branding, product design and customer experience… Continue reading →
Practice makes (nearly) perfect
Posted on December 28, 2011
Many years ago when I was a young, budding writer (or so I thought), I received quite a blow to my tender ego from the esteemed scholar and critic E.D. Hirsch Jr… Continue reading →
4-year-olds and SMART goals
Posted on December 21, 2011
Reflecting on time spent recently with Miss Kylie, a 4-year-old who often visits us, I have come to realize that toddlers have much to teach adults about SMART goals… Continue reading →
Put in-person socializing on your to-do list
Posted on December 13, 2011
FastCompany.com ran a piece yesterday by freelance writer Kevin Purdy entitled “Why In-Person Socializing is a Mandatory To-Do Item” that underscores many of the points I’ve made in previous posts here at Wayward Journey… Continue reading →
Accountability groups, success circles and self-discipline
Posted on December 9, 2011
No doubt about it, the possibilities for success in this country are limitless. There’s boundless potential. The sky’s the limit…and all you have to do is go out there and get it. Oh, if it were that easy. … Continue reading →
Black Friday, business plans and the homeless
Posted on November 28, 2011
As I write this, the stock market is going crazy, buoyed by news that this weekend’s Black Friday retail sales increased 16 percent to reach a record $52 billion… Continue reading →
It’s the economy, stupid
Posted on November 21, 2011
For much of my career in Washington, I’ve paid close attention to economic indicators and financial markets, something I always found ironic given that I have a master’s degree in English… Continue reading →
The importance of friendship and community
Posted on November 16, 2011
Starting a new business, beginning a new career or dealing with life changes requires not only a great deal of personal reflection and self-examination, it also is best done with the help and support of friends, colleagues and community… Continue reading →
Birthdays, Bolles and parachutes
Posted on November 8, 2011
I recently celebrated a birthday. It wasn’t one of those milestone birthdays that ends in a zero or five, but, nonetheless, it was a reminder that the years are quickly going by and I am powerless to do anything about it… Continue reading →
Caution: naming your new biz may be harder than you think
Posted on October 27, 2011
Over the last month or so, I have grappled with naming my new solo public relations practice. Trying to name any new venture can be a real challenge… Continue reading →
H stands for hernia, hold up and humility
Posted on October 24, 2011
When it comes to medical concerns, no one likes to hear the H word. Generally that’s heart attack, heart disease or heart-valve bypass. For me, H stands for hernia… Continue reading →
Relax, reconnect and recharge: easier said than done!
Posted on October 16, 2011
I am not a good patient. If the doctor tells me to rest, I get up. If my girlfriend tells me to unplug my electronic toys, I can’t help but sneak a peak at my BlackBerry… Continue reading →
Not every day can be a perfect 10 – or can it?
Posted on October 3, 2011
It’s hard when you’re changing careers, launching a new business or going through a major transition in your life to be positive 100 percent of the time… Continue reading →
Purpose and entrepreneurship
Posted on September 30, 2011
I recently attended the Public Relations Society of America’s Thoth Awards Gala at the National Press Club. It’s a popular annual event that honors the best public relations work in the Washington, D.C. area… Continue reading →
Extreme career makeover
Posted on September 27, 2011
This is my first post on my first personal blog, and I have to admit I’m a bit intimidated. I have written professionally for over 30 years… Continue reading →
