Current News

My daughter, Anne, is an excellent mom. It’s not always easy to be a good mom, but my daughter has several generations of examples to follow. She is lucky enough to have a great mother. Both her parents have great mothers. My daughter was lucky enough to have met and...

I was having issues with my iPhone recently, so I stopped by an Apple store to have them check it out.  The solution they came up with was reinstalling the software on my phone.  I asked what that meant, and she told me I would lose everything on my phone.  It meant I...

Last weekend my wife, Sue, and I were victims of terrible customer service. We ate at an upscale restaurant and were seated outside on their patio.  Shortly after we placed our order, it started to pour rain. Not sprinkle.  Not a light mist.  It was pouring rain.  My...

I recently had the chance to drive from Lincoln, Nebraska, to Scottsdale, Arizona.   It is a nineteen-hour drive, so when I woke up at 4 am on Wednesday, I got into the SUV I had packed the night before and hit the road. I have driven from Lincoln to Kearney,...

It is easy to criticize. From time to time, the people in our office plan a group lunch. In the past, everyone would sign up to bring something to share. Some people signed up to bring a homemade dish. They take the time to make a salad or dessert. Most people stop by...

I recently completed the book “A World Without Email” by Cal Newport. Newport is widely regarded as an expert on maximizing your time by prioritizing your tasks. (Check out his book “Deep Work” for more on that topic.) After reading the book and reflecting on all the...

I recently needed to give an assignment to a coworker. (Since I am an owner of the company, it happens a lot.) I called the coworker and explained what I needed. She listened and then repeated the task to me when I was done. I confirmed she had understood the...

Two weeks ago, I attended the Associated Builders and Contractors (A.B.C.) annual Legislative Conference in Washington, DC. However, the two most impactful events didn't have anything to do with politics or elected officials. I interacted with more than a dozen...

I have been asked to speak to a local vendor about leadership. It is very humbling and quite an honor. I have held several positions in leadership roles, and I have been asked to lead many things in my life. I credit my parents for helping make me a leader. But I have...

The flag is at half-staff right now. My mom has told me it is because the USA has crossed over 1 million deaths from COVID-19.  It is a grim fact and likely worthy of pausing and reflecting on.   If she hadn't told me, I would never have known. Despite wondering why...