We're all writers
We all need to communicate and want to influence others. Learn to write well. How? Read and listen to books. Then practice. Strive to be a clear and compelling communicator.
Families together is important
Our subscriber Willis Ponds commented about another thing that is critically important that few talk about; the breakdown of the family structure. He says "That is one of the single-most destructive problems facing today’s society. Children that come out of broken homes statistically don’t do as well in life, aren’t…
Wherever you go, there you are.
Problems? Move away. Get a new job. A new partner. A new house. (Sometimes those things are key but..) You can't escape you. Your habits. Your thinking. How you process information. Your attitude and mindset. From the inner - the outer. Work on you - first.
Behavior comes before results
Your behavior is ahead of your success. Act like the person, BE the person who gets the results you want now - before you get those results, often long before - and the results will eventually come. What kind of person do you need to be today?
In defense of capitalism
Capitalism, free-market capitalism specifically, has done more than any other thing/idea/system to solve problems for all of us, raise our standard of living, and pull billions out of poverty. Critics of capitalism are hypocrites unless they do not have a phone, live in a hut, raise sheep to make their…
Goals give us the opportunity to define what we want
What is your goal for this year? This month? This week? Five years? Ten years? In other words, what do you want to accomplish or be by when? Most people have no real goals that stretch them. They seek to blend in, doing what is expected of them and not…
"The good 'ol days"
Subscriber Kevin M made a comment about the post where we said poverty has and is going down because of free markets and capitalism. He pointed out that some people long for the "good 'ol days", but in fact, they weren't so good compared to today. For example, I think…
The Ripple Effect
Your actions affect your life, and those of your family members and friends. Their actions affect their friends, and so on. In this way, we can make the world immediately around us better or worse. Honestly, how have your actions affected the people around you and the people around them?…
What brings you joy?
What do you just love to do, with who, and where? How can you increase the number of those moments in your life?
Don't fool yourself
"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself- and you are the easiest person to fool." - Richard Feynman We tend to believe every thought we think because we thought it. We try to protect our ego and justify our positions and look for evidence we are right…
We're all writers
We all need to communicate and want to influence others.
Learn to write well.
How? Read and listen to books. Then practice. Strive to be a clear and compelling communicator.
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Families together is important
Our subscriber Willis Ponds commented about another thing that is critically important that few talk about; the breakdown of the family structure. He says “That is one of the single-most destructive problems facing today’s society. Children that come out of broken homes statistically don’t do as well in life, aren’t as productive, aren’t as good at solving problems, become a burden on society, commit more crimes, etc, etc. If we don’t solve the family problem then we will have poverty in plenty in the future.”
I agree. Do you?
I’d add the economic case too. It seems to me in the past we had two or even three generations living together. Parents could go to work while the grandparents watched the kids. They all shared the heat, the property taxes, the mortgage, and many other things. It was simply cheaper per family member to live. And there was more than one, maybe more than two incomes in that household. Wisdom and values got passed on from generation to generation.
Today everyone needs their own household. Those three generations live in four places now. Four rents, four gas/electric/tv bills, less people to help, talk to, and share with. Child care and elderly care costs are way up. With COVID, a single Mom can’t work when her small kids are home and need help going to school in front of a screen.
Ok, we can’t all be the Walton’s. And in some families you are better off not having certain members around the rest. But clearly the idea has changed and it results in more expense, which requires more working by the head of a small household, which means even more time away from the kids…
If you don’t have a family member to turn to for help, you wind up turning to a government agency.
Now, everyone doesn’t want to be home all their lives and wants to feel some independence over their home and life. So “in-law” apartments” seem to be a good idea. BUT, in many places they are illegal. Zoning laws do not allow another residence on one lot. This makes this problem worse.
What do you think about all this?
Comment with the orange button.
Wow…this is deep ! Family is everything, and seeing or talking on the phone with my sisters (my older brother passed away a couple years back) always brings a smile to my face. Guess I was lucky my dad worked his butt off for us, and was a little tough (I was the youngest, so I was spoiled:). And my mom stayed home with us, to “manage the family” I would be happy to help any of them ! Most families at least have your back (I know… not all)
When we went to Italy in 2019, we did a walking “food tour” in Venice. It was just the 4 of us and her. We spent a lot of time talking about this very subject! She was in her middle 20s. She said it’s very common, especially in Venice, for several generations to be in one home/apartment. There is nowhere to build, but it’s important, and traditional for them to stay together. She said that living with her family allowed her to get her education, help out with the family and work a job. We found they are very passionate about generations being together, and homes and farms staying in the family for hundreds of years. I loved that part of our trip.
Family is great and important that there is love and kindness there too. My wife and I have tried to instill in our children the idea of the family bond, by spending time together and by example with our relationship with my siblings, (my wife is an only child and she longs for siblings). But….for the past 5 yrs ish, my wife’s mom 83 and in good health and widowed and my mom 74 ish in good health and divorced, have lived with us and although its nice and all that, it is indeed a stress on our marriage and a bit of stress on our kids too, having three moms. Fortunately my mom works as a live in cna so is only home every other weekend, if she were here 24/7 like my wife’s mom, we would be in trouble. Just not sure if 3 generations of family’s living together is a good idea, you did mention in-law apartments, probably a better option. Here are the stats, 48, 48, 25, 16, 83 and 74. Gender split 3 male , 3 female and thank God no one is unsure lol!
This is great!!! I do believe in these theories as I come from a broken home and so does my wife. I think we both wanted something different in life and 33 years 3 children 2 grandchildren later we are still together and stronger than ever. I believe without the help of our moms and Grandparents life could have been different.
I agree with your economic case as well and I actually had that exact multi-generational situation in my own home for a while. It is considerably less expensive for more people to live in one house than to live in two or more houses. However, as you mentioned and Jeff pointed out above it is not for everyone and I would say it doesn’t always work perfectly all of the time. All of the benefits you mentioned are there though.
Zoning laws need to be changed.
We have my mother-in-law with us and that has allowed us to both work while the kids are well taken care of. In addition, it gives her security and company as she ages.
There are still some fairly prosperious countries that this is still the practice, some have multi story homes with each house hold having their own floor or wing, ect. This is how some have been able to amase wealth.
I’d have to have my own space, but it makes a lot of sense.
Good points, and novel idea & idealistic. However, not all family members are healthy to be around.
I’ve typed out several different responses, as this has taken me on quite the journey! I think that in the end, in short, you can’t just fix the “family problem”, you need to fix people in general and you can’t fix anyone who doesn’t want to be fixed or think there is anything TO fix. At least in my own personal experience with family, you can’t fix an issue if someone won’t accept there is one. Too many people believe that the way they were taught growing up was the right way, because who would teach a child the wrong way? I’ll safely say its probably VERY FEW people that purposely misguide their children, but people have a very hard time accepting that they are wrong about something for whatever reason, shame or pride etc etc etc. We need to fix PEOPLE, and we can’t fix PEOPLE if they aren’t open and welcoming to the process. I wish you the best of luck, and offer my services if I can assist at all because I dream of a world where we as a society can show the humility required to address these issues and ask for help correcting these behaviors. There’s too much to put in a comment, I need to start a “Reply Daily” blog!
I totally agree with the topic, the family relation makes a huge impact on our life as much as in bussiness. we need to talk to our government officials to reduce the tax on the hard working people specially the single young people how do we expect them to do good if the government takes almost half of their paycheck.
My family story starts with a second attempt to start a business. Mom answered the phone Dad ran down parts and equipment , I sold and installed equipment and my wife worked full time at the hospital. Five years later we had our second child my wife took over mom’s job while raising two boys and creating detailed financials . Hired employees I ran sales and production and Dad kept crews on jobs by getting whatever they needed. Year 7 we bought a 5000 square foot building and moved everything at year 9 Dad retired for a second time . My parents now were having trouble with stairs , my wife and I decided to help them since it would have been very difficult for them to go in debt and build a new home. It was satisfying to pay it back for my parents who had always helped us . Thirty two years later we sold our business and have been able to help our boys and grandchildren in their ventures. When I read Larry’s comments about our country and future it is true ,we live in the greatest country at the greatest time . Sorry to ramble but my family was absolutely critical to success and I hope to be able to pay it forward.Thank you to my family
Personally I wish we could have 3 generations in a household and I think it would be best for everyone
Sigh! The old story that the breakdown of families is always destructive. It was difficult for sure but we did have our Grandmother to look after us when Mum worked. The long and the short is both my Grandmother and Mother encouraged education and as a result we all have degrees and including 2 PhD’s. We have all been successful contributing members of society. Are we an outlier? Maybe it’s that we only hear about families that don’t do well? Mum would go bananas when she heard such stereotypes. Interesting conversation.
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Wherever you go, there you are.
Problems? Move away. Get a new job. A new partner. A new house. (Sometimes those things are key but..)
You can’t escape you.
Your habits. Your thinking. How you process information. Your attitude and mindset.
From the inner – the outer.
Work on you – first.
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I hope you have a fabulous day!!!
Hello , have a great day
Hi! I agree and I’ve seen this happen firsthand. Thanks Larry!
Good Morning Larry– Thanks for leading us, I appreciate that you are you!
HELLO ~! Thank you for my morning inspiration! Have a great day!
Hello Contractor Nation, Thank you for all you do Larry. Have a Wonderful day.
Good morning LJ!
Hello Larry and all of CN!
Hello Larry!
Thank you for Contractor Nation. It has changed my business and life.
Thank you.
And this is great news. It’s easier to change ourselves than it is to change others.
Good morning and hope that your year is off to a great start.
My current habits are perfectly designed for my current results. Change my habits change my results. Great posts Larry.
Good morning! This is so true. Thanks for the reminder.
Hello!
HELLO! Working on you is critical to moving past the bumps in all parts of our lives. Had a few a decade or so ago, worked hard on me and its all in my permenant past!
Hello Larry!!
Hey Larry! This is such a great reminder, I don’t think enough people are able to put themselves under the microscope and see what really makes them tick. Having a true understanding of how you yourself function is priceless.
Hello Larry!
HELLO!
Hello Friend!
Well Larry I so appreciate reading your blogs. Such a straightforward approach. I always remember, learn and laugh. Love the amazing moments of clarity.
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Behavior comes before results
Your behavior is ahead of your success.
Act like the person, BE the person who gets the results you want now – before you get those results, often long before – and the results will eventually come.
What kind of person do you need to be today?
The sun does look nice! More snow on the way for us in CT. Pretty, but…
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In defense of capitalism
Capitalism, free-market capitalism specifically, has done more than any other thing/idea/system to solve problems for all of us, raise our standard of living, and pull billions out of poverty.
Critics of capitalism are hypocrites unless they do not have a phone, live in a hut, raise sheep to make their own clothes and grow their own food.
In a free market when an opportunity to provide a product or service is present, “capitalists” rush in to win over the consumers in hopes of making a profit. They compete with each other to do it better/faster and cheaper and we all win. Not all capitalists win. Many lose. The ones that make a lot of profit are the ones who serve you very well with what you want when you want it, where you want it and how you want it.
Once a winning capitalist makes money they spend it on other things and invest it to create more entities that solve more problems and create more jobs. They also pay a lot of taxes. Profit is a good thing. When a capitalist loses money for too long all the employees lose their jobs, suppliers get stuck not getting paid, and buildings go empty.
If we can keep from destroying free-market capitalism with policies rooted in envy and ignorance, we shall continue to do better and better as the years go by.
And I am too. Wish more people were vocal about it….
Capitalism is a wonderful economic system. I think that the best way we can help other nations is to export capitalism as a driver of more economies.
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
Yet again, I agree wholeheartedly!
“Liberty and free markets are the way forward if we truly desire peace and prosperity.” ― Ron Paul
An instructor in an economics class I took decades ago called it, “A system of VOLUNTARY transactions.” It is perfect! You want it? Go buy it? Doesn’t exist? Build it and sell it. The market decides what’s a good value, price versus features. “VOTE with your DOLLAR!” You decide how to spend the fruits of your labor.
We need to protect our freedom.
I agree with all of that. however with out socialism, us capitalist would surely fail. if we define socialism as pooling resources for the community benefit… schools, roads, water and sewer systems, airports, and many others that enable us capitalists to succeed.
AMEN! Mike drop……
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Goals give us the opportunity to define what we want
What is your goal for this year? This month? This week? Five years? Ten years?
In other words, what do you want to accomplish or be by when?
Most people have no real goals that stretch them. They seek to blend in, doing what is expected of them and not letting anyone down. But to really exercise your talent you have to break from the pack and do something not many are doing. To be exceptional is literally to be the exception.
You have been given the gift of being here at all, especially at this time and this place. This is your chance. You do not have an unlimited amount of time. In fact, you will only be this age once. That’s it.
Sitting down and really thinking about what it is that makes you happy, and what you have some natural disposition for is important. It gives you a purpose. If it’s something the world needs you may make great money at it. Then set goals around you accomplishing or learning and moving forward to milestones. Set time limits. Write it down and put it on your bathroom mirror so you can see it first thing in the morning and last thing before you go to bed. Give your mind something purposeful to work on.
Of course you’ll need energy and self-discipline to continue the pursuit long after the enthusiasm you had when you set the goal has left you.
High achievers and high performers have a long string of goals accomplished, which allow them to set bigger ones.
Goals never go out of style. What are yours?
Small, realistically attainable goals keep me going! On the small scale, it can be as simple as “Make it through today”, and on the larger scale, I’ve lost 90lbs of my 120lb goal! All the while, I do what I can to further my career and prove myself as a crucial part of my team. We have the potential to do so much if we set attainable goals and then actually WORK TOWARDS THEM! You need to put in the work!
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"The good 'ol days"
Subscriber Kevin M made a comment about the post where we said poverty has and is going down because of free markets and capitalism. He pointed out that some people long for the “good ‘ol days”, but in fact, they weren’t so good compared to today.
For example, I think about the 1950’s – with the great cars and music and drive-ins. But the standard of living was much lower then, poor people were a lot worse off than poor people today, communication was far slower, and there were all kinds of problems yet to be solved that today, are solved.
Today we have a super-computer/communication device in our pockets, the world’s information is available fast and free, it’s relatively easy to feed and provide for our families, opportunity is all around us, and there is a solution for nearly everything.
I’d rather be alive today than at any time in the past.
How about you?
“There are people in every time and every land who want to stop history in its tracks. They fear the future, mistrust the present, and invoke the security of a comfortable past which, in fact, never existed.”
– Robert F. Kennedy
Flush toilets, toilet paper, central heating and cooling and abundant/varied foods.
I’m glad to be alive today for many reasons – including toilet paper and central heating and cooling! – but I am concerned about the future for my children.
I agree Larry, not like we have a choice though
My wife`s grandfather passed away twenty years ago at the age of 92, whenever we would say remember the good ole days he would laugh and say there was nothing good about the good ole days. I like today!
I think about the “good ol’ days” a lot. When I do I realize that what I really miss about them is the kindness in others hearts towards their fellow mankind and Schwinn bicycles. I’m a car guy, I like old cars and old stuff. But let’s face it, todays cars are much higher quality and much more safe than the cars of the past. Imagine trying to put a remote start on a 1969 anything! I can see it now, you run out and set the choke on the carburetor by pressing the accelerator pedal, then you run back in and hit the remote start button. I couldn’t resist! To your point Larry, I wouldn’t trade today for any other time to be alive. I’m glad I’m here to fight the fight and enjoy todays items with everyone else. I’m thankful that I am witnessing what is going on so that I can do my part to leave it a little better than expected.
Physically and materialistically we have it much better now than the “good ol’ days”. However, there are some social issues that we are dealing with that weren’t as prevalent back then. These issues are leading to or causing mental, psychological and spiritual issues which will in the long term lead to another era of poverty if they aren’t solved. Number one is the breakdown of the family structure. That is one of the single-most destructive problems facing today’s society. Children that come out of broken homes statistically don’t do as well in life, aren’t as productive, aren’t as good at solving problems, become a burden on society, commit more crimes, etc, etc. If we don’t solve the family problem then we will have poverty in plenty in the future.
Hey, Larry! I agree. And I bet people back then spent time thinking about how great the future would be. “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” It’s how our brains work.
100%!
The good old days of my adventurous parents and grandparents were tough and filled with loss and heartbreak… And they had it good compared to their forbears. Life is rich for us… We have everything to be thankful for.
Hey to you too, Larry! Whether its a past era we wish we would have been around for or to go back to our own simpler times in youth, I think we all just want what we can’t have. We know what we have available to us in the here and now and we can guess about the future, but the past presents so many missed opportunities that its easy to look at it with rose-tinted glasses and wish we could go back. There will always be good times and bad times, its all about what we decide to make of them and how we process them.
These are the good old days!
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The Ripple Effect
Your actions affect your life, and those of your family members and friends.
Their actions affect their friends, and so on. In this way, we can make the world immediately around us better or worse.
Honestly, how have your actions affected the people around you and the people around them?
Think on it.
When you are done, think about how you can do even better. What can you do today to make things better for the people around you (and ultimately the people around them)?
I too am grateful for Jamie Hammer – she always responds promptly when we need support!
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What brings you joy?
What do you just love to do, with who, and where?
How can you increase the number of those moments in your life?
I look forward to waking up early with my first cup of coffee also! Gives me time to think and read before the day starts. Now I have to get in the habit of “shooting the arrow” as you taught us Larry
Hey Larry!
singing and writing songs for people are my biggest passions. They bring me so much joy. Those are the 2 things I could do for free. Someone told me once that your passion gives you permission!
Writing.
Writing with a hot cup of coffee at my desk.
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Don't fool yourself
“The first principle is that you must not fool yourself- and you are the easiest person to fool.” – Richard Feynman
We tend to believe every thought we think because we thought it. We try to protect our ego and justify our positions and look for evidence we are right – which we can always find. But all of us are fooling ourselves in some area.
What area is it for you?
“A man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point where he does not discern any truth either in himself or anywhere around him, and thus falls into disrespect towards himself and others.” Fyodor Dostoevsky
In what area are you lying to yourself or just not facing the truth or taking responsibility for what you have created in your life? Recognizing it is the path to making it better for yourself.
So…?
Hi Larry, I continue to love your writing’s, they are awesome! Someday maybe put them in a book and self-publish. Do the books annually, one for Business, one for Personal. Do past editions.
This small business keeps on keeping on. Covid knocked out my core revenue biz 100%, still has, as that biz was events. The cheese moved, and our business moved with it, we’re doing great, as we took our tech and we’ve created and avatar workforce, called A-Force, that works on kiosks, tablets, phones and even robots.
Thank you for your continued writings and have a great day! Paul
I genuinely Like this one.. Only a fool believes he can control that which surrounds his every endeavor.
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Good word. Best books for learning to write better include On Writing Well by William Zinsser, On Writing (A Memoir of the Craft (Reissue)) by Stephen King, The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition by William Strunk JR. and E.B. White and especially How to Write Policies, Procedures & Task Outlines: Sending Clear Signals in Written Directions (ironically verbose title, I know) by Larry Peabody
Where’s John Galt?
Autonomy and personal liberty are a necessity!
Think Daily always has the motivation and reminders I need. I dream of being a fantasy writer and try to take in as much as I possibly can to bring that dream closer to reality. I also want to thank Cory Hanneman for his commented suggestions! Increasing my list of books to read is never a bad thing, especially when they’re for the cause!
Agreed, “The Fountainhead” & “Atlas Shrugged” are terrific examples of the benefits of free-market capitalism and moral objectivism. Her writing will have you thinking differently about yourself and the world around you.
I’m thankful to my mother for pushing me to be a strong writer. She made me work hard to find the right word on countless occasions and help me understand the power of language. Being an effective writer has opened many doors for me and provided me the opportunity to help others with their writing, too. You’re right, Larry – if you want to improve your writing, read and listen to the well-crafted words of others.
“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” — Benjamin Franklin