ENTERCHANGE

You hear the words every time you board a commercial airplane:    If there is loss in cabin pressure, oxygen masks will appear…         …secure your own mask before assisting others. When I started travelling with my young children, those words became more relevant – and alarming! My overpowering instinct is to protect my kids [...]

My friend was distraught, growing more anxious with every turn. He was grateful for the ride from the airport, but concerned about the gas gauge indicator, which looked as if it had passed “E” sometime last week.  It didn’t help that the surroundings were unfamiliar and that the driver appeared unconcerned (or unaware) of their [...]

The modest yard of my childhood home had one crown: the Rose Garden. Although none of us were great gardeners, 25 healthy rose bushes produced a steady supply of flowers.  Credit goes to Per (pronounced “Pare”), the top gardener at my father’s workplace.  He selected and planted the roses, taught us how to water and [...]

If good things come in small packages, then I understand why the French story The Little Prince is so good. This brief classic is rich with deep truths spoken by an innocent youngster. The book and its protagonist are both very small. This childlike ruler is the only inhabitant of an equally small planet.  The [...]

This year’s Emmy Awards had some surprises. Among them was recognition given to the HBO film Temple Grandin. HBO: Temple Grandin: Home Once considered a socially awkward outcast with no useful skills, Dr. Grandin is now credited with revolutionizing our understanding of autism and changing the way half the U.S. cattle industry does business. She [...]

“Stop going for the easy buck and produce something with your life. Create, instead of living off the buying and selling of others.” So ends the 1987 Oliver Stone film “Wall Street.”  The sequel, “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” (also directed by Stone), opens on Friday. This quote captures an important but often overlooked theme in [...]

ABC’s hit television series LOST completed its 6-year run last season, but the buzz continues. Some people are even watching the entire series a second time. And for good reason. This well-crafted epic contains several intertwined plot lines, and is worthy of multiple viewings and discussions. (For those rolling your eyes, hang with me. You [...]

Even if you don’t follow baseball, you probably heard the story. Last week, after three hours on the mound and seconds away from becoming the 21st player in baseball history to pitch a perfect game, Detroit Tigers’ pitcher Armando Galarraga lost that title because of an error – the umpire’s! A “No-Hitter” is every pitcher’s [...]

For many years, Campbell Soup Company exercised a disciplined and intentional strategy to keep its brand fresh.  You see, Campbell built its reputation identifying with good old home cooking. Yet, if the soup label never changed, consumers might begin to think they were buying old food. The solution?  Update the the soup label incrementally.  For much of its [...]

No, it’s not some kind of new math, but it is a challenge to those who think life is a zero sum game.  When following our natural tendency, I think they are right.  But I also believe there is a better way to act that almost always produces more. A great illustration of this principle [...]