“Never Give Up!”

The home of Uncommon Sense: Providing Clarity, Promoting Intelligence
“Never Give Up!”
I put the title of this article in quotations because it is said in some circles that Winston Churchill once repeated those words 3 times (and only those words) in a speech he gave to a graduating class at Oxford University. Having read more than a half-dozen major biographies of Churchill, and never having seen […]
Dormant
Building Your Power of Expression Dormant, adj. Pronunciation: ˈdôrmənt Meaning: Anything that is dormant is temporarily inactive. It could refer to a volcano that, while not currently active, could become active in the future. It could refer to seeds that are not growing at the moment but are still able to sprout under the right […]
Welcome
Uncommon Sense is back with another very lively issue. Let’s see what’s in store for you: The Self-Development column will look at two mindsets and why one of them may be right for you. Check it out. The Elephant in the Room column will illustrate the prevalence of Trump Derangement Syndrome in our society. Read […]
Growth Mindsets vs. Fixed Mindsets: Why Your Brain Might Need a Gym Membership
Ever caught yourself saying, “I’m just not a math person” or “I’ll never be good at public speaking”? If so, congratulations—you may be in a long-term relationship with a fixed mindset. Don’t worry, though; many of us are. But like any relationship that’s gone stale, it may be time to break up and date something […]
The Permanence of Trump-Derangement Syndrome
One of the more interesting social phenomena in recent member involves a new mental disease affecting a significant percentage of the U.S. population. This mental-psychological contagion found its birth on June 16, 2015. What happened on June 16, 2015? That was the date Donald Trump, the New York Real Estate tycoon and star of the […]
Recent Speech a Big Hit!
I had a great opportunity recently to share some insights into the Book of Mormon with a relatively large audience. This group was riveted by my presentation of what some of the scholarly world has produced over the last 40 years or so. For instance: Joseph Smith, an unlearned farm boy, somehow managed to churn […]
The Pros & Cons of Flying First Class
Flying first class ain’t cheap. I almost never do it. However, a case could be made for doing so if one is traveling a very far distance and must arrive as fresh as is possible. Yet even in such cases, it’s anybody’s guess if forking out the extra money is worth it because the unknown […]
Affable
Building Your Power of Expression Affable, adj. Pronunciation: ˈafəb(ə)l Meaning: Refers to people who are good-natured, friendly, or easy to talk to. It is pleasant to interact with such persons. Usage: “He made for an affable and good-natured conversationalist.” “Her now affable nature was in stark contrast to her formerly surely disposition.” “For this job […]
Welcome
Uncommon Sense is designed to give you an important perspective that you won’t usually experience elsewhere. Whether I help you grow your vocabulary, give you insights into what is really going on in the world that you won’t get from the FAKE NEWS mainstream media, tips on developing yourself and/or enhancing your business, or giving […]
If Anything Can Go Wrong: Fidelity and the U.S. Post Office
This is a story about how good intentions can often bring unintended consequences. I needed a large amount of cash transferred from one financial institution (Fidelity) to another (Charles Schwab). And the need behind the transaction was time-sensitive. Fidelity promptly sent the money via check to my Post Office Box. And although the check arrived […]