Welcome

Hello and welcome to our 343rd issue of Uncommon Sense, a publication I launched in 2011! The purpose of Uncommon Sense is to shine a light on a variety of issues, hoping to bring clarity and intelligence in areas of self-development, national (and world) affairs, and a variety of salient topics of interest to a […]

When we talk about “team productivity,” most people imagine a group of bright-eyed professionals firing on all cylinders, effortlessly crossing off tasks while humming the company jingle. Reality check: real teams have messy schedules, competing priorities, and at least one person who thinks “urgent” is just a suggestion. But fear not—team productivity is not a […]

Let’s talk about presidential power. It can cut both ways, and as a loyal American, you should be thinking about this because it directly affects your well-being. In his first term, Donald Trump played the usual White House game until he lost reelection. Then all hell broke loose. But during the four years he occupied […]

Heads-up, savvy readers: I recently discovered a seriously fun way to score brand-name merchandise for a fraction of retail, and I think you’ll want in. Meet MAC.BID – an auction app and warehouse-pickup experience where returned, overstocked and open-box items from big retailers land up for bidding. How it works: you use the MAC.BID app […]

“And now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, . . . […]

Building Your Power of Expression Surgical, adj. Pronunciation: ˈsərjək(ə)l Meaning: Outside the practice of medicine, I often use this word to convey the idea of doing something with precision. Many others, especially in military circles, use the term to describe a type of attack on a military target that is done swiftly and with high […]

A hearty welcome to the new subscribers who have joined the ranks of faithful readers of Uncommon Sense. Issue #342 will not disappoint! Conflict is all around us. I’m talking about the normal, day-to-day thorns we run into at work, at home, and elsewhere. Some of these conflicts are fairly minor, perhaps even petty to […]

Conflict is as old as humanity itself. Whether between nations or within marriages, within teams or within oneself, conflict signals a clash of needs, values, desires, or fears. But conflict also offers a doorway: if handled with humility, imagination, and courage, it can lead not to defeat, but to deeper understanding, stronger relationship, and renewed […]

“The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.” William Butler Yeats wrote those words about Europe after the Great War, but they ring with terrible clarity this week as we bury Charlie Kirk, murdered at 31 for the crime of arguing in public. The young man who built an empire […]

In recent issues of Uncommon Sense I mentioned that Scottsdale Community College, one of ten institutions of higher learning that are part of the Maricopa County Community College District, had reach out to me to have me offer various business courses starting later this month. Interesting how word spreads. Another institution within that system, Phoenix […]