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I first heard the words in the title of this article many years ago – back in the 1980s – while reading a book by Tom Peters. Here is what that means to me: Clown around in the board room with a colleague while VIPs are present and you will be perceived to be a […]

Let me begin by disclosing something about myself. I do not like George Soros. I consider him a monster. I think he is evil. I think he is wicked. I think he has spent many millions of dollars funding projects and people that wish to harm my country. George Soros is an old man. At […]

Once we have asked “What,” another question inevitably follows: When. If “What” questions clarify reality, “When” questions bring awareness to timing. They ask us to consider sequence, readiness, and the unfolding nature of events. In many ways, they are questions about the rhythm of life itself. We live in a culture that prizes urgency. Action […]

Building Your Power of Expression Studied, adj. Pronunciation: ˈstədēd Meaning: This word points to some sort of quality or result achieved or maintained by careful and deliberate effort. Usage: “He treated them with studied politeness.” “She gave a studied response, ensuring every word was chosen carefully.” “He maintained a studied indifference, though it was clear […]

“Before I begin telling you what I think, I want to establish that I’m a [dummy] who doesn’t know much relative to what I need to know. Whatever success I’ve had in life has had more to do with my knowing how to deal with my not knowing than anything I know.” — Ray Dalio, […]

War is the use of arms to settle differences—tribal, political, religious, cultural, and material—between organized groups. It is unchanging. The general laws of armed conflict stays immutable, given the constancy of human nature. However, the manner in which war is conducted remains fluid. New weapons, tactics, and strategies elicit counterresponses in an endless cycle of […]

Before any meaningful understanding begins, a question must be asked. Not merely any question, but the right one. Human life unfolds in response to inquiry. What we notice, what we pursue, what we ultimately become is profoundly shaped by the questions that occupy our minds. A careless question can lead us into years of confusion. […]

Building Your Power of Expression Imprimatur, n. Pronunciation: ˌimprəˈmädər, imˈpriməˌto͝or Meaning: This word originally referred to an official license by the Roman Catholic Church to print an ecclesiastical or religious book of some kind, one that was deemed to hold no doctrinal errors; thus, the word, coming from the Latin, meant “Let it be printed.” […]

There’s something quietly radical about sitting down with a blank page and deciding to tell the truth. Not the polished truth you post online. Not the diplomatic truth you offer at meetings. I’m talking about the unfiltered, slightly messy, occasionally contradictory truth that lives in your own head. The kind that only comes out when […]

In the previous issue of Uncommon Sense (Issue 349), I offered a few observations about what has come to be known as Trump Derangement Syndrome. I suggested that TDS is not the same thing as reasoned disagreement over policy or character. It is something else entirely—less analysis, more emotional convulsion. In this issue (Issue 350), […]

Back in December, my daughter and I attended AmericaFest, the four-day patriotic gathering organized by Turning Point USA, founded by the late Charlie Kirk. It was a high-energy event—policy, patriotism, cultural commentary, and the unmistakable electricity of people who believe ideas matter. But the most powerful moment I witnessed had nothing to do with applause […]

Building Your Power of Expression Amnesiac(s), n. Pronunciation: amˈnēzēˌak(s) Meaning: A person (or persons) experiencing a partial or total loss of memory. I often use the term in the plural in a metaphorical sense to describe our tendency as people to fail to remember certain things. Usage: “We need constant reminders because, frankly, we are […]

There are moments when life feels like a treadmill: lots of motion, plenty of effort, and yet an unsettling sense that you’re not really going anywhere. The days blur together. Motivation flickers. Even success, when it comes, feels oddly hollow. What’s usually missing in those seasons isn’t intelligence, talent, or opportunity. It’s meaning. And meaning […]

Consider the meme I recently saw online which accompanies this article — imperfect, perhaps, but nonetheless illuminating. The meme depicts 4 relatively recent U.S. Presidents with an indication of two data-points: how many illegal alien deportations took place under each President along with how many protests/riots took place as a result of such deportations. President […]

History often compresses courage into a single moment. We remember the stone that struck Goliath’s forehead, but we forget the claws, the fangs, and the nights in the wilderness that came first. David did not discover bravery on the battlefield; he carried it there, forged earlier in encounters no one was watching. Let’s dig deeper […]

Building Your Power of Expression Palliative, adj., n. Pronunciation: ˈpalēˌādiv Meaning: Although this word doubles as both a noun and an adjective, I prefer the latter. Although in the field of medicine, the word refers to the relieving of symptoms without dealing with the root cause of the condition, I tend to employ this word […]

Networking has a reputation problem. For many people, the word conjures images of forced small talk, awkward handshakes, and a thinly veiled exchange of business cards. But intentional networking is something very different. It is not about collecting contacts; it is about cultivating relationships with purpose. When done well, networking becomes one of the most […]

The quotation marks in my title are deliberate. They mirror the precise wording of a question posed by Senator Josh Hawley, R-MO, to a medical witness during a recent Senate hearing—a question he repeated a dozen times and never received a direct answer to. (Watch the Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJFuhgeNbSE). Whatever one thinks of Senator Hawley, his […]

One of the great limitations of the human mind is not ignorance. It is intuition. We tend to think of intuition as wisdom’s close cousin—something ancient, refined, even noble. “Trust your gut,” we are told. And often, that advice works just well enough to keep us believing it always will. But intuition has a darker […]

Building Your Power of Expression Pluck, n. Pronunciation: ˌplək Meaning: This nifty noun (and mind you, it can also be a verb, but that is for an entirely different context and meaning) is not used often, but when it is, it brings some lively imagery with it. Pluck refers to spirited and determined courage. Usage: […]

One of my students recently paused mid–Learning Journal entry and asked herself a question that deserves far more attention than it usually gets: “Am I setting goals, or am I merely setting vibes?” That question cuts straight to the heart of why so many intelligent, well-intentioned people feel perpetually busy, optimistic, and “motivated”—yet remain stuck […]

A 37-year-old woman, Renee Good, was shot and killed in Minneapolis last week. She was part of a mob of protesters who were harassing and hampering the law enforcement work being done by Federal Agents from ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement.) ICE has been rounding up illegal aliens that were let into our country by […]

In terms of my professional life, I’ve always seen myself as a “teacher” first and foremost. About 18 years into my career I found myself in a formal teaching role when a local community college hired me to join their adjunct faculty. Most of my “teaching” prior to that time had been in the corporate […]

Building Your Power of Expression Winsome, adj. Pronunciation: ˌˈwin(t)səm Meaning: This word brings to mind the notion of something that is attractive or appealing in appearance or character. At its heart, the word conveys a kind of gentle, disarming charm. It is not loud or flashy or manipulative. It is the sort of appeal that […]

Ambitious, annual or multi-year goals carry an inherent paradox: they inspire us with their promise, yet they challenge us with their distance. Anyone can get excited about the first week of a new initiative. The real differentiator is the consistency that follows after the excitement has faded, when the novelty has worn off and progress […]

I conclude my debate with a man I am calling Ferdinand Yocum as we debate whether President Donald Trump is justified in sending in the National Guard into Chicago to try to quell the violence. Ferdinand says no. I say yes. Again, my designation uses the initials AN. AN: You wrote: “As to this increase […]

In everyday conversation, sociopath and psychopath are often used interchangeably—usually to describe someone who behaves badly, selfishly, or cruelly. In psychology, however, these terms refer to distinct patterns of personality and behavior. Understanding the difference matters, not only for accuracy, but to avoid carelessly mislabeling difficult or unconventional people. Both sociopathy and psychopathy fall under […]

Building Your Power of Expression Prestidigitation, n. Pronunciation: ˌprestəˌdijəˈtāSHən Meaning: In its original and pure usage, the word Prestidigitation refers to the art or skill of performing magic tricks, sleight of hand, or clever manual deception—especially the kind associated with stage magicians and illusionists. The word comes from the French prestidigitateur, meaning “fast fingers,” and […]

There is a curious phenomenon you may have witnessed in your own kitchen sink. Place a flask beneath the faucet and turn the water on to the mildest of streams — just above a trickle. The water rises slowly in the wide lower chamber… almost lazily. But when it reaches the very bottom of the […]

I continue with a recap from my debate with a man I am calling Ferdinand Yocum as we debate whether President Donald Trump is justified in sending in the National Guard into Chicago to try to quell the violence. Ferdinand says no. I say yes. Again, I will designate Ferdinand Yocum with the initials FY […]