Captain Ray Ashley had a dream of building a replica ship, the San Salvador, as a project for the San Diego Maritime Museum.
He made a brilliant decision to build it in PUBLIC (right by a busy freeway near the airport) instead of in PRIVATE (where it’d be out-of-sight-out-of-mind).
The day my son Andrew left for Virginia Tech (his brother Tom was already there), I went for my morning walk around Lake Thoreau in Reston. A neighbor joined me, and when she heard both boys were at college, she asked…
Years ago, I was exploring the Morro Bay waterfront on an Easter Sunday. Three of the most famous restaurants were packed—lines out the door.
Someone got in touch with me recently and said she has wanted to write a book for years.
I said. “What’s been keeping you from writing?”
“Well you know, I’ve been busy and
At a recent event, a founder told me she was feeling lost after selling her company. “I had a nice exit… but now what?” she said.
I asked, “What used to light you up?”
Have you ever driven California’s spectacular Pacific Coast Highway? If so, you’re familiar with its many hairpin turns.
In the day, you can see what’s ahead and adapt accordingly. Unfortunately, I didn’t get there during the day, I got there at dusk.
Years ago, when I announced at a National Press Club event that I was taking my business on the road for my “Year by the Water,” most people burst into applause and said, “Take me with you!”
However, two people pulled me aside to express their concern.
One asked, “Are you having a midlife crisis?”
As Emcee of the Maui Writers Conference, I walked the beach every morning. One morning, I saw Pulitzer-Prize winning author Frank McCourt (Angela’s Ashes) writing away on two high-school composition notebooks… I was intrigued and asked, “Frank, quick question, what are you doing?”
Earlier in my career, I spoke at UCLA for a career-making presentation. There were decision-makers from the LA Times, Macy’s and Mastercard.
I remember thinking at the time, “If I do a great job of this, I’m set for life.”
Years ago, my son Andrew and I were at dinner and I asked, “Going to VA Tech for Homecoming?” He shrugged, “Nah, I’m exhausted.”
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“Mom, I want to quit. I’m making good money, but wearing a suit, working in a high-rise, and making cold calls all day isn’t what I want to do with my life.”
“What do you want to do?”…
