Fred Smith, Sr. was a real American one-off. Son of a pastor, survivor of America’s Great Depression, respected corporate leader and one of the Christian community’s earliest and memorable leadership experts. Fred was truly unique. He was in his 60s when we met; I was in my early 20s. He planted a nugget of truth […]

Arsonists are often clever, though evil. By definition, they are: “people who intentionally start a fire in order to damage or destroy something.” Arson charges have been filed by people reacting to an email sent last week to federal employees. The match that lit the flame was the three sentence message: “Please reply to this

It was William Randolph Hearst – media magnate from a few generations back – who coined the phrase: “If it bleeds, it leads.” In newspapers, that’s Section #1, front page, above the fold. In the broadcast media genre, it’s the “breaking news” that is covered “at the top of the hour.” Grab the audience by

Just six days ago, the world’s eyes were turned toward Philadelphia. A blend of two ancient Greek words, the meaning of the city’s name is nothing short of a profound brand expression: “brotherly love” is the explicit definition. William Penn – the city’s founder – chose the name in 1681 as he revealed his plan

The Founder’s Forum. The name pegs positively from a marketing perspective. The Founder’s Forum: let it roll off your tongue a couple of times. The Founder’s Forum. What is it? – who is it? – and why should it matter, to you? (BTW: this is NOT a fund-raiser. I’m seeking to serve, not to solicit

Who won last night’s epic contest between the Chiefs and Eagles? True confession: my absolute deadline for my weekly post was long before yesterday’s kick-off. The battle on the field is now after-the-fact history, but another competition from Super Bowl LIX was already in play, before Taylor settled into her $2 million suite in the

Nanos gigantum humeris insidentes. If your Latin is a little impaired, that’s “dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants.” It was originally attributed to Bernard of Chartres in the 12th Century, but it was quoted by Isaac Newton in a letter and has often been used in metaphor to describe one who develops future intellectual

  We made it! It’s been one wild week, eh? (as our friends from the 51st state would say it!) From Monday last to Monday now, I don’t know how we could pack any more into 168 hours than we have. One downside of the headlines aplenty pace of historic events: some pretty epic occurrences

Love him or hate him, he’s not a figure you can dismiss. In fact, today – January 20, 2025 – your attention will be directed toward him, wherever you go and whatever you’re doing. “Normal” will be put on hold today; mail will be curtailed; Wall Street will be silent; schools will be closed; banks

What a week to start the year! Last Monday, I was in London alongside John Rinehart – author of Gospel Patrons – for his ministry’s board meeting; the next day, we joined 100 Christian leaders from across the UK gathered for the annual conference of their Gospel Patrons chapter. While in London, two stories from