Do You Have Chutzpah?

Have you ever heard of the word chutzpah? It is an old Yiddish word that describes someone who is audacious or has a lot of gall. Perhaps the best way to define it is through an old Yiddish joke. There was a man who murdered both of his parents. At his trial, he...

Derailed Plans

Will was a civil servant in the U.S. Government. He had a friend who was stuck in a dead-end job. He was bored with his work. He had a young family, including some toddlers, and wanted to expand his horizons before it was too late. He was considering law school and...

Do You Observe Memorial Day?

Do you know why we observe Memorial Day? Maybe you are like little Alex at the church building. One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed Alex staring up at the large plaque that hung in the church’s foyer. It was a memorial: covered with names and small American flags...

Take the Win

I spoke at an event recently, and my wife, Judy, was with me. It went so well that after I finished, somebody who was supposed to talk about another subject instead spoke about how much my speech helped him. I felt very gratified, but something kept bugging me. I was...

Let Me Share My Mother

Mother’s Day was Sunday, and I request that you let me get a little sentimental here. This time last year, my mom was in the last days of her life. As you might expect, I am thinking about her this year because it is my first Mother’s Day without her. I want to share...