What if coming in second isn't failure, but preparation? A reflection on pee-wee football, Vince Lombardi's actual advice, and why effort is what truly moves us.
What My Coach Got Wrong About Winning
How a curious little monkey changed the world
(A version of this story appeared on September 7, 2023 on The Heart of The Matter. ) When I was very young, I would crawl into my mother's lap wearing my onesie pajamas and beg for a glass of milk and for her to read to me. I had a series of favorite books, everything... Continue Reading →
100 MPH in Slow Motion
I could see the car crash coming. It was right there in front of me—driving 100 mph and in slow motion. This is what happens when a high-stakes presentation becomes a corporate battlefield, complete with a smirking antagonist and a lifelong stutter determined to prove who’s boss.
Betsy Ross and the Three Moochers (Why the Flag Has 5-Pointed Stars)
Betsy Ross was down to her last nerve. Oh, you won't find this story in any history book but legend has it that General George Washington visited Betsy in her Philadelphia upholstery business and flag shop in May 1776. Washington, along with two other men — financier Robert Morris and Colonel George Ross, her late husband's... Continue Reading →
You scream, we all scream . . . for ice cream
Memorial Day is a solemn day of remembrance set aside to honor those who gave their lives in service. We owe these heroes our gratitude. The U.S. would be nowhere without these men and women. I plan to take a few minutes later today to pay my respects. Memorial Day also has a more "casual,... Continue Reading →
In an AI world, keep it simple stupid!
Every day AI seems to take on a bigger and bigger bite out of our world. Like many folks, I worry about AI's power and where it's taking us. I have concerns about it invading our homes and work. I have to admit though that I'm also excited to see how it can simplify life... Continue Reading →
A shoulder to cry on
Chris Evert scored a point and then Martina Navratilova came back with two more. Tennis was foreign to me. Few people I knew played except for the two older couples I saw at our local park when my mom dropped me off for baseball practice. I was flipping the channels on our old family TV one... Continue Reading →
Stopping time
The Spaceship Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight on January 28, 1986, killing all seven crew members. I turned the TV on just as the spaceship exploded. I was home from school. I'm not sure why. I suspect I was home sick. Who knows? Maybe I was taking a mental health day. I... Continue Reading →
Alright, alright, alright!
The 98th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday. The Best Picture nominees are led by Sinners (16 nominations) and One Battle After Another (13 nominations). Other nominees include Bugonia, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, Sentimental Value, The Secret Agent, Train Dreams, and F1. This has not been a good year for me. I can't tell you much about any of them. I've seen a... Continue Reading →
Writing from the Heart with Brian 
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