Tag: Inspiration

It was late on a Friday afternoon and I was sitting across the desk from the CEO of a rapidly growing technology company. We were reviewing a process I had designed for the sales team to use when preparing for important presentations. Throughout our discussion he asked insightful questions, and I had answers for most of them. When we finished the review, he looked across the desk and asked: “Frank, is this your best work?”

We were taught what to think, how to behave, and how to fit in. We were taught to work hard, set goals, and be responsible. But almost no one ever taught us how to gain clarity on what to do so that a good decision can be made. What we were taught was some version of “Do what you were told.” That is not clarity, it is obedience. Without clarity, all the effort in the world can still leave you stuck, busy, and going nowhere in particular.

What a beach song reveals when you finally hear it. I believe that songs are really stories about someone’s life set to music.
And if you listen closely enough, perhaps they can start telling you something about yours. Today I am writing about a song that is one of my all-time favorites: Margaritaville.

What I Finally Realized in the Middle of a Coaching Session — I was in the middle of a coaching session a short while ago when the topic of leadership training came up. As we talked, something clicked. What we were really discussing wasn’t leadership training at all, it was human behavior.

Whenever a song stays with someone that long, I get curious. Over the years I’ve noticed that songs often say something deeper than what we hear when they are simply playing in the background. You’d think that once I had learned that lesson, I wouldn’t forget it. But today it came back to me. I realized that I had never fully grasped the depth and beauty of the song, so I went back and read the lyrics again.

This is a truly special day for me, as I joyfully celebrate the remarkable milestone of reaching 800 posts on this website. Throughout my online archived journey, I’ve shared my observations, personal reflections, and captivating stories that encompass not only my art (and others’ art) but also my love of cars, life experiences, unique encounters, and fascinating creative energy exchanges.

It’s a given that some bike rides are harder than others. But when a familiar ride suddenly feels like a grind, the cause may not be what you think. Same bike. Same route. Same rider. On a ride a short while ago, every mile felt heavy. No steep hills. No headwind. Still, my legs burned early, and the joy drained out of what should have been an easy ride. So, I did what most riders do when pedaling gets hard. I changed gears. And changed them again. When that didn’t work, I began troubleshooting the rider. Maybe I was out of shape. Maybe I was getting older. Maybe I just needed more grit.

At work, at home, and online, it’s almost impossible to avoid the word change. Everything is shifting and changing faster, more often, and with less margin for error. Change is no longer an occasional disruption. It’s the environment. And yet

Why the song isn’t about sadness and life isn’t either. I just saw the movie Song Sung Blue, and when it ended, the song stayed with me. The film stopped, but Song Sung Blue kept quietly replaying in my mind. The more I listened, the more I realized I’d misunderstood it for years. This song isn’t about being blue. It’s about what happens after you listen.

Recently, I have been reading, writing, and talking a great deal about the energy people generate and how it affects us, our health, our lives, and those around us. I know from everything I’ve studied that everyone generates energy, and the quality of that energy impacts how we feel, how we heal, and how we experience life.