July 2019
86 articles published this month.
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A Word to the Wise
apotheosis (noun)
Apotheosis (uh-poth-ee-OH-sis) is the perfect example of something; a glorified ideal. As used by Katie Baker (“The Queen of the French Kitchen”): “If life has such a thing as an apotheosis, it surely involves…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Military Drones Now Carry Nearly Two Tons
The US military has developed drones that can carry as much as 1,800 pounds of supplies.
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Worth Watching
Dead to Me” (Netflix)
This is a series that I would not have tried, but did on the basis of M and M’s recommendation. It’s the story of two women (played by Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini) who come together in grief and…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Professional Pianists Pranking Crowds In Viral Videos
There must be 10,000 different video genres on YouTube. Here is one I discovered and binged on (a politically incorrect term an online dictionary tells me) last night... professional pianists impersonating…
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
The Most Recommended
I saw this little ad in a publication recently: The Most Recommended Path to the Writer’s Life No matter what path you want to take to the writer’s life, knowing how to write persuasively is at the heart of it…
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Worth Quoting
Bill Bernbach On Advertising's True Impact
“Good advertising builds sales. Great advertising builds factories.” – Bill Bernbach
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A Word to the Wise
insuperable (adjective)
Something that is insuperable (in-SOO-puh-ruh-bul) cannot be surmounted or overcome. As used by J.R.R. Tolkien: “The original ‘Hobbit’ was never intended to have a sequel – Bilbo ‘remained very happy to the…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Walmart's Surprising Dominance Across America
In 21 states, Wal-Mart is the single largest employer.
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Worth Reading
Our Last Best Chance: The Pursuit of Peace in a Time of Peril
From the book jacket: “King Abdullah II was schooled in America and at Sandhurst and heading for a life as a successful career soldier, when his father fell ill and he was unexpectedly named King of Jordan…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Bringing The Dead Back To Life
A particularly good one... I love the idea of bringing the dead back to life!
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Notes From My Journal
Speaking of Speaking to…
“I’d be happy to speak to that topic in a moment,” he said. “I’d be happy if you spoke about it,” I replied. I don’t like this parvenu expression “speak to” when its meaning is “speak about.” It feels…
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Worth Reading
The latest issue of AWAI’s Barefoot Writer
Click HERE to read: * “This Opportunity Treasure Trove for Writers Makes Other Solopreneurs Green With Envy” * “Never Again Hang Your Head in Shame After Hitting ‘Send’” * “Scoring Big in the Niche You’ve…
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A Word to the Wise
parvenu (noun)
A parvenu (PAR-vuh-noo) is someone who has suddenly gained wealth, influence, or celebrity but does not yet have the prestige, dignity, or manner associated with it. As I used it today: “I don’t like this…
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Fun and/or Interesting
The Explosive Growth Of Gluten-Free Foods
Sales of gluten-free products went from virtually nothing in 2000 to 18 billion in 2018.
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Worth Quoting
Vince Lombardi On Confidence's Contagious Power
“Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence.” – Vince Lombardi
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Readers Write
An email from JK
I met Mark at a WBC lunch and… 15 minutes of sharing with him made me clear on how to be an entrepreneur in a unique way. I had the opportunity to meet up with Mark two more times…. Pool cleaning company, real…
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Fun and/or Interesting
The Kernel Of Truth In An Exaggeration
Her argument is an exaggeration, but it's also at some level true.
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
The Dreaded Business-Termite Infestation! How to Exterminate This Invisible Threat to Your Continued Growth
Every time I take a walk around a company that I’m working with and talk to employees I hardly know, I discover something interesting about the business. As often as not, that something is a problem. Some of…
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A Word to the Wise
entropy (noun)
Entropy (EN-truh-pee) is the gradual, inevitable decline from order to disorder. As I used it today: “Entropy operates at every level and in every part of every business: customer service, production…
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Fun and/or Interesting
4 Things I Learned About the 4th of July
* The Declaration of Independence wasn’t signed on the 4th. It was voted in on July 2 (the day John Adams said we should commemorate the day), but most of those that signed it did so on August 2. * The major…
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Worth Quoting
C.S. Spurgeon On Anxiety And Present Strength
“Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.” – C.S. Spurgeon
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Worth Reading
The latest issue of Independent Healing — July 5, 2019
“Calorie Counting Is Fake News” Studies show you’re more likely to gain weight than to lose it on low-cal diets. Here’s why they don’t work – and here’s what does.
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Fun and/or Interesting
Robin Williams Dressed As The American Flag
Robin Williams as the American Flag...
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
Dear Mark…
I'm starting a new company, and I need your advice. I will be selling a line of organic, CBD-based health supplements. My target market is women over 40. From reading Ready, Fire, Aim, I know that I want to…
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A Word to the Wise
assiduous (adjective)
Assiduous (uh-SIJ-oo-us) means constant, persevering, industrious, attentive. As used by William Hurt: “Great risks come in long term, tremendously assiduous, very courageous study.”
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Worth Quoting
Zig Ziglar On Determination And Self-Directed Learning
“If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, not one can stop you.” – Zig Ziglar
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Fun and/or Interesting
Three Presidents Died on Independence Day
Three US presidents – John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe –died on the 4thof July.
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Worth Reading
Madwomen: The “Locas Mujeres” Poems of Gabriela Mistral
I discovered Gabriella Mistral through Pablo Neruda. Like her famous countryman, Mistral won the Nobel prize. Also like Neruda, her poems were lyrical and personal. But in this collection (I have a bilingual…
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Fun and/or Interesting
How Your Eyes Trick Your Brain
A fun test, and an interesting explanation of how vision works.
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
New Ideas About Building Wealth, Lesson 1
We were touring an old castle, a stone fortress built by the Crusaders from the ruins of a Roman temple built 1000 years earlier. The fortress was built with limestone and marble blocks, half a ton apiece…
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Worth Quoting
Robert A. Heinlein on Human Selfishness
“The greatest productive force is human selfishness.” – Robert A. Heinlein
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A Word to the Wise
balletomane (noun)
A balletomane (bah-LET-uh-mane) is a ballet enthusiast. Example from A Feather on the Breath of Godby Sigrid Nunez: “Balletomanes tend to be critical, their hates are as strong as their loves, and at…
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Fun and/or Interesting
How A War Poem Became America's Anthem
“The Star-Spangled Banner” was originally a patriotic poem written by Frances Scott Key after witnessing the bombardment of Baltimore’s Fort McHenry by the British during the War of 1812. It was set to the…
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Worth Reading
Dear Democrats, Here’s How to Guarantee Trump’s Reelection
I don’t know how many times I’ve had the discussion about whether Trump can be reelected. This piece from POLITICO articulates my arguments better than I’ve been able to. And based on the early debates among…
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Readers Write
Reader Gratitude For Fifteen Years Of Timeless Writing
An email from RK: Dear Mark, It is so nice to find your blog! I have followed your writing since around 2005. ETR was always my first read in the morning. [Your] writing captures my imagination like few…
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Fun and/or Interesting
The Moth Presents Ishmael Beah's Story
The Moth Presents: Ishmael Beah (recommended by Tim Ferris)...
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