John is an experienced small business owner, management consultant, project manager, and family man. John has been married since 1967 to the same beautiful bride. He has two sons and eight grandchildren. He makes his home in Carlton, Oregon, USA.
Back when my children were children, and doing homework, I was against music accompanying their studies. They played it loud, and it annoyed me. When I was in school, I studied in silence. They could do the same. These days, there is more and more support for using music to improve study and learning. Of […]
I am a writer, one who did not write much, so I don’t really deserve the title. However, the writing I have done has had value. I wrote training materials for the Boy Scouts of America, materials used to train tens of thousands of leaders across the nation. These materials helped leaders deliver a more […]
I was reviewing a notebook I began noting in 20 years ago. The very first page was devoted to reasons why I liked to write. From the looks of those first few pages, it must have been some sort of “how to be a writer” exercise. Nothing has changed except 20 years have passed without […]
We’re taught that Goals should be SMART. I’ve taught that for decades. You know: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Trackable or Time-bound. Then all is happy and bright. Well, not really. Having a goal is only the beginning of the productivity process. That goal is now the target at which your efforts aim. I used […]
Writers write. I read a short Kindle book about the secret to being a productive writer. “Successful writers write, and write, and write, and then write some more.” Now, that’s a secret. But, sometimes, we can’t. Not because of writer’s block, but because of lack of productivity. Productivity is a combination of motivation, and managing […]
Happy New Year!!! Out with the old, and in with the new. Auld Lang Syne. A New Beginning. The calendar change to January 1 of a new year is a momentous one. It is an opportunity to resolve bigger and better things for the coming year. But, this new year resolve is a false sense […]
Every year, the past comes back to haunt me. This week between Christmas and New Year is my traditional reflection week. Reflection is good for the soul and helps protect the future. Reflection is good for you. Spending time with my goals and my accomplishments is more often a disappointment than an triumph, but I […]
Every writer needs a writing place, a garret, a place to focus on the task at hand. The garret is a mythical refuge from busyness that offers quiet and inspiration. Some writers have an actual workshop separate from their living space where they can spend the time productively. Their tools are close at hand; their […]
Some First Post, isn’t it. Start a new blog and then quit. What I really mean: I don’t know when my allotted days come to an end, so this indeed might be my last day. You just never know. This means that instead of letting random interruptions take my focus, I concentrate on making this […]