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Reader, My father spent all of his working life with the A.O. Smith Corporation, a huge manufacturer of auto and truck frames at the time. In its heyday, the company produced as many as 10,000 frames per day. Dad was a foreman on the shop floor, working mostly second shift until he retired. As a boy, I remember his schedule changing every few years or so as production stopped so they could re-tool for the new model year. I’ve come to realize I need to re-tool my communications with you. But re-tooling takes time, and production has to shut down In order to make changes. So you’ll be hearing less of me for a while. I know I want to get back to podcasting, but there’s a lot of work I need to do behind the scenes first. I look forward to getting back to you when my re-tooling is completed. So for now, I wish you all the joy that you can wish.* John Certalic * The Merchant of Venice, Act III, scene 2 |
Articles
“At the end of the day, nothing matters MORE than relationships.” — John Certalic
Now that We’ve Voted, What’s Next?
Reader, I wasn’t going to write anything more about the election until I read Peggy Noonan’s column in Saturday’s Wall Street Journal. She wrote something so encouraging and comforting that I just had to share it with you. “A Great Democracy Faces a Bad Choice” is Ms. Noonan's commentary on the notable flaws of both major candidates in this year’s presidential race. None of it was encouraging or comforting. But it’s what she says at the end that touched me. This week my own October surprise....
Election 2024: A Relational Minefield
Reader, It’s almost over. And it can’t come soon enough for me, how about for you? The 2024 presidential election here in the US. It reminds me of the podcast episode I did right before the 2020 election, episode 074. What was true then is still true today, four years later. Elections are relational minefields. They divide people and rarely, if ever, bring us together. In that podcast episode I mentioned a few things worth considering in 2020 that are also applicable here in 2024. Here’s a...
“He Made Everyone Around Him Better”
Reader, Legendary baseball star Pete Rose died a few weeks ago. He shares something in common with Tom Brady, whose football jersey was recently retired by the New England Patriots. Both men were described by their respective former teammates like this: “He made everyone around him better.” While this complement was made in the context of each man’s skill on the playing field, it could also apply to our relationships. He made everyone around him better makes me think of the people I know, who...
Why I Almost Bought Another Water Bottle I Didn’t Need
Reader, I’ve purchased just one water bottle in my life, but have collected quite a few more that were given to me for free. Water bottles from organizations promoting their brand, much like all the free pens and calendars we see everywhere along the marketing landscape. The last thing I need is another water bottle. But I almost bought one the other day because of the message printed on it. “What we do every day matters more than what we do once in a while.” I find this to be an inspiring...
Two of My Favorites and Is it Too Early to Think Christmas?
Dear Reader, In my Wednesday emails over the past few months, I’ve explained 4 of the 6 topic categories our podcast episodes fit into. The last two are Relational Skills Relationship Principles Two of my favorite individual episodes within these categories include: 037: The Two-Step Process to Solve Relationship Conflicts 045: Seven Relationship Lessons from the Greatest Christmas Movie Ever Made Click on the links above to give a listen. Or click on the links below to see a brief...
The Car Passenger No One Ever Wants
Hi Reader, Later this week I’m giving an online talk to a group of 25-30 regional mission leaders serving in Asia. The title and topic they gave me to speak about: “The Gift of Listening.” In preparing for my time with these missionaries, I came across a quote that fits in well. Here's why I will be a good person. Because I listen. I cannot speak so I listen very well. I never interrupt, I never deflect the course of the conversation with a comment of my own. People, if you pay attention to...
The One Relationship that Affects All Others
Our relationship with God impacts all our other relationships. It's the most important relationship of all.
What Do You Think of This?
Reader, One of the things I like about the website for our You Were Made for This podcast is the ability people have to comment on a particular episode. For example, three days ago, a listener shared his views about episode 063, Six Reasons Why We’re Not More Curious About People. Here’s what he wrote: I think you left out one reason why people aren’t more curious about other people’s lives: because they genuinely don’t care. This is the position in which I find myself. I try to care. I fake...
Remembering What Evil Stole From Us 23 Years Ago Today
Reader, “On September 11, I always take the day off. I want to be in a peaceful, quiet place praying. It is a day I both mourn and celebrate.” - Genelle Guzman-McMillan, 9/11 survivor “It’s the nature of the world that most people have moved on, but the people directly involved with 9/11, for them, twice a day it’s 9/11.” - Robert Reeg, former FDNY firefighter “I still have the shoes I wore to work that day. The soles are melted, and they’re caked in ash. I keep them in a shoebox with the...
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