Backbone Banter Blog

Welcome! This blog is the product of many years of working with three elements of backbone: competence, confidence, and risk … Read the rest “Backbone Banter Blog”
Etch-A-Sketch Principles

Once upon a toy time, there was Etch-A-Sketch, a creative toy sold for $2.99 in 1960. It was a Christmas … Read the rest “Etch-A-Sketch Principles”
Boldness

The encouragement to “Be Bold!” is often a hallmark of New Year ‘s admonitions, specifically as it pertains to decision … Read the rest “Boldness”
Devil as Diagnostician

“The devil is a keen diagnostician.” I heard this idea in a sermon recently and found it compelling. I’ve been … Read the rest “Devil as Diagnostician”
Taking Charge

Who controls your mind?
You do. Period. Full stop.
The noisy environment in which we live is rife with fast-changing … Read the rest “Taking Charge”
You Matter–Profoundly

You Matter–Profoundly
It is the Friday before Christmas and for my family it has been a difficult and tragic week. … Read the rest “You Matter–Profoundly”
Confirmation Bias

A fancy term, confirmation bias simply states that what we experience internally is what we look for in the world. … Read the rest “Confirmation Bias”
Don’t let systems destroy people

As I sat patiently then impatiently waiting for a company representative to call me with information about a significant repair … Read the rest “Don’t let systems destroy people”
A Reason to Marvel

Do you know someone who has been through the wringer? Someone who has been mauled by life, pummeled with tragedy … Read the rest “A Reason to Marvel”
Eclipse Reflections

My home was far from the path of totality during the last eclipse, but I have friends who live in … Read the rest “Eclipse Reflections”
A Funny Thing Happened When I Forgot to Blame

Premise: We learn to duck responsibilities for our actions at a very young age
By watching others – siblings, classmates, … Read the rest “A Funny Thing Happened When I Forgot to Blame”
Slow it Down

Like most people on planet Earth, I have struggled the past few years to understand what is happening around me. … Read the rest “Slow it Down”
Patterns of the Week

Reflecting on a week that took me to many different places, challenges, and people dealing with them, a number of … Read the rest “Patterns of the Week”
Kids Learn What They Live

As a kid, I used to love debate. Loved to watch it, listen to it and, from time to time, … Read the rest “Kids Learn What They Live”
Triumph Amidst Fear

To say that events of the past several years are distressing is a gargantuan understatement. From the first news of … Read the rest “Triumph Amidst Fear”
How I Got Excited About AI

For the past couple of years I have been pooh-poohing AI and the “inevitable” changes it will bring to how … Read the rest “How I Got Excited About AI”
A Paradox of Professionalism

A paradox is the existence of two opposing ideas in the same sentence, both of which can be true. A … Read the rest “A Paradox of Professionalism”