Stuff I Learned Yesterday

Today is the Friday Forum!! In today’s episode of Stuff I Learned Yesterday I share a contribution from Hannah. Hannah shares lessons she's learning through her new job as a full-time nanny. You can participate in the Friday Forum by visiting our Feedback Page or calling our voice feedback line at 304-837-2278. Read More...

I’m a big cheerleader of personality tests. And that might be attributed to the fact the results of my personality test will tell you that I enjoy things like personality tests! So when I came across the Kolbe Index I was fascinated by the implications it could have on a realm of my life that personality tests do not readily address. Before I get into specifics about the Kolbe, I want to tell you how the circumstances around my introduction to the assessment were primed and made me to eager to incorporate its concepts. Read More...

Did you know you can visit Hershey’s Chocolate World in Hershey, PA and not only learn all about how the company makes their chocolate in the factory tour; you can also sign up for a chocolate tasting seminar and later, in the gift shop, purchase a 5-pound Hershey bar or a 1 lb. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup? I should know - I’ve done all of those things. I’m fortunate enough to live within two hours’ drive of many of the best factory tours in the country, including Turkey Hill, Snyder’s, Utz, Crayola, and many more places that are willing to show you how they make their products right here in America. Read more...

I remember the exact moment when I realized that I suffered from stage fright, and the moment that I realized I didn’t like crossing tall bridges, and the moment when I knew I had a fear of heights, and the moment that I knew I was claustrophobic. Are you sensing a pattern? Think about the first time you realized that you were afraid of something – I mean REALLY afraid. It sticks with you, doesn’t it?  Read more...

The title of today's episode is Embracing Adventure, but what is an adventure? Think about that for a moment. What is adventure? I'll get back to that question in a few minutes, but let me first tell you about my adventure. My adventure begins in the year 2008. I was scheduled to make my second trip to the Internet Retailer Conference & Exhibition (IRCE). The previous year had been in San Jose, but that year it was heading to Chicago. I was looking forward to visiting Chicago, as it would be my first trip there. I was the only person from my company attending the show, but I expected that at least one other person from our sister company would also be attending. Read More...

Today’s episode of Stuff I Learned Yesterday is a Friday Flashback. Friday Flashback episodes feature some of the most popular episodes of Stuff I Learned Yesterday. Today we take a trip back to an episode that we ran last November right after Thanksgiving. It’s an episode looking at some of the good things and difficult things in my life and the life of some friends at that moment and how I was learning to be grateful for it all. It’s Stuff I Learned Yesterday Episode 368- A Grateful Outlook. Read More...

I enjoy spending time with my in-laws. I know, that is counter-cultural in today’s society, but my wife’s family is great. We all live within an hour from each other, so we try to get together periodically. Holidays, OU and Packer football games, and birthdays. Some think we get together too much, but, if nothing else, it’s an excuse have cake and eat too much. Read More...

I’ve officially become that old guy. I’m only 45 but have become that old guy. You know the one. “Back in my day on the radio we had two rock n’ roll stations, one country, and one classical station to listen to.” Wait for it…”And we liked it!” The sheer amount of choices that we have available to us I think is turning us into things that are not exactly positive.Read More...

I’m a voice actor, and a significant piece of what I do is auditioning for potential voiceover jobs in commercials, online videos and e-learning. One day I got a text from one of my agents at 10:00 pm, which doesn’t happen often. I figured I must have booked a pretty big job. My agent asked if she could call right then. Of course, I said yes. She let me know that I was in the running for a job, and that the client might want to start recording spots as early as the next morning. I was ecstatic! When my agent forwarded me the email with details, she accidentally sent along the thread from the client, which indicated that I wasn’t just in the running for the job; I was the top pick! Read More...

No one likes disappointment, but living through those situations better prepares us for the future. They give us practical lessons that make us stronger, more efficient, and more aware of all that we truly have to be grateful for. Looking back on it now, not only did those tough months and failing to land that client give me a better perspective and appreciation for what I had, but I’m now grateful that I went through those times of disappointment. Read More...

Today is the Friday Forum!! In today’s episode of Stuff I Learned Yesterday I share a contribution from Jason.  Jason shares the impact that music has had on his life and his recovery from addiction. You can participate in the Friday Forum by visiting our Feedback Page or calling our voice feedback line at 304-837-2278. Read More...

Believe it or not, last Saturday as my kids and I were riding around in my car, they were begging me to tell them some of my stories. It was a really cool experience as they were both engaged, wanting to learn more about my experiences, and asking questions about my life so far. Read More...

Well, in April of 2014, my family and I took off on an epic, five-month cross-country adventure. We bought a travel trailer, packed up our things, and hit the road. It was the first time we had ever done anything like this, and although it was exciting and invigorating, it was also scary. Read More...

When you hear the word, “friends,” what do think of first? Is it a good personal friend, maybe your BFF? Is it the TV show that aired for 10 seasons, beginning in 1994? Is it a song, such as “Whenever I Call You Friend,” written by Kenny Loggins and Melissa Manchester, and released in 1978?   Do you think of Quakers, who are more formally known as The Religious Society of Friends? What image does the word “friend” evoke for you?  Read more...

When I feel myself losing my temper, I take a deep breath. I will also leave the room most of the time. I know that I need to step away and calm down. Once I calm down, the issue is nearly always easily resolved. When I get angry like that, I’m not thinking clearly nor am I open to reason. If I’m not open to reason, I’m not open to discussion. If I’m not open to discussion, I’m not open to resolution. If I’m not open to resolution, the only thing left is conflict. Read More...