Dave Glardon

Hold That Sneeze!

October 9, 2026October 9, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Motivational Humor

Good morning, and happy Friday! I hope your day is off to a great start.

It’s October, and this is the time of year we start paying closer attention to our health, especially on this side of the equator. Winter is around the corner, and that means cold & flu season, not to mention a whole host of other ailments. And with the holidays coming up fast, nobody wants a head cold or worse. Especially the people sitting next to you.

This is also the time of year doctors remind us about vaccines. This can be a sensitive topic, and normally I’d stay out of it, but let’s be real … vaccines have saved millions of lives, and evidence of side effects just doesn’t support the hysteria, especially among people like me who aren’t qualified to make that determination. I wouldn’t let my doctor tell me how to do my job.

All I’m going to say is make an educated decision, not one based on politics or the latest gossip on social media. Here’s something to think about – when was the last time you saw YOUR doctor on social media? All those “doctors” online may not know a stethoscope from a speculum, but they’re full of advice. Talk to a real doctor or do some research – in a library.

Beyond that, what do you do to keep yourself healthy? Do you try to eat healthier foods at home instead of grease-burgers at the local dive? Do you exercise a little more, like maybe a walk after dinner? Do you at least send your kid out to shovel snow, so you don’t drop dead yourself? That’s the kind of anaerobic exercise that can really mess up your plans for the day.

Beyond the typical “diet and exercise,” do you take vitamins or supplements? We’re all very different, and what’s good for one person isn’t always good for another. That includes broccoli, in case my wife is reading this. The problem is that most doctors aren’t fans of vitamins, and if you want to get solid advice, you need to find one that’s a little more unbiased.

Most people my age trust an older doctor more, but not me. I want somebody who just passed a final exam of the latest in medical knowledge and still remembers it. Somebody who’s new enough to know they can still learn. And who is curious enough to study non-traditional treatments or at least observe how they work on their own patients.

Just a funny little aside – my wife had major abdominal surgery this summer, and has had a really rough recovery. She was talking with her surgeon’s nurse practitioner about her trouble sleeping, and I mentioned that she’s used edible marijuana in the past, but hadn’t used it since the surgery. The NP looked incredulous and asked, “Why not???” I like her.

And I’m not suggesting that as a way to keep you healthy through the winter, but it does has a way of making those dreary days a little less stressful. All I’m saying is find what works for you. And once you find it, put it to use. We had a treadmill in our old house. I used it all the time. To stack boxes and hang clothes. I got more exercise pulling the handle on the recliner.

Make a commitment to your health the same as you would your partner or career. Decide now you’re going to BE healthy this winter and beyond. Make a plan – it doesn’t have to be anything elaborate. Just a few things you can commit to doing every day to maintain or enhance your health. Yes, we’re all going to die anyway, but wouldn’t it be nice to at least enjoy the ride?

Set aside some time this weekend to assess your current health and formulate a simple plan for making the most of it. Put it in writing and then commit – sign it. You don’t have to show it to anyone else, but put it someplace you’ll see it at least once a day. Okay, if you want a reminder every time you mess up, show it to one of your kids. They’re good at that.

That’s all for now. A lot of us have reached that age where health is much more important than it ever was before. If you’re not that old, you will be, and the decisions you make today will impact your lifestyle once you reach that age. Give yourself a running start. Meanwhile, have an awesome day and an even better weekend!

Plug Your Nose and Dig In!

October 5, 2026October 5, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Motivational Humor

Good morning, and happy Monday! I hope your new week is off to a good start. Today is the day we decide how our week is going to be. No pressure or anything.

Last week, we talked about eating a frog. Not just the legs (a delicacy to some folks), but the entire wart-covered frog. It’s a pretty simple concept – if you have to eat a frog, do it first thing in the morning and your day can only get better. And as you may recall, there was a second part – if you have to eat more than one frog, start with the ugliest one first.

I didn’t dream it up. I’m a little twisted, but I’m not that far gone. That bit of advice has been largely attributed to Mark Twain, who had a way with words that I’ll never achieve. But it’s sage advice. Basically, if you have to do an unpleasant task, one you’ve procrastinated in the past and are likely to avoid as the day goes on, just get it done now. First. Before anything else.

I’m sitting here with a big list of things to do, and I’m not really looking forward to any of it. These are things I kept putting off “until I don’t have to work all day and I have a little extra time.” I’ll give you a moment to stop laughing. Today marks four weeks of retirement for me, and I still don’t have any of that extra time. I’m beginning to think it’s a lie.

These are things I have to do. None are really that hard, but in terms of eating a frog, some are up there at the top of the list. And yes, I actually did make a list. There’s a lot on it, and my weekend goal is to wake up Friday with an empty list. You know, because I actually checked things off. Crossing them off is easier, but then you start next week with the same list.

But unless dumpster-diving or sewer skimming is on your list, I’m willing to bet most of the frogs on your plate aren’t as ugly as they appear. In fact, some may not really be frogs at all. Still, the longer we avoid a task, the more objectionable it becomes. There comes a point where we really would prefer to eat an actual frog.

Some things get worse because we keep avoiding them. When my storage shed needed repairs, I delayed. A couple of years later it needed new doors and siding. Then the roof started to go. By the time I finally got around to it, the entire thing needed to come down and be rebuilt. The longer I waited, the uglier that frog got. And believe me, it was a toad!

In reality, the frog is probably ugly because we keep kicking it to the curb. And the more we kick the frog around, the uglier it becomes. Like staring at a toilet full of stuff it’s not supposed to showcase. Let’s just say time is not your friend and there’s not a lot of discussion about who will fix it or when. My wife uses that bathroom, too.

So, I’ve made a list of things I need to get done this week. Not because of any imposed deadlines, but because I’m tired of staring at frogs. After a while, they begin to multiply and give warts to one another. And I’m pretty sure if I don’t get them out of the way, I’ll start looking like one myself. I don’t need any help in that area.

I told you Friday I’d challenge you today, so here it is. Assemble your own “frog list.” Do it this morning, sorted by “ugliest first.” Only one rule – no two frogs are equally ugly. Unless you can eat two with one bite. The deal is, you have to get the worst stuff out of the way first. And that means beginning with a better understanding of why each particular frog is so ugly.

How many times have you thought about this particular task over the past several days? Yes, I’m being generous. My list has been growing for months. In my case, it’s laziness. There are a dozen things I’d rather do, beginning with today’s crosswords. So, for this week, I plan to eat a frog first each day until everything on my original list is done.

Some days I’ll have to eat a few. And I know frogs multiply. My list will never be completely empty. How about yours? Are you ready to put a dent in it? None of these frogs are really that bad. It’s just our perception. Once you understand what’s really standing in your way, the rest is easy. All you have to do is dig in.

Make your list and then, as you look at each item, try to identify why you’re likely to avoid it. Sometimes, the real reason isn’t that big after all. They say a journey of 1,000 miles begins with one step. Take that step. Eat the frog. Burp if you must, but please brush your teeth. It’s okay to brag about what you’ve accomplished, but let’s not play a game of “guess that smell.”

That’s all for today. This one was a little longer than I wanted, but I think it’s important. With each frog you eat, two things happen – the pile gets smaller, and the taste becomes more palatable. Both will make the next frog that much easier. Try it and see. Then let me know how it’s working for you, and I’ll update you on my list Friday. Meanwhile, have a fun week!

Does the Bathroom Really NEED Baseboards?

October 2, 2026October 2, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning! I hope your Friday is off to a nice start. Okay, depending on where you live Friday may be about over, but we won’t get hung up on that. I just want you to have a good day!

First things first. When my wife read my post earlier this week, she had one comment. “Did you use the word ‘Monday’ enough?” Well, maybe. I made a deal with Monday. It was feeling bad about its reputation, so I agreed to spread its good name, and in return it’ll be nice to me. Besides, there’s no such thing as bad publicity. Politicians are living proof of that.

Also, before I launch into today’s message, I want to share a personal celebration. I’ve been on a medically-assisted weight loss program that’s shaved off 30 pounds. But the best news came in my blood test results this week. Every number was within range, with one exception and it’s moving in the right direction. And since the first time I heard of A1C, I’m no longer pre-diabetic!

So, yes, goals can be achieved. Even for old guys like me. And some of those goals come with hidden blessings. Sometimes they come with constipation, too, but you get the idea. No matter what goal you’re chasing, expect some consequential changes you may not have considered. By anticipating those changes beforehand, you can formulate a plan to work with or around them.

Unless you’re remodeling a bathroom you didn’t personally build in the first place. Take it from me. I ran into all manner of “hidden blessings” on that job. I’m not sure my pastor would approve of the words I used to consecrate them, but he didn’t see the mess I tore into. And no, I didn’t anticipate any of it. If I had, that bathroom would still look exactly as it did, just older.

But that’s a good example of how unexpected surprises can derail an otherwise straightforward task. I was certain I could completely demolish the old bathroom in one evening, and then install a new tub, toilet, vanity, mirror, lights, and ceiling fan Saturday morning. Then I’d tile the floor and tub walls. That would all be completed by noon Sunday, and all I’d have to do is paint.

Except the floor had to be done before the toilet and vanity, and I didn’t anticipate the huge bulge in the wall behind the vanity, because it had been covered by a floor-to-ceiling closet. When I removed the closet, I also found out the popcorn ceiling had been done after the closet was built, so now I had a perfect outline of the 2×4 walls on the ceiling. More consecration.

I got the job done a couple of days late, if we can agree to define “done” as “usable, safe, and reasonably watertight.” Which is the way I tend to finish most jobs of this sort. My wife lovingly referred to our house as the island of misfit (missing) trim. I ripped out all the carpet in our house and installed 1000 square feet of laminate flooring by myself. The baseboards can wait.

And they did. Fourteen years later, we sold the house without them. I’m not proud of that, and my wife has used it against me more times than I’d care to admit. But I’ve learned that usable, safe, and reasonably watertight is only good enough for life rafts. I won’t start any project now unless I’m certain I not only can but WILL finish it. In other words, I’ve been sitting around a lot.

How about you? Are you one of those who gets started before daylight and doesn’t stop until the second coat of paint is dry? Or do you work to restore functionality first so you can take a breather? Be honest. You already know which one I am. And, while I don’t hide from that, I am trying to change. But at this age, I’ve learned to accept it – at least for planning purposes.

Take some time this weekend to think about your usual manner of tackling a project. Even if you’re one of those “no sleep until it’s completely done” people, I bet there are still things you’d like to change. And, if you fall anywhere short of that level of perfection, give it some serious thought. I’ll give you a challenge in Monday’s column. (See what I did there?)

That’s all for now. Enjoy your weekend and make it a point to see what I’ve got in store for you on Monday. (Now that I’ve said that I absolutely HAVE to come up with something good.) Have an awesome day!

Whose Bright Idea Was Monday???

September 28, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning! I hope your Monday is off to a nice start. I know, of all the days, why did they have to put Monday first? I used to ask that same question myself.

To be fair, Mondays can be a jolt to the system in more ways than one. You’re either coming off a weekend of rest and relaxation, or one where another six weekends in a row wouldn’t be enough time to accomplish everything, and there’s not much in between. Either way, Monday is rude interruption in that brief interlude from reality.

But I guess it makes sense to get Monday out of the way first. In the book “Eat That Frog!” Brian Tracy describes the ideal way to tackle an unpleasant project in some rather unpleasant terms. Paraphrased, “If you have to eat a frog, do it first thing in the morning and the rest of the day can only get better. If you have to eat two frogs, eat the ugliest one first.”

So, get Monday out of the way. Tackle the day with a realistic list of things you need to accomplish, starting with the ugliest frogs in the bucket. Don’t let anybody keep you from getting it all done, and don’t let Monday bleed on Tuesday. You can be more accommodating tomorrow. Besides, anyone who tried to get in your way today won’t be that stupid again.

Do this every Monday and you’ll find yourself more productive and less exhausted by the end of the week. And, as a side benefit, others will learn not to mess with you on Monday. Most will avoid getting in your way the rest of the week, because anybody who works that hard on Monday must have a screw loose, right? Take the small wins.

The direct benefit to you is twofold. First, after you’ve gotten through Monday, the rest of the week should be easy by comparison. Oh, some jerk will come along and try to mess that up, but once you’ve done the hard stuff, you can handle distractions. But more importantly, you’ll come to look forward to Monday, because that’s the day you get things done.

And it doesn’t just have to be a weekly thing. Every project I’ve ever worked on had its share of Mondays. Sometimes they had two or three in a week, and other times they’d take a couple of weeks off. But every new phase, every major milestone, had Mondays of its own. And our success in each milestone rests heavily on how well we handle those Mondays.

When we take on the hard part first, the feeling of accomplishment is that much stronger. It also helps identify what needs to be done next, and any dependencies we need to consider along the way. I love woodworking and have made several intricate pieces over the years. Trust me when I say you have to do things in a certain order, or the scrap bin fills up fast.

And it’s that way no matter what the project, from building an airplane to Thanksgiving dinner. The early part isn’t so glamorous, especially the part about prepping the turkey. They stuck the gizzards where??? But there’s a feeling of accomplishment the instant it goes in the oven. And the reward builds as the day goes on. It’s a smell you never forget.

Depending on where you live, Monday may already be over. If so, celebrate! You made it! And you know what? You can do it again. Here’s why – Monday isn’t a real thing. It’s just a name somebody assigned to the same day every week. It could just as easily have been called Friday, or Someday. I like that last one. “I’ll get it to you Someday!” Bill collectors would love that.

But Monday doesn’t have it in for you. It’s just there, inanimate and continually turning seconds into history. It’s what we do with those seconds that determines how our day evolves. And if you can master Mondays, what evil can stand in your way? Make Monday your partner instead of your adversary. Monday can only treat you as well as you treat it.

That’s all for now. Enjoy the rest of your day, and if today wasn’t your day, then start tomorrow. Take on the ugliest frogs first and see if you don’t feel better as a result. Be sure to let me know how it works for you. I love hearing from you folks. Have an awesome week!

There’s Happiness in the Little Things

September 25, 2026September 25, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning, and happy Friday! I hope your day is off to a great start. I’m vertical with a cup of coffee, so life is good!

You know, sometimes it’s the little things that make us happy, or at least contented. We tend to go through life looking at the big things, thinking if we could just do this or acquire that, life would be perfect. And that’s okay. If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know I’m a strong believer in the power of dreams. If not, we need to fix that. I don’t bite!

Yes, it’s important to have dreams. They motivate us to go a step above, to put in that little bit of extra effort that somehow seems to multiply and bring us exponentially closer to our goals. They give us a glimpse of life beyond what we know today. And they have a way of elevating our spirits when life is trying its best to hold us down. We all have those days.

Our dream was to buy a motorhome and explore the country, hopefully finding a place to retire along the way. I kept a picture of a motorhome on my desk where I would see it all day as I was working. It was a constant reminder of what I was working for. Six years ago, that dream came true. We bought the coach, traveled across much of the country, and found our new home.

And that doesn’t mean my dreaming days are over. Not by a long stretch! There are still lots of things I’d like to experience before my time is up, and I plan to check off as many of them as I can. They range in grandeur, from taking my wife on a bucket-list trip to Hawaii all the way to learning how to relocate a live rattlesnake. My wife isn’t so happy about that last one.

And I’ll do those things in a relatively short period of time, simply because at this age you don’t take time for granted. I’ve already had a heart attack and a stroke. The fact that I’m still here tells me God still has plans for me, and I believe one of them is to spread a message of optimism to anybody who’s willing to listen. Especially now, we need all the positivity we can get.

And part of that message should always be to appreciate the blessings that surround us every day. Little things, like a child’s laughter, a spring rain, the sun’s rays peeking through the clouds, chipmunks playing in the yard, birds playing in the air, or the warmth of a summer day. Yes, too much warmth isn’t always comfortable. Neither is snow. But it’s pretty … on postcards.

Beyond that, think of all the people who genuinely care about you. They may be family, friends, mere acquaintances, or even the cleaning lady who always has a kind word as she empties your trash. And it could be somebody you’ve never met. Don’t believe me? Sit down in the middle of a store clutching your chest. You’ll have lots of concerned friends.

Okay, don’t do that. But the point is that we’re surrounded by blessings we don’t always perceive. The secret to happiness lies in our ability to recognize and be grateful for them. And if we’re not finding them where we are, maybe we need to get up and go looking for them. That can be as easy as taking an evening walk or watching kids in the park. Just don’t stare.

Some people may not think they have much to smile about because of health issues, chronic pain, or personal loss. Still, off the top of my head I can think of two women I watched as cancer took its horrendous toll, and they both lived their best life to the very end. We all have challenges. But a challenge isn’t a roadblock – it’s simply daring you to step over.

That’s all for today. I hope you’ll all take time this weekend to immerse yourself in life’s many blessings. They may not make your problems disappear, but problems have a way of fading in the presence of a smile. Try it. And be sure to let me know how it works! Meanwhile, enjoy your day and have an awesome weekend!

Even Jerks Need a Hug Sometimes

September 22, 2026September 24, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Motivational Humor

Good morning! I hope your day is starting off nicely. You know, we do have more control over that than we’d like to admit.

My daughter sent a video this morning of a father dropping his kids off at school, telling them, “It takes no effort to be kind, so don’t be a (jerk).” Yeah, that last word wasn’t fit for print. But you get the idea. The next second, he’s driving home, blowing the horn, yelling at other drivers, and just generally being a (jerk).

I don’t think she sent it as a message to me personally, but it still hit me between the eyes. Yes, I am generally kind. I encourage others to be kind. And I try to avoid situations that may bring out the (jerk) in me. Because let’s face it. Under the right circumstances, we all have that little demon inside, just begging to get loose.

My pastor used to read my humor columns back in the day, and he especially liked the ones where I expressed my displeasure with (jerks) on the road. I found my way into his sermons more than once, usually in a joking way, but it’s really not that funny. Trust me, I live it.

Back then, my oldest grandson wasn’t quite four, and was with me one day when the guy in front of me insisted on driving a full 2 MPH below the speed limit. Okay, it was more than that, but it’s my story. I finally said, “Would you please move?” and my grandson piped in with the “perfect” solution … “Flip ‘em off!” I wish I was making that up.

In fairness, he didn’t learn that from me. I always checked to see if he was watching first. But it was still a lesson I needed to learn. Some days, I still do. I’ve decided patience isn’t so much a virtue as a work in progress. It’s a mindset we have to adopt, embrace, and build upon every day. And about the time we start feeling smug, some idiot slams on their brakes for no reason.

I guess the first step in building patience is understanding that most inconsiderate acts are not directed at us, personally. Oh, there’s always that person who tries to mess up your day for fun, but you never know what misfortune life just dealt them. On the other hand, if they do it over and over, aim for the kneecaps. With your foot. What did you think I meant?

Believe it or not, most people don’t spend their day looking in the rearview for somebody to impede. They park their shopping cart in the middle of the aisle because something caught their eye. They walk down the middle of the parking lot because they can’t see their car. And they sit at a green light for two seconds because they’re in deep thought.

Believe me, there are enough (jerks) out there who were never taught the premise of consideration. But it’s not quite fair to blame momentary lapses in manners on intentional (jerkiness). We all make mistakes, and when we do, we’d appreciate an assumption of innocence. The question is, what do we do when the shoe is on the other foot?

The answer is simple – breathe. When traffic backs up, there’s always a reason. And the reason is usually that somebody is having a much worse day than you are. When a person isn’t moving out of your way, they may be experiencing a medical issue. And usually, when somebody is genuinely nasty, it’s typically a programmed reaction to something they experienced.

And therein lies the solution – we can’t control how other people act. All we can control is our reaction to it. We can fire back with an equally offensive remark (or gesture), or we can offer a positive response that may give them pause to think. We can try to score points or realize that the true winner is the one who walks away with a sense of inner calm.

Most of us try to be kind in person. It’s when we’re on the phone with customer service, offering an online rebuttal to comments from others, in the relative safety of our locked car, or relating a scenario to somebody else who wasn’t even there, that we find our true level of kindness. Myself? I need to work on it a bit. And I hope I never stop.

That’s all for now. The next time you find yourself on the receiving end of something you can’t control, take a breath and then control the only thing you can. You’ll live longer, and those years will be a lot more pleasant as a result. Have a fantastic day!

It’s Your Time – Have Fun with It!

September 18, 2026September 18, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning, and happy Friday! I hope your day is off to an awesome start!

Okay, first things first. Last week I challenged you all to make a list of simple things you need to get accomplished, and then make a point of checking them off as you do. And this wasn’t just a homework assignment – I did it, too. My original list of 10 items grew to 12 (my wife and I both added one), and I did a lot more that wasn’t on the list. Here’s what I learned.

First, as some of our friends have commented, it needs to be a written list. For this to work (and it does), you need the satisfaction of taking a pen and crossing items off the list as they’re completed. Also, don’t do what I did – if you tackle something that wasn’t on the list but should have been, add it. The more you can cross off each week, the better this strategy works.

The idea is to do this for a month at least. If it becomes a lifelong habit, I doubt you’ll ever regret starting it. You’ll get more done in a shorter time and, if you’re like me, that paper memory supplement works great. And along the way, you’ll build two vital habits – the habit of getting things done, and more importantly, the habit of success.

Now, what are your plans for the weekend? I told a friend today my plan is to hang around the neighborhood and avoid all those working stiffs who have to cram their weekend into two days. She still works, so she thought it was funny. But it’s true. Traffic, whether it’s on the streets, in parking lots, or in the checkout line at Costco, is always much worse on weekends.

A friend told me years ago that we’ll meet a lot of people in our lives who feel pretty financially secure. When presented a money-making opportunity, they’ll usually turn it down. People want what they don’t have, and if you already have plenty of money, you don’t always need more. Of course, some folks never learned that lesson.

But what many of these folks (and most of us) lack is time. You see, money is a renewable resource. When it’s gone, you can always make more. But time is finite. It’s even more important than money (unless you’re a bill collector), and still it seems we spend our entire lives chasing the wrong one. What good is a bunch of money if you don’t have time to enjoy it?

It’s the classic Catch-22, and we’re not left with a lot of viable alternatives. Ideally, we would do one of two things – increase our hourly pay so we don’t have to work all the time (good luck with that) or build a residual income on the side that doesn’t require our continual presence. In other words, something that can generate income even while you’re away.

There are lots of ways to do that. Robert Kiyosaki wrote a series of books on this topic, including Rich Dad Poor Dad and The Business of the 21st Century. If you can get past some of his self-aggrandizement (he’s earned it), both are excellent books to give you some ideas. But both stress the need to generate an income that works while you play.

That doesn’t mean hands-off. It means less hands-on. That’s time you can be sleeping, playing with the kids, on vacation, or whatever. It’s YOUR time to use the way YOU decide. Naturally, it has to generate enough income to allow this, and that takes time. Or a lot of money to start with. Those are your only real choices. And you have to choose now.

So, the question is pretty simple. Do you want to invest your time, or spend it? Investing time today can increase your income and lead to more free time down the road, sometimes much sooner than you’d think. But spending time is like a one-time event. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. So, make sure you spend it doing something YOU want to do.

Especially in this global economic turmoil, and with AI threatening millions of jobs across multiple industries, the time to start investing in ourselves is now. Today. In fact, if we haven’t already started, we’re late. You’ve heard this before, but you have to start digging the well before you get thirsty. And trust me, friends, it’s getting hot.

That’s all for now. Take some time this weekend and start thinking of ways you can invest in yourself. Don’t be shocked if you come up with a whole list. Meanwhile, have an awesome day and an even better weekend!

There’s Power in Fooling Yourself

September 14, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning! C’mon, it’s still morning where I live. I hope your day is off to a nice start. If not, come see me and we’ll find some trouble together.

Every week is a new beginning. Last week is gone. Whatever happened, the best you can do at this point is pick up the pieces and move on. And if something really good happened, you can build on it and continue the momentum. Regardless, every day is a new opportunity and a new beginning. It’s what we do with it that counts.

Every one of us, yourself included, has the ability to achieve great things. And, for every great idea, there are a dozen great “friends” to tell you it can’t be done. Or worse yet, that it can’t be done by you for any number of reasons they’re happy to share. Doubt sets in and we begin to fill in some of those reasons ourselves. Want to meet your worst critic? Look in a mirror.

And there’s a simple reason for it. When was the last time you attempted something big? Not like planting a tree, but like building a garage, or at least a boat. I like boats. And, believe me, I would love to build one. But you need a lot more room than I’ve got for that. Plus, until a week ago, I had another fulltime job and the company pretty much insisted I do their work first.

But the truth is, I know Dave. I would plan every detail on the boat including the color of the steering wheel, draw seventeen different versions of the deck layout, buy a set of plans, and then cut and assemble a bunch of pieces that are useless on anything but a boat, and in the end, I’d have to throw a cover on it for a year or ten. I know this because I’ve met me.

Maybe you’re more disciplined than I am. Maybe you get up in the morning, grab a cup of coffee, and start tackling your to-do list before it’s even finished. No project is too big, and you won’t rest until your list for today is complete. If so, rock on! You’re doing better than most, and maybe I can learn from you. I have the best of intentions. It’s the execution that suffers.

This is why I came up with the concept we discussed Friday – building the habit of success. If you succeed at everything you attempt, why would you think anything is beyond your capabilities? Success becomes more than a result – it’s a habit. And, as we all know, habits are fairly easy to form and ten times harder to break.

Achieving your ambitions becomes easier when you remove doubt, and a pattern of success is doubt’s greatest enemy. If you know the outcome before you even start, getting there is a lot more straightforward. And when those inevitable obstacles do pop up, you know you’ll get around them, because you already know how the story ends. It’s just a matter of getting there.

Last week, I asked you to build a simple to-do list for the next several days, and cross things off as you do them. Why? Because with each task you cross off, you reinforce in your mind that if you set out to do something, it WILL get done. Yes, it’s a mind game I play with myself. Why not? Everyone else does!

And the thing is, it works. Do it for a month. If, by the end of that month, you’ve made a reasonable list each time and crossed off every task (you have to actually DO it first), notice your mindset as you write a new list. Are you dreading the week or looking forward to it? Do you look at any item on the list and doubt it’ll get done? Of course not! Confidence is power.

That’s all for today. Put the power of confidence to work for yourself. Because when, in your mind, deciding to do something means your inevitable success in doing it, nothing can stop you!

Celebrate the Small Wins Before You Try Something Real

September 11, 2026September 12, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good afternoon, and happy Friday! Yeah, I know … I normally send these things out in the morning, but I just retired a week ago today. Gimme a break!

I won’t dwell on this, but to answer a few of the questions I’ve been asked:

How does it feel to be retired? AWESOME!!!
Do you feel different? Yeah … I’m not working every day.
Will you get a pension check? LOL. You’re kidding, right?
Has your wife accepted it yet? The jury is still out on that one.
Do you know what day it is? I’m retired, not stupid. It’s today. Duh!!!

I’ve been trying to get up early and stay active. So far, I’ve met some of those goals. I get up early. Not as early as I used to, but it still takes some effort. I just don’t want to sleep away my remaining years. There are things I wanted to do but couldn’t before, and now the only excuse is me. Can’t blame this on the boss any longer.

What are your plans for the weekend? I just built my own “To-Do” list, with ten tasks I need to complete by bedtime Tuesday. In other words, I won’t be going to sleep until sometime Thursday. But when you have too many things going on in your mind all at once, the average life span of any given thought is 2.8 seconds. I need a list before my wife starts writing one for me.

For what it’s worth, I’ve already completed the first three. Okay, in fairness, the first one was “Make a To-Do List.” This is all part of a concept I wrote about several years ago – achieving at little things to build the habit of success. When you repeatedly succeed at small things, it builds confidence as you try something a little harder. You know, like mopping the kitchen floor.

Here’s something I’d like you to try over the next few days. As you drink your morning coffee tomorrow, make a list of the things you plan to accomplish over the next few days. Simple stuff you know you can do, like getting the kids dressed (or keeping them dressed), taking out the trash, checking tire pressure on the car, or cleaning the grill. Oops! That’s one more for my list.

The idea is, write this stuff down, and then cross it off as you do it. Will it feel stupid at first? Absolutely! If not, you can join my chapter of the Procrastinator’s Club. I’ll even sponsor you. But the point is to give yourself a set of small, easily attainable goals and make a point of crossing them off as they’re completed. Then give yourself a small treat at the end of the day.

The treat is to get you do actually do it. Ice cream and bourbon work for me. But in doing these seemingly frivolous things each day, you begin building confidence in your ability to execute. When you promise your wife you’ll fix that slow leak under the kitchen sink, you know you’ll actually do it because YOU accomplish everything YOU set out to do. You’ve proven it.

And when, sometime down the road, you decide to take on a bigger project, you’ll know you can accomplish whatever you set out to do. Unless your goal is to sprout wings and fly. Even positivity has limits. You may need help. You may need funding or special training. You may need a stroke of luck. But you’ll always know you can make every one of those things happen.

That’s all for now. Have an awesome evening and an even better weekend. Before you go to bed, put that pen and paper where you can find it in the morning. And let me know how it’s working for you!t that pen and paper where you can find it in the morning. And let me know how it’s working for you!

No More Work Days, No More Clocks …

September 4, 2026September 4, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning, and happy Friday! I hope your day is off to a great start, and your week is sliding into a fantastic end.

This is a special day for me. Today I will turn on my work computer for the last time. At the end of the day, it’ll be shut down, packed up, and shipped back to my employer. My desk will be rearranged to accommodate a single computer, a new keyboard, and dedicated space for a cocktail glass. Yes, I’m allowed. I asked my wife.

While I have no plans of sitting around all day, it will be a change waking up Monday morning to my own schedule. I intend to get up the same time I do now, no later than 5:30 AM. I’ve found over the years that my creativity peaks very early in the morning, and writing is something I plan to do. That, and walking. I can’t just sit around. I have to do something.

I once read that if you ask a woman to tell you about herself, she usually begins by telling you about her family. How long she’s been married, how many kids, how many grandchildren … you get the idea. Ask a man the same question and we’ll invariably start by telling you what we do for a living. That’s just how we’re wired. It’s how we identify with ourselves.

And when you take away that portion of our identity, we lose our sense of worth. It’s like, for the very first time in our adult lives, nobody has to rely on us for income. In fact, the money would go further with us out of the way. (I sure hope my wife isn’t reading this. She watches too many crime shows anyway. I’m not sure if it’s entertainment or apprenticeship training.)

I’ve been through some of these emotions during previous layoffs. “Oh, Dave, you were great! It’s just business. Now call your wife and tell her you’re unemployed.” Of course, back then I had to find a job as quickly as possible, and every day I didn’t, I became more and more discouraged. This time is different. My resume has seen its final edit.

Oh, I’ll continue to work. I don’t think there’s enough bourbon in the county to let me sit around the house all day. Besides, she prefers rum. My brother-in-law told her, “You’re getting twice the husband at half the pay!” Thanks for having my back, bro! Already she’s dreaming up projects to get me out of the house. So far, none have a thing to do with the pool.

But that can all wait until next week. Right now, I’m working through my final day on the job, and hoping to leave on a high note. My goal was always simple – pass on some of what I’ve learned over the years and leave the place a little better than I found it. To the extent I had any influence, I think I’ve succeeded at both.

So, with that, a very long and satisfying career comes to an end. It’s not the end, but a beginning. As I make my own place in my new world, I’m leaving behind a place for someone else to fill in the old. Okay, three or four someone elses. It’s my blog.

Finally, as this day begins, I’d be remiss in not thanking my wife for her support over the years. I stuck my neck out a lot and took some calculated risks others may have advised against, and she was there every step of the way. In fact, the only thing we’ve really disagreed about is today – retirement. I think it just reminds her she married an old man.

Anyway, that’s it for now. Have an awesome day and an even better weekend. And sometime this evening, let’s hoist a drink together in honor of my retirement. Any time zone works. As a wise old sailor once said, it’s five o-clock somewhere!