Dave Glardon

Celebrate the Small Wins Before You Try Something Real

September 11, 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, and my wife is still working on hers.

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 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!

Predictability in Life – There’s More Integrity in Politics

August 31, 2026August 31, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning! It’s been a while since my last post. I’d like to say I just got lazy again, but life demanded my attention in other areas. It happens.

We said goodbye to a dear friend at the start of summer. She was only 56 and had so much more life ahead of her. But it was her choice to forego treatment this time around, and I know she’s at rest now. That’s the downside to living in a community for older folks. We’re all at that end of life, and saying goodbye gets harder each time.

After a trip to Ohio to watch two of our granddaughters graduate high school, we came home for a couple of weeks before my wife underwent intense abdominal surgery. She spent 26 of the next 28 days in three different hospitals. Two months later, we’re still not there. Anything you’d like to know about the Tucson medical scene? My advice is to stay healthy.

With over $500k in bills starting to come in and a wife needing nearly constant care, I got to navigate the Family Medical Leave Act. I can tell you two things. Caregivers and form filler-outers don’t get paid enough. Those forms are as confusing as they could possibly be, all with the goal of denying your request. Mine was denied four times before they finally gave in a little.

Meanwhile, half of my team at work was laid off. I was likely on that list until my FMLA was approved. Watching 15 people, all younger than me, lose their job while I’m this close to retirement has been hard. They’re all solid professionals and I know they’ll somehow rise to the top. Life is full of detours, but sometimes that’s how we reach the best destinations.

So, how does this all wrap up? Well, one of my granddaughters just had her first day at Ohio State University, and the other just started a new job. My wife has been home for close to six weeks, and she’s still on oxygen 24/7, but she’s getting better week by week. Since my department was dissolved in the layoff, I got moved to another department. For exactly three weeks.

Today is my last Monday in the traditional workforce. I’m officially retiring the end of this week. This is what I’ve worked for the past 54 years, and I’m ready for it. There will be no big celebration at work, no gold watch, likely nothing more than a few emails from coworkers with the requisite “it’s been nice” sentiment. But that’s okay. A week from today, they’ll move forward without me.

As I go through a week of “lasts” at work, I hope I’ll hear from some of the many dear friends I made over the past 10 years. I’ve been reaching out to those I worked most closely with, but some of the best are people I only worked with once or just met in passing. I know I’ll overlook several, because there are too many to list. But I’ll try to catch ‘em all.

Anyway, as of next Monday, this will be my fulltime job. Well, not necessarily a weekly blog, but writing in general. I’ve got a couple of books started, and I’m planning to find my way into some motivational speaking. That’s been my dream for years and, as I’ve said many times in the past, we’re never too old to chase our dreams. A new chapter of life can always begin.

That’s all for now. This has been a little longer than some, and I’ll try to tighten up in the coming weeks. I’ll send you another update Friday as I begin my final day of work. Until then, have an awesome day and an even better week!

Tears or Cheers – They All Count the Same

May 15, 2026May 15, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning, and happy Friday! I hope you’ve all had an awesome week!

This has been a special week for me. Our granddaughter is graduating high school, and I couldn’t be more proud. I won’t share her life’s details except to say she overcame a mountain of adversity to reach this exciting accomplishment, but she would never have accepted anything less than complete success. I told her the other night she is who I want to be if I ever grow up.

She attended a county career center for the past two years, in a veterinary science program. That means two graduation ceremonies – one for the career center and one for her home school. I don’t mind. It’s not like they’re charging admission. Honestly, I think they missed a huge opportunity there because grandparents would absolutely pay it. I know. I’ve done it.

Her career center ceremony was this past Tuesday. The room was buzzing with anticipation. And then they started playing that song. You know the song. And I was instantly reduced to a blubbering old man who couldn’t form a word if his life depended on it. I haven’t cried that much in a long time, and I’m not ashamed to say it.

So, tonight is her actual high school graduation. Different venue, different participants, different speeches. But one thing won’t change – they’ll start the whole thing off with that song. I’m crying just thinking about it. Ladies, do we get extra “sensitivity” points for crying at the mere thought of crying? There has to be some kind of scale there.

And next week I get to do it all again with our next granddaughter. Different venue, different participants, different speeches … and that song. I’ve come to realize that’s what turns on the waterworks for me, much like a bridal march brings out the macho in women. It’s not the song itself, but the meaning behind it. A beginning and an end. A day they’ll never forget.

You may find this hard to believe, but I used to be fairly critical of the younger generation. Please tell me you find that hard to believe. I don’t know why, and that’s something about my past I wish I could change. For the record, I was equally critical of politicians and CEOs, if that counts for anything.

But when I look at these young people proudly walking across that stage to receive the written proof of their accomplishment, I see diversity and intelligence and passion and, above all, hope for the future. Not so much my future, because I’m closer to the other end than I care to acknowledge. But their future, and their kids’ future. And I think it’s in very capable hands.

There comes a time for all of us when we have to step back and hand over the reins. It’s like the first time sitting in the passenger seat of your car as your teenager adjusts the mirrors. It takes trust, and a lot of love, not to mention a really tight seatbelt. And they won’t get it right every time. But they will get better. And, with very few exceptions, none of their mistakes can’t be fixed.

So, to all the young folks graduating and moving on into the world this week, congratulations! To their parents, woohoo!!! And to their should’ve-retired-at-least-a-year-ago grandfathers, don’t forget to pack some tissues. (I had to write the retirement thing in case my wife reads this.)

That’s all for now, folks. I’ll be back next week with … well, something. Enjoy your day and do something kind for yourself or somebody else. And have an awesome weekend!

Your Future Started Yesterday – Catch Up!

March 16, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning! I hope your day is off to a nice start. It’s a brand-new week. Let’s see what kind of good trouble we can stir up!

We talked last week about income and retirement and the whole concept of waiting until your body is so old and broken you can’t do much of anything to enjoy what you’ve spent a lifetime building. I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t interest me in the least.

The whole retirement system is based on life expectancy, which is a nice way of saying the system can’t survive if we live too long. Comforting, isn’t it? According to Social Security’s actuarial tables, if you’re 40 today, your life is half over. And you still have another 27 years to work. How’s that for a dose of reality?

But here’s some good news – the younger you are, the more you can influence not only the time you spend on this earth, but the quality of that time as well. And the key is planning, doing something now so you don’t have to do it later. Anticipate the inevitable, and work now to mitigate any negative consequences it may bring.

The “inevitable,” obviously, is getting old and still needing money. “Oh, she can’t afford to live there – she’s on a fixed income.” You hear it all the time. And all too often, that becomes, “She can’t afford food – she’s on a fixed income.” Well, dammit, maybe we need to ditch the fixed income! Who says you can’t keep up the cash flow in retirement? People do it every day.

But they did something most people haven’t done, and that’s recognizing and taking advantage of opportunity. If we only open our eyes and ears, and maybe use our imagination just a little, opportunity is all around us. It’s knocking on your door right every day. But, unlike an armed assailant, it won’t kick the door down. I’ll knock once or twice, and then quietly move on.

All opportunity asks is that you take the time to open the door and open your mind. Sure, sometimes it’s a scam, engineered specifically to part you from your hard-earned money. Other times, it may be a solid premise without the planning and insight to bring it to fruition. But if your mind is clouded by those expectations, you’re gonna miss something big.

And sometimes, the simplest of opportunities are the big ones. I read years ago about a group of elderly women who started a business cleaning up gravesites for family members who didn’t have time do it on their own. They’d pull weeds, polish the headstone, and even leave flowers for an extra fee. And they got rich doing it. All because they saw a need and filled it.

That’s just one of many examples I could share. And the thing is, none of these require any special skills or equipment. They don’t require any specific education, and most can be started for less than most of us spend on snacks and gourmet coffee in a week. That may be hard to comprehend, but it’s true. All you have to do is open your mind and see what’s possible.

It’s been said that the mind is like a parachute – it only works when it’s open. It’s easy to come up with reasons something can’t work. But it’s even easier to imagine why it can. Not every opportunity will appeal to you, and some may not work for you, personally. But opportunity is like a puppy – if you keep pushing it away, it’ll eventually stop trying.

That’s all for today. Give opportunity a chance. Find one that looks right for you and then give it everything you’ve got. If it doesn’t work, you’re that much closer to finding something that will. Give it some thought this week. Meanwhile, have an awesome day!

A Steady Drip Can Fill the Bucket

March 13, 2026March 13, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning! I hope your Friday is starting off well. Guess what? The weekend is here!

In my previous post, we talked about winning the lottery. Or was it giving your boss the finger? I may have quoted some people I admire. Okay, I rambled a lot. But the one thing I do remember is I promised to at least try to keep these posts to a manageable word count. Let’s see how that works.

For most of us, retirement comes with a few prerequisites. First, you have to be old. Like, really old. Second, you have to be rich. But you have to be the kind of rich person nobody would suspect – driving an old car just because it’s paid for, flying economy coach, and dining out only if you have coupons. In other words, you can have it – but you can never enjoy it.

Why? Because you have to save that money for your kids! Oh, sure, they’re more educated and have better jobs. But society teaches us that we have to be responsible, which sounds a lot like making sure we die long before our money runs out. That doesn’t interest me a bit.

Still, what if we approached this whole retirement thing a different way? Remember when I said something about retiring while you’re still young enough and healthy enough to enjoy it? Yes, I remember what I wrote. I don’t remember what I had for lunch, but I’m sure I enjoyed it. I always do.

Now I’m hungry again. Where were we? Oh yeah, what if we could retire before we get so old? What if we could do it before the kids were grown? Or, what if (gasp!) we could do it before the kids are even born? It happens every day. I know plenty of people who retired at a very young age.

And what about all that money we need to have buried in the back yard? What if, instead of walking away from our income, we replaced it? A retirement account is great if you were disciplined enough as a kid to sock your money away instead of spending it on junk cars and beer. The rest of us are gonna need a little help.

Replacing your income doesn’t all have to happen at once. You can start small and build. Have you ever seen what happens when you keep adding little pieces of candy to a jar? Sooner or later, it fills up. Then the kids come along and eat it all, but that’s okay, because you can always do it again. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. A little here and a little there adds up.

Whether you retire at 25, 45, 65, or 85, the rules are still the same. You have to take in at least what you shell out. If sitting in a wheelchair waving at cars as they pass the old folks’ home is your idea of retirement, go right ahead. Most of us would like a little more than that. And we all have the power to make that happen.

That’s it for now. We’ll talk more about this, because I think now more than ever, we have to take control of our own destiny. Give it some thought and be sure to message me if I can help. Meanwhile, be safe and have an awesome weekend!

Too Old to Work, Too Young to Die

March 10, 2026March 7, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Motivational Humor

Good morning! I hope your day is off to a nice start.

Ask anybody what’s the first thing they’d do if they hit the lottery, and there are a few standard responses you can count on. Okay, after they pick themselves up off the floor. Let’s be real, some of these jackpots are pretty huge, and to suddenly realize you’ve just become rich beyond your wildest dreams would bring most of us to our knees.

The next thing they say is something to the effect of, “I’d walk into work tomorrow in my pajamas with an open bottle of bourbon and tell ‘em to put this job where the sun doesn’t shine!” Okay, a little colorful, but you get it. I’ve often said I’ll have to work until noon the day of my funeral, but it would be nice to think I have options, you know?

No, I didn’t hit the lottery. I’m told you have to actually buy a ticket and, while that would make for an awesome retirement, it’s just not my style. Maybe because I’m not getting any younger and, with lottery games twice a week, I’m running out of time.

I believe most of us dream of a day when we can walk into work, look around, and say, “I just don’t feel like doing this anymore.” Hopefully that coincides with the day we no longer need the income, but when you’ve worked your whole life, that’s a hard concept to fathom. It’s even harder to think of the changes I’ll have to make when that day comes.

I’ve never been able to imagine not needing any additional money. But that’s mostly because we had to scrape by for so many years and, now that we’re finally living the life we’ve worked so hard to achieve, I’m not ready to give that up.

And, make no mistake, we don’t live a life of unbridled luxury. We have a small one-bedroom home in a tropical RV resort. We cook most of our own meals, watch reruns of Big Bang Theory, and pay bills every payday. But we live among people our own age who, like us, refuse to sit in the house and grow old. Besides, there are no kids to yell at for stepping on our lawn.

In fact, we don’t even have a lawn. We have a three-foot gravel border around our house and yard work consists of spraying for weeds. The hardest thing I do outside is walking to the pool, and that’s only if the golf cart needs charging. We spend time with friends, have drinks on the deck and bribe our neighbors’ dogs with treats, and dance every chance we get. Life is good.

Sound like a tough life? I know. We worked hard to get here and made some sacrifices along the way. And you know what? I love it! I can’t imagine spending my days any other way, other than not having to get up at 5 AM every morning to sit at my desk for eight hours at a time, working to make somebody else rich. That part still sucks.

At some point this year, I plan to join the ranks of the happily retired. When you get this old, you begin to realize there’s more to life than work. Not to mention the fact that if I keep working much longer, I’ll be too old, too crippled, and too tired to enjoy what I’ve worked for.

And I have no visions of lounging around the pool or spending every morning on the golf course. My retirement will, by necessity, involve extra income, and Social Security declined my request for an increase. They’re funny like that. So, if it’s to be, it’s up to me. Seems I read that somewhere.

That means now is the time. I’ve often said you need to dig the well before you get thirsty. Yes, I read that, too. What it means is, get moving. Build a plan, and put that plan into motion before the bills come due. Thankfully, I’ve had side jobs most of my adult life, including writing, pizza delivery, and stand-up comedy. Work is part of who I am. I just want to do it on my own terms.

Are you in the same boat? Maybe you’re nowhere near retirement, but you have this incredible sense of doom knowing a freight train is headed your way, and you can’t just sidestep it. We’ve all been there. Rita Davenport once said if money can fix a problem, it’s not a problem. Fix it! And there are more ways to do that than you’d ever imagine.

We’ll talk more about this in the coming weeks, but I wanted to plant the seed. We live in very uncertain times, and everything we’ve known about life to this point could change in an instant. But that doesn’t mean we should stop trying. No matter what, we will always be the primary factor in our own success.

That’s all for now. I’m planning to write these posts more regularly and shorten them up while I’m at it. Stop laughing! But thanks for the time you spend with me, because it really does mean a lot. Drop me a line when you have time. Meanwhile, have an awesome day!

Tune In and Zone Out

February 6, 2026February 9, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning! I hope your day is off to a great start, and building toward an awesome weekend! Now, let’s dive into a topic most of us tend to avoid because, on the surface, it smells a little like politics. Rest assured, this is not political. That’s not my style. But I do think we need to consider the effect 24-hour news can have on our emotional and spiritual health.

With all that’s transpired over the past several months, especially these past few days and weeks, it’s hard not to become obsessed with the news. I know people, including my own daughter, who intentionally avoid current events, just to preserve their own sanity. I get it. News can be disheartening, if not downright infuriating. And who wants to watch this stuff all day?

But let’s be real. We should all try to maintain at least a basic awareness of what’s going on around us. I’ve mentioned hurricanes that are threatening my daughter’s home, and more than once she’s asked, “What are you talking about?” Avoiding news is one thing, but we can’t just live in a media vacuum, especially when there are things we need to know to protect ourselves. Agreed?

I try to take a more measured approach. I catch up on the news once a day, maybe more if there’s a developing story. Right now, in my hometown of Tucson, an elderly woman is missing from her home in a story that’s captured global news. I pray for a happy outcome, though I do check the news from time to time to see if there have been any updates.

That said, media obsession is becoming an alarmingly potent force in our society, and I’ve seen a lot of friends fall into that abyss. News, especially politics, can completely consume our thoughts to the point that nothing else can creep in. And when we take those thoughts to work, or church, or social media, or family dinners, we find ourselves embracing the abyss instead of trying to climb back out.

It’s impossible to see anything and not have an opinion on it. That’s your brain processing input and applying your own personal values to it. But let me ask a question. When was the last time you got anybody on social media to change their mind about anything? Or live and in-person, either? I don’t have enough old calendars to go back that far. Do you? If so, we need to talk.

When we obsess over the news and our opinions about it, the only people who pay attention are others who also obsess over the news and already think like we do or are firmly on the other side. We can point out hypocrisy, pass judgment, or call people names. It may make us feel better for the moment, but it does nothing to advance our cause. In fact, most times it has the opposite effect.

By all means, be aware of the world around you. That’s healthy. Discuss your concerns with people who care and may be able to help shape your perspective. Then back away. Find something else to occupy your mind, something that stimulates your mind and body. Play with the kids. Sit on the porch. Take the dog for a walk. Or binge your favorite TV show. Anything to reclaim your mind.

Tune in long enough to see if anything warrants your immediate attention and then zone out. The news will continue just fine without you. Trust me. If you want to take an active role in shaping the news, get involved. Write or call your elected representatives. Draw up a poster and participate in peaceful protest. Record events from a distance that’s safe for you and everyone else.

Then hang up the phone, go home, and do something that restores your mind, body, and soul. Focusing our entire being on things we can’t change won’t fix anything. There’s more to life – enjoy it. And always remember the Serenity Prayer – “God grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom always to know the difference.”

This is my prayer for each you, my friends – today and every day. Please share your thoughts in the comments. I’d really like to hear from you. Meanwhile, have a safe and happy Friday, and an even better weekend!

Got Plans? Reality Will Take That Challenge!

January 5, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning, folks, and happy New Year!!! I hope yours is off to a great start.

It’s been some time since my last regular post, so I’ll try to keep this at least reasonably brief and focused. Those of you who know me best are already laughing.

We all face each New Year with hopes, dreams, and expectations of how life will take shape. But sometimes fate has a mind of its own and we’re just along for the ride, or so it would seem. In my case, fate got a running start Christmas Eve and, by the end of the weekend, gave me a full taste of what life can be when we haven’t treated our body with the best of intentions.

I knew how 2025 was going to end and what the first days of 2026 would bring. Or so I thought. The morning of Dec 29, my wife was scheduled for some pretty intense abdominal surgery that would have kept her in ICU for at least a few days. We knew it would be a rough ride, and it would be some time before life got back to normal. But sometimes we don’t have a choice.

We spent the weekend doing the things we love most – spending time with friends, breakfast at our favorite little restaurant, a trip to the top of Mt. Lemmon, and just generally spending as much time together as possible. It was the perfect weekend. Then fate stepped in and took a swing at the kneecaps. Or the gallbladder, as luck would have it.

I woke up just before midnight the night before her surgery with the worst abdominal pain I’ve ever had. I went from the bed to my recliner, back and forth at least a half-dozen times, stopping by the bathroom each time to empty the contents of my entire digestive system. I brought up food I don’t even remember eating. Of course, it’s possible it mutated over time. That’s my theory.

My wife was convinced I had an intestinal virus and, at 3:30 in the morning, called the hospital to cancel her surgery. By 7:30, I was on an ER bed expecting news of the impending detonation of my appendix. As it turned out, I had a gall stone blocking the entrance to the bile duct, and my gallbladder was expanding faster than a politician’s wallet.

Six hours later I took an assisted nap in the operating room, and by early evening I was headed home. Say what you want about our healthcare system (I’ll probably agree), medical technology is nothing short of miraculous. I never got to thank the robot that assisted with my surgery.

I felt better the next day … sore, but with four new holes in my belly, that’s to be expected. That night, I couldn’t sleep in bed without an abnormal amount of pain. The third day I was tired and sluggish, with moderate pain and a low-grade fever. Back to the ER, where I rang in the New Year. My liver enzymes were way up, and I was developing a mild case of jaundice.

After two full days in somebody else’s bed (with none of the good stories to go with it), another round of tests, and more holes in my arm than a cheap pair of sneakers, they determined I must have passed an errant gallstone or two. All told, it could have been a lot worse. I’m just happy to be back in my own little corner in my own little chair (all due credit to the original Cinderella).

So, what’s the point of this rambling post? Well, there are a few things I’d like to impart. First, never assume you have any idea what tomorrow will bring, because we never really know. Life has very little regard for our plans and feels no compulsion to support them. About the time we think we’ve got it figured out, something will come along to humble us.

Secondly, pay attention to your body when it starts talking (or screaming, in this case). What ended up being a relatively routine surgery with mild complications after could have been a whole lot worse. Gallstones aren’t necessarily the benign inconvenience we think they should be, and the cemetery is full of people who found that out the hard way.

Finally, life isn’t over until the fat lady sings. Thankfully, I don’t know any fat ladies who sing, and I plan to keep it that way. Until then, I’ll make the most of every day and rededicate myself to the goals and dreams I’ve let slip by year after year. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Not even a celebratory toast (or regular toast) on New Year’s Eve. All we can do is pick up the pieces and move on.

This post was much longer than I’d planned (you knew that from the start), but I hope I’ve inspired you to do three things – take care of yourself, enjoy time with those you love, and never let life’s speed bumps bring you to a complete standstill. Regardless of how it started, my 2026 will be the most awesome year ever! I hope you’ll come along for the ride.

That’s all for now. I’ll be posting more regularly in the coming months, but in a different format I’ll share with you soon. Thanks so much for being with me all these years. I hope your day, and all of 2026, are the best ever!

When Plans Meet Reality, Keep Stirring

April 2, 2025April 1, 2025 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning! I hope your day is off to a nice start.

In business, each month begins a new set of books. The old month is over and what’s done is done. All we have now are projections for the new month. In most cases, it’s a shot in the dark, like a kid telling you their grades will improve, and their room will be spotless by Friday.

I was once tasked to write a business plan for a corporate expansion – one that, if projections came true, would create more than 1,000 new jobs and result in the local government giving our company a large regional airport for free. I’ll save you some time. The company did expand into the new line of business. And the airport still belongs to the county.

The numbers just didn’t work. If we had hired all those people and put our plan into motion, we would have run out of new customers in a matter of months. And that’s if every potential customer in the nation bought our new product during that time. This wasn’t like Beanie Babies™. It was a mobile data terminal for heavy trucks. Exciting, huh?

My plan showed a profit of more than $20 million in the first six months. Wow! After that, our profit would drop to zero and all those people would be unemployed. So, the boss had an idea. “What if we increase our per-unit cost, and double the time it takes to build each unit?” Well, now we’d lose $13 million in the first six months and would never recoup that loss. Back to the drawing board.

We played with those numbers for a month, and I finally told the boss I sure hope somebody a lot smarter than me would be reviewing the plan. He assured me this is how ALL business plans are written. I find that a bit disturbing. Thank God we weren’t building airplanes. Thank God we weren’t building airplanes.

It’s easy to start new endeavors with an overabundance of excitement. “Wow, I’ll be rich by next Friday! I should buy that new car now before the prices go up!” Thankfully, the practical side of our brain kicks in and brings us back to earth, maybe a little too much. Then we start to doubt the entire premise. “This can’t be that easy. Maybe the whole idea is stupid.” Sound familiar?

The truth is, nothing is ever as easy as it sounds, and nothing ever goes completely according to plan. Just ask NASA. But that shouldn’t stop us from trying. We just need to set realistic expectations and anticipate setbacks. If the idea is sound, it’ll still work. You may just need to tweak it a bit.

Fifty-six years ago, man first walked on the moon. It was a lofty goal. And we’ve all seen video of those early attempts at manned space flight. They weren’t pretty. Your dreams are no less important. You may not reach your goal as quickly as you’d hoped, but if you follow the plan and revise expectations based on experience, success is still out there waiting.

That’s all for now. Keep those dreams alive and never let anything stand in your way, especially your own imagination. Have an awesome day!