Uncategorized – Dave Glardon

What’s Your Fairy Tale?

October 23, 2026October 23, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning, and happy Friday! I hope your day is starting off just right.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you had a way to envision your future with absolute precision? To know right now that you may go through some hardships along the way, along a path that was nothing like you’d imagined, but on the other end of it all was the best life you could imagine, in just about every respect. Would you work a little harder? Would you worry a little less?

We’ve talked about this concept several times over the years. The life you dream about can be the life you live, as long as it’s in line with your deeply rooted values. Sure, we can all fake it for a short time or even try to change our values to match our situation, but any success we find in that scenario will be short-lived. For lasting success, we must be true to ourselves.

As a teenager, I saw myself as a rock star. Not just a star, a mega-star. I would travel the world in a private airliner with me at the controls. I would live on the water in Fort Lauderdale with a large yacht at the dock. I would have my own helicopter to get me to the airport, and I would play for thousands of screaming fans every night. You can stop laughing now.

I look at where I am today, and it’s so completely different in almost every way. I’m not rich, I’m not well-known, and I can’t play the guitar any better than I did fifty years ago. But I am living the life we’ve dreamed of for at least the past twenty years. Sure, there are some things I’d like to improve. And I know how to do that. So, any failure at this point is on me.

Have you ever taken time to nail down a vision of your perfect life? I’m not talking about a passing fancy, but really thinking about the various aspects of your ideal reality. Where would you live? What would you do? What kind of people would you be around? What would you do for fun? What kind of person would you be?

That last one is important, because some people are content with being a jerk. And if that’s your thing, more power to you. But most of us have a vision of ourselves in which we’re both successful and kind. We see ourselves as strong in the face of adversity, but magnanimous in the face of mistakes. Something like an honest politician, as if such a thing exists.

But the point is, we should all try every now and then to envision the future of our dreams. I’m not talking lottery-level dreams, but things you believe you can realistically achieve in your lifetime. Once you have that vision in mind, you can begin to see ways you can make it happen. If it’s a matter of money, figure it out. Make the math work. Cheat if you have to.

A close friend used to ask, “What would your dreams look like if you knew you couldn’t fail?” That’s powerful. Though maybe that should be, “… if you knew you wouldn’t fail.” I’ve met people who could mess up a peanut butter sandwich. But if you knew everything you want is within your reach, would that change the things you spend your time chasing?

Take some time this weekend when things are quiet and try to define a vision of your ideal life. Get a clear image in your mind and then write it down. Try to define as many aspects as possible of the life you want to enjoy and the person you want to be. Put it somewhere that you’ll read it from time to time. Try not to always do that on your worst days.

Your vision will change over time, and that’s okay. That may be because your values or goals have evolved, and it may be something forced upon you by circumstances over which you have no control. Life can change in an instant. But when it does, we need to reassess our abilities and assets, and plan a path forward within our new constraints.

Well, that’s all for today. My wife and I have a sign on the front of our house that says, “Our Happy Place.” What would it take to make you do the same? And whatever that is, I sincerely hope you achieve it. That’s my wish for every one of you. Enjoy your day and please have an awesome weekend!

Make Sure They Remember You!

October 16, 2026October 18, 2026 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

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

A few days ago, I called my insurance company to find out why they didn’t reimburse any of the money I paid for my hearing aids. To save myself and the insurance a little I went to a big-box retailer instead of a hearing lab. My benefit pays 80% after deductible, and my deductible was met in January, so I felt good about the purchase. That should have been my first sign.

As it turns out, this retailer isn’t in my network. None are. And apparently my deductible for out-of-network providers is five times higher than my in-network deductible. Long story short (too late), it was all out-of-pocket. I wasn’t happy. I made sure she knew I wasn’t happy. It didn’t make me happy, but dammit, everybody knew I wasn’t happy! Including my wife.

A day later I was in the pharmacy to change my insurance info and pick up a prescription. I was treated with the same warm service I’ve come to expect from that store, and at the end the pharmacist asked if he could do anything else for me, and I said, “Yes – have yourself a really awesome day!” He was speechless. I bet his wife would love to know that trick.

I love ending transactions with people that way, whether it’s in-person or on the phone. People don’t expect it. They expect the same mechanical response they always get, as the encounter trails off to nothing and they’re left waiting for the next customer who may or may not be in a good mood. And let’s face it – in customer service, the odds are not in their favor.

When the conversation isn’t going as I’d hoped, I try to re-state my position, in case I missed an important point the first time. Then I remind myself this person doesn’t make the rules. I’ll tell them I’m not upset with them personally. That’s as much for me as for them. But once I say that, the ball is in their court. We can play nicely, or we can throw jabs.

Thankfully, most interactions lately have been pleasant, even enjoyable. I think a lot of that is my expectation going in – if I expect conflict, it usually doesn’t take long to find it. But when I go in expecting a reasonable conversation and at least an attitude of concern on their part, things seem to go much smoother. And some have even bent the rules in my favor.

But at the very end, when the encounter is over and I have one last chance to end it on a positive note, I take that opportunity. “Have a nice day” is kind and peaceful and warm. It’s also the most automated thing you can say, like two dudes nodding in passing and saying, “Whassup?” Trust me, you may not want to know. Let them keep their secrets to themselves.

And we all know “can I do anything else for you” comes straight out of the training manual. It’s an automated way of asking you to leave. “We’re done now – bye!” And they expect an automated reply. But when you hit them with something they didn’t expect, they not only hear it, they dwell on it for a second. In that brief moment, you’ve made their day … and yours.

Because you can’t make somebody else smile without smiling yourself. It may be inside, where nobody can see it and accuse you of being happy. But it’s there, nevertheless. It makes you feel good and you probably remember it long after they’ve forgotten. I do. Maybe that’s a sign I should be doing it more.

You’ll undoubtedly have several encounters with live human beings this weekend. Some will be nicer than others, but they all have one thing in common – they had a day before you showed up, and it may have been a really bad one. I’ve seen near-rage smoothed over with a gentle word. But it has to be genuine. A heartfelt kindness or compliment can change everything.

Give it a try. Make it an intentional part of your interactions. Find something nice to say about them personally (“You have an amazing knowledge of your company’s rules!”) and leave them with a smile before you walk away. Don’t just wish them a nice day. Ask them to please enjoy the rest of their day as if it’s a personal favor to you. Try it one time and then tell me how it felt.

That’s all for now. Spread some cheer this weekend and if you like how it feels, keep doing it! Kindness is contagious. So is malice. We decide which one we choose to spread. We all know how negativity feels, so let’s try on the other shoe for a change. And please, have yourself an awesome day!

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!

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!

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!