Selections from the John F. Kennedy Inaugural Address, Friday, January 20, 1961. 54 years have passed and we face the same challenges but seem possessed of less courage in our beliefs and less committed to spreading democracy.
Kennedy Inaugural Address 1961 Read More »
The process of maturing from boy to man, from a son to father to grandfather, moves forward imperceptibly on a day to day basis but inexorably year by year.
Key excerpts from Patrick Brady’s compelling and insightful “Enter the Deuce Series” with my own observations on managing chaos and consulting experts.
If You Are Cycling Through Chaos, Keep Pedaling Read More »
The following is excerpted from the December section of Abe Martin’s Almanack for 1908 by Kin Hubbard. Hubbard tells a story of a family reunion at Christmas–that must be at least partly autobiographical–from the point of view of a young man who has been estranged from his family returning home with his new wife. Like
Kin Hubbard on a Family Reunion at Christmas Read More »
We did something different for Thanksgiving 2014: we held a Bootstrapper’s Potluck and hosted a dinner for a dozen people or so with our family.
Some reflections on my relationship with my father seven years after his death. At least once a week I still get the urge to call him for advice or to update him on my children.
Joseph A Murphy 1925-2007, 7 Years On Read More »
Mike Silverman passed away Sep-13-2014 after a 14 month battle with cancer. He was an entrepreneur with tremendous energy and integrity. I will miss him. He founded Ops A La Carte in 2002 and built it up to a training, testing, and consulting organization providing work for dozens of experienced reliability engineers.
Mike Silverman 1964-2014 Read More »
I have started to reserve Sundays to write on spirituality, charity, and a higher moral purpose to our life as entrepreneurs. I was struck by the quote that Stephenson puts in Juanita’s mouth in Snow Crash and have concluded that he is performing a similar ministry in his science fiction writing. There is a sense
Neal Stephenson on Christianity, Grace, Sincerity, and Seeing Things as They Are Read More »
Happy 4th of July from all of us at SKMurphy! Here are some quotes to reflect on as you watch the fireworks.
I didn’t know Leonard Smith but I was forwarded a link by John McKenna two days ago to his obituary (originally published in GreenwichTime on Jan. 26, 2014) and I thought it captured the essential personality of people who bring change to organizations in trouble and often start new ones.
Leonard Smith 1927-2014 Read More »
We have a week left in 2013. This is a short post to collect some odds and ends on the day after Christmas, also known as Feast of St. Stephen or Boxing Day depending upon where you are reading this.
Through The Rude Wind’s Wild Lament And The Bitter Weather Read More »
Some observations on Thanksgiving 2013, punctuated by quotes from Soren Kierkegaard, W. T. Purkiser, W.N. Rieger and Albert Schweitzer.
Remembering 9-11: I found this video very moving because it focused on the people and not the destruction. h/t Victory Girls Remembering 9-11 Take ten minutes to reflect on Sep-11-2001, a watershed event for the US in the 21st century that I have come to believe is a harbinger and not an outlier. Last year
Remembering 9-11: Our Children Will Also Live In Interesting Times Read More »
Thanksgiving 2012 is a chance to reflect on all that I am grateful for: health, family, friends, and the opportunities I have been given.
Take a Moment To Remember 11 Years Ago; The 9-11 attack may be the question for my middle age that “where were you when John Kennedy was assassinated?” was in my youth.
Take a Moment To Remember 11 Years Ago Read More »
On Memorial Day 2012 in we commemorate those who died in the service of our country. I offer some excerpts from Lt. Col. Michael Strobl’s account of escorting the remains of a Marine killed in combat in 2004 for you to meditate on.
What follows are excerpts from a commencement speech given by David Foster Wallace to the 2005 graduating class at Kenyon College. I thought they were an appropriate antidote to a model for entrepreneurial motivation that aspires to make enough money to do whatever you want. Wallace outlines some of the risks in failing to align
David Foster Wallace: The Only Choice We Get is What to Worship Read More »
Reflections at Thanksgiving 2011: in the second half of my life, it’s time to appreciate all that I have and be more forthcoming in my gratitude to others.
Peggy Noonan notes we didn’t know what to call 9-11 at first, we called it “what happened.” This post is about remembering what happened.
Remembering What Happened Read More »
