All my life I’ve allowed my audience to constrain my writing. Writing was a product for teachers, academics, engineers, customers, and decision-makers. I succeeded if I satisfied my consumers. The cage door is now open and I am free to step outside. In Life, Phase 3, life untethered from work, I get to write for… Continue reading Phase 3 Writing
Month: October 2014
Travel Gear: Trekking Gloves
In Marketing class I learned about a man who had a bunch of folding stools to sell. He first positioned them as general-purpose folding stools, but there were no takers. He sold them all when he positioned them as fishing stools. A well-positioned product connects with a specific market. With a bit of luck, the… Continue reading Travel Gear: Trekking Gloves
Gas
It was breakfast at the Granvia Okayama Hotel. The tour group at the next table murmured in agreement as the colonel railed against typographical errors in the itinerary. I pegged him as “the colonel,” now a paper-pusher, close to retirement. It was impossible to tune him out as he recalled his first encounter with the… Continue reading Gas
Our Castle in England
I’m back in Minneapolis from my travels, so it is a priority to plan future travels. Today I booked an entire English castle for 2016. It’s just a little castle, actually a gatehouse, it’s only for a week, and it costs about the same as two hotel rooms. I want to introduce my nephews… Continue reading Our Castle in England
Monasteries on Rocks
“It’s a good trail.” I could tell from the young woman’s hiking boots and glowing expression it would, indeed, be a good trail. I gratefully accepted the walking stick (tree limb) her companion was ready to discard as they left the trail. I clambered over rocks and headed away from the idling tour buses. A… Continue reading Monasteries on Rocks
Views from a Rooftop Bar
“Great view.” I kept looking at the Acropolis. Then I realized I was being spoken to. I turned around to see a man in his 70’s. I muttered something in agreement. Hearing my accent he started a “Your Country” routine about British politics. “Wrong country,” I interrupted. Once he determined my actual citizenship he started… Continue reading Views from a Rooftop Bar