Welcome to SmartsMatter

“What I lack in smarts, I make up for in work…and given how hard I have to work, I must not be that smart!”–Greg hague

Real Estate Rodeo

Today’s real estate market is like a rodeo. The competition for buying homes is more fierce than Bodacious.  In case you don’t know, he’s the 1,900

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Killer Cows

Cows kill more people than sharks. Surprised?  So was I. But it’s true. More people are trampled or kicked to death every year by cows. So why do sharks

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The 100% Rule

Do you know about The 100% Rule? I learned it from my dad, Chubby. He was the epitome of “all in” — never unclear, uncommitted, or “kinda

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Choices, Chances, Changes

With 2021 around the corner, many are pondering New Year’s resolutions. Some will be setting goals, but I will be making choices, taking chances, and causing changes.

Read More »

That Ain’t No Bull

I write a lot about my dad, Chubby. His guidance, inspiration, encouragement, and life lessons propelled me to a better life. Chubby earned the right to

Read More »

Uman Hay Anguage Lay

It’s ironic…as I begin writing this article about language, I realize that the very subject I’m writing about is what gives me the ability to

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Facts About Greenbacks

Ever wonder where the word “buck” comes from?   In the 18th century, buckskins (deerskins) were often traded as a form of barter.  Ever hear someone say they had

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Presley Gets Polio

A deadly virus is ravaging the country.  It’s a national emergency.  The quest to find an effective vaccine is critical. Sound like today?  It was actually 1952. Before COVID, poliovirus

Read More »

Babies By The Billions

A few weeks ago I wrote the first article in a new series called The Key To Captivating. It was about interesting and often unknown facts that

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Love Your Enemies

It’s been about a week since the election. While some celebrate, others commiserate. I expect we can all rejoice at the disappearance of political ads. Now

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Live A Legacy

The Plaza Hotel.   I don’t have to tell you where it’s located (because you already know).   20 stories.  282 rooms.  A Manhattan masterpiece. Over the past 113 years it

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Perfectly Imprefect

Many years ago my son, Brian, was excited to buy his first new car. He did weeks of research before deciding on a top of the line

Read More »

Big Scary Moments

In the late 1970’s I was invited to give a 20-minute presentation to over 1,000 Shaklee distributors in Cincinnati, Ohio, where I grew up. I had

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Three Circles of Worry

October ’62. Cuba. Missiles. Blockade. Nuclear War?… I’m 14… old enough to know the mess we’re in.  An American U-2 spy plane just photographed “hidden” Soviet SS-5 land-based

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Who Gets the Credit

It started with a phone call from my son. Brian: “Hey Dad, have a few minutes to talk? I have a question.” Dad: “Hey Bri,

Read More »

Lady Mondegreen

“O say can you see by the donzerly light. What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming…” When I was in elementary school, we sang

Read More »

Real Estate Rodeo

Today’s real estate market is like a rodeo. The competition for buying homes is more fierce than Bodacious.  In case you don’t know, he’s the 1,900

Read More »

Killer Cows

Cows kill more people than sharks. Surprised?  So was I. But it’s true. More people are trampled or kicked to death every year by cows. So why do sharks

Read More »

The 100% Rule

Do you know about The 100% Rule? I learned it from my dad, Chubby. He was the epitome of “all in” — never unclear, uncommitted, or “kinda

Read More »

Choices, Chances, Changes

With 2021 around the corner, many are pondering New Year’s resolutions. Some will be setting goals, but I will be making choices, taking chances, and causing changes.

Read More »

That Ain’t No Bull

I write a lot about my dad, Chubby. His guidance, inspiration, encouragement, and life lessons propelled me to a better life. Chubby earned the right to

Read More »

Uman Hay Anguage Lay

It’s ironic…as I begin writing this article about language, I realize that the very subject I’m writing about is what gives me the ability to

Read More »

Facts About Greenbacks

Ever wonder where the word “buck” comes from?   In the 18th century, buckskins (deerskins) were often traded as a form of barter.  Ever hear someone say they had

Read More »

Presley Gets Polio

A deadly virus is ravaging the country.  It’s a national emergency.  The quest to find an effective vaccine is critical. Sound like today?  It was actually 1952. Before COVID, poliovirus

Read More »

Babies By The Billions

A few weeks ago I wrote the first article in a new series called The Key To Captivating. It was about interesting and often unknown facts that

Read More »

Love Your Enemies

It’s been about a week since the election. While some celebrate, others commiserate. I expect we can all rejoice at the disappearance of political ads. Now

Read More »

Live A Legacy

The Plaza Hotel.   I don’t have to tell you where it’s located (because you already know).   20 stories.  282 rooms.  A Manhattan masterpiece. Over the past 113 years it

Read More »

Perfectly Imprefect

Many years ago my son, Brian, was excited to buy his first new car. He did weeks of research before deciding on a top of the line

Read More »

Big Scary Moments

In the late 1970’s I was invited to give a 20-minute presentation to over 1,000 Shaklee distributors in Cincinnati, Ohio, where I grew up. I had

Read More »

Three Circles of Worry

October ’62. Cuba. Missiles. Blockade. Nuclear War?… I’m 14… old enough to know the mess we’re in.  An American U-2 spy plane just photographed “hidden” Soviet SS-5 land-based

Read More »

Who Gets the Credit

It started with a phone call from my son. Brian: “Hey Dad, have a few minutes to talk? I have a question.” Dad: “Hey Bri,

Read More »

Lady Mondegreen

“O say can you see by the donzerly light. What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming…” When I was in elementary school, we sang

Read More »