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

Are We On The Verge Of Martial Law

This is not about whether we should voluntarily wear face masks, it’s about whether the government has the right to: mandate that businesses closeprohibit live church services force us to

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Risk-Life Balance

This is meant to encourage thought, not controversy. I expect it will do both. 30% UNEMPLOYMENT… THIS QUARTER? Published in Bloomberg March 19:  “Federal Reserve Bank

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Pivot

COVID-19 has forced a lot of businesses to pivot.  While it’s not fun and can be stressful, pivoting can result in short and long term benefits

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Problem Solvers

We have all endured difficult times.  Loss of a loved one. Loss of a limb. Loss of net worth. Loss of direction. Loss of confidence.

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Two Hatted Dad

Has a brief moment in time ever changed the trajectory of your life?  It happened to Tom Leonard of Richmond, Virginia.  After Tom told me this story, we decided

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Finding A Ralph

One of my favorite quotes is by Imran Khan: “Compromise for your dream but NEVER compromise on your dream.”  I am inspired by people who

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Time. Options. Information.

Negotiation skill can make a multi-thousand dollar difference in crafting better deals. Whether you’re buying or selling cars, homes, anything expensive, knowing what to say

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No Plan B

A few years ago I had the honor to interview legendary race car driver, Mario Andretti. It was for a story in my book, How

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Special Skin

I didn’t have a dad growing up. My mom and grandma raised me.  But I did have an uncle. He was like a father to

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More Mistakes

Two weeks ago I wrote about 6 ways to make better decisions and fewer mistakes.  This is Part II, with a few more proven techniques

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Talkin’ Turkey

I love Thanksgiving. No pressure. No presents. Just food, football, family and friends.  For 14 straight years I’ve shared Turkey Day trivia in my Thanksgiving

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Mistakes

We all make mistakes, sometimes obvious ones. Why do smart people (like you and me) make bad decisions?  There are proven reasons why we mess

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Daylight Saving Time

Growing up in Cincinnati, I was all about Daylight Saving Time.  It meant an extra hour of playing with friends before the streetlights came on,

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Cities Take Control

Cities across the country are taking control, responding to a surge of citizen concern about the rapid proliferation of non-resident investor owned Airbnb rental operations

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