Tim’s Story

My life so far: the wins, the bounces, and the lessons I learned the hard way.

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Newsletter – “An Irresistible Offer” by Tim McCarthy

By Tim McCarthy

October 15, 2019

It was 1988 and I was out of a job. And I was running out of time to provide for my young family of five. When I told people I’m...
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Newsletter – An Excerpt of the Book “Empty Abundance – (Sure, You Can Have a Bike)”

By Tim McCarthy

October 15, 2019

The most enduring gift Mom and Dad gave all ten of us was their abiding faith that hard work and education create independence. When I was nine, I asked Dad...
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Newsletter – An Excerpt of the Book “Empty Abundance” (Introduction)

By Tim McCarthy

October 15, 2019

“Life is difficult.” This was the first sentence of Scott Peck’s seminal book, “The Road Less Travelled.” Dr. Peck had not come up with a great revelation. “Life is suffering”...
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Newsletter: An Excerpt of the Book “Empty Abundance”

By Tim McCarthy

October 15, 2019

I know in my soul, as Bogle does, that I have more than enough. And so I spend most of my days working to serve those who serve the poor,...
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Newsletter: A Victimless Life

By Tim McCarthy

October 15, 2019

There is a big gap between supporting the displaced and poor and enabling people who view themselves as victims.  Our goal is the former and we avoid where possible the...
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You've Got a Friend
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You've Got a Friend

By James Taylor

October 15, 2019

Essence of the music/lyrics: My guitar hero, John Zingg, gave me the Taylor/Carol King live album recently and I was reminded listening to this song that it is still my...
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Someone Like You
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Someone Like You

By Adele

October 15, 2019

Essence of the music/lyrics: My daughter, Caitlin, recently introduced me to Adele of the outrageous voice. And for the voice gymnastics alone, this song is worth listening to. But I...
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Teach Your Children
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Teach Your Children

By Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

October 15, 2019

Essence of the music/lyrics: I’ve performed this song 100+ times in front of an audience and I never tire of its message.  That is, that learning parents and learning children...
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Murder in the City
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Murder in the City

By The Avett Brothers

October 15, 2019

Essence of the music/lyrics: It's a strange title and as with other Avett Brothers music this one uses humor to get your attention then delivers a message. Here, it is...
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Fix You
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Fix You

By Coldplay

October 15, 2019

Essence of the music/lyrics: My daughter gave me this song a couple years ago. I teased her that it could be called the codependant song. But last Saturday, the song...
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Liberte Frites
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Liberte Frites

By Kevin McCarthy, A Beautiful Loser

October 15, 2019

Essence of the music/lyrics: My own son reminds me in this song about the elusiveness of freedom. Kevin's been writing and performing for half his life, like most singer/songwriters with...
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The Living Years
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The Living Years

By Mike + The Mechanics

October 15, 2019

Essence of the music/lyrics: This is my favorite song ever about communication, particularly among family. It was published about the time my Dad died and my children were just starting...
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May Newsletter: “Lessons Lived”

By Tim McCarthy

October 15, 2019

Author’s Note: These short stories wind up a 12-part series exploring the lessons I’ve learned in building a foundation. I realized in writing these twelve articles that I’m not embarrassed...
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May Newsletter: Better People

By Tim McCarthy

October 15, 2019

My fondness for my son-in-law, Keith, grew on my daughter’s college graduation day. In his toast to her, he said “among the many things I love about you is that...
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QuoteTim's Story

March Quote: “I hope karma slaps you in the face before I do.”

October 15, 2019

Editor’s note: This is perhaps my favorite quote ever, a sign posted behind the desk of my friend, placed so no one can see it but him.
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Me and Bobby McGee
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Me and Bobby McGee

By Kris Kristofferson

October 15, 2019

Editor’s note: This is just a great throw-back song for me. A lot of memories come to me from this hitchhiker’s ballad of missing their mate, some of the best...
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March Newsletter: Good Passion/Bad Passion

By Tim McCarthy

October 15, 2019

Author’s Note: This is the 10th in a series of 12 articles about the mistakes we’ve made building our foundation since 1997. I’ve decided the last two articles will be...
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“List Power” by Tim McCarthy

By Tim McCarthy

October 15, 2019

The most underutilized asset of ANY organization is their database. Usually when I say this, my audience looks at me like, “I thought your introduction said you were a Madison...
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Here Comes the Sun
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Here Comes the Sun

By The Beatles

October 15, 2019

Editor’s Note: An oldie for this month since I’ve had some grey clouds the last few months. Then we spent last week celebrating my son Kevin’s love for his new...
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January Newsletter: You Can’t Change What You Can’t Measure

By Tim McCarthy

October 15, 2019

Author’s Note: This is the 7th in a series of 12 articles I’m writing on mistakes and learning in building our foundation since 1997. Last month, I wrote about the...
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January Blog “Social Service that Creates Economic Value” by Tim McCarthy

By Tim McCarthy

October 15, 2019

The Business of Good serves those who serve the poor. Over the years, we’ve focused on creating permanent change in lives of the poor rather than safety net social service....
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