Insights

Personal reflections on business, giving, and life’s big pivot — all from the messy middle of figuring it out.

Below is a collection of 1,134 posts Tim has made including blog posts, books, songs, quotes, and videos. Filter by category, type, or pathway to find what you need.

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I am a Rock
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I am a Rock

By Paul Simon

December 23, 2024

Editor’s note: Simon wrote many of the poems/songs that affected my development as a young man. This is a lovely cry for relationships and meaning using the metaphor of one...
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Truly Funny |  Calculating Fees
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Truly Funny |  Calculating Fees

By Tim McCarthy

December 2, 2024

Truly Funny: Calculating Fees During the days ad agencies were transforming from commission-based to fee-based compensation, we asked the chairman of our ad agency how he calculated the fees we...
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The Good News You May Have Missed
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The Good News You May Have Missed

By Angus Hervey

December 2, 2024

Book of The Month: "The Good News You May Have Missed" by Angus Hervey Editor’s note: No, it’s not a book, it is an 8-minute TED talk. Dr. Hervey is...
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Live Learn
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Live Learn

By The California Honeydrops

December 2, 2024

Song of the Month:  “Live Learn” by The California Honeydrops Editor’s note: Thanks to son, Kevin, for turning me on to this obscure band. This song represents their style well,...
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Wake Up, Get Up
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Wake Up, Get Up

By Sal LeCesse

December 2, 2024

“If you wake up, get up. If you get up, do something”. ---Sal LeCesse
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Don’t Get Mad, Get Busy
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Don’t Get Mad, Get Busy

By Tim McCarthy

December 2, 2024

There is no question that we, the people, have spoken. All three branches of government have been won by populist conservatives. The executive, legislative and judicial branch will be led...
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Funny Thing |  Agency Chairman
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Funny Thing |  Agency Chairman

By Tim McCarthy

October 31, 2024

Truly Funny: Agency Chairman Another one from my young advertising career…I took great pride in being a “rising star” in our agency. One day when I must have been a...
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When Breath Becomes Air
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When Breath Becomes Air

By Paul Kalanithi Editor

October 31, 2024

Book of The Month: "When Breath Becomes Air" by Paul Kalanithi Editor’s note: Don’t read this if death freaks you out. If you’re excited about “running through the tape”, like...
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A Little Max (Parfait)
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A Little Max (Parfait)

By Duke Ellington

October 31, 2024

Song of the Month:  “A Little Max (Parfait)” by Duke Ellington Editor’s note: I’m not a dedicated jazz fan but have enjoyed what I would term, jazz light, all my...
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Ego
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Ego

By Farnam Street

October 31, 2024

“The healthy part of ego helps when we lose; the humble side helps when we’re winning” ---Farnam Street
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Golden Rule 1.a, 1.b, and 1.c
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Golden Rule 1.a, 1.b, and 1.c

By Tim McCarthy

October 31, 2024

The best version of the golden rule is: “Treat others as you wish to be treated”. Ideally, that would be the only rule we need. But for real life, which...
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Funny Thing |  Beach Boy Fans
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Funny Thing |  Beach Boy Fans

By Tim McCarthy

September 30, 2024

Truly Funny: Beach Boy Fans I was an aspiring young ad agency executive, and our shop hired legendary ad man Bill Hesse to help us make new business presentation to...
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The Nickel Boys
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The Nickel Boys

By Colson Whitehead Editor

September 30, 2024

Book of The Month: "The Nickel Boys" by Colson Whitehead Editor’s note: This is the third Whitehead book I’ve featured. After enjoying his fictional character portrayals of 1970’s Harlem, I...
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Old Man
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Old Man

By Neil Young

September 30, 2024

Song of the Month:  “Old Man” by Neil Young Editor’s note: Befitting this month’s topic, here’s an oldie from my college days. Favorite lyric: “Old man, take a look at...
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Here’s to Life
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Here’s to Life

By Richard Lederer

September 30, 2024

  Now that I am full of years and white of hair and the evening star glows in the sky, I know that as my life accumulates, I am surprised...
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The View at 72
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The View at 72

By Tim McCarthy

September 30, 2024

This month I will celebrate 72 years on earth. Here are a few notes on the view from here. There is only one thing I do not like about being...
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Rating Your Playfulness
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Rating Your Playfulness

By Tim McCarthy

September 3, 2024

A spiritual writer I admire, Regina Brett, wrote “play like you mean it” in her recent blog and it got me thinking about rating my own skills for playfulness.  Score...
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Libraries are Raucous
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Libraries are Raucous

By Paula Poundstone

September 3, 2024

It’s funny that we think of libraries as quiet demure places where we are shushed by dusty, bun-balancing, bespectacled women. The truth is libraries are raucous clubhouses for free speech,...
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Growing Sideways
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Growing Sideways

By Noah Kahan

September 3, 2024

Song of the Month:  “Growing Sideways” by Noah Kahan Editor’s Note:   I love great turns of phrases, especially when the discussion is self-discovery.  This Noah Kahan song is his...
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A World Undone
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A World Undone

By G.J. Meyer

September 3, 2024

Book of The Month: "A World Undone" by G.J. Meyer Editor’s Note: My dear friend, Brian Bowers, enjoys many occupations.  One is working with the World War I museum in...
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Truly Funny  |  Father Norm Smith
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Truly Funny  |  Father Norm Smith

By Tim McCarthy

September 3, 2024

Truly Funny: Father Norm Smith New title for “Joke of the Month” since I’m going to keep doing true stories until I run out of them.  Fitting our “playfulness” theme,...
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