A Single Thread 

Volume XXIII, Number 50 (Issue 1159) December 15, 2025  A Single Thread  I moved to San Antonio from Houston on March 1, 1990, following the sale of my consulting practice to a larger competitor that was headquartered here. The decision to sell my firm was precipitated by a couple of impromptu conversations with the competitor’s CEO […]

The Last Place You Look 

Volume XXIII, Number 49 (Issue 1158) December 8, 2025  The Last Place You Look  Have you ever misplaced your keys or your glasses? Inevitably, they turn up in the last place you look. Duh! After all, why continue searching once you have found the object you are looking for? But what if what you are […]

The Courage of One’s Convictions 

 Volume XXIII, Number 48 (Issue 1157) December 1, 2025  The Courage of One’s Convictions  It was a cold Monday afternoon in February 1960 as Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair, Jr., Joseph McNeil, and David Richmond walked the mile and one-half from their dorm at Agriculture and Mechanical College of North Carolina to the F.W. Woolworth store in […]

Gratitude

Volume XXII, Number 47 (Issue 1156) November 24, 2025   Gratitude This time yesterday I had no clue what I was going to write about this week. I should explain that earlier in the week I settled on and began working on an initial draft devoted to the Peter Principle. I selected that topic based upon a […]

“If You Cannot Say, Amen…”

Volume XXIII, Number 46 (Issue 1155) November 17, 2025  “If You Cannot Say, Amen…“ … let me hear you say, Ouch!”  Polar opposite reactions? Yes, but I love the image that comes to mind due to that simple request. Being a practicing Episcopalian (aka God’s Frozen Chosen) but having been raised Southern Baptist, I can appreciate […]

Words of Wisdom 

Volume XXIII, Number 45 (Issue 1154) November 10, 2025  Words of Wisdom  Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending the annual Bert Fields Awards Dinner that recognizes some of the outstanding students from the Commercial Banking Program at Texas A&M University. It was a great evening, highlighted by three presentations. The first noteworthy […]

To Nepo or Not to Nepo? – Part II

Volume XXIII, Number 44 (Issue 1153) November 3, 2025  To Nepo or Not to Nepo? – Part II Picking up where we left off… Due to the length and nature of my career I have been blessed to advise countless family-owned and operated businesses. For that matter, I too have hired family and friends. Sometimes it […]

To Nepo or Not to Nepo? – Part I 

Volume XXIII, Number 43 (Issue 1152) October 27, 2025  To Nepo or Not to Nepo? – Part I  That is the question – and then some. As we have observed in the case of royal families, nepotism comes with the territory (aka title, primogeniture, throne, etc.). Sometimes the heir is worthy, sometimes not. The same is […]

To Know the Truth 

Volume XXIII, Number 42 (Issue 1151) October 20, 2025  To Know the Truth  Though the expression is “practice makes perfect,” we all know perfection is not readily achieved regardless of how hard we mortals try. Thus, it seems more appropriate to think in terms of practice makes things better and the more we practice, the […]

Practice Makes Better 

 Volume XXIII, Number 41 (Issue 1150) October 13, 2025  Practice Makes Better  Though the expression is “practice makes perfect,” we all know perfection is not readily achieved regardless of how hard we mortals try. Thus, it seems more appropriate to think in terms of practice makes things better and the more we practice, the better they […]