You can’t go home again

“You can’t go home again.”  So says Thomas Wolfe in a novel written way before I was ever born.  I graduated high school in 1993.  Johnson City-a small town in Texas that had 932 in population they day I set off for college.  Graduated college from Angelo State University in 1997 and soon after set out for the world of radio. This year, I accepted a job in San Antonio, just 60 minutes away from the town I grew up in.  I came back home. I have spent the past 15+ years dreaming of the day I could return to Texas and be surrounded by my family.  I live a blessed life and thank my lucky stars each day that […]

You don’t have to be right.

Some people need to be right.  It makes them feel better about themselves or validates their feelings and convictions.  This might come from a place of insecurity.  By trying to flex your mental muscles all of the time, you actually come across as weak.  The person talking the most doesn’t usually translate to the being the smartest person in the room.  It takes a lot of energy to try to convince the room of your point and direction.  Energy better utilized in the timeline of the goal don’t you think?  Do not get clouded by the need to be right where you miss all of your chances of getting your point across. Like driving in an area you have never […]

Timmy fell in the well? Don’t call the dog!

When you are at the bottom of the well looking up at the small round piece of blue sky, all you can think about is getting out.  Your only goal is to not be where you are right now.  Too many people only think about that one thing-getting out.  Yet, there is an even larger hurdle to deal with…what are you going to do after you get out? Nobody thinks about the next step.  Ok, I climbed out of this metaphoric “well” of life issues and stress.  All I want to do is get away from the thing that is consuming me or causing the stress.  For some it’s a job, a relationship or a financial situation.  For others…they could […]

Shaken…not stirred

I’m a Gin drinker.  Bombay Sapphire martini, dirty, up with one extra olive to be exact.  It’s the only time in my life where I sound “cool” ordering a drink.  Not James Bond cool, but still kind of worldly.  This is the only way I know how to order a martini.   Anyway. The other day I spoke with a former co-worker.  He and I started new jobs around the same time and he had come to me for advice on dealing with having to answer to a new group of people, who do things a lot differently than he was used to. He was being somewhat micro managed at the time and it was a more attention and coaching […]

Everything in life can be learned on Twitter?

Sometimes I give advice. My intention is to never come off as a pretentious ass who knows more than the rest of the room.  Everyone has advice to give and advice is just…advice.  Nobody is forced to make life changes because of something someone said in a witty quote from Facebook or twitter.  Yet, in life, we should all keep an open mind.  I stumble across messages all the time that inspire me to write something or think deeper about a particular topic.  It’s like watching the Food Network and getting inspired to cook a meal you have never made before.  If something I see, experience or read triggers me to start thinking; I write it down and share it […]

Somebody spot me! (no pain…no gain)

This morning, at the gym, I lifted more weight than intended. I workout 4-5  times a week and have done so for the past 5 years.  I’m a type 2 diabetic and I enjoy eating.  In order to not blow up, I have to kill myself almost every morning around 5:30am.  (Anyone seen the weight room? Chris Farley voice) Regardless, I was doing an isolated bench press round and was using dumbbells.  Someone placed the weights in the wrong spot and I didn’t double check the pounds before I started the exercise.  I was planning on doing 10 reps and midway through, after feeling more resistance than expected, I looked up and saw that I was pushing 10lbs per dumbbell […]

Sh#t my kids say.

My 5 year old daughter started school this week.  It’s a big deal in the Murphy household.  I was trying to come up with some important words of advice.  Something both sage and relevant to the mind of a 5 year old girl.  Something she could take with her and use as a foundation for her education.   When 7am rolled around, Erin came to me to say goodbye before she headed off to school. I got down on my knees, at eye level with my daughter, and gave her a big hug.  I pulled back and said to her these words…. “Buddy  (that’s what I call her) make sure to listen to your teacher, always raise your hand and […]

Growing is NOT doing the same thing over and over

Sometimes in life you have to start over.  It could be from a divorce, going back to school, making the transition from one career to another or when stay in the same profession and just change companies. Change and starting over is stressful and regardless of the transition, you wil doubt yourself and your abilities.   I have never personally experienced divorce in my life.  Parents are still together 40+ years and I have been with the same woman for over 14.  I have had friends go through it and I have seen the toll it takes on them physically and mentally.  I graduated college in 97 and have no plans on going back Billy Maddison stlye (Oh Veronica Vaughn). […]

Everything you need in life can be learned from playing Madden Football?

If you lack the guts to run up the score on your goals- then having a job where anything is “measured” is not for you.  In my field of work, almost everything can be measured and monitored.  I am surrounded by numbers and metrics all day.  (Sorry kids, running radio stations isn’t all about playing rock music and meeting cool artists).  Any goal that is written is real.  Goals based on statistics are certainly real and should be looked at as a challenge.  These goals should not only be hit, but CRUSHED (go long). I have heard of people “sand bagging” numbers so that they don’t have to work harder to beat them next month, next quarter, next year, etc.  […]

Advice from dads to kids.

My dad has been in construction since he was 17.  His father and grandfather before were  both railroad.  I have been in radio since I was 20. My dad and I are both self made men.  Breaking free from the family business and doing something different than anyone else before us.  We both became managers at a pretty young age and our ways of motivating people is quite different. My way is through positive reinforcement..my dad’s way requires lots of swearing and threats.  Look, there’s a 1000 or more ways to be effective and successful.    When I became a manager at 24, my father gave me two pieces of advice . “Remember, you are not there to make friends” […]