I have to write things down here or I'll forget them.

Category: Creative Writing (Page 1 of 4)

The Caffeine Purge Begins

I drink a lot of coffee. Usually a full pot by the end of the day, and sometimes I throw in three or four Cascade Ice caffeine drinks just to round things out. It’s not that I think I need that much. It’s just what I do. Part habit, part coping mechanism.

But I’ve been feeling the effects lately and I don’t like them. Anxiety, restless sleep, a sense that my nervous system is running slightly off the rails even when nothing’s happening. So I’ve decided to do something about it. Not some dramatic life overhaul. Just one thing: cut back on caffeine with the goal of a total abstinence. Seven to ten days of tapering. Let’s see what happens.

The plan is to mix decaf into my coffee grounds, tart with half and half, then taper it down. That will remove about 1/3 and gives me a few days to fool myself before things get more difficult. Next, drop the Cascade Ice drinks and try to replace them with pure water and electrolytes. That’s 1/2 of the current state so 2/3 total.

Then, it’ll just be cutting down the pot to 1/2, then one cup, then none at all. Sounds easy. I mean, I’ve done much harder things.

Why now? Because I want better sleep. Less edge. More clarity. And I want to see what my face and gut look like without all the hidden water retention and stimulant drag. Ten days without caffeine should be enough to know whether any of that’s real or just a theory I invented while over-caffeinated.

So this is Day 1. No big declarations. Just an experiment. I’ll check back in if things get interesting.

Baseball and Presence

An old lecture from Father Hobbs:

“Baseball is a metaphor for how to practice restraint.You can’t out-hustle the pitcher. You can’t rush the at-bat. You have to wait for the game to come to you. And in that waiting, everything gets quieter.”

Entrepreneurship, marketing, the tech world – they all teach us how to sprint, to go chase the game. But baseball taught me to stop swinging at bad pitches.

Now I use that same mindset to handle distractions, deadlines, and overthinking.

Stay in the box. Watch the ball. Swing when it matters.

Lunching with Legends – Talking Leadership

Episode 2: Culture, Character, and the Cost of Winning

Welcome back to Legends on the Line, our fictional Zoom call to the great beyond, where some of the most legendary college coaches who ever lived drop in for a candid conversation. Our panel today needs no warmup:

  • Pat Summitt, the unshakable builder of Tennessee women’s basketball.
  • John Wooden, architect of the UCLA dynasty and philosopher in sneakers.
  • Eddie Robinson, Grambling State’s longtime coach, educator, and soul of Black college football.

I’ll step aside after this quick intro—just a coach’s kid turned marketing guy listening in from the sidelines. These three don’t need moderators.

Let’s listen in.

WOODEN: Thank you for the invitation. It’s always good to be in the company of coaches who understood that the scoreboard was never the whole story.

SUMMITT: Speak for yourself, Coach. I liked the scoreboard—but I liked knowing why we won more.

ROBINSON: That’s the key right there. Anybody can get lucky one Saturday. Sustaining it, year after year? That’s culture. That’s character.

WOODEN: Culture is what happens when no one’s watching. You can’t teach discipline on game day. It has to be woven into how you practice, how you behave, how you treat your teammates.

SUMMITT: It’s also how you talk to your players after a loss. Or when they’re struggling off the court. I wasn’t just raising point guards—I was helping raise women.

ROBINSON: We had players come through Grambling who had never been told they mattered. Coaching them meant teaching them how to carry themselves with dignity, how to walk into any room and belong there.

WOODEN: I used to say: “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation.” Your reputation is merely what others think of you. Your character is what you really are.

SUMMITT: That quote made it onto the wall in our locker room, by the way.

ROBINSON: Same.

WOODEN: So let me ask—how do we build character on a team?

SUMMITT: You hold people accountable and you tell the truth. I never sugarcoated anything with my players. I told them, “If you don’t want to hear the truth, you’re in the wrong gym.”

ROBINSON: You also model it. You can’t ask your team to work hard and then come in late or take shortcuts. Coaches forget that players remember everything—especially what you do when the cameras aren’t on.

WOODEN: That’s right. I never once mentioned winning in a pregame talk. But I talked about effort, preparation, self-control. You teach those things and the wins take care of themselves.

SUMMITT: We live in a world where everyone wants results yesterday. But a team’s identity takes time. That’s the real coaching—the part they don’t show in the documentaries.

ROBINSON: Culture is how you respond to adversity. You lose a key player? You’re down 14 in the third? That’s when all the “teamwork” posters on the wall better mean something.

WOODEN: Here’s a thought: The more talented your players, the more important it is to teach unselfishness.

SUMMITT: Amen. At Tennessee, our biggest fights were never about minutes. They were about ego. But we settled those in practice, in film sessions, in long conversations. You can’t just yell “teamwork” and expect magic.

ROBINSON: I had players who wanted to go pro, and I’d say, “Start by being great in this huddle.” You can’t lead 80,000 fans until you can lead 10 of your teammates in the locker room.

WOODEN: “Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” That applied to stardom too.

SUMMITT: We put team before talent every year. If you couldn’t buy into that, you didn’t play. Period.

ROBINSON: Can we talk about how you balance toughness and love?

SUMMITT: You mean how to kick their butts and hug them after?

WOODEN: I believe discipline without love is tyranny. But love without discipline is chaos.

ROBINSON: I told my players: “You may not like how I say it, but you’ll understand why when you leave here.”

SUMMITT: Coaching is a long game. It’s what they say about you ten years later that matters. Not what they say when you sit them on the bench.

WOODEN: Let’s get practical. How did each of you create culture, not just talk about it?

SUMMITT: Daily habits. On time. Practice hard. Sit in the first three rows of class. Say thank you. The little things build the big things.

ROBINSON: We ran the program like a family. That didn’t mean it was soft—it meant it was consistent. If you knew what to expect from me, you could relax and play.

WOODEN: I had a Pyramid of Success, but honestly? It came down to teaching players how to be good men. If they became good men, they’d be good teammates.

SUMMITT: Replace “men” with “women,” and I’m with you 100%.

WOODEN: You know what I miss most?

SUMMITT: The players?

WOODEN: That moment when a kid finally gets it. Not the game plan—the lesson.

ROBINSON: Yes. When they figure out who they are. That’s the championship I remember most.

SUMMITT: There’s a reason we call it “coaching.” It’s a journey, and we’re lucky to ride shotgun.

ME (signing back in): I didn’t want to interrupt. But thank you. This was a masterclass in how to build something that lasts.

Before we close the Zoom tab on the sky, mind if I ask what each of you is doing this weekend?

WOODEN: I’ve got a pickup game with some old Bruins and a long walk planned with Abraham Lincoln. We talk about leadership.

SUMMITT: I’m hosting a chalk talk with Billie Jean King and Maya Angelou. We’re comparing playbooks.

ROBINSON: I’ll be on the sideline at a sandlot game down here. Same spot every weekend. I cheer loud.

Imagery for Focus

Research in psychology and psychiatry suggests that certain types of images or visual stimuli can help individuals improve focus and reduce distractions. These images often leverage principles of attention regulation, mindfulness, and environmental design. Here are a few scientifically-backed approaches:

1. Nature Scenes

  • Why it works: Studies show that exposure to nature or even viewing images of natural environments can restore attention and reduce mental fatigue. This is based on the concept of Attention Restoration Theory (ART), which suggests that natural environments engage our attention in a gentle, involuntary way, allowing the directed attention system to rest.
  • Example Images: Forests, flowing water, mountains, and greenery.
  • Best Use: Displaying posters, screensavers, or paintings with calming natural scenes.

2. Abstract Art with Low Complexity

  • Why it works: Complex or cluttered images can overstimulate individuals with ADHD, while simple, abstract designs or patterns can create a calming effect and reduce distractions.
  • Example Images: Geometric patterns, smooth color gradients, or minimalist art with soft tones.
  • Best Use: Use as background art in workspaces or as phone wallpapers.

3. Mandala Patterns

  • Why it works: Mandalas and other symmetrical designs can promote mindfulness and focus through their repetitive and orderly structure. Some ADHD therapies include coloring mandalas to improve focus and reduce hyperactivity.
  • Best Use: Use as interactive exercises (e.g., coloring apps) or as visual elements for meditation breaks.

4. Images with Blue and Green Hues

  • Why it works: Blue and green are associated with calmness and focus. Research has shown that these colors can help regulate mood and improve attention span.
  • Example Images: Ocean waves, clear skies, green fields.
  • Best Use: Backgrounds for work environments or calming breaks.

5. Goal-Oriented Visuals

  • Why it works: Visuals that represent goals, steps of a task, or progress can help individuals with ADHD stay task-oriented. Seeing a visual roadmap of their objectives can reduce the cognitive load and prevent distractions.
  • Example Images: Infographics, step-by-step diagrams, or progress trackers.
  • Best Use: Incorporate into task planning or to-do lists.

6. Soft Animated Visuals

  • Why it works: Slow, non-distracting animations (like a gentle ocean wave or a flame flickering) can serve as a grounding point for focus. These animations are particularly useful for reducing anxiety and helping individuals stay engaged without overstimulation.
  • Best Use: Display on digital devices or monitors as a background focus tool.

7. Visual Reminders of Break Spaces

  • Why it works: Seeing a calming visual associated with a planned break (e.g., a peaceful garden or quiet reading corner) can create a mental cue for focused work until the break arrives.
  • Example Images: Personalized images of a favorite relaxation spot or a digital timer with an image of the break area.
  • Best Use: Use as desktop backgrounds or on task management tools.

How Vin Scully Would Describe Parenting a 3 Year Old

I have to admit to a silly little hobby I’ve developed. I like taking topics relevant to my life, things I may have actually journaled about myself, and then seeing how some of the wordsmiths I admire might describe it. Here’s an example of ChatGPT suggesting how the legendary Vin Scully may have regaled us with the joys and pains of managing a toddler.

“Ladies and gentlemen, take your seats. The game of parenting a 3-year-old is about to begin. Imagine, if you will, a ballpark not filled with fans, but with toys scattered across the outfield, sippy cups perched precariously on the infield, and a mound that’s just the right height for a tiny pitcher who doesn’t so much throw fastballs as toss Cheerios with wild abandon.

Read more: How Vin Scully Would Describe Parenting a 3 Year Old

Ah, the three-year-old, a true double threat! They’re as curious as a rookie stepping onto the diamond for the first time, and as unpredictable as a knuckleball on a breezy day. One moment, they’re the sweetest slugger you’ve ever seen, running full speed into your arms with a grin that could light up Dodger Stadium. The next, they’re a base runner caught in a pickle, wailing about a lost toy as if it were Game 7 of the World Series.

Let me set the scene for you. The day begins early, as if they’ve got an East Coast road trip schedule to keep. The morning is filled with small victories and dramatic defeats: a successful mission to put on their shoes, followed by a heart-wrenching meltdown because the oatmeal is ‘too lumpy.’ You’ll learn to cheer the wins—‘And he eats all his broccoli! What a clutch performance!’—and let the losses roll off like a foul ball into the stands.

Now, parenting a three-year-old is not without its strategy. You’ll need the patience of a bullpen coach, the flexibility of a shortstop, and the creativity of a pinch hitter. The ‘why’ questions come fast and furious, like a batting practice session you didn’t sign up for: ‘Why is the sky blue?’ ‘Why can’t I have ice cream for breakfast?’ ‘Why does the dog bark?’ Every answer feels like stepping up to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded.

But oh, the moments of magic! Watching a 3-year-old discover the world is like witnessing a home run hit deep into the night sky—awe-inspiring and unforgettable. Their laughter rings out like a perfectly struck ball, soaring high and true. They have an uncanny ability to find joy in the smallest things—a dandelion in the grass, a butterfly fluttering by, a cardboard box that becomes a spaceship.

And let’s not forget, folks, that every day with a 3-year-old is a doubleheader. The afternoon might bring a nap that’s fought harder than any pennant race, and bedtime often feels like extra innings. But as the house finally quiets, and you steal a moment to watch them sleep, you realize you wouldn’t trade this game for anything in the world.

So here’s to the parents out there, grinding it out day after day, finding the beauty in the chaos and the poetry in the madness. Because, as any baseball fan—or parent—knows, it’s not just about the wins and losses. It’s about the love of the game.”

Seriously, Just Get Vaccinated Already

The only people who read this are friends of mine. And as far as I know, 100% of my friends are vaccinated.

But if you stumbled here from some random Twitter or Facebook post, please get vaccinated.

Look, I get that you may hate Democrats on principle. But there’s no reason to tank the economy and put the health of the nation at risk just because you want to make sure that the magical day you are sure will happen when you finally make $400,000 a year, your taxes aren’t higher.

Just get vaccinated. It’s safe. And look at it this way. If the vaccine ISN’T safe, you’re screwed anyway. Either 1/2 of us will be flesh-eating zombies and take you down regardless, or 1/2 of us will be dead and you won’t have a way to manage taking care of yourselves without any scientists or doctors. So you might as well just join us.

A Radical Idea for the MLB All-Star Game

All-Star Games are notoriously boring from a competitive level. In football, there’s no real tackling or hitting. In basketball, no one plays defense. And in baseball, you have the oddity of having the least known players pitching and batting in the most important innings of the game while the stars sit in the dugout (if they haven’t already headed to the airport.)

But that’s fine, because the purpose of these games is that they are EXHIBITIONS that are designed to show off the players’ skills, not games that matter. So if we are willing to consider the Major League Baseball All-Star game a true exhibition, here’s a radical idea to make it more interesting.

In a nutshell: Don’t have a lineup.

Now what does that mean?

  1. Each manager will have their roster of 23 field players. In this proposal, we would keep the tradition that the 9 starters are the players the fans chose, and let them have the grand introduction in the beginning. But after those first 9 batters and one inning in the field, anything goes (almost).
  2. The purpose of this proposal is to set up the highest number of the most interesting matchups between pitcher and hitter. So once the 1st 9 guys have batted, Managers get to look down their bench and send up anyone they want.
  3. We would set some limitations, such as: (a) No batter would hit twice in the same inning. (b) No batter can have a 3rd at bat until every field player on the team has batted once.
  4. Defensively, anything goes. Let’s put together really fun defensive alignments for an inning, such as old teammates playing together, the oldest group possible, the youngest group possible, players from all the 1st place teams, all the 1st timers, everyone with a gold glove, or whatever other combination you can think of.
  5. You could also make it interactive, by allowing fans to use the MLB mobile app to choose the next hitters one inning.
  6. Basically, the idea is to have the most interesting combinations of pitchers, batters and fielders for 9 innings, and make it the most fun for the fans to watch.

So all the stuffy old dudes will read this and say, “No I like it how it is.” And that’s fine. But this seems like an easy way to add some fun to the game.

A Proposal: The May 32nd NFL Trade Day

WARNING: Crazy dumb sports idea ahead. Hit the back button if that’s not your thing.

We all love NFL football. At least the stats and ratings say so.

But here we are in late May with no football to talk about. The draft is over. Training camp is still 2 months away. It’s a content desert. Well, I have a dumb idea to fix that.

On the NFL calendar, let’s change June 1 into May 32. And on that day we will have the Annual NFL 32 Team Trade. A made-for-TV, one-hour event. Here’s how it works:

  • On May 31, every team submits 3 names into the Trade Pot. These players must be under contract and not Draft Pick or Undrafted Free Agent from that year’s draft.
  • The draft begins on May 32 (June 1). The last-place team from the season before gets the first choice of the players in the pot.
  • Whichever team has their player chosen pulls the rest of their players off the board and gets the next pick.
  • And so on until every team has lost one player and gained one player. A true 32 team trade.

Yes, I know it doesn’t work. But this is my reminder to everyone to keep thinking creatively. Keep coming up with dumb ideas. You never know where a dumb idea might lead.

What I Learned – Living Through a Pandemic

It was about a year ago when we started to take the pandemic seriously. Sure, the White House continued to say that it wasn’t going to be an issue, but just about everyone who thinks squares have right angles and the world is round saw that there was an issue developing.

Companies began making people work from home, sports leagues began considering what they should do, and other countries to the west, south, and east of the United States considered ways to contain the disease from spreading in their nation.

So here we are, one year later. We all learned some things about ourselves and others. I’d love to hear your lists, but this is what stands out to me.

  1. Working from home is efficient: There are fewer 30 minute meetings that are wastes of time. And thanks to the miracle of “Stop Video” you can get work done during those meetings that are a waste. This alone adds time to your day.
  2. Not having to commute is wonderful: The average person living and working in Seattle proper could spend anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour trying to get downtown. And it was worse for anyone living in the surrounding areas. It’s like adding a whole extra hour to the day.
  3. However, people are fun, especially the ones who aren’t top of mind: COVID quarantine made me realize that being sequestered made me unconsciously filter my friends and colleagues the same way that Facebook and Google News filter my news feed. It’s true that I text messaged with friends about 2000% more than 2019, but the breadth of the number of people I spoke to narrowed significantly. Without Sounders matches, birthday parties, playing softball and soccer, or going to work, I missed out on hearing what huge swaths of the population were doing. That was a shame.
  4. Even with all the extra hours that I acquired during the day, I still didn’t complete everything I wanted to. I started the year with so many ideas – the book idea, the tv show idea, some startup ideas, learning a new language, studying technical analysis, getting in shape, etc… Some of these things I did well on, some I got started on and are in a holding pattern, and some fell by the wayside. So now I realize I shouldn’t listen to people who say, “They didn’t have time.”
  5. I like to cook: Man, I love to cook now. Give me a pile of books about NBA history or a pile of recipe books, and I know which one I’ll get through.
  6. Writing is harder when you don’t leave the house: No matter how hard I tried, I found writing to be more difficult during quarantine. There’s something about having external stimulus through the day to stimulate the imagination, or being able to sit in a coffee shop or bar with your laptop for an alternative work setting, that gets the words flowing.
  7. Twitter is a lens to the parts of the country I never travel: I was shocked this year to see how many people ignore facts, hypocritically contradict themselves from tweet to tweet, and in general, just make the country a worse place. I guess I’ve been lucky that my friends and colleagues are civil, rational people. Even the ones who I disagree with politically are grounded in reality. I had no idea there were so many people who could jump in a lake and swear to God that they never got wet.
  8. This year will not be easy: There’s some relief out there that with the vaccine, life can get back to “normal.” However, we’re going to have to redefine “normal.” It was not normal in previous years to have Congresspeople bring guns to work, people driving pickup trucks waving flags on the street, staying isolated for long periods of time, and implementing permanent work from home strategies. We’re going to have plenty of people who refuse vaccines, so the pandemic will rage on for years, hopefully limiting illness to the people who fail to take any precautions. But these continued illnesses will be a drain on our hospitals, tax dollars, and moral compass. When people without insurance who refuse a vaccine and refuse to wear a mask get violently ill, we’re going to have to suck it up and take care of them. That’s the way my cohort works at least.

I should add that of course I miss people, family dinners, travel, sports, conversation, great restaurants, etc… But I think we knew all that beforehand.

Would love to hear some of the things you learned.

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