by Michael Carlon | Jul 4, 2013 | Self Awareness
Happy July 4th everybody. When I was a kid this was by far my favorite holiday for a few reasons: It is in the middle of the summer and summer is my favorite time of year We always had family and friends over to celebrate and I love a good party It meant I got to blow...
by Michael Carlon | Jul 1, 2013 | Faith and Pop Culture
Those of you who know me know that I love movies. Always have. It drives my wife crazy that I can actually have full conversations with other people and only speak by using movie quotes. This weekend, my daughter and I saw Man of Steel. I am a big fan of Superman –...
by Michael Carlon | Jun 27, 2013 | The Moderating Life
As another busy week comes to an end I am grateful for the fact that a new client has entrusted me with their insight needs. This week I was fortunate enough to conduct 12 ethnographies; a fancy word for research that is part observational and part Q&A conducted...
by Michael Carlon | Jun 18, 2013 | Self Awareness
Today we say our final goodbye to a very special family member, Arthur Verses. I’ll explain the relationship so you understand; my wife Nicole has a brother named Pete. Pete Married Karen. Karen’s mother Joann married Arthur Verses. In total, Arthur had...
by Michael Carlon | Jun 16, 2013 | Uncategorized
What do an old pair of Nike sneakers, Paul Simon, The Advocate and the State Theatre have in common? My father, Don Carlon. When I was growing up, my father taught me lessons of sacrifice, generosity and frugality through the example he set for me and my brothers and...
by Michael Carlon | Jun 11, 2013 | Parenthood
It is very hard for me to believe that my kids will be graduating from grammar school next week. Actually, the school does not refer to it as graduation; they refer to it as “moving up.” G, P, and M are going to middle school and I am already seeing signs...
by Michael Carlon | May 30, 2013 | Self Awareness
Last night I was coming home from “Date Night” with my wife and The Who’s Baba O’Riley came on the radio. Its hard not to love that song; from the keyboard intro to Pete Townshend’s repetition of the D, A, and G chords, it is a song that is the embodiment of a perfect...
by Michael Carlon | May 14, 2013 | Business Leaders, Podcast, The Longs
In 1996 I was barely 22 years old when I started my career in advertising. I worked for a company called FCB direct, which was owned by a holding company known as True North Communications. No offense to Brian Rafferty, my boss at the time, but the job...
by Michael Carlon | May 12, 2013 | Parenthood
Our triplets were born 9 weeks early in 2002; they weren’t due until June but decided to make an appearance in mid April. They struggled at first but eventually thrived and all came home from the hospital on Mother’s Day 2002. Well, to be fair, Maggie...
by Michael Carlon | May 6, 2013 | Self Awareness
On my flight out to Arkansas this morning I listened to one of my favorite songs, Handle With Care, by the Traveling Wilburys. The refrain goes as follows: “I’m so tired of being lonely I still have some love to give Won’t you show me that you really care?”...
by Michael Carlon | May 1, 2013 | The Moderating Life
As many of you know, I interview people for a living. It’s not a bad gig really – I get to travel, listen to interesting stories, and consult with my clients on what it all means. To quote my father, “You get paid for that?” Yes, I do dad....
