“You gotta try this. I think you’ll really like it.”

It was lunchtime, and I had poked my head in the partially opened door across the hall from my office.

“Hmm, I was wondering what you were doing over here at lunch every day with the door nearly closed.”

My colleague replied in a fidgety, hurried voice, “This is so sick. I shouldn’t have gotten started. I can’t stop. It will hook you.”

I stared in utter disbelief thinking there was no possible way it could be that addictive. Furthermore, I never considered myself to have addictive tendencies. Plus, I didn’t have time to waste at work – I typically coded straight through lunch.

I passed.

But over the next few days, more and more people piled into my colleague’s office over lunch to either participate or be a spectator for this highly unusual – at least to me – activity.

I finally relented to the peer pressure and tried it. Big mistake! Continue reading →

A farmer had some puppies he wanted to sell. So he created a sign advertising the pups and set about nailing the sign to a post on the edge of his farm.

As he was hammering the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. “Mister,” said a young boy, “I want to buy one of your puppies.”

“Well,” said the farmer as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, “these puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money.”

The boy dropped his head for a moment, then reached into his pockets and pulled out all the money he had. “Is two dollars and fifty cents enough?” Continue reading →

It started with my first big chemistry test. So much to memorize, so little time. I knew that my high-school GPA would factor heavily into my college opportunities, so I was determined to make it through these four years without ever getting anything less than an A.

So much pressure.

My first big test was coming – chemistry – and I knew I wasn’t ready. What could I do?

And then a miracle occurred.

Well, not really a miracle, but in retrospect, it changed my entire academic approach and allowed me to cheat my way through every test I took.

The day before the chemistry exam, the teacher announced to the class that each student could bring one piece of paper to the test. And on that piece of paper (no larger than 8.5 x 11”) we could write anything we wanted. Every formula, every equation, every periodic element, every constant – anything.

Not only did I learn how to write in the smallest of fonts, but I filled that paper (both sides) with everything I could possibly imagine might be covered on the test. Next day, I walked into the classroom and was shocked by the teacher’s recantation.

“Everyone, pass your cheat sheets to the front of the room.” Continue reading →

I was too terrified to approach her.

She was the prettiest girl at the party, and there she was standing all alone by the window. She looked a little self-conscious, anxious to be engaged in any sort of conversation.

I had seen her a few times at school and knew all about her charm and depth. My heart raced at the opportunity to speak with her.

But I couldn’t move from the couch. What would I say? Would it be interesting? What if someone else approached her while I was walking over – what would I do then? Pretend like I just happened to be going in that direction toward some other clique at the party?

Which was the stronger force: fear of humiliation or the opportunity to overcome it? Continue reading →

How much of what we do is governed by what others think?

Why do we wear the clothes that we do? Or style our hair a certain way? Or shave, wear makeup, adorn jewelry. Or apply perfume or cologne?

Certainly there are the elements of personal comfort, but much of it is driven by how we’re perceived by others.

When I was in college and contemplating my impending full-time career, I distinctly thought to myself, “I hope I don’t have to wear those starched button-down white shirts and dress pants that all those old guys are wearing.” And by “old”, I meant anyone over 30.

Within a year of that privately voiced concern, my wardrobe very closely mirrored that of my work colleagues. What had happened? Continue reading →