What Matters

  • Striving

    Jane was born in England in 1934. As a young child, her father gave her a stuffed toy chimpanzee, which she loved. Little did she or her parents know that Jubilee, the toy chimpanzee, would set her on a life of striving. She couldn’t afford college but chose instead...

    Read More

  • Habits and Creativity

    Elena was preparing for work. She had her morning routine, which she followed religiously. You could tell the day of the week it was by her outfit. She had 5 sets of work clothes, which she wore each day of the week. (Monday was a gray pantsuit and light pink blouse)....

    Read More

  • The Better Angels of Our Nature

    It has become one of the most endearing inauguration addresses of any President. At the time, seven states had already left the Union. Possibly eight other states could join them. As is the case with any memorable speech, the closing was especially stirring. I am...

    Read More

  • Unsportsmanlike Conduct

    In 1970 Immaculata, a 400-student girls college, decided to begin a basketball program. They offered the job to Cathy Rush, a 22-year-old who had only moderate coaching experience. She accepted the job as a way to occupy her time since her husband was often away on...

    Read More

  • Blending of Cultures

    It was an event that no politician could pass on, especially during an election year. The small community of Dalton was celebrating the opening of a heritage museum. The celebration was to feature not only memorabilia from the community’s past but live oral history of...

    Read More

  • AI and Craftsmanship

    Antonio Stradivari was born in Italy around the middle of the 17th century. In his early teens, he began an apprenticeship making stringed instruments (violins, cellos, guitars, violas, and harps). Who he apprenticed with is debated, but it probably took about four...

    Read More

  • Detecting Phony Information

    Carl Sagan, although best known for his popular explanations of space, was also noted for a common-sense approach to critical thinking. Throughout his career, he tried to balance skepticism and openness to new ideas. His efforts were not limited to science, and he...

    Read More

  • Ageless Wonders

    Othmar Ammann was born in Switzerland in 1879. He was educated as a civil engineer and came to America at the age of 25 to make his mark in bridge design. He was hired by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey one year later. His mentor, Gustav Lindenthal, had...

    Read More

  • Causality

    Bradford Hill, a scientist born in 1897, developed criteria for determining whether causality in medical treatments exists. It’s striking that his work, which was first used in 1965, is a model for us today in areas outside of medical care. Our society has become one...

    Read More

  • Self-Efficacy

    Jane McGonigal had ultimately believed that the long-term success of the business she created would be having smart hiring practices. For too long, the company had relied on standard recruiting metrics (e.g., school, major, GPA, experience, personality) to decide upon...

    Read More