J. Davy Crockett III

On March 3, 1991 on a California freeway, the driver of a speeding vehicle was arrested after a car chase. As the arrest unfolded, the officers involved used excessive force in subduing the driver, a recent parolee, who happened to be intoxicated. The videotape of the incident quickly hit the news cycle and was shown worldwide. The incident became racially charged, and riots occurred in the Los Angeles area causing widespread, extensive damage resulting in many in injuries and several fatalities.

It was simply a trip to a major retail bookseller with a friend who wanted to pick up a book. Who knew it would be an eye-opening experience? Unless you go to movie theaters, watch a lot of popular television shows, or peruse the popular books at your favorite retailer, you may not be aware of the current obsession involving vampires, zombies, and other macabre subjects and creatures.

Are you sometimes flummoxed by the news reports you see and read? Publicity-seekers abound, and the various media syndicates are hungry for stories to help them meet their deadlines and beat the competition. They eagerly fill each 24-hour news cycle with reports of the aberrant behavior of political leaders and the spectacular and often outrageous activities of the latest box office idols, rock stars, or superstar athletes. Amid the daily hullabaloo, news of real importance is often overlooked, even in the most trying of times.

Each day as I peruse the obituaries in our statewide newspaper, I am struck by the number of deaths of World War II veterans. These men are now in their eighties and nineties, so it is not unusual that they are reaching the end of their lives, but what is remarkable is how many lives were touched in that awful conflict. It was the “greatest generation,” as referred to by author and commentator Tom Brokaw in his book by that title. Each of these veterans has stories to tell of their experiences and of the impact the war had on their lives and the lives of their loved ones.

Staying sharp—being aware and honing one’s skills—is essential in today’s fast-paced world. Regardless of one’s endeavor, staying abreast of developments, improving communication skills, and increasing business acumen is very important. With this in mind, several years ago I took the Dale Carnegie course. It was a great experience, and was very helpful in the conduct of my business at the time.