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Everything is rhythm. And rhythm is everything. That’s not astrology or vacuous, pop culture Say-Nothingism.

It’s physics. Everything and everybody vibrates rhythmically. See “natural harmonic.”

Similarly, every human activity and pursuit has a rhythmic “sweet spot.” My inability to find it largely explains why I am a lousy golfer.  But the happy flip side is that if we tap into that natural rhythm in any given pursuit at any given point in time, it’s frankly pretty hard to screw up from there.

It’s elusive, mysterious and mercurial. You don’t think magic is easy, do you?

We often speak of athletes who are in “The Zone.” The basketball player who nails ten straight 3-pointers. The quarterback who goes through a stretch in which he seemingly can’t miss. The .197 Punch and Judy hitter who one day goes 7-9 in a double-header with three homers and eight RBI.  That was his “off day,” right?  But he, however accidentally, found his rhythm. Or more likely, it found him.

“Hot”?  That’s actually a very apt and accurate term, since vibrations can generate thermal energy. Is it warm in here?

Writing rhythm?  See “poetry.” 

Music?  I once saw Terry Kath so locked in, he appeared to levitate.

Your Rhythm, Your Zone, Your Groove.  Celebrate and revel in every moment you enter those rooms, whatever doors you walked through. Try to remember the path you took. Drop some bread crumbs if you need to.

How will you know you’re there?

You’ll know.

Everything is rhythm. And rhythm is everything.

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Paul's Bio

I clearly have the attention span of your median fruit fly.Look! Airplane!

Sorry. I’m back.

It’s both a curse and a blessing. I’ve never bought this stuff about, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” But I do think that a wide range of life experiences helps us grow as people, and helps us better relate to other people. I’ve been fortunate. And I am beyond grateful.

I show up on time. I go like hell. I’m a good listener. I hold myself accountable. I own my mistakes. And I have a natural and an insatiable curiosity. I’m never afraid to say, “I don’t know,” when I don’t. But then I try to find out.

The flip side is I’m a lousy ballroom dancer and my clothes sometimes fit me funny.

Stuff matters to me. I care. But while I take that stuff seriously, I try hard to never take myself seriously. As a result, I have sometimes been told, “Paul, it’s hard to tell when you’re serious and when you’re just having some fun. Which is it? Serious or fun?”

My answer is “yes.” But I think that is a legitimate criticism. I promise I’m going to work on that.

This has been the quickest and strangest half-century I’ve ever experienced. During that period, I’ve been afforded amazing opportunities in news and sports journalism across all platforms. I have taught wonderful students at the high school and collegiate level. Always, I learned more from them than they did from me. I’ve been a high school administrator. I spent ten seasons as a high school varsity football coach. I’ve been an advertising executive. I’ve hosted nationally syndicated television entertainment shows. In maybe the biggest honor I ever received, I was selected by NASA to be “Chet The Astronaut” for the “Land The Shuttle” simulator at Space Center Houston. (All I can say there, is “Do as I say, not as I do.” I put that thing in the Everglades more often than not.) Most recently, I just wrapped up a decade as a television news director, during which time our teams distinguished themselves in holding the powerful accountable, achieving both critical and ratings success.

What does all that mean? It means I am profoundly grateful. It also means I’m ready for “next.” So here we are. Radically Rational. It’s an idea I woke up with in 2017. I scribbled “Radically Rational” on a piece of notebook paper and used a magnet to stick it on our refrigerator. I saw it every day, and it just would not leave me alone.

I am second in charge at Radically Rational, LLC. My wife, Jo (also known as BB), is the president. Clearly, I have failed in my attempt to sleep my way to the top of this organization.

I hope you will learn that I’m loyal as a Labrador. But I will admit that this doggie can bite every now and then. My promise to you? I will show up on time. I will go like hell. I will listen to you earnestly and attentively. I will hold myself accountable. I will never be the least bit hesitant to say, “I don’t know,” when I don’t.

But then I’ll try to find out. Let’s do it.