Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin

I try very hard to openly say, “I don’t know,” when I don’t know. The student loan forgiveness issue? I don’t know. Like a lot of things, this is difficult to boil down to “either/or,” or “all or nothing.” But we Americans are not very good at nuanced thinking.

I’m now about two weeks into being 68-years-old, something I’ve never been before. Here’s what I think I think. No, we don’t control all of what happens to us over the course of a day. But I do think the key to having a good day is to decide at the outset of that day that it’s going to be a good day. No matter what.

After a half century working in a wide range of media, I’d like to think that I’m reasonably media savvy. But I have no idea what CNN is doing. I can’t even figure out what CNN is trying to do.

I do know this. Banning books and removing them from libraries is cultural and societal death-rattle.

Mitch McConnell is not often right. And he is even less frequently truthful. But he is spot on when he says his GOP may have blown its chance to retake control of the Senate by nominating idiots like Herschel Walker and Mehmet Oz. And thanks to SCOTUS’ continuing religious jihad, the upcoming mid-term election may not be a walk-over for Republicans in the House, either.

“Offended” by Finland’s prime minister?  Uhhh…no!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

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.