04/11/23 That good ol’ American Can’t Do Spirit – Radically Rational

04/11/23 That good ol’ American Can’t Do Spirit

There’s nothing like that good ol’ American Can’t Do Spirit.

What has happened to us?

Guns are the leading cause of death for American children. Let that sink in. That’s an affront against nature. That’s impossible to fathom.

But we do nothing because we’re told there’s nothing we can do.

This doesn’t happen anywhere else in the world. But we just accept it.

Fifty-four percent of Americans report that they have been affected by gun violence. Well, you know, that means 46 percent of us haven’t. Let’s stay positive.

Another day, another mass shooting. Or two. And we just accept it.

A Supreme Court justice has clearly put himself up for sale for two decades. Oh, well. Whatcha gonna do?

We have blindly tribal, cherry-picked judges making public health decisions grounded in scientific ignorance. Business as usual.

We have legislators in Texas and Tennessee being censured or expelled for voting their consciences. We can’t have that, now can we?

We are as a nation what we choose to accept. And this is unacceptable.

Stop. Clear your mind. Try to hear this like you’re hearing it for the first time. Guns are the leading cause of death for American children. Process that before you head out for your latte.

There’s nothing like that good ol’ American Can’t Do Spirit.

What has happened to us?

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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.