Last night, I finished reading the book Tyranny of the Minority by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt. It’s an excellent book that provides not just good background information about what is currently going on politically in the United States, but also a list of actions the authors propose to improve our Constitution and strengthen our … Continue reading Reforming American Democracy
Author: Edward Ortiz
The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 12
When I first read Dr. Stein’s post and scanned all the questions he laid out for us, I thought about how great of an exercise answering them would be. One question, in particular, caught my attention right away—one that invited deep personal reflection. That question was: What have you learned about life that you didn’t … Continue reading The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 12
A Life Remembered, A Lesson for Parents Everywhere
I have been debating for a few days now whether to write a reflection on a recent loss in our family. I was thinking about just writing it in my journal, but then I thought that putting my thoughts on this medium could help someone out there, and if I can help even one person, … Continue reading A Life Remembered, A Lesson for Parents Everywhere
The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 11
I can’t believe I’ve already worked my way through ten questions. Some of them took me back decades, reminding me of both the good and the bad in my life. It’s been a great exercise to reflect on where I was and where I am now, and the transformation is incredible. As I pondered this … Continue reading The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 11
Judging the Judges
“A good judge must not be a young person but an old one, who has learned late in life what injustice is like and who has become aware of it not as something at home in his own soul, but as something alien and present in others, someone who, after a long time, has recognized … Continue reading Judging the Judges
The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 10
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” — Leo Tolstoy Ten years ago, I was a 42-year-old, overworked, stressed-out man and about 20 pounds over my desired weight of 165, something I felt every time I went for a run. I worked in a place where I couldn’t see … Continue reading The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 10
To the Unknown Father
The world expects a man to lead and protect. After all, some say he is the stronger of the two.A man is supposed to care, to love— with the expectation that he’ll one day start a family.People of all kinds stress the importance of being a man, grooming him to become a provider, a teacher.And on the appointed day,he rose to the occasion:found … Continue reading To the Unknown Father
The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 9
"Don’t think money does everything or you are going to end up doing everything for money.” – Voltaire About two months ago, I started this series based on the post The Questions We Don’t Ask by Dr. Stein. The questions he proposed in that post were interesting and should provoke self-examination if we take them … Continue reading The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 9
No Feedback, No Growth
During my career I learned the importance of the 11 Principles of Leadership: know yourself, seek self-improvement, be technically and tactically proficient, take responsibility, set the example, care for your people, keep them informed, ensure tasks are understood and accomplished, develop responsibility, build teamwork, make timely decisions, and employ your unit according to its capabilities. … Continue reading No Feedback, No Growth
The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 8
According to the American Psychological Association, reciprocity is "the quality of an act, process, or relationship in which one person receives benefits from another and, in return, provides an equivalent benefit.”1 This week’s question is: Do you expect reciprocity in most relationships? This is definitely an interesting question posed by Dr. Stein in his post … Continue reading The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 8
Thoughts about leadership, history, and more 