Tuesday, January 27, 2009



harbarger theory: we allow ponds to form in quarries BECAUSE humans like to throw rocks into water. Over the years of being a dad and being around kids, I realized that people LOVE to throw rocks into water.


Therefore, it stands to reason that since quarries produce a lot of rocks (duh!), that we allow ponds to form to facilitate throwing said rocks into said pond.


But, don't we LOVE to throw rocks in general. As a leader, I've had my share of rocks thrown in my general direction. You probably have, as well. I think we humans (or at least, we Americans) just love to build someone up so we can knock them down. We love to have heroes, but we can't let them stay heroic too long. Maybe it's because we think so little of ourselves that we first need someone who's bigger than us, smarter than us, more talented than us ... then we turn and decide that having someone else bigger, smarter or more talented diminishes us, so we throw rocks.


Wouldn't this world be a better place if we just allowed the bigger, smarter and more talented among us to simply be who they are and we took our place by their side (not under and not over them, just simply alongside) and allowed them to use their giftedness just as we use our giftedness to make this world a better place.


I know, I know ... it would put a lot of people out of work. You know, like "reporters" at the National Enquirer, E! News, etc. But ... on the other hand, that would be a good thing, wouldn't it? Let them also make the world a better place ... and by better, I mean less petty, less snarky, less obsessed with the minutae of someone else's life.


So, throwing rocks is cool. But, let's save it for stuff that deserve the rock-throwing, like ponds, quarries and maybe the occasional tree trunk!


harbarger theory: we allow ponds to form in quarries BECAUSE humans like to throw rocks into water.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

the best conversation


harbarger theory - The best conversation ALWAYS occurs over table of dirty dishes. Think back to one of those great meals where the food is pretty good and the conversation is fun and loud and thoughtful and filled with laughter. Then ... someone has the bright idea to move the group to the living room "where we'd all be more comfortable" and suddenly the conversation seems to dry up. We're always more comfortable just sitting at that table picking at the carcasses of the nearly empty plates, playing with our coffee cups and laughing and talking and arguing over the causes of the world or whether Brad and Angelina are gonna have more kids.

harbarger theory - The best conversation ALWAYS occurs over table of dirty dishes.