It is often said that behind every successful man is a terrific woman, and I personally know this is true. Over the years I have had a great deal of respect and admiration for the late Truett Cathy, founder of the Chic-fil-A restaurant chain. However, there is a wonderful story behind his success involving his wife that has not been told before: until now. Before sharing this true story, I need to give you a little background information. Truett and his brother Ben opened the Dwarf Grill in 1946, just…

Over the years I’ve known a good number of people who were “accident” prone. You have probably known someone like this as well. Several years ago I had a friend who was this type of person. One of his brothers told me that when he was much younger he caused an 18-car pileup on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Later, when I knew him, the home heating system he had installed in his basement caught on fire, not once but twice, and sometime later their home burned to the ground. The tragic…

As you read this column, think about if you are completely happy with your life and everything you are doing. If so, congratulations, as in today’s times you are a very rare person. If, however, you still have some goals you would like to reach and have a strong desire to improve yourself in a variety of ways, then read on because I have some ideas that will be of value to you. And please keep in mind what the late Will Rogers had to say about learning. He said,…

If you don’t have many friends and have wondered why, please let me share this quote by the late Dale Carnegie that may give you the reason: “You can win more friends in two months by becoming genuinely interested in other people, than you can in 10 years by trying to get other people interested in you.” This is so true, and the reason is because one of the deepest needs that we human beings have is to feel needed and appreciated. When we care enough and take the time…

It has been said that marriage is a deal in which a man gives away half of his groceries to get the other half cooked. I am sure this is true, but few people are fortunate enough to marry a woman like my wife Janis, who has written four cookbooks, and man can she cook! On a side bar, they say a man who does not marry is incomplete, but when he does marry he is finished. Well, so much for that. Today I want to share something I believe…

“In my 21 years as executive editor of a group of 48 papers, Jim’s column had the quickest acceptance and highest satisfaction of any I shared with editors. Jim provides down-to-earth, common sense, back-to-the-basics thinking, that inspires and makes people feel good” Max Heath, Vice President, Landmark Community Newspapers, Shelbyville, Kentucky --- It is my honor to share these words with you from one of the most respected men in the newspaper industry. His letter came several months after I began this column back in 1995. Since that time a…

When it comes to just normal everyday living, I can’t think of anything more horrific than to have your house under 10 to 20 feet of water. Sadly, this is what happened to thousands of our fellow citizens back in 1927 when we had one of the worst floods in the history of our nation. This became known as the Great Flood of 1927 and the Mississippi River Flood of 1927. Due to the terrain and location, it affected our state of Arkansas with a greater amount of devastation, both…

If you have some very important events take place in your life from time to time, you will understand and appreciate what I want to share with you today. The date of May 1, 2020, will always be important to me because it marks a true milestone in my life. Fifty years ago on this date, my former Dale Carnegie instructor, the late Bob Gannaway, and I went into business together to distribute the Earl Nightingale attitude motivation tapes that were then produced on cassette. We formed a company called…

Have you ever personally known or been around someone who was just plain arrogant? If you have, how did you feel about this person? The dictionary defines arrogant as, “Full of or due to unwarranted pride and self-importance; overbearing; haughty.” Unfortunately, there are many people in the world who are like this. While they may not be aware of it, they are, nonetheless, paying a high price for it. Most people have no desire to be around someone who is arrogant, and given a choice they certainly do not want…