<![CDATA[Timeless & Timely: 💡 Timeless Reflections]]>https://www.timelesstimely.com/s/timeless-reflectionshttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9nIz!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3ff6e8ac-d0a8-4095-87c8-2d3d4b72a902_1200x1200.pngTimeless & Timely: 💡 Timeless Reflectionshttps://www.timelesstimely.com/s/timeless-reflectionsSubstackMon, 04 May 2026 00:10:03 GMT<![CDATA[Something to Think About]]>https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/something-to-think-abouthttps://www.timelesstimely.com/p/something-to-think-aboutTue, 09 Dec 2025 16:16:43 GMT

With four out of five companies using AI in their businesses — and five out of six of them not seeing “a tangible bottom-line impact,”1 one has to wonder whether the hallucinations are happening on the human side.

Once again, our fascination with shiny objects has surfaced the age-old conundrum of can versus should.

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“The real question is not whether machines think but whether men do.”

— B.F. Skinner, 1969

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Harper’s Index, November 2025

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]]><![CDATA[Dignity Connects Us ]]>https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/dignity-connects-ushttps://www.timelesstimely.com/p/dignity-connects-usTue, 28 Jan 2025 17:49:45 GMT

If we want to work together well with others, we need to acknowledge their dignity as human beings.

Dignity is a fundamental aspect of what it means to be human. When you disregard or even violate the dignity of others, you make them feel like nonentities.

Everyone on your team deserves to be treated with dignity.

“The first step in the evolution of ethics is a sense of solidarity with other human beings.” — Albert Schweitzer

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]]><![CDATA[The Blackest of Days]]>https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/the-blackest-of-dayshttps://www.timelesstimely.com/p/the-blackest-of-daysFri, 29 Nov 2024 16:25:40 GMT

America traditionally celebrates Black Friday on the day after Thanksgiving. The name comes from the accounting term that indicates the year’s books going from red to black on one day, thanks to avaricious consumers.

But as we rush to fill a hole in our hearts by making a hole in our wallets, perhaps it more accurately reflects the color of our souls in the process.

Something to think about.

“The consumer today is the victim of the manufacturer, who launches on him a regiment of products for which he must make houseroom in his soul.” — Mary McCarthy, 1947

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]]><![CDATA[Unassailability]]>https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/unassailabilityhttps://www.timelesstimely.com/p/unassailabilityMon, 18 Nov 2024 11:46:00 GMT

Without integrity, a leader is not a leader — merely someone telling you what to do.

Integrity means doing the right thing, even when no one is looking. It means being consistent in your actions, especially when you’re under pressure.

“The supreme quality of a leader in unquestionable integrity.” — Dwight Eisenhower

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]]><![CDATA[Reality Is Calling]]>https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/reality-is-callinghttps://www.timelesstimely.com/p/reality-is-callingFri, 13 Sep 2024 11:28:00 GMT

Fantasies are nice. But they’re improbable and we create them based on a psychological need. While it may be more comfortable to stay beneath a warm blanket in bed, reality awaits like a bucket of ice water that will jolt us awake when we least expect it.

We owe it to be honest with ourselves and with each other, even with the most difficult truths.

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“The American citizen lives in a world where fantasy is more real than reality, where the image has more dignity than its original. We hardly dare face our bewilderment, because our ambiguous experience is so pleasantly iridescent, and the solace of belief is so thoroughly real. We have become eager accessories to the great hoaxes of the age. These are the hoaxes we play on ourselves.” — Daniel Boorstin, 1992

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]]><![CDATA[Look for the Constant]]>https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/look-for-the-constanthttps://www.timelesstimely.com/p/look-for-the-constantFri, 26 Jul 2024 15:12:08 GMT

Amid the anxiety of wondering what’s next in technology, there is so much wisdom in the humanities. History, literature, and the social sciences show us the timeless and constant nature of the human psyche, which in turn can help us understand the present and the future.

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“Make human nature your study wherever you reside — whatever the religion or the complexion, study their hearts.”

— Ignatius Sancho, 1778

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]]><![CDATA[It Matters Now]]>https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/it-matters-nowhttps://www.timelesstimely.com/p/it-matters-nowSun, 05 May 2024 18:03:32 GMT

No one else knows what’s in your head and your heart except you. Don’t wait until it’s too late to express it.

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“If the world was coming to an end and we knew that we had five minutes left to live, every telephone booth in the country, in the world, would be filled with people calling others to say ‘I love you.’” — Christopher Morley, born May 5, 1890

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]]><![CDATA[Honest Storytelling]]>https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/honest-storytellinghttps://www.timelesstimely.com/p/honest-storytellingFri, 01 Mar 2024 14:05:18 GMT

Sharing memories with each other is a uniquely human thing to do. Without a shared past, it’s more difficult to chart a shared future.

We accomplish this by being honest with each other — and with ourselves.

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“Herodotus thought of historians as the guardians of memory, the memory of glorious deeds. I prefer to see historians as the guardians of the skeletons in the cupboard of the social memory... There used to be an official called the ‘Remembrancer.’ The title was actually a euphemism for debt collector. The official’s job was to remind people of what they would have liked to forget. One of the most important functions of the historian is to be a remembrancer.” — Peter Burke, 1997

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]]><![CDATA[Authentically You]]>https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/authentically-youhttps://www.timelesstimely.com/p/authentically-youFri, 09 Feb 2024 12:16:11 GMT

Don’t ever apologize for who you are.

There’s only one person out there who’s just like you, and you should be the best version of yourself you can be.

“Read, every day, something no one else is reading. Think, every day, something no one else is thinking. Do, every day, something no one else would be silly enough to do. It is bad for the mind to be always part of unanimity.” ― Christopher Morley

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]]><![CDATA[Keep It Clean]]>https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/keep-it-cleanhttps://www.timelesstimely.com/p/keep-it-cleanThu, 25 Jan 2024 16:57:01 GMT

It’s not that difficult to praise people and call out their good qualities.

It takes a bit of an effort, but don’t all worthwhile things?

And when you are seen as championing and celebrating other people, you’re seen as worthy of praise.

The opposite is also true.

“I will speak ill of no man, and speak all the good I know of everybody.” — Benjamin Franklin

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]]><![CDATA[Have Some Dignity]]>https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/have-some-dignityhttps://www.timelesstimely.com/p/have-some-dignityTue, 19 Dec 2023 20:36:24 GMT

Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity. It doesn’t matter what kind of work they do or where they do it — everyone makes a contribution of some sort to the world.

When you treat others with dignity, you show what you’re made of.

Leaders maintain their own dignity and gain trust by respecting the dignity of others.

“Every calling is great when greatly pursued.” — Oliver Wendell Holmes, 1885

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]]><![CDATA[There's Only One Thing ]]>https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/theres-only-one-thinghttps://www.timelesstimely.com/p/theres-only-one-thingFri, 01 Dec 2023 15:03:04 GMT

Without integrity, what do you have? Having a well-grounded set of principles and sticking to them demonstrates to the world — perhaps more importantly, shows you — what you are made of.

If you have no moral compass, you can’t be trusted. And trust is the foundation of every relationship.

“If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters.” — Sen. Alan Simpson

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]]><![CDATA[The Time is Now ]]>https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/the-time-is-nowhttps://www.timelesstimely.com/p/the-time-is-nowTue, 10 Oct 2023 11:29:10 GMT

Time is a commodity. It exists in an ever-depleting form for each of us. How are you treating what’s been given to you?

Speed is important. But so is the quality of the time we spend.

Decisiveness doesn’t necessarily mean being quick.

“Tardiness is next to wickedness in a society relentless in its consumption of time both as a good and as a service — as tweet and Instagram, film clip and sound bite, as sporting event, investment opportunity, Tinder hookup, and interest rate — its value measured not by its texture or its substance, but by the speed of its delivery.” — Lewis H. Lapham, 2014

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]]><![CDATA[The Small Things]]>https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/the-small-thingshttps://www.timelesstimely.com/p/the-small-thingsTue, 19 Sep 2023 18:59:11 GMT
Timeless Reflections stationery with the following in typewriter text: The grand gestures and headline-grabbing moments tend to get the most attention. But pay attention to the smaller and more human gestures. These are the true indicators of character. "And the most glorious exploits do not always furnish us with the clearest discoveries of virtue or vice in men; sometimes a matter of less moment, an expression or a jest, informs us better of their characters and inclinations, than the most famous sieges, the greatest armaments, or the bloodiest battles." - Plutarch

Watch how people act when they’re not under the spotlight — when they’re in private or when they interact with someone who has no power over them.

This is the true indicator of a person’s character.

“And the most glorious exploits do not always furnish us with the clearest discoveries of virtue or vice in men; sometimes a matter of less moment, an expression or a jest, informs us better of their characters and inclinations, than the most famous sieges, the greatest armaments, or the bloodiest battles.” — Plutarch

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]]><![CDATA[In the Presence of Leadership]]>https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/in-the-presence-of-leadershiphttps://www.timelesstimely.com/p/in-the-presence-of-leadershipWed, 16 Aug 2023 21:12:06 GMT

Living our values is a fine way to lead. But talking about them while we live them is equally as important.

It gives fuel to what we believe in, helping others to appreciate what we stand for.

“Leadership is an elusive concept, hard to describe and impossible to prescribe. It is more evident in its absence so that when leadership is needed, its lack is sorely felt.” — Patrick Dodson, 2008

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]]><![CDATA[It's Nice to Be Important]]>https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/its-nice-to-be-importanthttps://www.timelesstimely.com/p/its-nice-to-be-importantWed, 02 Aug 2023 11:30:32 GMT
Timeless Reflections logo followed by this in typewriter script: "There's a reason we heard Ted Lasso say 'I appreciate you,' not 'I appreciate it.' To be appreciated is to be seen, to be acknowledged, to be human. And we all want to be individually recognized for who we are and what we bring to the table. We want to feel important, even if just for a fleeting moment. "The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated." - William James, 1896

Everyone likes to feel special. And when you go out of your way to acknowledge someone else’s contribution, you create a lasting bond with them. They’ll never forget that feeling.

“The deepest principle of human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” — William James, 1896

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]]><![CDATA[The Spark of Ignition]]>https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/the-spark-of-ignitionhttps://www.timelesstimely.com/p/the-spark-of-ignitionFri, 16 Jun 2023 13:00:47 GMT
Timeless Reflections: Inspiration is a wonderful thing. We need to allow ourselves the opportunity to be inspired more often, regardless of where it might come from. "What makes men and women free is learning to trust their own thought, possess their own history, speak in their own voices. It doesn’t matter how or when the mind achieves the spark of ignition—in an old book or a new video game, from a teacher encountered by accident in graduate or grammar school, in the course of dissecting a frog or pruning an apple tree, while looking at a painting by Jan Vermeer or listening to the Beatles sing “A Hard Day’s Night.”" - Lewis H. Lapham, 2008

Inspiration can come from any source, if we allow it.

Putting our phones down and simply paying attention to our surroundings, whether we’re on a walk or reading a book, opens up a world of possibilities.

“It doesn’t matter how or when the mind achieves the spark of ignition—in an old book or a new video game, from a teacher encountered by accident in graduate or grammar school, in the course of dissecting a frog or pruning an apple tree, while looking at a painting by Jan Vermeer or listening to the Beatles sing ‘A Hard Day’s Night.’” — Lewis H. Lapham, 2008

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]]><![CDATA[Pursue Purpose, Not Happiness]]>https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/pursue-purpose-not-happinesshttps://www.timelesstimely.com/p/pursue-purpose-not-happinessFri, 12 May 2023 14:26:22 GMT

I see so many conversations about happiness ― what it is and how to achieve it.

The pursuit of happiness is even built into the founding documents of the United States.

But happiness isn't guaranteed. Nor is it likely to appear if you’re hellbent on pursuing it.

The secret, I think, is to live a life of value and virtue. To connect with your true self and to connect that with others.

In doing so, happiness will find you, not the other way around.

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

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]]><![CDATA[Shut Your Mouth]]>https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/timelessreflections-6https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/timelessreflections-6Tue, 10 Jan 2023 18:33:38 GMT

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]]><![CDATA[More Precious Than All Wealth]]>https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/timelessreflections-5https://www.timelesstimely.com/p/timelessreflections-5Mon, 09 Jan 2023 13:51:30 GMT

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