When I was nineteen years old, I was living in Taranto, Italy, working with the Italian people. At the time I was working with a man from Nice, France who was older and more experienced than me. He spoke better Italian, understood the local culture, and helped me move forward more rapidly with my work.…

Jed Nield was a big man who stood at 6’3” and weighed well over 200 pounds of solid muscle. He was born and raised on a dairy farm in Afton, Wyoming. At a young age he was taught how to work until the work was done and done right. Often this meant working 14-16 hours…

In the summer of 1974 my first wife Carol, our three-year-old son Paul, and I were living in Knoxville, Tennessee where I was completing my master’s degree at the University of Tennessee. We were living in student housing, and we became good friends with one of our neighbors and we enjoyed each other’s company and…

Some people see a closed door and turn away. Others see a closed door, try the knob, If it doesn’t open…they turn away. Still others see a closed door, Try the knob, if it doesn’t open they find a key, If the key doesn’t fit…they turn away. A rare few see a closed door, Try…

Jean-Henri Fabre (1823-1915) was a French Naturalist and considered the father of modern of entomology (study of insects and their relationship with humans), and he was nominated twice for the Nobel Prize in literature for his works on insect life. One of his most famous experiments was with pine processionary caterpillars.​These caterpillars are named for…

Confidence isn’t some magical trait kids either have or don’t—it’s something they build over time, like a callus or a muscle. And just like muscles, confidence grows stronger with good stress, repetition, and recovery. As a parent, you’re in the unique position of being your child’s first coach, their safest critic, and the home base…

One of the saddest yet most gratifying memories I have of my first wife, Carol, occurred on a family vacation in the summer of 2000. Our son Paul was home on military leave, the entire family was gathered together, and we decided to take a series of day trips rather than a longer vacation.​One of…