Franchises. I wonder if you are thinking of Big Macs, your beloved sports team, or Double A-M-C-O…… There is plenty to like and dislike about franchise businesses, and I’ll bet whichever one you are thinking of gave you a strong association. If you’ve read more than a few sentences I’ve written you won’t be shocked […]
Read MoreIn Wisconsin, we get excited when spring arrives. We finally get to spend some time outdoors and enjoy the sun and the crisp fresh air. A few years ago, my spring cleanup was unforgettable, as well as regrettable. I mulched, edged, trimmed, cut, and fertilized the lawn. The last thing that I did was to […]
Read MoreThink about the last time that you were asked to make a commitment that you really weren’t interested in. Did you say no right away? Did you say yes, and then later say no? Did you say yes, and then show up and later regret it? Does someone keep asking and asking and asking to […]
Read MoreI distinctly remember coming home one day from kindergarten crying. I was embarrassed, I wouldn’t say anything for hours. That alone was enough to cause alarm as I have never been a crier, also I never shut up. They called me Brooke, as in a babbling brook that never stopped. We’ll save that story for […]
Read MoreBy now you’ve probably encountered the New York Times “expose” about the strain the pandemic and changing work dynamics are having on moms. There’s a LOT of stories about it. I am a mom working from home during the pandemic, and I’ve been struggling. I’ve largely avoided talking directly about the pandemic in REMAN U. […]
Read MoreThink back to when you were in middle school, high school and then, in college. If you were like me, you stayed up as late as possible watching TV, playing video games or listening to the radio. You may or may not have squeezed in a little bit of homework. You were young and invincible, […]
Read MoreIt’s all well and good to make mistakes and then learn from them. But sometimes we make the same mistakes over and over again. And sometimes, even though we’re aware we’re making those mistakes, we still do it. Anyone who’s ever questioned their repeated taste in romantic partner can throw me an amen! Tonight, after […]
Read MoreApproaching the end of last year, I think I attached a lot of meaning to starting a plan fresh in 2021. Come January, we’d see my plan through from start to finish. I did it last year, I can do it this year! (Of course, this ambitious planner in me forgot that I didn’t really […]
Read MoreAfter I arrived at work a few years ago, my wife, Rachel, sent me a text saying, “D, my van won’t start. Please keep your phone with you just in case I need you.” Immediately, I thought, “Wow, I’m pathetic! I’m middle-aged and still lack the confidence to jump a car the old-fashioned way. In […]
Read MoreIt has been five and a half years since I sat down for the interview for my current job. And while on most good days, I’m lucky to remember what I had for breakfast, I distinctly remember the word “culture” coming up quite often during our discussion. This is a word that I had truly […]
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