No One Reads Footnotes - Really?! On My Dislike of Blanket Statements

No One Reads Footnotes - Really?! On My Dislike of Blanket Statements

I just finished another book last night: "Finish" by Jon Acuff. As I was getting through the final pages, including acknowledgements and chapter notes—yeah, I’m that person who actually reads those sections— I was reminded of a comment I received from an editor as I was shopping for someone to edit what I thought would be my first book. When she saw that I had footnotes quoting some of my sources, she authoritatively said:

“No one reads footnotes anymore.”

I was taken aback. Not just by the statement, but by her all-or-nothing position on the practice. 

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Relating Over Investing - Why “Networking” Is NOT a Useful Verb

Relating Over Investing - Why “Networking” Is NOT a Useful Verb

I can’t stand the term “networking.” Never have, and hopefully never will. It’s a term and verb that makes me shudder. It carries with it connotations of using others for the sole purpose of getting ahead. It makes me think of little other than selfishness and self importance.

Do I think we need to meet new people? Of course! But...

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Ten Things Skydivers and FIRE Seekers Have in Common

Ten Things Skydivers and FIRE Seekers Have in Common

Skydivers are a peculiar bunch. I mean, you have to be a little nuts to jump out of a perfectly good airplane, right?

Well, FIRE* seekers are also a little weird. After all, you have to be a bit odd to believe you can save your way to early retirement without living the life of a pauper.

Aside from their membership in the non-conformity club, these two groups have a lot in common. 

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The Billboard Test

The Billboard Test

Have you ever heard the advice that you shouldn’t do or say anything that you wouldn’t want printed on a billboard the next day?

Though this is great advice in and of itself, I think the commonly held view is that we need to consider it for the really important, potentially devastatingly embarassing actions or interactions we might engage in.

But when it comes down to it, it’s great advice for just about any action or interaction. 

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Food for Thought - The Gift of a Gathering

Food for Thought - The Gift of a Gathering

The F2P clan hasn't exchanged Christmas gifts with each other and with others for many years now. If we’re invited somewhere—which we feel privileged to say is common place for us during the Holidays—we bring something the hosting party needs for the evening, and we ask what that might be ahead of time. It never fails because there’s always something.

And it’s no different when we play host. We prefer not to receive gifts and, when we do, we’re delighted that people bring food stuffs and not consumer goods that adds to the clutter we would prefer not to have in the first place.

How, then, do we celebrate during the Holidays?

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An Open Book

An Open Book

Over the last few years, I’ve been focusing on listening a lot more than speaking. That might sound funny coming from a writer, but what I mean is that I’m practicing the art of absorbing information and reflecting on it more than answering the impulse of wading in on every topic, thought or opinion expressed. I’m not always good at it, but at least I’m more aware of my impulsive need to jump in and I’m trying to improve.

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Presence, Not Presents

Presence, Not Presents

Small Gestures Are A Big Deal

We all get busy. If it's not work assignments, it's social obligations, or organized sports or volunteering or household chores or anything else that makes us feel we're getting pulled in all sorts of directions. 

This pull on our time makes the following shortcuts very attractive:

  • Buying convenience foods or eating out
  • Driving vs walking or biking
  • Skipping a workout or playtime in the park
  • Outsourcing life tasks (maid service, yard service, laundry, baby sitting)

We've all used some of these, and more, at some point. Indeed, some of us take these shortcuts on a regular, even daily basis.

There are even some shortcuts we take that we don't even realize we're taking because they don't feel as real and tangible as the list I offered above.

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