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Thursday’s Thoughts – Background and Residual Nuance

~Six Quotes~


“It’s a helluva start, being able to recognize what makes you happy.” Lucille Ball.

For younger readers, Lucille Ball was the 1940s–50s Beyoncé. Smart, fearless, wildly talented actor, entertainer and   businessperson. Women weren’t supposed to own much of anything in Hollywood, Lucy owned a movie studio. She got there because she was hell bent on doing what made her happy and the obstacles of her era were just part of the journey. That quote of hers has always stuck with me, and it was one of the earliest Thoughts I sent to my granddaughter.

Years ago, when she started high school, I inadvertently started a tradition. No master plan. No long-term intent. I just knew high school was stressful, confusing, and loud, and I wanted to put some stuff out there for her to think about. A little perspective, some diversion, a little guidance, and, TBH, a little staying connected.

So, every week, I sent her an email with a quote, some famous people, some not so famous, alive today and gone for centuries, but always something that resonated with me on a visceral level. Thoughts that might help her navigate the maze of high school… and then college. It started casually, until I skipped a week and she said, “Don’t do that.” Since then, every Thursday without fail, she’s received an email cleverly titled Thursday’s Thought. When my wife and I travel, I queue them up in my device and let magic technology do the rest.


I didn’t want these to be garden-variety motivational throwaways. One of the early ones was Henry Ford’s “If you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right,”, and you can't argue with that, it endures because it’s about basic attitude, and attitude carries a lot of points. Later ones were more real life level, Condoleezza Rice’s reminder that “Being diplomatic is a good thing as what you’re trying to do is say something in a way that leaves open the possibility that you’ll get a response”. I was aware that since I was choosing what to send there was a bent in the views, but I think they were fair, time proven, and meaningful. Yes, I was hoping some would take hold...

Many of the Thoughts centered on strong women, women who laid the foundation so newer generations could gain ground. Women today succeed at the highest levels in business, medicine, education, technology, finance, research and more, and it's important to know that barriers don't have to stop you. Anyone who says women can’t manage things better than men isn't looking.

Which brings me back to Lucille Ball and recognizing how important doing what makes you happy is to being successful. It ain't easy, and effort shapes outcomes. Lucy didn’t start as a star. Like so many, she became an “overnight success” after decades of work.

As my granddaughter graduates from college this spring (the whole thing somehow took about a minute and a half), I looked back through the volumes and came up with six Thoughts (of about 550) that may not be the deepest and maybe not the best (there are only so many one can read...) but have some messages that seem timeless in their relevance, and worth thinking about.

  •         "We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called opportunity, and its first chapter is now." Edith Lovejoy Pierce
  •         “Thinking outside the box requires you to go where it’s not so comfortable.        That’s how you know you’re there.” Marilyn G. Lyons
  •         “We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are”. Anais Nin
  •        “In the end, people will judge you anyway, so don’t live your life impressing others live your life impressing yourself”. Eunice Infante
  •        “There is a voice that doesn’t use words. Listen.”  Jalal Rumi
  •        “Remember, some people have no idea what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it”. George Carlin

So, I’m not sure if this is a blog or a graduation letter. Either way, I stand by my choices.

Thanks for reading.

Please let me know what you think at thoughts@amtify.com














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