Alan C. Fox's Blog, page 35

are dangerous.

That is where

I first glimpsed-

lemon meringue pie

a Maserati

and, oh yes,

my wife

Daveen.

I have nine children. Three are from my first marriage, two stepsons from my second marriage, and three daughters from my third marriage. (My final marriage, as Daveen would say.) For those few of you who check the numbers like I do, I add one foster child who graduated with honors from Tufts University.

They range in age from 26 to 51. Each has graduated from college. They have earned twelve graduate degrees among them. And every single one was once seven years old, as well as sixteen year...

At the end of the day

when we cuddle in bed

I wonder-

why

did I

bother

doing anything else

today.

This is to share the good news – People Tools has received an early Christmas present from Publisher’s Weekly – a great review.

People Tools: 54 Strategies for Building Relationships, Creating Joy, and Embracing Prosperity

Alan C. Fox. SelectBooks, $16.95 (208p) ISBN 978-1-59079-142-4



Fox imparts business advice and general wisdom based on his years of experience as a successful real estate mogul, father, husband, and writer. Each chapter presents a distinct "people tool," which he defines...

I woke up at 6:32 this morning screaming at my wife, “When does the f***ing ship leave!!!!!”

We were not on a ship. We were in a hotel room. A few mornings before, I woke up Daveen by kicking her legs. Another nightmare, something about my being interviewed for People Tools and not remembering a single fact about my book.

In this morning’s edition my extended family had just returned from our present vacation, but somehow ended up in Seattle, scheduled to leave at any moment on a cruise. Ou...

Quickly-

Knifed by deceit?

Slowly-

Strangled by fear?

Or daily-

by a thousand

hard

silences?

I have come to respect budgets.

A budget is nothing more or less than a plan, normally a money plan. If you think you will have $1,000 coming in this month, and want your outgo to equal your income, then you can list the categories within which you plan to spend your $1,000. Say $200 for food, $200 for car payments, $100 for recreation, etc.

Many of us lack the time or talent to either create a money budget (plan), or to follow one if we have it.

I don’t have the time or talent to create or foll...

The steps to the Second Temple

in Jerusalem are, intentionally,

uneven.

This is so, as we approach,

we must pay attention.

Is not each of us

composed

of uneven steps.

“Would you like to have lunch with me tomorrow?”

“That would be fine.”

“Are you sure?”

Aye, there’s the rub. “Are you sure?” The words are polite, the intent pure, but the implications to a relationship are as perilous as a poisoned dart.

The problem is that we are taught to be “polite” at the expense of being real. If you think you might “hurt” my feelings your answer will be “nice” and not authentic. No wonder we have this vague feeling that something important is missing in our relationships....

At first so small

you must protect her,

she crawls and learns

to charm her daddy

drives to Senior Prom,

all curves and giggles,

flies to college, marriage,

and care when you are old.