We’ve all had the experience going through the day with a song “stuck in our head”. My wife and I compare notes with the statement: “…the song of the day is_____________”. Who knows where this comes from or why it happens?

I heard the President of Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) speak at a conference and he stated: “….personal music tastes are ‘locked’ down by age 25. People pick a preferred style of music and stick with it throughout their lives”. This explains the generational “oldies” stations that appeal to different generations – the ‘60s, ‘70s, 80’s 90’s and today.

My musical tastes came of age in the ‘70s and ‘80s; so, it comes as no surprise (and much disdain from my boys) that I listen to music from that era; and, yes, occasionally a song sticks in my head. Well, “…the song of the day is Pastime Paradise” by Stevie Wonder. It popped into my head today; however, with different lyrics. So with a nod to Good Promotional Practices (GPP), and heavy influence from Stevie Wonder and the Prolifiq team, here is my songwriting debut:
 
      Content Paradise

Anyone who has ever had to prepare, and be held to, a forecast knows how damned difficult this is. It is really hard and involves as much art as science. So, I read with great interest The Next 100 Years : A Forecast for the 21^st Century by George Friedman.

This is not a tome that waxes eloquently about gee-whiz new technologies nor does it predict where the Dow will be at some point in the future. Rather, Friedman uses historical precedent, cultural imperatives, and geographic positioning to project and extrapolate the ebb and flow of the world’s powers over the next century.

The forecast, while peppered with some pretty scary stuff, is for the most part a pretty positive look at population, GDP, peace, and overall life quality trends over the next 100 years.

The most important part of the book, for me, involves the long-term impact of some short-term decisions we make such as immigration reform, and our strategic alliances with other countries. I know how hard it is to remain focused on the strategic long-term when there are short term tactical pressures that can force decisions that ultimately hurt. I sincerely hope our leaders have the time in their calendars to expose themselves to thinking like this and to ponder the consequences of their decisions.
 

During many of our parenting sessions with the boys, Adrienne and I often quote Woody Allen by saying: “….80% of success is showing up.”  Professional golfer Jim Furyk would amend this to read: “….80% of success is showing up – ON TIME.”