Author: Brian Smyth

I’ve just finished reading one of my Christmas presents. Despite the number of books I possess, I still get lots of books as presents and they are always welcome. This one Wonder was a delightful young person’s book about a boy with a terribly deformed and ugly face as a result of some genetic disease. The book was very positive in tone and, as part of that, it included precepts like: “Always try to be a little kinder than is necessary.” and: “Your deeds are your monuments.”  These are nice and good but, a little like the resolutions that...

Making Everyday Christmas Day Maybe Christmas is the norm, not the exception, not just one day in the year, but every day! Why not enjoy that Christmas spirit every day? Maybe being generous and trusting and investing in the wonderful gifts we give to our customers and to the world is normal and the best way to do business. What if, like Herod, we’ve got ‘power’ all wrong and real power comes from truth, humility, service and that it is this power that people really respect and will want to follow? Do you think that if you put your...

Oh Not Trump again! Why is it that someone like Donald Trump does seem to appeal to something good in people?  Is it his decisiveness, his calling things as they are, his stated commitment to do whatever makes most sense – whether it  does or doesn’t is another day’s work?  However frightening the future looks under his leadership, there is something fresh about his ‘commitment’ that he will do what HE thinks is right and best whether that is pleasing or acceptable to everyone or not. I know this is equally frightening. I could take the same question from...