Editor’s Note: Thanks to Joe Hartman, my pal and co-worker at WorkPlace, for bringing this and a few other songs to my attention from the era of last month’s song. It’s a toe-tapper with a lot of meaning since she (Gladys Knight) is trying to figure out how to use her imagination to “keep on keeping on”. Oh, man, I love this.

Essence of the music/lyrics: We all share a home - planet earth. We should be accepting of others differences, because we are all "everyday people".

Dave Matthews Band 'You Might Die Trying’ - I grew up with Dave Matthews Band. They are my development years (high school and college). Just a fun, accessible, sing-along, jam band...but there was more. Dave Matthews himself, having been born and raised in South Africa, meant he had a world view that I didn't at the time. He put that worldview into his music and it allowed me an expanded view, from my seat in Mentor, Ohio. I didn't get to know this song until last week when my wife and I went to see him. While he played it live, I heard this song with fresh life perspective and it hit me with all it's might, especially now with my expanded worldview and care for the direction of giving back the good things I have earned.

Editor's Note: Robert Eggar, a close friend of my DC relatives who have worked in his kitchen once a week since it opened, points out in his book that the first step we can do as givers of our time and money is to ask “how” and “why” instead of “who” and “what”, a philosophy that has shaped our foundation. I had the pleasure of hearing Eggar speak a few years back and was moved by his compelling personal story and passion for helping the poor. 

Editor’s note: I’ve always loved Browne’s guitar picking and his beautiful, moody voice. This one, far more obscure than those I’ve chosen before means a lot to me because it reflects on Alice and all the partners I’ve had in this journey of love.

Editor’s note: Before every business plan, I ask my students/friends/employees to first write a life plan so that their work will match their purpose. In this incredibly readable and enjoyable book StoryCorps founder David Isay creates context for those considering their current or future calling. The author picked favorite stories from 65,000 interviews in the archives of his popular PBS program and organized them by type, such as dreamers, generations and philosophers. It’s just a great way to get inspired and reminded that we’ve got one life to live and we should do it purposefully.

Editor's Note: A couple close friends on a tough assignment told me they played this song while they worked. Great lyrics and the right upbeat rhythm to keep one going, methinks.