Editor's note: As stated in the blog its a tough but fascinating read. Gawande shares his experience as a surgeon with a human, personal touch and his growing skill as a writer. My high regard for him began with his "Checklist Manifesto" but here he goes ever deeper. He must be a helluva man.

Editor’s Note: Thinking about a song to begin 2015 with and my renewed commitment to my home town came to mind. So here it is, from Canadian Singer/Songwriter David Francey. Note: It’s especially nice to consider my favorite verse during today’s blizzard.  

Editor’s note: The target of this book is international donors. Our foundation is very limited in that area and so I must warn that few of us reading this blog are the target. And yet Balfour’s book is so filled with common sense that I believe his eight pillars apply to just about any work we do. Even working on our own lives. As a matter of full disclosure, I was proud to be asked to do a testimonial for the book but I would not make it my “book of the month” selection if I did not enjoy it as much as I did.

Editor’s note: Yes, I know I overdo the Avetts but their words mean so much to me. This one, at least to me seems to be about growing up, breaking away then recognizing where you came from. It was the feature song to their first major label album in 2009 and is probably their most popular song. The words connect to today’s blog so it just seems the right time to share it.

Editor's Note: The organizations who recognize that doing good is good business are becoming the ultimate value creators. They’re changing their culture and generating every form of value that matters: emotional, experiential, social, and financial. And they’re doing it for all their stakeholders. Not because it’s simply politically correct, because it’s the only path to long-term competitive advantage.

Editor’s Note: I’ll add this month another ‘70s song, this one in light of the holiday with a little of Browne’s deep reflection and attitude thrown in.

Editor’s comment: I don’t usually feature a children’s book but this one is a good reminder to those of us reading to our children/grandchildren. The parable is a star (of truth) breaks up and one piece is found on earth and carried into the culture. Its truth? “You are loved” As their peaceful world fell into violence, greed and destruction a little girl goes looking for the other piece. She finds it with the Old Turtle and returns home to share the other half of the broken truth, which is the whole truth: “You are loved/and so are they.” Wonderful stuff, can’t wait to read to my grandchildren while contemplating my own relationship to that lesson.”

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Editor’s note: Simon’s work was the backdrop to my young life. He just had/has a unique ability to bring rhythm and sound to great lyrics. Listening to Slip Sliding reminds me of contemplating whether I was “gliding down the highway when in fact” I was “slip sliding away.” Dude can write, sing and play like nobody else.

Editor’s comment: Some forget that this mid-1980’s album and song were “way out there” for the time. It was experimental, really and the collection of songs on the album would be understatedly called “eclectic”. I loved it then and loved it again the other day when it came up on my ITunes shuffle. Only a few people are as deeply moved by music as Simon, in my view.