Life requires motivation. Minimal motivation is the urge to stay alive. That’s basic. But going from there, motivation drives everything. Motivation drives individual lives. Motivation drives and supports a family. Motivation drives and supports individuals in their career. Motivation drives businesses. And motivation drives a whole country—that’s patriotism. America was founded on motivation. The pioneers…
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Notable and Quotable: Friedman on Tariffs
On April 4, in their Notable and Quotable, the Wall Street Journal published the following excerpt from an April 27, 1978 speech by economist Milton Friedman at Kansas State University: We call a tariff a protective measure. It does protect; it protects the consumer very well against one thing. It protects the consumer against low…
Love and Fear
The following is attributed to John Lennon: There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance. We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and…
Celebrate International Happiness Day with a New Path to Joy
The Happiness Experiment: A Revolutionary Way to Increase Happiness by Carl Barney Set to Release July 8, 2025 NEW YORK, March 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/–In honor of International Happiness Day 2025, entrepreneur and philanthropist Carl Barney announces his upcoming new book, The Happiness Experiment: A Revolutionary Way to Increase Happiness (Greenleaf, July 8, 2025). Now available for pre-sale, this transformative book empowers readers to…
Fix Your Mindset, Fix Your Life
Our mindset is a collection of beliefs, attitudes, and assumptions—big or small—that shape how we interpret and respond to life. Our most significant mindset—our view of ourselves, others, and the world—is a mental framework that directs our thoughts, actions, and outcomes. Our mindset often functions subconsciously, comparable to the way a computer’s operating system (OS)…
Lawyers
From experience, I have two pieces of advice regarding lawyers – neither of which you’ll get from AI. Be A Good Client This is a lot more than paying invoices timely. You’ll benefit from developing a productive and respectful relationship with your lawyer. Here’s how: There’s more to being a good client but I’m sure…
Love and Relationships—Valentine’s Day Reflections
Love is a profound and joyful emotion. However, it is more than an emotion—it is a recognition and appreciation of the value someone or something adds to our lives. Love brings joy, meaning, and fulfillment. When we love deeply, a psychological bond forms that enriches our lives. Love is also action—things we do to nurture…
Am I Capable of Erotic Love?
“Are you capable of erotic love?” Jason Stotts asks in his book, Ethos and Eros. Me? Let me think. What qualities would I need to bring to and for a loving romantic relationship? Can I live up to this and be worthy of a romantic partner? More tomorrow on Valentine’s Day. Carl B. BarneyFebruary 13,…
The Power of Love
Love, in the Objectivist ethics, is a response to values. It is the emotional price paid by one person for the joy they receive from the virtues of another. It’s not a payment for services rendered nor a compensation for disvalues, but a celebration of all that is good in another person and oneself. Love…
Trump’s Playfulness
President Trump’s unpredictability, flexibility, and impulsivity is criticized. But perhaps these are strengths. Perhaps he’s playing; perhaps he is negotiating. Perhaps this is his Art of the Deal. President Trump’s behavior is brilliantly characterized by Joe Klein, a former Time Magazine columnist. He writes: I’ll not fall for the bait. I watched Trump’s press conference….