- Attributed to Eleanor Hibbert, British author

While the above quote is overly broad, I think it’s useful in the context of work and accomplishments.  I mean, if you are addicted to clubbing baby seals, well, maybe you should give that some thought and perhaps a dash of regret should be part of that cognitive cocktail.

Is regret bad?  Good?  Useful sometimes?  Overrated? What do you think?

- Matthew Porter

Bookmark It

“If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve (or save) the world and a desire to enjoy (or savor) the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.”

- E.B. White

Quoted in profile by Israel Shenker, “E. B. White: Notes and Comment by Author”, The New York Times – July 11, 1969

- Matthew Porter

Bookmark It

Behold, the Squaris Wheel...

Would you look at this thing? I am in love with this design. It’s fun, dangerous, and an obvious zoning violation. Further, setting this baby up over a weekend would without question make a homeowners association board wring their fretful little bureaucratic hands with worry.

And that makes me smile.

But beyond this, it reminds me of a time now long gone. Before the dawning of the Age of Oprah. Back when wax was something guys put on their car, not in their hair. Alas, now all I’m waxing is nostalgic.

So even if it’s only online, I hope you enjoy the Squaris Wheel. And hey, if you’re feeling froggy, you can find the complete Squaris Wheel plans here.

- Matthew Porter

PS:  Click the pic twice to see the glorious fill version.

Bookmark It

- Attributed to Bill McKenna

Professional motorcycle racer

Cycle Magazine, February 1982

- Matthew Porter

Bookmark It

Henry David Thoreau: Poet, Thinker, Dapper Dan

Depending on how you look at it, today’s Great Quote could either be inspiring or kind of sober, a’ la J. M. Barrie. Maybe it’s both. In any case, hope it helps get your week started well…

“The youth gets together his materials to build a bridge to the moon, or, perchance, a palace or temple on the earth, and, at length, the middle-aged man concludes to build a woodshed with them.”

- Henry David Thoreau
July 14, 1852 — Journals (1838-1859)

- Matthew Porter

Bookmark It

Of all the months named after a present singular first person auxiliary verb, May is definitely my favorite. And in lieu of a clever segueway, here now is a quick recap of all the fun we had this last month here at HeyPorter.com…

Great Quote Monday — John F. Kennedy

I think that sometimes the best quote is a challenging question, as evidenced here by John F. Kennedy.

Matthew Maxim #11: Hate Failure, But Never Fear It

Okay, it stinks as a bumper sticker, but read this article and see if you don’t agree that it’s relevant and applicable to everyday life.

Great Quote Monday — Helen Keller

Having read this quote– and now visited her childhood home– I almost feel bad for telling all those bad Helen Keller jokes way back when.

Found Comedy — Mega Brand Smackdown

Weeks later and I still can’t figure out how this sign got approved and printed. It’s enough to make the Hamburglar blush.

Great Quote Monday — Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Poetry for Great Quote Monday? Yep. And just imagine where we could go from here. Today Browning, tomorrow Shel Silverstein…

Great Quote Monday — Harold S. Dodge via W. Edwards Deming

I know: the word ‘quality’ is flogged so much that it has no edges left at all. Still, I think you’ll find this quote and the accompanying article worth a look.

Great Quote Monday — Jesus

And if you like this quote, try reading his bestseller.




- Matthew Porter

Bookmark It

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

- Jesus Christ
John 15:13 (NIV)

Bookmark It

W. Edwards Deming: The management guru women wanted and men wanted to be...

Today’s quote– about quality– comes from Harold S. Dodge as delivered by management guru W. Edwards Deming (also a statistician, college professor, author, lecturer, and consultant).

‘Quality’ isn’t the sexiest of concepts, as concepts go. Still, the idea of quality is inextricable from the idea of excellence. And, of course, the phrase ‘striving for excellence’ is just a fancy pants way of saying ‘we aim to stare our competition directly in the eye, except that the competition will be lying on the ground and we’ll be standing over them.’

Hey, when you put it that way, I think I could get behind this ‘quality’ thing.

Dodge’s / Deming’s quote reminds me of the work of Phil Crosby and his ‘quality is free’ and ‘do it right the first time’ concepts. Mr. Crosby was an author, management theorist, and quality management guru whom I had the pleasure of meeting several times. Which is to say, he attended the same church I did when I was growing up and I later dated his daughter for a time. Which is to say, now I’m not saying anything useful whatsoever, just doing some ham-handed name-dropping. [Shakes head] Not efficient at all…

“As Harold S. Dodge said many years ago, ‘You cannot inspect quality into a product.’ The quality is there or it isn’t by the time it’s inspected.”

- W. Edwards Deming
Out Of The Crisis (1982)

- Matthew Porter

Bookmark It

Now, on with the show…

Earth’s crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God:
But only he who sees, takes off his shoes,
The rest sit round it, and pluck blackberries…

- Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Aurora Leigh (1857) Bk. VII, l. 812-826

- Matthew Porter

Bookmark It

'Oh No, You McDidn't!'

Came across this signage today.  It caught my attention, but I do think it’s a little off-brand.  And when I say ‘a little’ I mean ‘a lot.’  Sure, everybody has been taking a shot a Starbucks the last few years.  And it’s understood that in a down economy, competing brands get very direct– even aggressive– in comparing themselves to each other.  Still, this sign has a certain ‘rogue graphic designer’ quality.  A robust ‘not fully approved’ aura.  I see this pic and can’t help thinking that somewhere there’s a guy at a bar, whining to his friends over beers saying ‘I don’t care if they did fire me.  It’s funny!’

And off-brand or not, it is funny.

- Matthew Porter

Bookmark It