Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, the images remain vivid—but so do the memories of where we were, whom we were with, and how suddenly the world changed. The anniversary prompted me to look back not only at that terrible day, but at the people, places, and experiences surrounding it—and to ask what we remember, and why.
Weight Watchers was once nearly synonymous with losing weight. Then GLP-1 medications changed the rules, helping push an already struggling company into bankruptcy. Its effort to rebuild around the very drugs that disrupted it offers an unusually visible case study—and a warning that the economic effects of GLP-1s will travel far beyond weight loss.
A will can say what should happen after we die. It may not tell our families what we own, where to find it, whom to call, or why we made certain decisions. My daughter’s memorable warning taught me the important difference between having an estate plan and leaving an estate that is truly ready.
GLP-1 drugs are changing how millions of people eat, but their economic impact may extend well beyond the dinner table. As consumers gain greater control over appetite, they may make different choices about what they buy and where they spend. Businesses will adapt. The question is not simply what disappears, but what replaces it.
GLP-1 drugs are changing the lives of people I know, including my sister. That prompted me to learn what these drugs actually do, how well they work, how many Americans are taking them, and what their risks are. What I found suggests something much bigger than just another weight-loss trend.
Don’t Just Worry—Do Something. Jesus’ teaching on worry, reinforced by family wisdom and a few observations from Mark Twain, reminds us that worry rarely solves anything. Whether you’re building a career or navigating the next season of life, purposeful action—grounded in faith—is a far better response than anxious waiting.
George Burns joked, “I can’t die now. I’m booked.” Beneath the humor lies an important truth. Forward commitments create forward motion. Whether you’re building a business or navigating the “after sixty-five” years, momentum may be one of life’s greatest allies.
Each week, about 75,000 Americans turn 65. The last Baby Boomers will reach that milestone in 2029—but the march will not end. Generation X follows immediately behind, turning 65 at much the same rate. For millions of us, the question is shifting from how to build value to how intentionally we will live it.
I thought I was booking directly with a hotel. I wasn’t. That simple misunderstanding cost me an extra night’s lodging and taught me a broader lesson about navigating today’s digital world. In an age of sponsored links and online intermediaries, situational awareness begins long before we reach our destination.
More than forty years ago, I made a “business first” decision that shaped my career and Mercer Capital’s future. Recently, I realized it was time for a different decision: “living value first.” This essay explores why the transition from building value to living it is ultimately a transition of identity.
