If you pay attention to business failures, you may start to perceive what some call “dead ends onto right paths.” Here are a few Harvey McKay gave in his classic business book: 1) Walt Disney was once fired by a newspaper. For what? For lack of ideas. 2) MGM’s memo after Fred Astaire’s screen test said: Can’t act. Slightly bald. Can dance a...

A friend of mine was dissatisfied with his job and the company he worked for. He felt mistreated, underused . . . and his anger simmered. But that was years ago. Today my friend works for the same company—even has the same job—but he loves it. What made the difference? One conversation. A woman asked him whom he prayed for most—himself or other...

Her red eyes and splotchy face told me all I needed to know. Dad, I didn’t make the team. She had surprised us by expressing a desire to try out for the drill team—she, being our middle daughter who has not taken dance since she was three like some of her peers. We gave our support and prayed for her on the big day. Sometimes the prayers of a righteous...

A friend of mine visited Plimoth Plantation, a re-creation of the village built by English Puritan settlers.  Costumed role players take on the names, viewpoints, and life histories of real people from that first colony.  In character, these players know nothing beyond the world of 1627. My friend approached one of the players and asked, “Where is your...