Ron's Blog

Enjoy Ron Culberson's insights on a variety of topics

A Curiously Funny Life

A Curiously Funny Life

In 2013, at the National Speakers Association Convention, Ron Culberson presented the Master of Influence Award to Robert “Bob” Orben for a lifetime of influencing others with his words. Bob died on February 2, 2023, at the age of ninety five. The following is an edited article Ron wrote in 2013 about Bob and his […]

Continue Reading

It’s Handy to Learn

14
It’s Handy to Learn

I’ve said it before. I’ll say it again. I’m not as handy as I would like to be. One of my friends can completely gut and then rebuild a bathroom without cutting the wrong wires, puncturing any water pipes, or falling through the floor into the basement. I’ve done damage to drywall by simply trying […]

Continue Reading

I Got Alarmed

8
I Got Alarmed

Recently, I was working a volunteer shift at the local fire station. About an hour before the shift ended, I got an alert on my phone indicating that the smoke detector in our home laundry room had been activated. The smoke detection system in our house used to be hardwired to the electrical system. But […]

Continue Reading

It’s All I Can See

6
It’s All I Can See

Does this sound familiar? It’s the Saturday of your high school prom. You had a crush on another student for several months and a few weeks before the prom, you got up the nerve to ask them to go with you—and they said yes. You rented a tuxedo or bought a dress, made dinner reservations, […]

Continue Reading

My Car is Too Smart for My Own Good

18
My Car is Too Smart for My Own Good

Some rental cars today seem as complicated as the latest tax laws. Since neither math nor mechanics are my God-given talents, encountering either is a challenge for me. You see, when I travel for work, I typically use Uber or Lyft. I love that everything is handled through the app, including the exchange of currency. […]

Continue Reading

I Wanted to Be Famous

16
I Wanted to Be Famous

When I was a kid, I didn’t think my life would be complete until I was famous. I’m not exactly sure why I thought fame was a worthy goal. Perhaps curing cancer, inventing the internet, or even creating a way to have healthy teeth without flossing would have been worthwhile endeavors. Seeking fame for fame’s […]

Continue Reading

Who Thought That Was a Good Idea?

4
Who Thought That Was a Good Idea?

Someone once said that “common sense” is really “uncommon sense” because it seems to be in such short supply. This very well may be true. I remember attending my first Boy Scout camp and a group of older scouts convinced me to go ask the camp director for a “left-handed smoke grinder.” Needless to say, […]

Continue Reading

Sensing Loss

12
Sensing Loss

Well, after vaccinations, boosters, and two-and-a-half years of avoiding COVID, my wife Wendy and I finally succumbed to the WD-40 version—or whatever variant we’re currently on. I do take responsibility for catching it. Wendy and I attended a large conference where there was a lot of hugging, talking, and spewing of droplets. Without a mask, […]

Continue Reading

What Are You Afraid Of?

8
What Are You Afraid Of?

A few years ago, I had a speaking engagement on Long Island, NY and was staying in a small hotel in Great Neck. On my way to lunch, the elevator got stuck between the second and third floors. Now, just so you know, I’m slightly claustrophobic. And by “slightly”, I mean “tremendously.” But the elevator […]

Continue Reading

The Mid-Life Question

8
The Mid-Life Question

I’ve never really had a mid-life crisis. It seems somewhat ridiculous to think that one could somehow reverse the effects of life by veering dramatically off course, as some do. Life is like a moving sidewalk and it’s hard to fight its forward motion. Even if we try to pretend we’re staying in place or […]

Continue Reading