The 100 Guy

One day, when I led an in-house agency for The Charlotte Observer, the publisher decided the newspaper needed a new slogan.

Need a media placement or want to position your company or client as an industry thought leader? The 100 Companies will manage your newsletter and website platform — now in 29 geographic and industry vertical markets — with our new half-price offering.

I’ve lived that Jefferson quote since I was a teenager. Amazing I lasted 13 years in corporate America before launching my own communications firm.

My dad wanted me to be a lawyer or doctor.

Some of my friends were elated by the Republicans’ $1.9 trillion tax cut in 2017.

Other than in intramural boxing class or my best friend’s single slug on the second grade playground – I’ve never been in a fistfight.

A group of lifelong friends gathered outside for a socially distanced dinner to celebrate my birthday last month.

A favorite moment when I’d meet with business owners (in-person, pre-pandemic) occurred when I’d casually mention I’d sold my business (three years ago this month).

Amidst pandemic, economic collapse, racial disparity and political warfare, do you wonder how America would be faring if we instead followed what God asked us to do?

Most major religions share the tradition of making a pilgrimage, a journey to increase knowledge of self, nature and/or God.

Two years ago, I spotted Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne exiting our plane at DCA.

When Pharaoh refused to release the Israelites from slavery, 10 plagues changed his mind.

What will families remember from this pandemic pause? Tension? Peacefulness? Will a predicted baby boom be confined, as young parents jest, to firstborn? More important, what will our children remember? Teenagers grumble about confinement, restrictions, life interrupted.

When people gather at the Washington Monument to watch a sunrise or sunset, they often grow silent, watching the miracle as another day is dedicated. Moments later, they turn away, returning to normal lives.

Americans have been divided for much of our history. (See the election of 1800.)

Six years ago this month, the first issue of The 100 landed in readers’ inboxes, delivering concise insights into business, history, travel – even public policy.

The tomb in the center remains vacant, with an inscription reading “Honoring and Keeping Faith with America’s Missing Servicemen.”

For three years, I’ve written the same words on Airbnb’s reservation field that says “tell your host why you’re in town.”

Leveraging off The 100 Companies’ success in 20 geographical markets from Denali to Dubai and our launch of The Travel 100, our publishing network expanded last week into a second industry vertical: The Association 100.

I hadn’t seen a $2 bill for years when I noticed schoolmate Rip Black tipping with them. Having loved them since attending its 1976 re-introduction, I adopted Rip’s paean to Mr. Jefferson, tipping with them since. I gave one to an Uber driver recently – he stared at it, announcing, “This one’s going in the wallet!”

I fly weekly without fear despite one turbulent flight above Asheville’s mountains and a roach-infested Air Cubana flight.

When I was four and just becoming aware of people outside my family, I began noticing our wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors.

After the year I got a cheese grater for Christmas, I’’ve come up with my own list of gifts. My list includes a SodaStream to make my own carbonated water, unbreakable sunglasses, handwoven bag from Kenya and a line of gorgeous leather goods.

In the March 1980 Republican primaries, George Bush had already lost what he called his “Big Mo” “to Ronald Reagan. He bounded off his campaign plane in conservative Augusta, Georgia, for another obligatory meeting with local reporters.

Traditionally around 4th of July, I quote Thomas Jefferson in this space. Given our nation’s hardening polarization, I thought it more appropriate this year to quote Abraham Lincoln.

Our thoughts and prayers have been with our member The Houston 100 this week as the nation’s fourth largest city battles catastrophic floods. My wife and I were there just the weekend before the storm visiting her daughter and husband and enjoying the beautiful parks, diverse restaurants and vibrant life of the city.

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson met at the 1775 Continental Congress in Philadelphia and became close friends. They survived disagreements on many subjects, but on one they were aligned:

In the final episode of our video series, Democrat and Republican wax optimistic.

“Social media has given rise to the ability of individuals to say anything they want to say irrespective of what the facts are.

“One of the serious questions is where any person gets their information and how they verify, when anyone and everybody through their Facebook page, through their blogs, can put any kind of conspiracy theory out there,” Fowler said