Thoughts from a Utahn on strengthening the economy, building community, and promoting civil society.

RECENT INSIGHTS

There are lots of virtues to small-home living

By Natalie Gochnour | 06/06/2014

Originally published in the Deseret News. Winston Churchill understood the importance of the built environment. In a speech to the House of Commons, he said, “We shape our buildings, and afterwards they shape us.” It’s a clever way of saying that our homes have a profound impact on our lives.

World Cup Soccer Fever

By Natalie Gochnour | 06/05/2014

Originally published in Utah Business. I love World Cup summers. It’s a time to give your work-a-day life a pause and pay attention to what really matters in life—futbol, or what us yanks like to call soccer. It turns out I’m not alone—far from it. The cumulative viewing audience for the 2014 World Cup will…

Summer Reading: Insights from the Lessons of History

By Natalie Gochnour | 05/08/2014

Originally published in Utah Business. There must be hundreds of business books worthy of reading this summer. I recommend you add to this list a 1968 masterpiece I pull off my shelf from time to time called The Lessons of History. Authored by Will and Ariel Durant, this gem of a book will refresh your…

Advice for new graduates: Be kind

By Natalie Gochnour | 05/02/2014

Originally published in the Deseret News Utah’s colleges and universities will graduate approximately 41,000 Utahns this year. Adorned in their regalia, the graduates will walk the stage, collect their diplomas and listen to carefully crafted commencement speeches. Among the many words of wisdom shared, I hope human kindness will make a big showing.

A Diversity of Gifts

By Natalie Gochnour | 04/10/2014

Originally published in Utah Business. I recently met with a business leader who shared an instructive thought about the value of diversity in an organization. She said, “When I’m in a meeting and all the people are the same, I think, ‘What’s the point?’ Someone could leave the room and you would make the same…

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