How Going Stoic Helps Achieve Your Goals and Find More Joy

Let’s talk about focus for a moment. There’s a concept in philosophy—and I like philosophy because it can be a little like practical psychology—that relates to how we spend our time. It is called Stoicism we can stay busy running from one thing to another, trying to get everything done, while spending hours on things that really aren’t important. That can clutter our days, create stress, and make it harder to achieve the goals that matter most.

If you’ve chosen your goals based on your skills, abilities, and what you truly want to accomplish, then you should spend your time working toward those goals. That means removing some of the clutter—things that don’t matter, don’t bring you happiness, or don’t contribute to your purpose.

(Illustrative Only)
Declutter the 
things that distract
you from focus and
peace. 

As you get older, you begin to reflect on your experiences and see things differently. You realize that some of the energy you spent running around and staying busy wasn’t really necessary. It wasn’t wasted because you were learning, but many of those activities simply didn’t matter in the long run. They were just busyness.

You also begin to realize that you should do more of the things that make you happy, rather than simply doing things to make other people happy. The same can be true of your activities and relationships. You naturally begin to gravitate toward the people and things that are more meaningful and productive for you.

I thought this study was interesting because it connects philosophy with empirical research and evidence. It’s an interesting look at how focus, self-reflection, and our choices can shape how we spend our lives.

Stoicism, Mindfulness, and the Brain: The Empirical Foundations of Second-Order Desires

• The article examines Stoic ideas about self-regulation alongside findings from psychology and cognitive neuroscience.
• It focuses on how people can regulate immediate desires by developing higher-order preferences about which desires they want to act upon.
• Stoic practices are compared with mindfulness approaches, particularly their potential role in attention, emotional regulation, and self-control.
• The authors connect philosophical ideas about voluntary action and self-regulation with contemporary research on brain processes and behavior.
• The article suggests that combining philosophical analysis with empirical research can provide a stronger understanding of how people develop greater control over their thoughts, emotions, and actions.

Wittmann, M., Montemayor, C., & Dorato, M. (2025). Stoicism, mindfulness, and the brain: The empirical foundations of second-order desires. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1569237. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1569237

City of Gladstone Commission Regular Meeting (07-13-2026)

The Gladstone City Council meeting is being posted here for people to view. If you're trying to attract interest from investors, startups, or others considering the area, it helps to have this information available online. One thing we've seen since COVID is that more communities are putting meetings and information online, making it easier for people to get a feel for what's happening within a city.

It's also helpful to see some of the city's work involving modern infrastructure, audits, and other areas of development. The city is updating and moving forward, so take a look at the video and review some of the information below. The more you follow along, the better feel you'll get for the area.

(Summary of transcripts. Any mistakes let me know.)

ATV / ORV Ordinance & School Safety (1:25 – 30:35)

• Public Comment: An elementary school principal requests a revision to local street ordinance restrictions (specifically regarding 29th Street and the 600 block area near the school). She highlights ongoing safety concerns with light/ORV traffic cutting across school grounds during recess and outdoor learning times.
• Commission Discussion: Commissioners debate ATV/ORV traffic compliance, speed enforcement, and the historical growth of the town over the last 40 years.
• Education & Enforcement: Members emphasize the need for youth education (potentially involving a school resource officer) and enforcing existing regulations rather than relying solely on signage.
• Procedural Motion: The commission forms a dedicated committee (including designated commissioners) to evaluate the ordinance amendment, redact specific restricted sections (e.g., 29th Street/600 block), and coordinate with city staff to start the required public hearing and posting process.

City Approvals & Financial Requests (31:00 – 38:56)

• The commission handles routine administrative approvals, special city requests (including event scheduling for August), and contract/equipment work authorizations.

Blight, Vacant Properties & Economic Tools (39:04 – 57:36)

• Vacant Building Registry: Discussion on establishing a registry to inventory abandoned or neglected properties while acknowledging administrative oversight and inspection challenges.
• Code Enforcement Constraints: Clarification that code enforcement is limited to visible public right-of-way issues (e.g., long grass, structural roof collapse, broken windows) unless properties are registered rentals.
• Funding & Incentives: Review of potential economic tools to assist property owners with structural issues—including Neighborhood Improvement Authorities (NIA), Tax Increment Financing (TIF) captures, Brownfield redevelopment options, and state matching programs (such as MATCH on Main).

City Financial Audits & Infrastructure Lawsuit Response (59:00 – 1:01:39)

• Audit Clarification: In response to a public letter and lawsuit requesting an independent forensic audit of city finances (2019–2025), it is noted that annual audits have been consistently approved by the State of Michigan Department of Treasury.
• Water Infrastructure Project: The official refutes claims in the lawsuit, emphasizing that state and federal funding for critical water projects depends on these approved audits. The city is actively moving forward with replacing a 100-year-old water intake pipe to secure the municipal water supply before system failure.

Monthly Treasury Statement Receipts and Outlays Ending August 31, 2026

The US Treasury Monthly Statement Released Today shows a deficit so far this year. The idea of sustainability and the need to adjust operations and processes to improve performance is needed. 

Monthly Treasury Statement of Receipts and Outlays of the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2026 Through August 31, 2026

• August historically operates at a deficit, recording a shortfall in 71 out of the last 72 fiscal years due to a lack of major tax due dates during the month.

• Calendar timing shifts led to the acceleration of active duty, military retirement, veterans benefits, Supplemental Security Income, and Medicare payments into July 2026, while additional veterans benefit payments shifted from September 1 into August 2026.

• Total receipts for August 2026 reached $360 billion, driven primarily by individual income taxes ($179 billion) and social insurance/retirement receipts ($141 billion).

• Total outlays for August 2026 reached $527 billion, with Social Security ($141 billion), net interest ($86 billion), and health ($81 billion) accounting for the largest share of spending.

• For fiscal year 2026 through August 31, the cumulative federal budget deficit reached $1,966 billion, resulting from $4,845 billion in total receipts against $6,811 billion in total outlays.

Bureau of the Fiscal Service. (2026). Monthly Treasury statement: Receipts and outlays of the United States Government for fiscal year 2026 through August 31, 2026, and other periods. U.S. Department of the Treasury. https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/datasets/monthly-treasury-statement/summary-of-receipts-outlays-and-the-deficit-surplus-of-the-u-s-government

September 2026 University of Michigan Survey of Consumers Declines to 47.8

The latest University of Michigan Survey of Consumers points to some increasingly cautious consumers. September’s consumer sentiment reading fell to 47.8%, suggesting that households are becoming more pessimistic about economic conditions.

That matters because economic behavior and social behavior are closely connected. When consumers feel less confident about the economy, they may become more cautious about spending, making major purchases or visiting retailers. Over time, that could affect sales and other areas of the economy.

Recent economic data have produced some mixed signals, and the decline in sentiment adds another piece to the picture. The important question is whether this is a temporary change or the beginning of a broader shift in consumer behavior. 

Continued monitoring of consumer sentiment will help provide a clearer view of where the economy may be heading. It can impact business and sales among other things because much of the economy is tied to consumer spending (sentiment and spending habits)

University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers: Consumer Sentiment and Economic Expectations

• The University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers measure how households view current economic conditions and their expectations for the future.
• Key measures include consumer sentiment, current economic conditions, and consumer expectations, providing an important indicator of household confidence.

• 

  (Source)

  The surveys also track inflation expectations, personal finances, business conditions, unemployment, interest rates, housing, vehicles, and household purchasing conditions.
• Preliminary September 2026 data show consumer sentiment at 47.8, down from 51.7 in August and 55.1 a year earlier.
• The survey is useful for understanding consumer behavior because expectations about prices, income, employment, and economic conditions can influence spending and other household decisions.

University of Michigan, Institute for Social Research. (2026). Surveys of consumers. https://www.sca.isr.umich.edu/

A Case for Leadership Character and Ethics That Foster Organizational Growth (The Allegory of the Clan)

Leadership is not simply about making good decisions; it is about making decisions grounded in ethics, values, and sound judgment. Good leaders consider the economy, society, resources, risks, and consequences. Starting with strong values can also prevent greater problems later and improve strategic options.

(Illustrative Only)
Ethics and 
Values are what
keeps us
healthy and strong. 
He encourages
the next generation
of leaders to stay
on the right path
and not get distracted
by money, hate, corruption
or the other dark
forces. Even
if they are lucrative. 

The Allegory of the Clan illustrates what happens when those values break down. In the hypothetical example, people misuse institutions, favor their own networks, impose their ideology, and target other groups. With few checks and balances, unethical behavior becomes normalized and even rewarded.

But when people begin challenging those poor values, the community starts to change. Economic activity improves, crime declines, and civic engagement increases. Problems that persisted for decades begin to reverse within just a few years.

The lesson is straightforward: positions of authority should go to people who can serve the broader community, not simply the most connected or ideologically aligned individuals. Checks and balances help protect institutions from corruption and abuse while encouraging stronger leadership.

Ultimately, ethical leadership benefits more than the individual leader. It strengthens institutions, communities, the economy, and public trust. Elect and select the best and brightest and not the most connected (or loudest in the room).

As you can tell values, character is profitable and good for society (The Truth North Values)

The Case for Leadership Character

• Leadership character goes beyond ethics and includes integrity, empathy, courage, self-awareness, determination, optimism, and curiosity.
• Research cited by Harvard Business Impact found that organizations led by CEOs with high character scores had average returns on assets five times higher than organizations with lower character scores.
• Character influences everyday decision-making and is important at all levels of an organization, not just among senior executives.
• Leaders shape organizational culture through their behavior, the standards they establish, and the decision-making environment they create.
• Character can be strengthened through feedback, coaching, practice, and role modeling, suggesting that organizations should develop character alongside traditional management skills.

Belcher, D. (2024, February 13). The case for leadership character. Harvard Business Impact. https://www.harvardbusiness.org/insight/the-case-for-leadership-character/

Consumer Prices Rie .4% in August 2026-Energy is the Culprit

Source BLS

Consumer prices rose about 0.4% in August, with prices up 3.4% from a year ago. Gasoline prices climbed 3.9% during the month. That will have impact in a few other areas. Core CPI also increased, while food prices are up 2.7% over the past year. Not looking particularly positive in this report. 

The biggest concern is energy. Energy prices have risen 16.3% over the past year, creating a significant headwind for consumers and businesses. Because energy is an important input throughout the economy, higher costs can spread across transportation, production, and other areas. 

For now, we can continue to watch the data and see whether these pressures begin to weigh more heavily on economic growth. They may be short lived or they may be longer. 

(Illustrative Only)
Joan comes in from
the cottage to buy some
supplies. She hands
over some money for
some lamp oil and
a gallon of gas for her
chainsaw. 
The clerk lets her
know the prices are
changing rapidly so 
stock up before
winter. 😔

Consumer Prices Rise 0.4% in August 2026

• The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.4% in August, following a 0.1% increase in July.
• Consumer prices increased 3.4% over the 12 months ending in August, unchanged from July.
• Gasoline prices rose 3.9% in August, contributing more than one-third of the overall monthly increase. Energy prices increased 2.1%.
• Core CPI, excluding food and energy, increased 0.3% in August and 2.4% over the past year. Shelter prices rose 0.3% during the month and 3.0% over the year.
• Food prices increased 0.1% in August and 2.7% over the past year. Food-at-home prices were unchanged during the month, while food-away-from-home prices increased 0.3%.
• Energy remains a major inflation pressure, rising 16.3% over the past year, with gasoline prices up 27.4%.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026, September 11). Consumer Price Index—August 2026. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm

Values of Volunteer Firefighters

The study below looks specifically at firefighters and volunteer firefighters. The vast majority of firefighters in this country are volunteers. We have more fires happening, and they are becoming larger and more common. At the same time, budgets are increasingly constrained, so people are volunteering their time and putting themselves at risk to help their communities.

(Illustrative Only)

Firefighters do a lot
of other important work
beyond fires. 
Ki Ki the kitty
is thankful. 

What makes volunteer and part-time firefighters different? They tend to carry strong pro-social values. They want to help their communities, make a commitment to one another within their fire departments, and build trust. These commitments often reflect a broader way of looking at the world and their responsibility to others.

Read the study below, and if you would like to donate to a local fire department or help in some way in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I know a great one. Send me a message to the right. They have a lot of young people compared with many other fire departments, and those firefighters need training, resources, and equipment. If you would like to provide tax-deductible support, I can point you in the right direction.

Values in the Activities of Volunteer Fire Brigades: A Collective Case Study

• Volunteer fire brigades (VFBs) operate as self-organizing community entities that fulfill essential safety functions while simultaneously acting as key cultural and social hubs for local residents.

• Members view their commitment strictly as an unpaid public service, mission, or calling rather than work, which fosters personal virtues such as self-discipline, courage, generosity, and loyalty.

• The core organizational values driving these communities include trust, friendship, kindness, solidarity, respect, and collaborative ties with other local institutions and civic groups.

• Beyond emergency response, firefighters actively engage in community work, such as local infrastructure repairs, educational workshops, social events, and charitable projects.

• Long-term sustainability and local rootedness are maintained by passing down family traditions, preserving historical artifacts and chronicles, and integrating youth through Youth Fire Brigades.

Wrona, S. (2020). Values in the activities of volunteer fire brigades: A collective case study. International Journal of Contemporary Management, 19(4), 21 40.   https://doi.org/10.4467/24498939LJCM.20.012.13483