Chip Conley

Many of us mistake the urgency of a want with the necessity of a need. Of course, tough economic times quickly separate the wants from the needs.

One of the collateral benefits of starting MEA is I'm offered the opportunity to eavesdrop on alums' conversations as I'm copied on their correspondence.

With this Op-Ed headline, Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus’ September 1 story led to nearly 6,000 comments on the Post site in just a couple of days (and thousands more on social media).

MEA alum Ruben Arquilevich sent me this link to the New York Times story of his father-in-law, who, at 86, has recently become famous as possibly the world’s oldest water polo player. I’d sent my 85-year-old dad, a former water polo player (as am I), the story before receiving the email from Ruben.

He was a wealthy, retired investment banker in his mid-40s who had a lot of money but little purpose. She was a wise social worker in her early-60s who was filled with purpose but had little money.

More than 80 years ago, Swiss engineer George de Mestral was walking his dog when he noticed burrs sticking to him and his pooch. Most of us would have just complained about what comes next: de-burring the dog. But George was curious. No, Chip, don't go there!

The Middle Age Millennial is making news! First, it was CNBC, with its focus on "Middle-Aged Millennials." Then, a recent column in the NY Times surveyed the same demographic under the title, "Millennials, the Data Says You're Middle-Aged. What Do You Say?"

I was hanging out at our place with our shaman Saul tonight, and we were a little tipsy. He’d smoked a joint or two. I’d drunk a couple of glasses of Albarino wine that our wellness wunderkind Jonathan Joshua had brought to MEA Baja from South Africa.

“It takes courage to recognize the real as opposed to the convenient.” - Judi Dench Dame Judi knows what she’s talking about.

You know that moment when you see someone you haven't seen in 30-40 years, and you can't place their name? It's okay if you're at a reunion because at least you have name tags.