“Good enough.” Those two words are frequently heard coming out the mouths of the underachievers of the world. You have certainly heard them said, often with a few more words following like these:
“Good enough for now.” “Good enough for government work.” “Good enough for who it is for.” “Good enough for the girls (or guys) I date.” And the worst — “Good enough for me.”
My friend Mark mows his grass to near perfection. He sometimes takes razzing about it from his neighbors who mock him for this obsession. He once told me, “If you are going to do something — anything, really — why wouldn’t you do it to the best of your ability?” Not surprisingly, Mark is a successful self-made person who has faced many personal and professional challenges in his life but has tackled them all head on. He believes everything he does — everything — is a reflection of him. We could all learn something from Mark.
Our publishing business is somewhat unique in that what we do is out there for everyone to critique every day. Readers don’t hesitate to point out our errors, and I appreciate that. Some who work for us express their annoyance of that criticism. They typically don’t last long. We are not perfect, but we most certainly should strive to be.
The subject of this column was inspired by a quote I read recently that said, “Every job is a self-portrait of the person who does it. Autograph your work with excellence.” I shared it with our staff, but the message goes beyond our jobs.
Cooking a meal. Ironing a shirt. Making your bed. Washing a car. And, yes, mowing the lawn. Even when no one else can see it, the end result of each of these tasks is a self-portrait of who we are.
So, what makes one person want to “autograph with excellence” and another to continually say “good enough”?
Inspiration? Self-motivation? An inner drive to continually improve? A fear of failure? Obsessiveness? Compulsiveness? Or just a simple desire to do one’s best?
The answer is likely a bit of each of those and many more. It is also likely to be different for each person and, to some degree, each task. Meanwhile, what’s the harm in working to do one’s best and to autograph with excellence? It certainly seems better than the alternative.
Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
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FROM KCCI: Des Moines police say GPS tracking device led them to arrests of suspects in string of armed robberies. DES MOINES, Iowa —
Des Moines police say a GPS tracking device helped lead them to arrest two people after three armed robberies were reported over 30 minutes Saturday. ...READ MORE
FROM WHO-TV: Scholastic Spotlight: CGD Teacher Visits Antarctica. The Clarion-Goldfield-Dows School District flag waved in Antarctica a few weeks ago! CGD Secondary Music Teacher Joseph Granzow took the flag with him on his trip to Antarctica in appreciation of all the CGD family has done for him. Hear his story in today’s Scholastic Spotlight. ...READ MORE
FROM WOI: Madison County Sheriff: Farmer fatally wounded by bull. 76-year-old Mark Hollingsworth was found "injured and unresponsive" by emergency crews. ...READ MORE |
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Clear Mortgage meteorology
A painfully cold start to the day, but then we rise to the teens this afternoon and the 30s on Wednesday. Light snow is possible Wednesday and flurries Thursday.
For help with pre-approvals or refinancing, get in touch with Originating Branch Manager Carrie Hansen at carrie.mortgage. |
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| Read the latest CITYVIEW | | | ART NEWS
Jeff Fleming’s unbearable lightness of being
By Jim Duncan
Jeff Fleming will kick off the 2025 cultural year in Des Moines Jan. 10 with an exhibition of all new works based on old family photos. Fleming paints ghosts and retrieved memories in gesso, India ink, white charcoal and pencil. He calls these canvasses “chalkboards,” meaning they have been used over and over again, because the stories they suggest are changing with the artist’s point of view over many decades.
Fleming described his process as “storytelling of memories; it’s drawings and the recording of drawing.” This show began when he discovered boxes of old family photographs. He recreates them in both negative and positive reflections, his erasing and wiping as important as his drawing. Milan Kundera’s “unbearable lightness of being” comes to mind. | | | READ MORE |
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Tuesday Touts
• Watercress is now the ultimate superfood, according to a panel of doctors surveyed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency unveiled its list of the most nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables, with watercress topping the list thanks to its impressive levels of vitamins K, A and C.
• Food & Beverage Trends Report is published annually by T. Hasegawa, a flavor development company that has employed chemists to support the food and beverage industry since 1903. This year, it named brown sugar the 2025 Flavor of the Year. T. Hasegawa describes brown sugar "as versatile as it is nostalgic. And while it has been a culinary staple for centuries, its rich, complex flavor profile allows it to branch out in more novel ways." Molasses is what makes brown sugar brown, so expect more of that flavor this year. Brown sugar simple syrup is popular in winter cocktails, particularly those with apple cider, apple brandies and Irish whiskey.
Deals today
• Irina's Steak and Seafood (650 S. Prairie View Drive, West Des Moines) offers live lobsters at half price on Tuesdays.
• Opa! (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) has a buffet featuring fried shrimp, manicotti, chicken piccata, chicken meatballs, garlic knots, pasta alfredo, lamb and chicken, pizza, and all-you-can-eat dessert for $22.99 tonight till 8 p.m.
• Kids meals are half price till 2 p.m. today at Machine Shed (11151 Hickman Road, Urbandale).
• Taco Tuesday brings serious discounts to Mariscos El Pirata (6050 S.E. 14th St., Des Moines), La Familia (1610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines), all Taco John's, The Dam Pub (2710 Beaver Ave., Des Moines), all Abelardo's, all Fernando’s, Malo (900 Mulberry St., Des Moines), Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines), Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road, Des Moines) and Faustino’s (4944 Franklin Ave., Des Moines).
• Today is beef and noodles day at Maxie's Supper Club (1311 Grand Ave., West Des Moines).
• Django (1420 Locust St., Des Moines) has happy hour all night Tuesdays. That means super deals on oysters, shrimp, duck fries, poutine, charcuterie, cheese boards, beers, wine and classic martinis.
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com |
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The 2024 results ...
CITYVIEW's Best Of Des Moines® | | | Best Local Landmark
1. Iowa State Capitol
2. Pappajohn Sculpture Park
3. Gray’s Lake Bridge
The 2025 Best Of Des Moines Poll is now closed. Results will be published in the February 2025 issue of CITYVIEW. |
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| Featured home for sale | | | |
$349,900 171 NW Prescott Lane Grimes, IA 50111
Seller willing to pay for a 2/1 interest rate buy down with accepted offer! Are you in search of a modern townhome that exudes luxury? Look no further! This stunning, like-new home is situated in the desirable N.W. side of Grimes, within the 44 West community, close to DCG High School. As you arrive, the 2-car attached garage and quality cement board siding will catch your eye, along with the lush, irrigated green lawns.
See the listing here.
| | | See More Homes For Sale |
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| SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction | | | 215 N.E. DELAWARE AVE., ANKENY
SALE DATE: 2024-10-15
SALE PRICE: $4,350,000
SELLER: PREMIER HOTEL MANAGEMENT LLC
BUYER: RUDRAKSHA HOSPITALITY INC
ACRES: 1.970
SQUARE FEET: 40,164 |
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Featured in the current
issue of Winterset Living magazine | | | Meet Kara Campfield
Return to Winterset is a dream come true.
By Lindsey Giardino
This year marks Kara Campfield’s first year teaching kindergarten at Winterset Elementary, and for her, it feels like coming home.
Originally from Osceola, Campfield spent part of her childhood in Winterset, making her return to the community as a teacher especially meaningful.
Campfield first became interested in child development during high school, where she spent time volunteering at a daycare and a local elementary school. Those experiences sparked a passion that would guide her future career. | | | READ MORE |
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NCAAF: OSU 34 ND 23
FROM ESPN: Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has agreed to a deal to become the Chicago Bears' next head coach ... READ MORE
FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Baseball’s Top-Heavy Food Chain Is Nearing a Tipping Point ... READ MORE
FROM Yahoo Sports: Australian Open: Paula Badosa stuns Coco Gauff to reach semifinals ... READ MORE |
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1977: President Carter pardons draft dodgers. On January 21, 1977, U.S. President Jimmy Carter grants an unconditional pardon to hundreds of thousands of men who evaded the draft during the Vietnam War. ...READ MORE
1793: King Louis XVI executed. One day after being convicted of conspiracy with foreign powers and sentenced to death by the French National Convention, King Louis XVI is executed by guillotine in the Place de la Revolution in Paris. ... READ MORE
1959: Actor Carl Switzer of “Our Gang” killed. Carl Dean Switzer, the actor who as a child played Alfalfa in the Our Gang comedy film series, dies at age 31 in a fight, allegedly about money, in a Mission Hills, California, home. Alfalfa, the freckle-faced boy with a warbling singing voice and a cowlick protruding from the top of his head, was Switzer’s best-known role. ... READ MORE
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| Birthdays and notables | | | These celebrities were born on this date: Jerry Trainor, Booboo Stewart, Jeremy Shada, Alisha Lehmann, Emma Bunton, Em Beihold, Billy Ocean, Luke Grimes, Geena Davis, Garren Stitt, Nick Gehlfuss
SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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The answer to the last riddle: What do you call an ancient joke that doesn’t get a laugh? PRE-HYSTERICAL! - Gail Tomlinson. Or, An "antique" joke (anti-joke)! - Carolyn Rogers. Other answers: Rex Post.
Today's riddle: What is the one thing that every history major wants to discover?
Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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Mary Fowler
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