Bradley Beck

Bradley is a Husband, Father, GrandBrad, Toastmaster-DTM, Optimist & 360 Guy. He lives in Boulder County.

IR is the New AI

Artificial Intelligence, the ability of computers and software to research and consolidate incredible amounts of data and predictive analytics into a concise and clear response by making decisions or solving problems, is an incredible achievement for mankind. Brad Beck notes that though many fear this accomplishment of machine learning, he embraces it.

Generosity

Brad Beck explains that people and organizations that provide a service or fill a need do not tend not to violate rights, rather they make their communities a better place. He notes when they do their giving without the coercion of force, they are moral and decent in their pursuits.

Reflection

Brad Beck notes the end of the year is a good time for reflection. It is a time when we bend back our thoughts and intentions and ruminate on the actions we did and did not take.

Listen Before You Leap

Brad Beck’s first grade teacher wrote on his report card that Bradley was loquacious. As a co-founder of Liberty Toastmasters, Beck has learned that yes, public speaking is important but perhaps even more important is listening.

A Climate Conversation

Author Brad Beck, notes that even after reading dozens of Climate Change books, articles, and attending debates and seminars with world-famous experts, he felt discouraged and dejected with the realization that the alarmists were louder, well organized, and using emotion while gaining more power to rule the world in their dystopian vision. Beck explains that was until he had an opportunity to attend the film premier of a new documentary called A Climate Conversation.

ProcrastiNATION

Brad Beck asks which nation does not do what it’s supposed to do until it’s too late? Answer ProcrastiNATION. Beck explains that the American people have allowed our elected representatives to delay, deflect, and dilly-dally on almost every issue, kick the can down the road, and blame the bureaucracy they created for these festering problems.

Consistency

Brad Beck explains that it’s the little things, done with consistency, day by day is what leads to success. Beck shares his experiences and insights of working in the same industry for forty years.

Staying COOL

Staying COOL pays dividends. In this essay Brad Beck reflects how a $6.00 sno-cone helped him to create a recipe to stay COOL when the rhetoric and dialogue get hot.

Then and Now – It’s Getting Better All the Time

Many times when we look at the headlines of 2023 and the issues we face appear daunting. As Brad Beck reflects upon his father’s ninetieth birthday, Beck notes that his father has indeed lived through major challenges such as the Great Depression, WWII, and big government intervention into individual’s lives via the New Deal. Beck explains that even with these major challenges, man’s creativity and innovation were at work discovering products and services that make our lives better and contribute to human flourishing.

Caveat Emptor – Check the Tires Before You Go

A preamble sets the rules of the road. The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution sets a vision for our country in just fifty-two words. The Preamble of the Colorado Consititution sets the vision for Colorado in sixty words. Author Brad Beck questions why the proposed Home-Rule Charter for the town of Erie, Colorado is one-hundred ninety-four words. Beck suggests Erie residents “kick the tires” on the proposed charter before voting. Because of ambiguous language in the charter, Beck recommends a “NO” vote.

Placeholders of Meaning

Our language is constantly evolving, and new meanings are applied to words. There are also new words added to the dictionary every year that seem more like amalgamations. Author Brad Beck explains that to keep words true to their origins they must be used with more frequency to understand their original meaning.

Is Entry Level Work the Dodo Bird of Today?

Brad Beck asks with artificial intelligence, robots, and innovation nearing incomprehensible growth, will our next generation of workers get the experience that past generations received? Beck addresses concerns regarding entry level job opportunities for unskilled laborers quickly diminishing due to minimum wage laws, regulations, and young people not being taught to work.

Ideas

Ideas matter. In this essay Ideas Brad Beck explains that ideas comes from the source of all wealth, our minds. He shares examples of ideas as observation plus opportunity equals outcomes. Beck shares the recipe for Ideas to become reality.

A Pearl of Wisdom

There are plenty of issues in our lives that can be irritating. In his essay, A Pearl of Wisdom, Brad Beck explains how an oyster turns an irritant into a pearl. Beck challenges each of us to use irritants in our lives and our society to create something better, grow in wisdom, and improve our lives and our communities.

Reiterations

“Repitition, plus restatement gets people to remember,” notes Brad Beck regarding a presentation given by communication expert David Brooks. In his essay Reiterations Beck explains that persistence, positive messaging, and remembering will help us to achieve our New Year goals.

What Are You Certain Of?

There are always unknowns in life, however the COVID reaction disruption was full of unknowns that we had to deal with. In his latest essay What Are You Certain Of? Brad Beck discusses a daily online community he participated in which gave him hope, inspiration and business ideas. He explains that the advice to focus on what you are certain of was and is great help in times of uncertainty.

What Problem Are They Trying to Fix?

In his latest essay, What Problem Are They Trying to Fix?, Brad Beck recounts a conversation that he had with two neighbors regarding the Home Rule question 3E on the Erie, Colorado ballot this November. Brad discusses the supporter’s narrative regarding Home Rule and explains that ultimately their reasons will result in more government control over Erie citizen’s everyday lives

We Are the Problem

“Watching the news on any channel is an opportunity to talk back to the TV. The president of the United States demonizes 76 million of his fellow Americans as ‘semi-fascists.’ He speaks about unity, yet his rhetoric divides,” author Brad Beck notes in his latest essay. Beck explains that as much as we complain, we are really the problem. We have abdicated our civic duty and not paid attention. Brad shares that he can no longer sit on the sidelines. He is recommending a “NO” vote on the Erie, Colorado, Home Rule ballot question and discusses why he has put his name on the ballot for the Home Rule Charter Commission.

Thank You Takes Training

In his essay, Thank You Takes Training, Brad Beck discusses gratitude. He tells the story of a Jewish farmer who cannot see the blessings in his life until he takes the advice of the town rabbi. Beck explains that we can train ourselves to acknowledge blessings to ourselves and to others. He discusses the “thank you’s” he has received over the years for helping his customers succeed.

Finding The Funny

With all the headlines about “infections” in the media, Brad Beck discusses why laughter and humor are healthy “infections.” Beck explains that it is hard to change the world, but we can change our worlds by looking for humor in life everyday. He notes, “We need to seek humor as we emerge from the mandated restrictions created by an overreaching government. As human beings we need to look for the funny in things even when times are serious.”

The Cerebral Crisis

Everything is labeled a crisis these days. However, as Brad Beck discusses in his essay, The Cerebral Crisis, today’s challenge is really one of individual thought and intellectual curiosity. Brad shares his experience of mentoring a young woman regarding her speaking skills. When realizing that the content of her speech was based on assumptions, half-truths, and unverified accusations, Brad encouraged her to think about issues through premises and context.

It Doesn’t Have to be that Complicated

In his essay It Doesn’t Have to be That Complicated, Brad Beck shares a simple formula to better understand the proper role of government. Brad also explains that as Conservatives preserve and guard the Blessings of Family, Faith, Friendship and Freedom, Conservatives welcome debate on diversity of ideas, include all in the big tent of freedom and celebrate our equity of being human.

The PDF of Life

In this essay, writer Brad Beck explains that the PDF of Life is persistence, determination and failure. Persistence is continuing on even when faced with hardships and barriers. Determination is taking setbacks in stride and reassessing ways and opportunities to continue. Lastly, instead of succumbing to failure, continue to strive for success.

Follow the Leader?

What is leadership? In his Op-Ed Follow the Leader? Brad Beck examines the importance of demonstration to persuade people to follow instead of the use of force and coercion.

Digging for Truth

In his Op-Ed Digging for Truth, Brad Beck draws on his college experience working at archeological sites, to explain how we can better process today’s news. Piecing together the past helps us better understand our future, Brad recommends that just as he meticulously searched and studied rock, bone, charred wood and pottery, we can use the same meticulous process when looking at today’s news. In doing so, we will more fully understand and repair the issues that we face today.

Somnambulant, No More

Have we been walking around in our sleep? Are we waking up? In his Op-Ed Somnambulant No More author and speaker Brad Beck shares his perspective on the results of the 2021 election and the awakening of “We the People” to the danger to our American Republic. Brad shares strategies for our future so that we are no longer somnambulant.

Help Wanted

Help Wanted! One of the keys to a successful business is the ability to deliver on a product or service. In the current economy, it has become difficult to find good employees who are willing to work. In his Op-Ed Help Wanted, author and speaker Brad Beck shares some solutions to finding employees in this challenging labor market.

Act II

The words that many of us fear, “The good news is the company was sold. The bad news is they have no position for you going forward. I’m sorry.” Author and speaker Brad Beck recently heard those words. In his Op-Ed, ACT II, Brad recounts his thoughts about losing his job and shares his recipe for success.

The Collection

We can learn so much from children. In his Op-Ed, The Collection, Brad Beck explains how his little nine-year-old daughter achieved her desired results by using the four Ps: Prepare, Practice, Pursue and Persist. These are actions that will help you move beyond the COVID 19/Wuhan China Virus disruption.

Comply, I don’t think so!

There is a lot of force and coercion in our society today. Instead of freedom for everyday people to make informed decisions there is tremendous pressure to comply from politicians, bureaucrats, interested parties, media, education and big business. In his Op-Ed Comply, I Don’t Think So, Brad shares his thoughtful perspective on coercion, vac shaming and coloring outside the lines.

Catching Leprechauns

In his Op-Ed Catching Leprechauns, Brad Beck notes that in some hyper-sensitive enclaves, especially on college and university campuses, there are professors and students who only see people as members of groups instead of individuals. These same professors and students dictate that a person in one group cannot enjoy the food, customs and celebrations of another group. Brad explains that even though each individual is different, it is time that we push back on those who will not accept that we are all created equal as humans; no one is more human than another.

The Blessing of 2020 and the Promise of 2021 and Beyond

“Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the broken areas with lacquer dust mixed with powdered gold, silver and platinum,” Brad Beck notes in his Op-Ed, The Blessing of 2020 and the Promise of 2021 and Beyond. Brad writes that this concept states that breakage and repair are part of the rich history of any object and it embraces the flawed and imperfect. 2020 certainly had its flaws but there is much to embrace. Brad encourages us to seek wisdom, which is very different from knowledge, in 2021 and beyond.

Sheep or Shepherd?

Are we becoming sheep? In his Op-Ed Sheep or Shepherd, author Brad Beck relates his experience in visiting his father in Southern California recently. The initial trepidation about his trip from warnings by “experts, leaders and authorities” that only essential workers should fly caused Brad to ask, “Who should decide who is essential?”

A Wise Old Owl…

Have you ever missed the opportunity to listen to a friend, a significant other, or a co-worker? In this Op-Ed Brad Beck, author, speaker and Liberty Toastmaster, explains that our challenge is to listen respectfully to those voices who might have something important to share even if we disagree with what they have to say. Listening will help sharpen our own position and make our ideas stronger.

Monsters – Real or Imagined

Our minds see monsters all over the place especially when we have just viewed or read something disturbing and our subconscious plays it back in the form of a bad dream. In this Op-Ed, Brad Beck explains that there are many imagined monsters that lurk in our local, state, and national government, service organizations, schools, and businesses which are being molded into golems. Brad explains that if we are to address the real monsters of today, we must have clarity on what they are.

I Have Questions

The foundation for critical thinking is asking questions: Who? What? When? Where? How? and Why? In this introspective Op-Ed, Brad Beck shares a variety of “whys” that he ruminates upon. Brad notes that the need for asking why is foundational to understanding a cause, a purpose or a reason for something even if we are not ready for the answer.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

“Should I Stay, or Should I Go” is a song that was released by the punk rock band The Clash in 1982 as a double A-sided single with “Straight to Hell.” Brad Beck explains that persuasion and education skills are what we need to avoid ending up in that forsaken place.

A Book, a Bourbon, and a Belvedere

In this Op-Ed Brad Beck explains how A Book, A Bourbon and A Belvedere engages neighbors and social media contacts in thoughtful, civil conversations. Brad notes that you will never know how strong your position is if you are not open to hearing other ideas, even if those ideas may be wrong.

From My Front Porch

Front porches allow for connectivity and community that people are desperately looking for. A front porch is part of the fabric of a neighborhood that encourages building relationships, fosters conversations and allows for people to interact in ways that are no longer common, yet should be.