Tag Archives: influence

The Mount Rushmore Nobody Else Can See: The People Who Shape a Life

Posted on May 13, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Some people change history in ways the world remembers. Others change our lives in ways only we remember. Maybe the most underrated people in history are the ones carved into someone else’s memory. Continue reading →

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Quick Thought – Monday, April 13, 2026: How Many Bags?

Posted on April 13, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

In the parable of the talents, even the servant with “just one” was managing a massive fortune. Jesus’ point is clear: every one of us has been entrusted with something valuable, and God expects us to use it faithfully rather than bury it. Continue reading →

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Three Faces of Confidence

Posted on March 16, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Confidence comes in different forms. I saw it in a father who could fill a room, a mother who quietly commanded a stage, and a stepfather whose few words carried weight. Looking back, I realize how much their presence shaped my own understanding of what confidence looks like. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: A Long Finish

Posted on February 1, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The best bourbons linger after the sip is gone. Life does the same. Sometimes we don’t realize the impact we’ve had until years later—when a former student reaches out, or a quiet word finally finds its echo. Continue reading →

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What Makes a Good Leader? Watching Two of Them Taught Me More Than Any Book

Posted on January 19, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Libraries are filled with books trying to answer what makes a good leader—and for good reason. It’s a question too large for a tidy list or a single post. But before theories and biographies, I had two firsthand examples. Watching how my dad and stepdad led—in very different worlds—taught me more about leadership than any definition ever could. Continue reading →

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The People Who Shaped the Journey

Posted on December 24, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

The biggest influences in my life weren’t loud or famous. They were faithful—my mom, a teacher who believed in my words, a stepfather who grounded my faith, and the family and quiet moments that continue to shape who I’m becoming. Continue reading →

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A Dad, a Father, and the Man I Became

Posted on December 18, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

I was fortunate—and complicated enough—to have both a dad and a father. One shaped me through presence and everyday life. The other shaped me through expectation, discipline, and a way of seeing the world. Add in the steady influence of my mother, and I didn’t become a mirror of any one of them. I became a mosaic. Continue reading →

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Quick Thought – Sunday, September 7, 2025: Influenced or Influencing?

Posted on September 7, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Read Matthew 5:13-20 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.Matthew 5:16 Reflect When I was a kid, one of my favorite … Continue reading →

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Quick Thought – Monday, April 7, 2025: How Many Bags?

Posted on April 7, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Read Matthew 25:14-30 “For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” Matthew 25:29 Reflect So much is lost … Continue reading →

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Quick Thought – Saturday, September 7, 2024: Influenced or Influencing?

Posted on September 7, 2024 by Douglas Blaine

Read Matthew 5:13-20 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.Matthew 5:16 Reflect When I was a kid, one of my favorite … Continue reading →

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