Dan J. Harkey

Master Educator | Business & Finance Consultant | Mentor

Opinion & Prospective

Hear Dan’s viewpoints about how things work and the intended and unintended consequences, delivered with humor to keep you entertained and engaged.

They are delivered with humor, breaking down the barriers of reality, truths versus illusions, and manufactured narratives.

Search Results

Radicalized Ideologies Spring Up in the Age of Algorithms: Why, And How They Spread—and What Actually Works Against Them

Radicalized ideologies thrive when three forces converge: grievance and the need for significance, compelling narratives that legitimize extreme means, and networks that reward commitment and belonging. Researchers frame these as needs–narratives–networks (or, in classic models, the “staircase” that narrows choices as people move upward).

A Collision of Good Intentions, Bureaucracy, and Market Reality with Far-reaching Consequences: California’s Entitlement Feed Back Loop

Becoming a Self-Starter: How to Build Intrinsic Motivation That Lasts

In a world obsessed with hacks and external rewards, the real differentiator isn’t a bigger carrot or a sharper stick’s intrinsic motivation. Self-starters don’t wait for permission or pressure; they act because they want to, not because they must. The good news? This isn’t a personality trait you’re born with. It’s a skill you can develop.

Why Mutual Trust, Respect, and Cooperation Is Breaking Down—and What’s Driving It

California Mental Health Brief: Reforms, Capacity, and What to Watch (2025–2026)

A Dramatic Shift in Real Property Development is Upon Us

California is on a mission to install millions of high-density stack-and-pack apartment dwellings and affordable housing units to conform to the vision outlined by former President Obama, as outlined in the Affordable Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) initiative. Stack up to the heavens, and they will come.

How Many 1960s and 1970s Songs Have Deeper, More Meaningful Messages?

Music, like mathematics, is a universal language.

The Bureaucratic Company Merry-Go-Round: Urgent Need to Address Individual Responsibility Deflection that Paralyzes Organizations

Entrenched bureaucracy and the deflection of individual responsibility are systemic issues that plague both public and private institutions. This paper examines how these dynamics contribute to organizational paralysis, utilizing real-world case studies to illustrate the consequences. It explores the structural and cultural origins of responsibility avoidance and proposes targeted reforms to restore accountability and operational effectiveness.

California’s New Building Standards: How State Mandates Are Reshaping Property Rights and Neighborhoods

California building standards, Title 24 compliance, electrification mandates, zoning changes, erosion of property rights, high-density housing, progressive energy codes, natural gas bans, and real estate development in California.

Driving the Bus: Origin, Meaning, and Cultural Significance- Expanded Version

Language thrives on metaphors, and few are as vivid as “Driving the Bus.” This phrase has become a staple in business, sports, and even psychology, symbolizing leadership and control. But where did it originate, and how has it evolved, accumulating new layers of meaning and cultural significance?

Driving the Bus: Origin, Meaning, and Cultural Significance- Quick Read

In everyday language, metaphors often shape our understanding of leadership and responsibility. One such universally understood phrase—“Driving the Bus”—has become a popular idiom in business, sports, and politics. But where did it come from, and what does it really mean?

The Diary of Anne Frank: Universal Themes of Humanity

Anne Frank’s diary, which was written during two years of hiding from Nazi persecution, transcends its historical context to illuminate themes that resonate across cultures and generations. While rooted in the horrors of the Holocaust, her reflections speak to universal aspects of the human condition—identity, hope, fear, and the enduring power of words.

Knowledge Is Power: Why Understanding Is the Ultimate Currency

Francis Bacon’s famous phrase— “knowledge is power”—is more than a slogan. It’s a blueprint for personal freedom and influence. In a world of accelerating change, knowledge isn’t just information; it’s a powerful lever. It’s the ability to act with clarity, adapt with confidence, and create opportunities where others see obstacles.

What Is the Opposite of Insecurity? Confidence or Self-assurance.

The opposite of insecurity is generally considered to be confidence or self-assurance.

America is at a Crossroads Between Capitalism and Individual Accountability, and Collectivism and Outright Socialism.

Promoting capitalism and individual accountability in a society that’s increasingly debating collectivist approaches requires a mix of policy, culture, and education.

Essay on Viktor E. Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning: Finding Meaning Under Fire- More Complete Version

Viktor E. Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning endures because it bridges two domains rarely held together with such force: a harrowing eyewitness chronicle of the Nazi concentration camps and a concise exposition of a therapeutic philosophy—logotherapy—built on the conviction that the deepest human drive is the will to meaning.

Book Review: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl: Quick Read

First published in 1946, Man’s Search for Meaning is a profound psychological memoir by Viktor Frankl, an Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor. His unique perspective, shaped by his experiences in the Nazi death camps, adds depth and credibility to his insights.

The Road Less Traveled—10 Practical Lessons for Modern Life and Work- Complete Version

Peck organizes his ideas into four pillars—Discipline, Love, Religion (as a personal worldview), and Grace—and uses clinical anecdotes to illustrate how everyday people can transform their lives by living these principles. Below is a detailed, practical guide that translates his framework into ten actionable lessons you can apply at home, at work, and in your community.

The Road Less Traveled. Lessons in Real Estate Finance. “Life is difficult.” — M. Scott Peck.

Markets shift—insurance costs spike. Regulators rewrite the playbook. These are the challenges that real estate finance professionals face regularly.

The Origin of the Concocted Story.

The phrase “concocted the story” originates from the verb “concoct,” which initially meant to prepare by mixing ingredients, especially in cooking or medicine. Concocted stories have become mainstream today, particularly in government and legacy media.