Dan J. Harkey

Master Educator | Business & Finance Consultant | Mentor

Personal Growth & Development

A practical guide to getting better results in your work, your time, and your life.

If you’ve collected enough advice to fill a bookshelf but still feel like your calendar owns you, you’re in the right place. My articles focus on the successful practices that move the needle: goal setting, time management, sales and relationship-building, negotiation, more intelligent time allocation, and reinventing yourself when the old version stops working. Less inspirational theater. More execution.

Most people don’t fail from lack of talent—they fail from drift. I write about how to build clarity, protect your time, strengthen relationships, negotiate better outcomes, and create a repeatable system for progress. Practical, direct, and occasionally funny—because growth is serious, but it doesn’t have to be grim.

Search Results

Donna Summer: The True Story Behind “She Works Hard for the Money”

(Often Misquoted as “I Worked Hard for My Money”)

Scallywag: meaning and etymology

Call a friend Scallywag and watch the befuddled look on their face.

5th Grade Skills vs. Adult Functional illiterates

Workplace Focused Comparison:

She Works Hard for the Money: How Donna Summer Turned Empathy into an Anthem

I spend a lot of time writing about the pursuit of money. Donna Summer tells us how to get it.

“Do You Love Me”: By the Contours.

The Day Motown Caught Lightning in a Dance Step

Does the Average Adult High School Graduate Have the Educational Level of a 7th- or 8th-Grader?

Short answer: Yes- based on current U.S. data, the average adult high school graduate reads at roughly a 7th to 8th grade level. Here’s the breakdown with citations:

“Taking a Quick Overview Assessment:” Quickly Surveying the Reading Material

Take a quick look at the situation, book, website, article, class, or meeting agenda, or subject to get a sense of it.

Self-Awareness vs. Situational Awareness: Part II of II

Self-awareness makes you honest. Situational awareness makes you effective. Together, they make you dangerous in the best possible way.

Self-Awareness vs. Situational Awareness: Part I of II

The Two Lenses That Decide How You Show Up—and How You Survive

(Deep Fake) Contemporary Media Manipulation (2020s)

Detection, Deflection, and Right-Thinkings:

The Spoon-Fed World of Individual Thoughts, Interpretations, and Opinions:

How Power Shapes What We Call “Reality”

“Fat Cat”

How a Pudgy Insult Became a Political Power Word

The Nightly Glass of Red Wine in 2026: Still a Vibe—Just Not a Vitamin

If your evening has a soundtrack, there’s a decent chance it includes the soft glug-glug of red wine hitting a glass. For years, that sound came with a comforting footnote: “This might be good for me.” In 2026, science hasn’t exactly corked the bottle—but it has rewritten the label: less is better, and “health benefits” are no longer the main tasting note.

The Nightly Glass of Red Wine in 2026:

From “Heart-Healthy” to Clear-Eyed Tradeoff

“Life in the Fast Lane” (Eagles)

“Life in the Fast Lane” sounds like freedom with the pedal floored—until you realize it’s written like a warning label. Built on a snarling Joe Walsh riff and framed by Don Henley and Glenn Frey’s sharp-eyed storytelling, it captures the seductive velocity of 1970s Los Angeles and the inevitable crash that prompts listeners to reflect on the risks and illusions of modern life.

Dragging His (Hers, It’s) Feet: Part II of II

The Origins and Journey of a Timeless Idiom

Dragging His (Her, It’s) Feet: Quick Read- Part I of II

A Phrase That Speaks Volumes

Family Estate Sales: Disposing of Old Stuff That Grandma Thought Had Value

What was essential to Grandma may not be important to the kids and grandkids!

Our Stuff and The 80/20 Rule:

Most households live like museums—curating, storing, and maintaining far more than they actually use. The 80/20 rule offers a practical way to identify what’s essential and what’s just taking up space, helping you focus on what truly matters in your home and life. Clutter isn’t just what’s on your floors—it’s what’s occupying your bandwidth, adding unnecessary stress and mental load.

When Household Clutter Creates a Locked Cage Without an Exit:

The Psychology Behind “Cleaning Paralysis”—and How to Break It