Michael T. Starks

Category: Storytelling

  • Conflicting Priorities

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    We want many different things throughout our lives. Sometimes, the things we say we want are not consistent with our actions. So here’s a question. Should we believe our actions or our words? And if we don’t do the things we say we want, what’s holding us back? While I think fear often holds us…

  • Firearms and Explosions

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    While eating dinner at Mi Mexico in Ouray, I overheard a conversation happening at a long table next to me. At least ten men were sharing their adventures blowing stuff to smithereens. No, they were not terrorists. They were movie makers. Or at least they were responsible for making war scenes in movies look good.…

  • Biographies

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    Biographies and autobiographies can be inspiring. I finished listening to Govt Cheese by Steven Pressfield on Audible tonight. He went through many, many years of writing stuff nobody wanted before he finally wrote The Legend of Bagger Vance, while in his early fifties, which was adapted into an excellent movie directed by Robert Redford. (Full disclosure: I haven’t read…

  • Believe It Or Not

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    One of the TV shows I enjoyed watching as a kid is The Greatest American Hero. While it wasn’t a great TV show, I enjoyed watching it. And the Theme Song has always stayed with me. Here’s my attempt to sing and play it. What I love about the song and the show is that…

  • Learn More to Get Unstuck

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    Sometimes, I consider working on a creative project and feel completely stuck. I don’t know what to do next. I don’t know how to move forward. When this happens, I often try to learn something new to get unstuck. I don’t have an annual subscription to Masterclass and Maestro because I prioritize learning each week.…

  • A Conversation in Song Lyrics

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    As a creative challenge, I’m putting together a short movie scene written entirely in song lyrics. INT. KITCHEN – MORNING JILL (26), still in her PJ’s, pours herself a glass of orange juice. CHELSEA (27) enters through the front door to their apartment, wearing a rumpled fancy dress. Instead of going to her room, Chelsea…

  • Better or Worse? (Part 4)

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    Now that I’ve answered Question #1 (in parts 2 and 3), let’s move on to Question #2. Is my life better or worse now (in 2024) than when I was a kid (in the early 1970’s)? This is a difficult question to answer. The things we want and need and value change over time. Should I evaluate…

  • Better or Worse? (Part 3)

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    We’ve considered the top three categories in “Part 2”. Next, we look at opportunities for humans to do meaningful work. This category is not easy to evaluate. According to a Harvard Business Review article, 9 Out of 10 People Are Willing to Earn Less Money to Do More-Meaningful Work. Gallup polls provide a way to…

  • Better or Worse? (Part 2)

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    To answer question #1 from “Part 1”, I’m ranking the categories identified. Here’s my initial attempt. Okay, It’s time to do some research! Regarding equal access, we have some good data. Because it’s nuanced, I’m providing links with further details. Poverty is a good proxy for measuring access to good air, water, food, and shelter.…

  • Better or Worse? (Part 1)

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    Since this is a big topic, I plan to write several posts about it. In case you’re wondering why I’m calling this post “Part 1”. People talk about the “good old days”, and I’m reminded of a Billy Joel song called Keeping the Faith. “… You know the good ole days weren’t always goodAnd tomorrow…