From Bob McKinnon comes this modern retelling of the beloved classic, Little Engine that Could, that asks young readers, “How does your journey differ from others?” It also serves as a thank you letter to all the parents, teachers, role models, and even strangers, who help to clear the storm or pull the tree trunk from their track.
Available in your favorite bookstores.
Have you ever asked yourself this question? Or wondered why your life turned differently than you expected or from others you know. On this site, you’ll find tools, writing and podcast episodes that explores this question and others. Watch Bob’s TEDx talk to learn about his journey and the science behind how we see our lives and those of others.
Children’s Books
I think I can, I think I can, I think I… can’t? What’s an Engine to do when even believing in yourself won’t get you to the top of the mountain? In this modern retelling of the beloved The Little Engine That Could, The Little Blue Engine and her friends attempt to reach the town on the other side of the mountain, but they quickly realize that not every engine is on the same track, and they all face different obstacles in their journey. In Three Little Engines author Bob McKinnon asks young readers: How does your journey differ from others?
While paying homage to the beloved classic, author Bob McKinnon acknowledges that although positive thinking and confidence are important, they are not always enough to help you succeed. In many instances, success requires a helping hand. This book is a gentle introduction to the idea of socioeconomic mobility and inequality in America. Heavily inspired by his own experiences, McKinnon teaches the youngest of readers how to recognize opportunity and inequality in the American Dream, and, most importantly, how to extend a helping hand to those on different tracks of life. At its heart, Three Little Engines is a thank you letter to all the parents, teachers, role models, and even strangers, who help to clear the storm or pull the tree trunk from your track.
Three Little Engines is now a New York Times best seller! Order your copy today from your favorite online bookseller or your local bookstore:
What is Your American Dream Score
Newsletter
Data
Everything we do has the potential to produce data. Every breath, heartbeat, blink, step, click and on and on.
Only a fraction of that is captured.
You live in countless data sets. Social Security, Internal Revenue Services, every place you went to school, each company you ever spent money with, your bank, credit card, every employer you ever worked for, every website you’ve ever visited, every internet carrier you’ve every used, every medical provider you’ve ever seen, everyone who had ever provided you with a service, and on and on.
An even smaller fraction of that data is analyzed.
It is used to provide you with information, offers, ads and the occasional insight. It is often used by others to guide their businesses or services and sold to others to do the same.
Sometimes this information is used for unethical if not illegal purposes. For example, the increased use of surveillance pricing where companies charge different prices on things like flights based on your purchase and browsing history. Charging more if they think you can afford more.
I have spent the last week with a group of people who use this data to improve people’s lives; to evaluate programs aimed to help people; to find gaps in services, to uncover insights that can lead to real change.
In one instance, they combined two data sets. One looking at people who were accessing homeless shelters and the other capturing those who were accessing educational and social services. They found that 40% of children in shelters were not getting services that would be beneficial to their health and growth. A social worker was placed in the homeless shelter and now those children are getting the health they need.
Then there is the question of how we use our own data to improve our own situation. What is our optimal amount of sleep? Resting blood pressure? Balance of time spent on various activities that provide our life with meaning? How much waste do we produce? How does our money compound? How often do we call friends or family who don’t live near us? Do we feel better when we listen to certain kinds of music? What makes for a happy day? Or a content one? What activities help us when we feel down?
Data provides insights and self awareness. Now I’m not suggesting that we begin tracking every action we take or spending our days combing through spreadsheets of our own making. But I am pointing out that it’s quite possible that strangers spend more time looking at our data in an effort to impact our behavior than we do ourselves.
What good could spending a little more time thinking about your data do for you, for others, for the world? My guess is quite a lot.
This Week’s Recommendation: Sentimental Value recently won the Oscar for best picture. It is an incredible film. Even if you don’t watch it, take two minutes to watch this clip. It is such a beautiful depiction of sibling love. I get teary no matter how many times I watch it.
Share with a friend – and perhaps count how many times you share content meant to inspire vs. content with the potential to trigger.
Monday Morning Notes
Delivered to your mailbox each Monday morning, these short notes offer an opportunity each week to reflect on who and what contributes to where we end up in life. Readers tell us it’s a great way to start their week on a positive note. See the latest note below:
Data
Everything we do has the potential to produce data. Every breath, heartbeat, blink, step, click and on and on. Only a fraction of that is captured. You live in countless data sets. Social Security, Internal Revenue Services, every place you went to school, each company you ever spent money with, your bank, credit card, every …
Attribution with Bob McKinnon
Attribution is a podcast, where people from all walks of life, reflect on who and what has contributed to where they ended up. Our hope is after each episode, you feel a little more inspired, grateful, or supported, then when you first hit play. Check out the latest episode below:
Episode 35: Class Matters w/ Richard Kahlenberg
Richard D. Kahlenberg is an education and housing policy researcher, writer, consultant, and speaker. He is also Director of Housing Policy and Director of the American Identity Project at the Progressive Policy Institute. The author or editor of 19 books, his latest is Class Matters: The Fight to Get Beyond Race Preferences, Reduce Inequality, and Build Real Diversity at America’s Colleges. This was a deep and challenging conversation about class, race, higher education, affirmative action and social mobility.