Once a quarter, ECE’s CEO, Doug Daniel, shares a more personal post full of musings and/or insight. Today he is giving the world a glimpse of how his perspective has been shaped through travel. Buckle up for this fun ride. 
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We did it! Blog post number one is in the books. Done. Our blogapalooza journey is well underway. The world tour is coming to a town near you. Hide the kids! I loved hearing from so many of you back in April. You all had really cool things to share and no one said that I put them to sleep… at least not to my face. In particular, I enjoyed hearing your take on the fourteen life lessons we talked about. A few of you had great stories, and I appreciate you sharing them with me.

But that mess was pretty heavy. Lots of somber, sober, stone-faced deep-meaning life stuff that deserves a minute to think about. So, as promised last time we met, let’s not be serious at all this time. As you’re reading, know I’m having a lot of fun typing this. Fun because I’m going to give you a little insight as to what gets pinballed around in my head most days when not hammering away at important ECE business. A sort of glimpse of how Doug looks at the world.

First, we need to lay a little foundation. I like to travel. You got that from the last blog post. When my paycheck comes, I save a little bit, pay my bills, blow a little bit on other Daniels… and most of whatever is left gets spent on going places. That being said, there are a couple places that I keep going back to for a variety of reasons such as family, close friends and because they are just damn cool places. I’m looking at you, NYC and Los Angeles. I have probably spent more time in those two places over the years than all the other places added up. Much of what you see in me has been shaped in some way by the experiences I have had travelling — specifically, spending time in those two places.

Let’s keep moving. The reason I share this is because, as I mentioned above, it’s a lot of what has shaped my tastes and my views on the world. Aaaaaaand, on one pretty normal day, walking the NYC Highline in Chelsea, I look up and spot a billboard. In big letters, I read: “NYC. Tolerant of your beliefs. Critical of your shoes.” And I stopped. It hit me. That IS me. I am open to just about any idea and belief and person. I just have two rules: 1. Don’t tell me how to think or believe, and 2. Your belief doesn’t screw your kids up. That’s it. Just those two rules. As long as you’re good on those, I am totally open to whatever weird, quirky, insane way you see life.

Now that we’ve addressed the first part of that phrase, let’s talk the second part. The fun part. The part where I say that I will ALWAYS have an opinion about the “shoes” you wear. It’s who I am. I want to know what kind of music you like. I want to know what you were thinking when you bought those jeans. I’m trying to figure out why you don’t have an iPhone. What kind of guitar do you play? Endless.

Not my proudest quality, but I’m sharing stuff and that’s what we’re all here to do together, right?! Check this out… I feel like if I can dish out the critique, then I should be able to man up and take it, too. Right?!

Ok, so here goes. I’m listening to the new Tennis record and the new Ryan Adams record. I wear them both out and can’t stop. Baseball is the best sport ever invented for a thousand reasons and the best team in baseball has always been the Dodgers. I just turned 50, but have invested way too many years of wearing skinny jeans to quit now. I have a record player and listen to it a lot, but have no illusions that records are going to revive the record business. It’s stamp collecting with cooler “stamps.” I put wax in my hair, but I always prefer to be wearing a hat. My wife is the coolest, prettiest and most fascinating person I have ever met. I’m obsessed with everything about her. I Google “new iPhone release date” way too much. Chris Robinson from the Black Crows was in my 3rd grade class, and I still think they and the Stones are the best rock bands to exist. I miss my mom everyday. The two last best shows I saw were Phantogram and Spoon. I don’t think pointy guitars are cool. Rock music was always intended to be played on a Les Paul, through a Marshall. I go to therapy and it works. In fact, it wakes me up to all the really unhealthy people walking around me… and, yes, I’m critical of them too! I hardly watch any network TV. Can you imagine if Bob Dylan had to pass through three judges on a network talent show to have made it? Being a dad is the best and most important job I do. I’m always 100% totally down for just about any music documentary. Some people think that education is the biggest crises facing us. I think it’s Driver’s Ed. Why doesn’t everybody have Spotify premium and Satellite radio? I love to read, but far too many days run out of time without an opportunity. I’m getting ready to start Trouble Boys and the best one I have read in the past few years was the Jerry Weintraub biography. It’s called, “When I Stop Talking, You’ll Know I’m Dead.” And, that is the perfect place to stop.

Have a great rest of your summer. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this ramble. Like last blog, reach out to me, but please be gentle when you criticize my “shoes.”