Dan J. Harkey

Master Educator | Business & Finance Consultant | Mentor

Personal Growth & Development

Dan’s personal and professional growth guide can be a powerful tool for success. Dan's many articles cover success practices, such as goal setting and time management, sales approaches like relationship building and negotiation, time allocation, and reinventing yourself.

Search Results

1984 by George Orwell: Book Review

Published in 1949, George Orwell’s 1984 is a dystopian masterpiece that has become a cultural touchstone for discussions about surveillance, authoritarianism, and the fragility of truth. Set in a totalitarian state where the Party controls every aspect of life, the novel explores themes of power, control, and resistance in a world stripped of freedom.

The Jungle: The Novel That Changed America—and Why It Still Matters

When Upton Sinclair published The Jungle in 1906, his intention was clear: to expose the brutal exploitation of immigrant labor in America’s industrial cities. What he didn’t expect was that his vivid descriptions of unsanitary meatpacking practices would spark a national outcry and lead to the passage of landmark legislation. “I aimed at the public’s heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach.” —Upton Sinclair

The Grapes of Wrath: A Timeless Portrait of Struggle and Solidarity

By John Steinbeck – A Review: When John Steinbeck published The Grapes of Wrath in 1939, America was still reeling from the effects of the Great Depression. The Dust Bowl had driven thousands of families from their land, and the promise of California as a land of opportunity lured many westward. Steinbeck captured this migration in a novel that is both a deeply personal family saga and a sweeping social critique. Eighty-five years later, its themes, which eerily resonate with our current social and environmental crises, remain hauntingly relevant.

“Left Holding the Bag:” The Origin and Evolution

Early roots (Britain, 1600s–1700s). The ancestor of the expression was the British phrase “to give someone the bag to hold,” meaning to distract or abandon someone while others made off with the valuables—a figurative way of leaving a victim “in the lurch.” This phrase, which originated in the 17th–18th centuries in Britain, evolved to the modern usage of ‘left holding the bag’, with the focus shifting from the act of abandoning to the victim who is left with the unwanted burden.

The Power of Repetition: How Lies Become “Truth” and How to Fight Back

Propaganda, a potent force that thrives on a simple yet powerful principle: repeat a lie often enough, and it begins to feel true. This isn’t just a political tactic—it’s a psychological phenomenon deeply rooted in how our brains process information. Understanding why repetition works—and how to counter it—is not just important, but urgent in today’s media-saturated world.

Purpose-Driven: What Does It Really Mean

We hear it all the time: “I’m purpose-driven.” But what does that mean in practice?

Acres of Diamonds: How to Find Opportunity In Your Chosen Field

Suppose you’ve ever thought your big break lies in another city, another job, or another industry. In that case, Russell H. Conwell’s timeless message still rings true: “Your greatest opportunities are closer than you think.”

John Locke and His Significant Contribution to American Democracy?

John Locke, a 17th-century English philosopher, made foundational contributions to American democracy through his political philosophy, particularly in his work Two Treatises of Government (1689). His ideas profoundly influenced the Founding Fathers and the drafting of key American documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

“Send in the Clowns.” Origin and Meaning.

The phrase “send in the clowns” has both a literal origin and a figurative meaning that evolved:

"The Invisible Obstacle: How Secretive Bureaucracies Undermine Progress"

Many employees are so entrenched in their jobs as to create an aura of business activity without disclosing anything to the manager or the leadership. Sally has been with us so long that “I’m confident she is doing her job.” But Sally is deeply entrenched, while playing the quiet-quitting and quiet resignation. She is victimizing her company. This is particularly prevalent when affirmative action is part of the equation.

Mark Twain: The Life and Times

Mark Twain was born Samuel Langhorne Clemens on November 30, 1835, in Florida, Missouri, and grew up in Hannibal. This Mississippi River town later inspired the fictional St. Petersburg in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. His childhood was marked by both idyllic river life and harsh realities like poverty, disease, and slavery, which profoundly influenced his later writings.

“Johnny-Come-Lately”: How a 19th Century Quip Became a Go-To Put Down for Latecomers

Few idioms pack as much nuance into a hyphenated mouthful as “Johnny-come-lately.” What began as a simple tag for a newcomer now carries shades of opportunism, imitation, and bandwagoning—handy in boardrooms, politics, and pop culture alike.

Three Billy Goats Gruff: The Significance

The Three Billy Goats Gruff is a classic Norwegian fairy tale first collected by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe in the 1840s and later translated into English in 1859. It belongs to the Aarne–Thompson folktale.

Engagement Matters More Than You Think: The Hidden Driver of Productivity

Executives often focus on tools, generally technical, time management, and objectives and key results (OKRs). However, the key factor that consistently distinguishes ordinary performance from exceptional results is engagement.

Intrinsic Motivation: Why People Want to Learn, Work, and Excel Without Coercion

People do not need compulsion from the state—or any heavy-handed authority—to learn and get ahead. They need conditions that unlock the empowering force of intrinsic motivation: autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh: A Distinctive, Iconic Character of Dreariness, Sadness, and Hopelessness.

Eeyore is one of A.A. Milne’s most iconic characters, introduced in Winnie-the-Pooh (1926). He is an old, grey stuffed donkey who lives in the Hundred Acre Wood in a place called “Eeyore’s Gloomy Place: Rather Boggy and Sad.”

Mr. Rogers: The Life and Times

Fred Rogers—known to millions simply as Mr. Rogers—was a profoundly influential figure in American television and childhood education

John Stuart Mill’s Contributions to Freedom: Historical Context and Impact

“The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others.”

John Stuart Mill: Historical Context and Enduring Impact

John Stuart Mill (1806–1873) wrote in the long shadow of the Industrial Revolution and the Victorian reform era—a period marked by expanding literacy, democratization, religious pluralism, and unprecedented social mobility, but also by entrenched hierarchies and intense pressure to conform.

How People Develop Their Frame of Reference—and Why It Matters in Business and Finance

Discover how frames of reference shape decision-making in business and finance. Learn the key factors that influence perspectives and why understanding them is critical for success.