Gordon Graham's Blog

I haven’t posted anything for some time, but life events happen occasionally that can prod you out of your lethargy.  

I lost a friend recently.  Dennis Bolz of Wenatchee passed away on February 27, 2025.  The reason this news is related to my book blog is because he played a huge part in turning the Chelan County Public Utility District around after its darkest years under a toxic leader.  Not insignificantly, he was also the father of Mark, perhaps the most perceptive and resilient member of “The Intrepid Brotherhood”.

Dennis was indeed a friend…….. an “amigo”.  A term I am confident he would appreciate if he could read these words.  I think the last time I saw him in person was at a public power event in 2012.  One of the last things he said to me on that occasion was ” you should record that whole saga”.  It took me another eight years, but he told me numerous times that he was glad I eventually did it.

We stayed in contact over the years by phone discussing the book, the podcast interviews I participated in, and my blog posts.  I learned a lot about his experiences in education and the many things he had achieved in that sector.

Our conversations naturally drifted into issues related to the power industry: fish; wind; solar; dam removal; cyber security and system reliability.  The last time I spoke to him was in November and he let me know his own memoir was being edited before publication.  I remember that we briefly touched on the very sexy subject of modular nuclear power generation facilities before he said he had to go.  We agreed we would discuss that more when we resumed.  I waited too long.

The world lost a great man who was forced to exit much too soon.  He left an indelible mark on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

Stay Courageous,

Gordon

I haven’t posted anything for some time, but life events happen occasionally that can prod you out of your lethargy.  

I lost a friend recently.  Dennis Bolz of Wenatchee passed away on February 27, 2025.  The reason this news is related to my book blog is because he played a huge part in turning the Chelan County Public Utility District around after its darkest years under a toxic leader.  Not insignificantly, he was also the father of Mark, perhaps the most perceptive and resilient member of “The Intrepid Brotherhood”.

Dennis was indeed a friend…….. an “amigo”.  A term I am confident he would appreciate if he could read these words.  I think the last time I saw him in person was at a public power event in 2012.  One of the last things he said to me on that occasion was ” you should record that whole saga”.  It took me another eight years, but he told me numerous times that he was glad I eventually did it.

We stayed in contact over the years by phone discussing the book, the podcast interviews I participated in, and my blog posts.  I learned a lot about his experiences in education and the many things he had achieved in that sector.

Our conversations naturally drifted into issues related to the power industry: fish; wind; solar; dam removal; cyber security and system reliability.  The last time I spoke to him was in November and he let me know his own memoir was being edited before publication.  I remember that we briefly touched on the very sexy subject of modular nuclear power generation facilities before he said he had to go.  We agreed we would discuss that more when we resumed.  I waited too long.

The world lost a great man who was forced to exit much too soon.  He left an indelible mark on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

Stay Courageous,

Gordon

Author’s Republic and Audiobooks.com have provided this chance to get The Intrepid Brotherhood audio version at 50% off (at the link below). Great opportunity to get something else to listen to in your car besides the news and SiriusXM. Santa even bought it to stay entertained on his annual excursion. Really! Would I kid you?

Merry Christmas (and Stay Courageous),

Gordon

https://www.audiobooks.com/promotions/promotedBook/769701/intrepid-brotherhood-public-power-corruption-and-whistleblowing-in-the-pacific-northwest?refId=169470

The audiobook version of The Intrepid Brotherhood is now available at all of the outlets listed below.

 24Symbols

 3 Leaf Group

 Amazon/Audible

 Anyplay

 Apple

 Audiobooks Now

 Audiobooks.com

 Audioteka

 Baker & Taylor, Inc.

 Barnes & Noble

 Beek

 Bibliotheca, LLC

 BookBeat

 BookMate

 Books-A-Million

 Calm Radio

 Chirp

 Cliq Digital

 Divibib

 Downpour

 Follett Library Resources

 Fountain.FM

 Globook

 Google LLC

 Hoopla

 Instaread

 Kobo

 Libro.FM

 Mackin

 MLOL

 My Audiobook Library

 Nook

 Odilo

 Overdrive

 PocketFM

 Radish

 Rahva Raamat

 Scribd, Inc.

 Sounded

 Speechify

 Spotify

 StoryFair

 StoryTel

 The Audiobook Store

 UBook

 Ulverscroft

 Wheelers Book Club Limited

 YouScribe

Stay Courageous,

Gordon

My apologies. I just found out it is not possible to download a Soundcloud track from a mobile device. So ……. no phone or tablet downloads. If this was the only method available to you, send an email to info@in-search-of-aristotle.com with your contact information and I will send you the audiobook MP3 file.

As if you weren’t being bombarded by enough audible information at this moment in history, I have more! My audiobook project is complete and the work is being distributed to multiple platforms. I will include a list of the 58 outlets in a future post.

This is an abridged version of the printed book, meaning I “took some stuff out”. When I was editing the manuscript I realized that at least some of the text would not adapt well to narration, e.g. most of the “Where Are They Now” information. I also got rid of most of the “In Retrospect” chapter and combined the “Final Thoughts” chapter with what was left. Interestingly, some of the audiobook outlets allow supplemental material to be submitted along with the audio files, so I was able to include most of Dan McConnell’s great sketches that can be downloaded along with the audiobook.

I found what I consider to be a terrific narrator and voice artist in Brad Derry. I think his voice has broad general appeal and the job he did with the emotional pieces of the story (the loss of my family members and the stress created by the persecution from the utility) is impressive. I don’t know if everybody else has noticed this in their lifetime, but it has been my experience when you read something you “hear” it in your own voice. I have also noticed that what I think I “hear” as my own voice is often different than a recorded version of my actual voice, or what other people hear. That’s why it can be so compelling to hear words that you have read before, or even words that you yourself have written, narrated by someone else. You can imagine how many times I read and re-read chapters during the initial development of my manuscript, always in my own voice. Listening to Brad’s narration has been a very gratifying experience. In short, I am very satisfied with the product and, as I mentioned, it will eventually be available from a large number of outlets.

BUT ………………………. if you use your promo code right now!

Just kidding.

I am making it available for download by anyone who is still receiving these blog posts free of charge for 48 hours. You folks have stuck with me and provided valuable feedback over the past three years so, if you want this audio version, it is only “a click away”. You will need to go to this link to download it free from Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/gordon-graham-432831979/theintrepidbrotherhoodaudiobook

Under the audio playback screen there are a number of buttons or options including Share, Copy Link, Replace File, Edit ….. etc. Click on “More” and the download option will appear. This is an MP3 file and should be playable by virtually any audio program.

I will leave the audio file up there for approximately 48 hours and then take it down so if you want the audio version of The Intrepid Brotherhood free, go out and grab it now.

Stay Courageous,

Gordon

I hope everyone is doing well in this new year. Just bringing you up to date on the two projects I mentioned in my previous post late last year.

The DropCap Agency has produced a “Look Book” marketing piece for The Intrepid Brotherhood. The best analogy I can come up with is a that it is like a glossy travel book that you might see in a waiting room. In this case, it is designed to attract the attention of publishers in other countries. Anyway, you should be able to take a “look” at the “Look Book” using the link below.

Also, I am evaluating proposals and auditions from prospective narrators for an audio version of The Intrepid Brotherhood. I hope to make that decision soon and begin production of a version of the book that people can listen to while they are driving, with the sincere hope that it does not put them to sleep!

Stay Courageous,

Gordon

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/06dwip2of4tecoaaftm6z/Lookbook-The-Intrepid-Brotherhood.pdf?rlkey=kl32nrc4egl9u47oln14i9ley&dl=0

You may have noticed that I haven’t posted anything for sometime.

I am taking a different direction and concentrating on things other than this blog. I have changed marketing companies and am working on preparing my manuscript for an audio version of The Intrepid Brotherhood. My marketing company is also targeting foreign publishers to find out if there is any interest in translating and publishing the book in other countries. Pretty cool stuff.

Deanna and I have also been nurturing our home life, traveling and spending time with family. The most rewarding and valuable uses of our time that we can imagine at this age.

So, it is likely that you won’t see anything from this blog again until I have a progress report on my current projects. I thank you all for listening to my past rants as I educated myself on just exactly what motivated the individuals who perpetrated the events that almost destroyed the second largest, non-federal, public hydro-electric utility in the nation in the early part of this century. I have met some very knowledgeable people through my podcast appearances and read some enlightening books on toxic leadership. We should all be sponges for knowledge in our twilight years. At least I know that I will keep seeking more. It feels good.

Stay Courageous,

Gordon

I did this podcast with Greg Birch’s show “Be The Difference” on August 8th. It was a great conversation. He surprised me at the end with the question “what three people, living or dead, would you like most to have a conversation with”? I hadn’t ever had to consider that before and it took me a while to come up with the three that I felt might be the most important to me. Anyway, if you find the time, please listen to Greg and I discuss leadership and life, and my book “The Intrepid Brotherhood”.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-148-high-voltage-strategy-the-it-journey-of/id1649248930?i=1000630447940

This quote was posted recently on LinkedIn by a podcast host with whom I was a guest earlier this year. Her accompanying comment was “I love this quote from Brene’ Brown”. I have a great deal of respect for this host and the work that she does, so my initial reaction was “yeah, that’s bold and to the point”. However, my analytical mind naturally dug deeper and I started to wonder what context the author meant this to be taken in. Did she actually mean that anyone who is no longer participating as a cog in the wheel (or laying their body on the anvil of commerce) has nothing valuable to say? Am I to assume that she believes that Jack Welch had no valuable guidance to offer once he retired from General Electric? Or that Lee Iocacca was tapped out when he stepped down after turning Chrysler Corporation around in the 1980’s? Should we ignore advice from Ken Blanchard, author of the One Minute Manager, who has built a significant following for his “servant leadership” philosophy just because he is not getting his ass kicked by being directly engaged in daily corporate activities?

You can see the dilemma. Every time I re-read the above quote I have less appreciation for it, perhaps just because (I believe) it lacks the necessary context. Brene’ Brown is an American author, professor and podcast host. She has written six New York Times bestselling books. She knows what she is talking about. So, I would like to think that she was making an observation about today’s post-pandemic work environment. Many people who have their fingers on the pulse of today’s workforce have realized that the rise of remote work has made it increasingly difficult to find workplace coaches or mentors. To paraphrase Cloe Berger1:

1. “In spite of the perception that the younger workers of today routinely challenge leadership, demand better pay and conditions, and are willing to leave at the drop of a hat, they largely want what employees of other generations have ……..”

2. and, “a whopping 83% … reported that…. they think a workplace mentor is crucial for their career”

3. finally, “being able to connect with the manager or director on a more personal level—is extremely important”

Brene’ Brown’s quote is based on her wealth of knowledge and experience. The value of its content will be a result of individual interpretation and reaction.

But, just maybe, a more positive statement would be: “if you are at an experience level where you can legitimately give advice, and you are available for me to seek that advice, I am willing to listen”.

Stay Courageous,

Gordon

1Mourning The Mentor: GenZ longs for a coach at work, but many can’t find one, Chloe Berger, Fortune Magazine, October 5, 2023