The Death of Critical Thinking

Posted on April 20, 2026 by Larry Hendrick

Critical thinking seems to be a dying art. I say art because it is a learned process. We are not born critical thinkers. In fact, from my experience, most never attain the skill. And it is a skill. With that, most people mistake having an opinion for having a thought. An opinion is a reaction while critical thinking is a calculation.

So what, exactly, is critical thinking?
Here is what the dictionary says.

What is critical thinking according to the Dictionary?

Oxford Dictionary: noun; the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment.

Well, that’s clear. Here is my issue with this definition. Just because you “form a judgment” doesn’t mean it’s a good judgment, and that is where the critical part comes in.

What does AI say?

…the intellectually disciplined process of actively analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing information to form a reasoned judgment.

Well, that’s better. At least it gets to analyzing and evaluating. But there is more.

What does Larry say?

Larry’s definition: the ability to think through an issue, see the obstacles, consider outcomes, and most importantly, to see the “law of unintended consequences” and how to avoid them.

If we do ‘this idea’, what could be the many results. Are the many results the outcome we are looking for? If not, what do we do to mitigate the bad. Maybe the original idea is bad and should be scrapped. The last part is sadly missing in today’s society. Unintended consequences are rampant in our day to day lives, and we pay the price.

Statements are made, laws are passed and not a single person seems to consider the “what ifs” that follow.

Linear Thinking vs. Systems Thinking

Our government is the worst offender and they make an easy target. A linear thinker sees a problem and applies a direct solution. “We need to save water”, and jumps to a quick, “let’s pass a law restricting shower heads.” They never get to System thinking. “If you restrict the shower heads, people will shower longer and use the same, or more water” That shows a lack of critical thinking.

The Government passes hundreds of laws, never once asking what it could lead to once passed.

Lets look at just a few examples:

  1. outlawing incandescent light bulbs with the only option, CFL bulbs which were dangerous and poisonous.
  2. outlawing decent shower heads, so the 30% reduction in flow required a 50% increase in shower time
  3. The Biofuel Mandates: They pushed corn-based ethanol to reduce oil independence, only to reduce the amount available for food. The global effect was to drive up food prices.
  4. Rent Controls: Which did the opposite by creating housing shortages and discouraging building maintenance. This is probably one of the worst examples that was supposed to help the poor but did not.
  5. Banning Plastic bags/straws: Need I say anything more.
  6. Encouraging manufacturers to move overseas because we were considered a “nation of ideas, not labor.” We are now paying for the ‘what if’ on this one.
  7. then the opposite, refusing to eliminate Daylight Saving Time even though 72% of their bosses (us) want it gone.

However, critical thinking is not just for distant elected and non-elected officials. It is also important in our personal lives.

Critical Thinking in Our Personal Lives

Recently, I was tasked with a simple project for an organization. It was so simple, it should only take one short afternoon to complete. Then I began laying out a plan sketch and realized one piece wouldn’t work. I had to re-think the whole project. Then the next design had a simple flaw toward the end. It wouldn’t work either.

This simple, short project ended up taking several weeks to work through to determine a design that would eliminate the problems. Then it only took a few hours to complete because there were no issues in the build.

I’d like to say that is the only project where this has happened but it is not. How many times have you gotten deep into a project and “discovered” it couldn’t be completed as originally thought?

That is what I’m talking about. Determining the problems before beginning.

Application of Critical Thinking

The next time you are tasked with a decision, take the time to think “through” the issue before jumping at the first idea you have. What are the negatives that could result?

Ask yourself: if this plan works perfectly, what else will break? Don’t just look for a judgment–form a calculation. It is the only way to stay ahead of the consequences.

It’s Important!

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A Journey of Notetaking

Posted on March 24, 2026 by Larry Hendrick

My OneNote Journey

I was hitting a wall with OneNote. Syncing had become unreliable, and I was constantly met with errors. Something had to give.

OneNote launched in 2003 as part of Office 2003. At the time, I worked for a tech company that was a Microsoft partner, and the software felt like a revelation: one centralized place to organize everything. I used it on and off for the next 22 years to store data and, with the help of the Android app, keep my life on track. Then the problems began.

The Troubles Come to a Head

By the spring of 2025, I’d had enough. I needed a more reliable way to track notes, tasks, and projects. I searched through dozens of alternatives, starting with Notion. However, the first time I tried to access my data offline, I realized Notion’s fatal flaw. While they have since implemented a “workaround,” I had already moved on.

Obsidian: Simplicity and Control

Then I discovered Obsidian. After watching a few YouTube tutorials, I was intrigued. I downloaded the latest version to test it out and immediately liked the “local-first” philosophy. It didn’t strangle me with connectivity requirements, and my notes weren’t held captive by a proprietary format. That was the last domino to fall.

I decided to get serious. My “test move” began in December 2025, with a goal to be fully transitioned by January 1st. I began using it daily for note-taking and task tracking. To keep the system lean, I initially only loaded a few essential plugins.

The Move

Since making the permanent switch, I’ve kept my setup streamlined. Currently, I only use four plugins: Templater, Dataview, Ink, and Tasks. These provide all the automation I need. My templates now automatically generate new notes in the correct folders with all the necessary metadata. Meanwhile, Dataview handles task roll-ups, helping me stay on top of open projects and their associated requirements.

The Future

I’m still learning the finer points, but I’m finally comfortable. I expect to stick with Obsidian for a long time; it is intuitive, open-source friendly, and actively improved.

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LarryHendrick.com – A History and the Future

Posted on March 10, 2026 by Larry Hendrick

I registered this domain in 2004 or 2005. Then promptly added three sub-domains. I mentioned this in the last article. I had a diverse interest in topics, I thought I needed to separate them into channels. I think the overall effect was to split my interests into segments rather than just moving forward with one blog. In fact, this mother blog was the least of the four total WordPress sites.

The Past

The biggest was Motivation on the Run. It housed a weekly podcast and multiple articles each week. Next would be Business Unusual. It revolved around tech issues and it was read by many “heavy” hitters of the day. Then the one that got squeezed out first was Letters to Mom. Mom had a new computer and I ended up writing out many answers and trouble-shooting articles there but it was the first to suffer from lack of attention.

Random Thoughts

LarryHendrick.com didn’t have a different name. It was just me and my thoughts. A little on sales, some tech, and other random thoughts.

Then I got busy with my wife’s eCommerce website. Not only did I build the site but took it though many iterations. I also wrote many articles and did a lot of packing and shipping. That caused the other sites to go by the wayside. Slowly, they were taken down and mothballed. I did download all the articles from all of them and have all the podcasts, also.

The only site that survived was this one. The first post was in November 2005 and the newest is February 2026. That is a spread of just over 25 years. That is what got me to thinking about the past.

And even before this site, I had several others on free sites. Blogger is still around and last time I tried, the old blog was still there. That was years ago now, and I don’t even remember the name to find it now.

The Current

I’ve spent the last few month’s converting from OneNote to Obsidian. It took some time to get is all laid out like I wanted. That includes a lot of templates and quite a bit of automation to help things work smoothly.

That, and the mild cold of Winter here in the Texas Panhandle. I am not a fan of cold. In fact, I loved the weather down South but still missed the Square part of the state. It seems I’ve been cooped up for months and months.

The Future

I have missed writing for a long time now and thought it was time to do something about it. That is what I’m up to now. I don’t believe I will write daily but even if I do, I won’t publish daily. That’s my thinking for now. Always subject to change, though.

If you happen to stumble onto this article, let me know.

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First Job Interview — Nervous?

Posted on February 26, 2026 by Larry Hendrick

That First Job Interview

Have you ever thought about the interview process? Especially the first few you endured just out of high school. Sitting across from a business owner. Did you make a good impression? Will you get the job? That is normal. So how do you calm the nerves and practice to reduce the anxiety?

I’m Glad You Asked

Three years ago, I ran across a Facebook post from Canyon ISD, looking for volunteers. Since Canyon High School is my alma mater, I decided to investigate further. What I discovered not only surprised me but got me excited.

Every year, in one week of February, Canyon School District holds mock job interviews with every Senior class member. The district has three high schools and all participate. The school district put out a call for volunteers from the business community to participate. And participate, they did.

Business owners, police, military, and retired, come together for the three days. Scheduling as many hours during the three days as they can.

My First Year

Since I wasn’t sure what to expect, I volunteered for three hours on one of the days to learn more about how they ran this shindig. And I was hooked. It was easy. Once you fill out the form with your information and the type of experience you have, the seniors sign up to be interviewed by someone they find interesting. A week before the days arrive, an email said I had a full schedule for the three hours I would be there.

The Process

Setting up in the High School library at a table, representing a desk, with a chair on each side. Interviewer on one side, interviewee on the other. Each interview was to last 20-25 minutes, including giving feedback to each candidate. Then an additional 5 minutes to fill out a document for each student. What they did well and what they should work on. Let me tell you, 20-25 minutes fly by so fast. It seems like only a few minutes, and you need to bring the interview to a close.

The Results

Volunteering for three hours consists of six interview, if you’ve done the math. My biggest issue was that after three or four, they tended to run together, so the notes were critical. Completing the forms between the students was the only way to keep them all straight. Write fast and try to cover the main points first, then others if time permits.

The Surprise

These kids were sharp. Most of my interviewees were already accepted to a college or had a small business they ran. By in large, they were able to look you in the eye and converse well. They sat straight and were thoughtful in their answers. It was much more rewarding for me than I anticipated.

Last Year and This Year

When the email arrived these last two years, I quickly filled out the forms and got them back in. I couldn’t wait. I think I was more excited than the seniors were.

Last year, I volunteered for all three days and had more fun than the first year. I knew what to expect and felt more confident myself in what I was to do. I did a lot of interviews and gave a lot of feedback.

This year, because of other issues, I was only able to volunteer for a morning session and an afternoon session on different days. Of the twelve slots I had booked, only one “no show.” We had bad grass fires around us and some of the students were affected by the evacuations and helping other families.

When I Seventy-Five

Will you still need me, will you still… This year was as much fun as the previous two but I wonder what physical shape I’ll be in next February. If I am able, you can bet I’ll volunteer for as many hours as I can. The reward is supposed to be for the students, but my reward is even greater.

Later…

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From This Day Forward

Posted on February 10, 2026 by Larry Hendrick

The thought has run around my brain for some time and this new year is a good time to begin the process. I want to take LarryHendrick.com back to a blog. I miss writing articles about subjects I enjoy. Sometimes they are quite random in nature but that is how my brain (and most people I know) works.

Subject Matter

My interests are wider than they are deep and I’m okay with that. I like old cars (not these new fangled things), sales, tech, and even a few that don’t come to mind right now.

I wrote on all this subjects year ago on different blogs. I wrote about sales on Motivation on the Run, tech on Business Unusual, and the rest on Letters to Mom and LarryHendrick.com. However, I will not use multiple blogs this go round. It will all be on File Under Misc. at the url of LarryHendrick.com.

As subjects come to me, I will strive to put my thoughts to text and hit “publish” to go live. I may even be the only reader once the articles are published but that doesn’t matter. I think better when I wrestle with my thoughts, particularly in writing. It just makes you circle a subject and look at it from many directions, and that is a good thing.

Sales

I’ve spent my entire life in sales, one way or another. Sometimes it was direct and other times it was in a peripheral manner.

My first job after graduation was at a very busy Service Station on the corner of a freeway and a busy through street. This was before self-serve gas was allowed. (During my time there, self-serve pumping of gasoline began and we (as well as most service stations) dedicated one pump island to that. Most people didn’t use it at first but over time that business grew).

With self-service, you got a 2-cent/gallon discount but gave up all the perks that younger people aren’t even aware of. We washed all the windows around the car, checked tire pressure, checked under the hood (oil, fan belts, power steering, air filters, etc) because it was the norm.

There were no convenience stores selling gas at that time. All stations were full-service and the customers liked it. We fixed flats, washed and waxed vehicles, and did every service that now requires a trip to 5 or 6 different location.

That is all gone for better or worse.

How does this relate to sales? Not only did I get paid a salary but also, a small commission on products and services I sold. I will write more on this first job and others as they relate to sales and how the twist and turns of life play into choices.

Tech

I love most technologies. It began with digital organizers. As a salesman, it was imperative to keep up with customers and their needs. The old written planner was so ancient. I discovered a device at Radio Shack (a tech store for the younger folks) build by Rolodex especially for Radio Shack. I went though two of those covering several years. It was finally discontinued.

After researching (no google then) I decided to move to the Sharp Wizard. It was great and had enough memory to hold all my customer data, all the products they bought and their current pricing. And all that was in a device slightly larger than a deck of cards.

Then came computers that were very expensive at the time. My first was a RS-4P. It was a Radio Shack model and the P stood for portable. It was not a convenient computer to carry around. It was a computer body with an included screen and a clip on cover to protect the screen during transport. The operating system was TRS-DOS, Radio Shacks on version of a disk operating system. It required two 5-1/4″ floppy discs to work. One was the OS and the other was to store you files.

It was fantastic! Really.

Cars

Growing up in the sixties was the heyday of great cars. Muscle cars were the norm and cool looking street rods were not rare. Today is different.

When I grew up, a driver’s license was legal at 14. No restrictions were on the licenses, either. It was a full-fledged adult driver’s license. The only requirement was taking Driver’s Ed, which was provided by the school system. Cars were furnished by a local dealer and me and two other boys spent two weeks driving and riding in a new Chevrolet with Coach Kendrick.

It was great fun and soon, a friend and I were cruising the “drag” in both Canyon and Amarillo.

Other Subjects and Thoughts

If this all comes to fruition, there will be other thoughts that are put to print, also. That will happen as circumstances present themselves. I’m not sure what the topic or header will be but it will be something I want to work through.

Until next time…

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The Latest Vehicle in the Corral

Posted on March 22, 2024 by Larry Hendrick

The decision to move back to the Texas Panhandle brought back thoughts of several winters from previous days. The blizzard of 1958, of 1970, and a few others from later dates.

My Newest acquisition is a 4-wheel drive

With the decision to move back to the Panhandle, I knew I would have to acquire another four-wheel drive vehicle. The last such vehicle owned was the ’82 Bronco which was sold in 1997. Living in South Texas for the last 20+ years, I did not see the necessity for such a vehicle.

I had decided on one of two choices. A Ford Ranger or a Toyota Tacoma. I saw no need for a big truck, just a functional one. I began looking in South Texas six months before moving. I didn’t have any luck. They were few and far between and very expensive. I decided to wait.

The internet is your friend

Once the move was complete, I began scouring the car websites in the local area and, early one morning, a low-mileage 1994 Ford Ranger appeared. I jumped in the wife’s vehicle and headed to I-40 West to a large car dealer. It was exactly what I was looking for.

  • 4-wheel drive
  • Extra cab
  • Long bed
  • V-6 (4.0 liter)
  • 5-speed manual transmission
  • Low miles (131,000 actual miles)
  • Only three local owners in the last 27 years (each had it for an extended time)
  • Appears to have always been garaged
  • A new set of tires
  • Fresh switches for the 4-wheel engagement

The first six points were my requirements and the last four were bonuses.

I’ve now owned the pickup for three years and it is better than I had hoped. It is a nice truck that I plan to have for many years to come.

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I keep coming back to the importance of good questions

Posted on March 19, 2024 by Larry Hendrick

The importance of good, professional questions can not be overstated. Asking good business-related questions will gain insight into a company. If you ask bad questions, you will get bad answers. If you are a professional salesperson, and I expect you are, you must ask professional questions.

Questionable Questions

I can’t count the number of meetings I’ve attended with salespeople, who ask about the “fish” (airplane, fly rod, etc.) on the wall after introducing themselves. NOOOOOO! That is not how you build rapport with a company’s top officer. They are busy and you are wasting their valuable time.

I even advise against “What keeps you up at night?” Not now, and maybe not ever. Or the timeless, “So, what do ya’ll do around here?”

Ask Professional Questions

Research is the key to good questions. The research can come from current customers or the interwebs. If you know their industry, their competitors, and their issues, a professional salesperson will take time to develop professional questions that get to the heart of the discussion quickly.

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Want more sales? Become a better listener!

Posted on October 13, 2022 by Larry Hendrick

Have you ever had a friend say, “You talk enough to be a good salesperson?” I have. There is only one problem with that statement. It describes the worst type of salesperson.

Do you know what makes a good salesperson? One who knows how to listen after asking a relevant question.

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How Much Money is Discounting Costing You in Your Paycheck?

Posted on May 10, 2022 by Larry Hendrick

I was approached by the Branch Manager from a company that was one of my suppliers. Twice a year, he would come by or call to see if I was ready to come work for him selling the products I used in my business. After years of “persuading”, I decided the timing was right.

I called him and asked if we could talk about how my working for him would look. We met in his office and had a good long conversation after which I agreed to take a salesman’s position.

Several weeks passed and I sold nothing. NOTHING!
Finally, at the small Star Motel, the lady took pity and bought a case of toilet paper. However, I had to match her current price to get the sale but what did a discount matter at this point. I needed to sell something. Period.
Little did I realize at that moment, but that initial act turned me into a discounting salesperson. I didn’t know any better at the time. Matching or beating a price became my only sales tool.

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Can You Use Pyramid Math to Make More Money?

Posted on January 28, 2022 by Larry Hendrick

Pyramid Math

The pyramids used a lot of advanced math to build. The dimensions are a tribute to higher mathematics. So what does this have to do with sales?

We can determine the selling price by one of two methods–price markup or price margin. In working with many salespeople, I find they don’t understand the difference. Yet, the difference is important.

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