Who said one person cannot make a difference?!
Jim Croce
He wrote a song about saving time for his newborn son. Three months after he died, it became #1 in America—and sounded like prophecy.
September 1971. Jim Croce held his newborn son for the first time, feeling the impossible weight of something so small. A.J. was tiny, perfect, and entirely dependent on a father who was rarely home.
Jim sat down with his guitar, thinking about all the moments he would miss—first steps, first words, bedtime stories. The road had always called him away. Music demanded everything. But now, holding this child, Jim wanted something music had never given him: time.
He began to write.
“If I could save time in a bottle…”
The melody came gently, like a lullaby. The words were a father’s wish—impossible and tender. He wanted to save every moment, to make days last forever, to somehow stop the clock that kept pulling him away.
“It was a prayer more than a song,” his wife Ingrid later said.
Jim Croce understood time’s cruelty better than most. He’d spent years chasing an impossible dream while time kept running out.
The Long Road Before the Music
For years before fame found him, Jim Croce lived the hard, ordinary life he would later sing about.
He hauled lumber. He drove trucks. He taught at small colleges. Anything to keep the lights on while pursuing music that nobody seemed to want.
He played in smoky bars where drunks talked over his songs. He packed up his guitar at 2 a.m. and drove home alone, wondering if any of it mattered.
“Every song I write is like a little movie,” he once said. “Only mine end in diners and bars instead of sunsets.”
His songs were filled with characters America would later love: dreamers in dive bars, hustlers with bad reputations, telephone operators connecting desperate calls, ordinary people living fragile lives.
But in 1972, something shifted.
When Lightning Finally Struck
You Don’t Mess Around with Jim hit the radio like a warm breeze through a cold life. America recognized something in him—that lived-in poetry of a man who’d seen the hard parts and still found something beautiful to sing about.
Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels) broke hearts across the country.
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown made jukeboxes roar in every small town.
For the first time in his life, Jim Croce wasn’t just surviving. He was soaring.
But fame, for Jim, was no home. The stages were loud, the crowds were large, but he was tired. Tired of motel rooms. Tired of being away from Ingrid and A.J. Tired of missing his son’s childhood for three-minute songs.
He wrote letters home from the road: “I’m tired of being away from you and the boy. When this tour ends, I’m coming home for good.”
He was thirty years old and ready to trade stages for peace. Just one more tour. Then home. Then time—finally, enough time.
He Never Made It Home
September 20, 1973. Natchitoches, Louisiana.
Jim had just finished a concert at Northwestern State University. The crowd had loved him. He was exhausted but satisfied. One more show, then a few more, then home.
He boarded a small charter plane with five others—his guitarist Maury Muehleisen, their road manager, the pilot, and two others.
Minutes after takeoff, the plane struck a pecan tree in the darkness.
It fell from the sky.
Everyone aboard was killed instantly.
A silence followed that no radio could fill.
When Time Ran Out, The Song Began
“Time in a Bottle” had been recorded in 1972 but was never released as a single. It sat quietly on an album, a gentle song overshadowed by louder hits.
After Jim’s death, a movie director used the song in a television film. Radio stations began playing it. Listeners heard the lyrics differently now.
“If I could save time in a bottle…
If I could make days last forever…
If words could make wishes come true…”
Three months after Jim Croce died, “Time in a Bottle” reached #1 in America in December 1973.
The song he’d written for his son—a father’s wish for more time—became an anthem for everyone who’d ever lost someone too soon.
The lyrics, once a lullaby, now sounded like prophecy.
The Echo That Never Stops
Jim Croce never got more time. But somehow, he gave it to everyone else.
His songs play in kitchens where couples slow dance. They hum from car radios on long drives through small towns. They speak to anyone who’s ever wished for one more day, one more moment, one more chance to say what matters.
His son, A.J. Croce, grew up to become a musician himself—carrying forward the music his father left behind. The boy Jim wrote “Time in a Bottle” for now plays his father’s songs, keeping the melody alive.
Jim sang for the ordinary dreamer, the struggling artist, the father who wanted to come home. Though his clock stopped too soon, his voice kept ticking—soft, steady, eternal.
The Lesson in the Song
“Time in a Bottle” reminds us that we never have as much time as we think we do.
Jim Croce spent years struggling toward success. When it finally came, he was ready to leave it behind for something more important: being present for the people he loved.
He didn’t get that chance.
But his song became a gift to everyone who hears it—a reminder not to wait. Not to assume there will always be tomorrow. Not to trade what matters most for what merely seems urgent.
Jim Croce proved that a man doesn’t need a long life to leave a long echo—just a guitar, a few true words, and the courage to sing them before the music stops.
He wanted to save time in a bottle for his son.
Instead, he saved a moment for all of us—a three-minute reminder that time is the one thing we can never get back.
So we’d better use it while we have it.
Carole King
Carole King once sat in a publisher’s office listening to a male executive explain why her name should appear second on a song she had written nearly alone, and she replied, “I am done letting anyone borrow my work without my permission.”
The executive laughed.
King stood up.
The Brill Building had just gained a problem it did not expect.
Before Tapestry made her a household name, King was the writer behind hits that other performers got credit for. Labels pushed the singers, not the writers. Publishers favored male composers. King turned out songs faster than most teams in the building, but her name rarely appeared in the spotlight. She received checks. Others received fame.
The quiet scandal started when one producer suggested that her songs would sell better if a man signed first on the sheet. King refused. He insisted. She left the room before he finished speaking. That small rebellion spread through the corridors. Several writers told her she was risking her entire career. King said she could not keep giving away her voice to people who never thanked her for it.
Her turning point came when she wrote a song that a major artist wanted immediately. The label demanded changes that would remove the emotional core of the lyrics. King rejected every note. The artist begged her to reconsider. King refused again. The label eventually caved. The song became a hit, and the artist publicly credited her as the creative center of the track. That moment changed her leverage overnight.
But the real battle came when she told industry leaders she intended to release her own album as a performer. Several executives told her bluntly that her voice was not marketable. They wanted her to stay behind the scenes. She recorded Tapestry anyway. She funded writing sessions herself. She insisted on producing decisions she was not invited to make. The project looked fragile to everyone but her.
When Tapestry exploded into a cultural phenomenon, executives who doubted her pretended they had supported her from the start. King saved the receipts. She told friends she remembered every meeting, every dismissal, every casual insult disguised as advice.
Years later, younger singer songwriters asked her how she survived an industry that tried to keep her invisible. King told them one rule.
“If you give away your voice, someone else will use it to build their name. So keep your voice.”
Carole King is celebrated for warmth, honesty, and timeless melody.
The truth carries more force.
She fought the system that tried to hide her, she won battles no one thought she could win, and she turned the quiet power of a songwriter into the loudest success the industry had ever seen.
Here’s Why Smart Parents Are Skipping College and Choosing This Instead
For the past few years, I’ve been on a journey that started with a single, terrifying question…
My son, Maxim, was 18. He’d just finished high school (home school), and he had no idea what to do next.
And frankly, neither did I.
The default path we’ve all been sold—go to college, get a degree, get a job—felt broken. It felt like a trap.
Rising costs, ideological indoctrination, and degrees that no longer guarantee competence or opportunity… it was clear that modern academia had failed.
And now, with the exponential rise of AI, going to college has become the single worst financial decision a young person could make today.
Think about it. By the time a freshman graduates in four years, AI will have completely disrupted the global workforce. They’ll be spit out into an even more AI-dominant world in 2029, saddled with $150,000 in debt, maybe more.
They’d be completely screwed.
So, what’s the alternative?
That’s the question that led my son and me, along with my mentor, the legendary Doug Casey, to create “The Preparation.”
It’s a 4-year process, a “right of passage,” that replaces classroom memorization with real-world experiences. It’s designed to build virtue, values, skills, connections, and confidence in a young man or woman to navigate an increasingly unstable and unclear future.
And as my friend Mike Dillard so eloquently put it, “It’s fucking brilliant.”
Instead of turning someone into a specialist with a singular career path, The Preparation is designed to turn them into a “generalist” with the knowledge, skills, real world experience and the contacts needed to adapt to a rapidly changing world.
Over the past two years, Maxim has been pioneering this model. He’s…
•Gotten his EMT or Emergency Medical Technician license…
•Worked as an apprentice to an Uruguayan gaucho…
•Worked with a geophysics crew for a gold exploration company…
•Learned how to sail in the Falkland Islands…
•Started an agricultural drone business…
•He as even learned to fly a plane…
And that’s just scratching the surface.
He’s done all of this by the age of 20.
This process is providing him with a lifetime of real-world experiences, contacts, and opportunities that most adults will never see. And the best part? He’s getting paid along the way.
But don’t just take my word for it. The response from people I deeply respect has been overwhelming.
James Altucher, the bestselling author of “Choose Yourself,” called it “mandatory listening (and reading)” and said, “This is exactly what young people should do now instead of college.”
Tom Woods, the NY Times bestselling author, said, “When I read The Preparation, my jaw was on the floor. I thought: this is exactly what young men need today. It’s practical, brilliant, and long overdue.”
And Glenn Beck dedicated an entire episode of his podcast to it, titled “How to Make Men DANGEROUS Again.”
Ultimately, your child’s education isn’t about what they learn. AI can teach them anything they want to know.
It’s about who they become.
Will they become another beer-drinking frat-boy, saddled with debt and stepping into a world that doesn’t need them?
Or will they become a true renaissance man or woman, capable of adapting to a world that needs their adventurous, adaptable spirit, and real-world experience?
If you have a child or grandchild, or know any young person trying to find their way, here are three things you can do right now:
1. Buy a copy of “The Preparation” here on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLRKZCKL
2. Subscribe to Maxim’s email newsletter to follow his journey as he documents this process. https://www.maximsmith.com/
3. Watch the fantastic interview with Glenn Beck here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsHENFPGXF8
This is more than a book. It’s a new path forward.
I hope you’ll join us.
Kevin Costner and Dances With Wolves
In 1988, Los Angeles. Kevin Costner walked into a studio conference room holding the script for Dances with Wolves and said, “This will cost twenty million dollars and I am directing it myself.” Executives stared at him like he had announced his own career funeral.
Costner had spent months hearing the same rejection. Too long. Too expensive. Too quiet. No one wanted a three hour Western told in Lakota with a first time director. Orion Pictures finally agreed, but only if he took three million dollars upfront and accepted personal financial risk. Costner signed without negotiating. His agent warned him that if the film collapsed, he would owe more than he earned in a decade.
Filming began in South Dakota in June 1989. A violent storm destroyed twenty miles of fencing and scattered the buffalo herd across the plains. Each animal cost fourteen hundred dollars per day. Costner climbed onto a horse at sunrise and spent hours with wranglers rounding them back into position. He returned to set covered in dust and told the crew, “We roll again. The story comes first.”
Production fell behind. Crew members quit. Investors threatened to pull financing. Cinematographer Dean Semler told Costner that waiting for perfect light would ruin the schedule. Costner looked at the ridge they needed and said, “Then the schedule breaks. Not the scene.”
The buffalo stampede became the breaking point. Remote cameras were buried in trenches so the herd could pass inches above them. Four cameras were crushed. The sequence cost two and a half million dollars. Costner refused to move back. He wanted to feel the ground shake because the audience needed to feel it too.
By the end of production, the film was twenty percent over budget and hanging on by a thread. In the final mix Costner watched every cut, every sound pass, every frame. At the first test screening in 1990, the audience stood in silence and then applauded for a full minute. The film earned more than four hundred twenty million dollars worldwide and won seven Academy Awards.
People said it was ego. Costner called it belief. “If you think something is worth doing,” he said, “you walk toward it until your legs give out.” That is why Dances with Wolves exists. He carried it when no one else would.
Raking Leaves
Two kids knocked on my door and offered to rake my whole yard for $10. What I did next changed how they’ll see hard work forever.
I heard the doorbell on a Saturday afternoon. Two boys, maybe 11 or 12 years old, were on my porch holding rakes that looked too big for them.
The taller one nervously asked, “Excuse me, sir. Would you like us to rake your yard? We’ll do the whole thing for ten dollars.“
I looked at my lawn. It was covered in leaves. It was a big job, at least two or three hours of work.
“Ten dollars each?“ I asked.
They looked at each other. The shorter one shook his head. “No sir. Ten dollars total. We’ll split it.“
Five dollars each. For hours of hard work.
I could have said yes and gotten my yard raked for almost nothing. But the way they stood there—hopeful, polite, and ready to work—reminded me of myself at that age, just trying to get a chance.
“Alright,“ I said. “You’ve got a deal. Get started.“
For the next two and a half hours, I watched them. They worked hard and didn’t cut corners. They didn’t complain. They raked every part of the yard, bagged the leaves, and even swept my driveway without me asking.
When they finally knocked to say they were done, they were sweating, tired, and smiling.
I walked out with my wallet. “You boys did incredible work,“ I said, and I handed them four twenty-dollar bills ($80).
“Here’s your payment.“
The taller one’s eyes got wide. “Sir, we said ten—“
“I know what you said,“ I told him. “But I also know what hours of good work are worth. You earned every dollar of this.“
They stared at the money like they couldn’t believe it was real. Then the shorter one looked up at me and said quietly, “Thank you. Really. Thank you.“
As they walked away, I heard them talking excitedly about what they would buy. I realized something: We talk a lot about teaching kids the value of hard work, but we don’t always show them that hard work is actually valued.
Those boys didn’t ask for a handout. They offered to work. They showed up. They did a great job. I wanted them to walk away knowing that good work doesn’t go unnoticed.
If you work hard and do your best, even when no one is watching, good people will see it. And they will reward you for it.
That’s not just a lesson for kids. That’s a lesson for all of us.
Quote of the Day
“If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.” Peace Pilgrim – Activist (1908 – 1981)
The 10 best survival crops for your emergency food garden
Focus on calorie-dense, easy-to-grow staples like winter squash, sweet potatoes, potatoes, beans and field corn, which provide long-term sustenance.
Select crops with long shelf life (e.g., cured sweet potatoes, dried beans, fermented cabbage) and high nutrient density (amaranth, kale, garlic) to maintain health during shortages.
Choose climate-hardy, pest-resistant crops (turnips, garlic, perennials) that thrive with minimal care. They’re ideal for crisis scenarios.
Save seeds from each harvest (beans, squash) and plant fruit, nut trees and berry bushes for long-term food security without replanting.
Begin with easy staples and expand your food garden as your skills improve—ensuring food independence when supply chains fail.
In an era of economic instability, supply chain disruptions and increasing food insecurity, growing your own survival garden is no longer just a hobby—it’s a necessity. Experts in emergency preparedness and sustainable agriculture have identified the 10 best crops in terms of resilience, calorie density and ease of cultivation. Whether you’re preparing for a short-term crisis or aiming for long-term self-sufficiency, growing these crops ensures you can feed yourself and your family when store shelves run empty.
Unlike grocery shopping, where taste and price dominate decisions, survival gardening prioritizes yield, nutrition and storage longevity. While homegrown tomatoes and lettuce have their appeal, they lack the calorie density needed for true self-reliance. Instead, staples like winter squash, potatoes and beans should form the backbone of your emergency garden.
Here’s why these crops stand out—and how to grow them successfully.
10 Survival crops to grow in your food garden
Before diving into the list, it’s important to understand the criteria for selecting survival crops:
Easy to grow – Some plants thrive with minimal care, while others demand constant attention. In a crisis, you need reliable producers.
Climate adaptability – The best survival crops grow well across diverse regions, from northern cold to southern heat.
Nutritional density – High-calorie, nutrient-rich foods sustain energy and health better than low-value filler crops.
Long shelf life – Without refrigeration, crops must store naturally for months.
Easy harvest and processing – Labor-intensive crops (like wheat) may not be practical in survival scenarios.
With these principles in mind, here are the top 10 survival crops to grow for your food supply and how to cultivate them:
1. Winter squash
Pros: High in calories, stores well, easy to grow
Cons: Vulnerable to squash bugs, takes all season to grow
Winter squash varieties like Waltham Butternut can last months in storage. Plant seeds in mounds with kitchen scraps for natural fertilization. Mulch heavily to suppress weeds, as squash vines sprawl aggressively. Harvest when fully mature, clip stems and store in a cool, dry place.
2. Sweet potatoes
Pros: Nutritious, edible leaves, prolific yield
Cons: Needs loose soil, requires curing before storage
Start slips (young shoots) from a sweet potato suspended in water. Once vines grow, transplant them into loose, well-drained soil. Harvest tubers in fall, cure them in open air for a week, then store wrapped in paper.
3. Potatoes
Pros: High-calorie, versatile, grows in poor soil
Cons: Prone to pests, long growing season
Plant seed potatoes (or sprouted store-bought ones) in loose soil. Hill soil around growing plants to encourage tuber formation. Protect from sun exposure to prevent greening. Store in a cool, dark root cellar.
4. Field corn
Pros: Calorie-dense, can be dried for flour or alcohol
Cons: Attracts raccoons, needs nitrogen-rich soil
Opt for hardy varieties like Hickory King over sweet corn. Plant in mounds with fish or manure at the base for nutrients. Harvest when kernels harden, dry thoroughly and grind into meal.
5. Amaranth
Pros: Grows like a weed, edible greens and seeds
Cons: Can become invasive
Broadcast seeds over soil and thin as needed. Harvest young leaves for salads or mature seeds for protein-rich grain. Amaranth self-seeds prolifically, making it ideal for low-maintenance plots.
6. Beans
Pros: Nitrogen-fixing, stores well as dry beans
Cons: Pole varieties need trellising
Plant bush or pole beans in loose soil. Harvest green beans fresh or dry mature pods for long-term storage. Soak dry beans before cooking to soften.
7. Cabbage
Pros: Frost-tolerant, versatile, can be fermented
Cons: Vulnerable to cabbage worms
Start seeds indoors and transplant in cool weather. Harvest whole heads or individual leaves. Store fresh in a root cellar or ferment into sauerkraut.
According to BrightU.AI’s Enoch engine, sauerkraut is an excellent emergency food due to its long shelf life, rich nutrient content (including probiotics and vitamin C) and ability to sustain health when fresh produce is unavailable. Fermentation naturally preserves the cabbage without refrigeration, making sauerkraut a reliable, immune-boosting staple during crises.
8. Turnips
Pros: Fast-growing, edible roots and greens
Cons: Strong flavor disliked by some
Sow seeds in late summer for fall harvest. Eat greens fresh and store roots in cool conditions. Leave some plants to reseed naturally.
9. Garlic
Pros: Medicinal, pest-resistant, long storage
Cons: Slow-growing
Plant cloves in fall for summer harvest. Dry the bulbs thoroughly before storage. Use garlic scapes (flower stalks) when cooking for extra flavor.
10. Perennials (fruit and nut trees, berry bushes)
Pros: Year-after-year yield, low maintenance
Cons: Long establishment time
Plant apple trees, berry bushes or hazelnuts for sustained harvests. Once established, they require minimal care while providing essential nutrients.
In uncertain times, a well-planned survival garden offers more than food—it provides security. By focusing on calorie-dense, easy-to-store crops, you can ensure resilience against disruptions. Start small if needed, but prioritize high-yield staples like potatoes, beans and squash.
Self-reliance begins with the soil. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a beginner, the 10 crops listed above will empower you to take control of your food supply—one seed at a time.
Murphy’s Wish
What you put your attention on, you manifest! Even in the animal kingdom let alone with humans! Of course the common denominator is a spirit that animates each.