David Oaks

Happiness is fleeting, but meaning endures. Bruce Feiler reminds us that our life stories have no inherent meaning until we give them one. Learn why pursuing meaning—not happiness—is the key to finishing well, and how only humans can transform suffering into purpose.

When Pope Leo called his bank and was hung up on, it revealed a critical truth: systems without relationships fail. In fundraising, knowing your donors' stories and values isn't optional—it's essential. Learn why institutional memory and personal connection transform one-time gifts into lasting partnerships.

For years, I kept parts of my story hidden—the struggles, the shame, the uncertainty. But research shows that sharing our full story, including the hard parts, creates resilience not just for us, but for the people we love. Discover why the oscillating family narrative—the one that tells the truth about both struggles and comebacks—produces the strongest legacy.