The Pittsburgh Experiment

HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY TO THE PITTSBURGH EXPERIMENT! The Pittsburgh Experiment provides a place and space for men and women to process life. It’s built to help Western Pennsylvanians to apply their faith in day-to-day business relationships. In its seven decades as a marketplace ministry, The Experiment has had a positive life-changing impact on thousands of lives. The Experiment has close ties to the ministry of the late Dr. Norman Vincent Peale via The National Experiment & Guideposts and its roots are linked to the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Rev. Samuel Moor Shoemaker, whose ideas strongly influenced the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous, founded The Pittsburgh Experiment in 1955. From 1952-61, Dr. Shoemaker served as Rector of Calvary Episcopal Church of Pittsburgh, following a 26-year career as Rector of Calvary Protestant Episcopal Church in New York City. In 1955, Newsweek named him as one of the 10 greatest preachers in the United States, and Time profiled him in "God & Steel in Pittsburgh". In 1956, the Pittsburgh Jaycees named him Man of the Year in Religion. The birthing vision challenge for The Experiment in the 1950's was "to make Pittsburgh as famous for God as it is for steel". Michael Hoffman Barry Balliet Jason Smith Rachel Carlson Tammy Bey Rev Sam Shoemaker

? Which side of the?bed did you get out of this morning??I got out on the?wrong side. Ever happened to you??When you get out the wrong side of the bed, it impacts your view for the rest of the day. ? I read a description?of a compass app on the Iphone.?In typical Apple fashion, it sounds over the top unless you are exploring uncharted?territories.?It tells you where you are located: latitudinal?and longitudinal.?It tells you what your elevation is.?It tells you which way you are facing. It sure would make you aware of where you are standing!?I could have used it when I got lost with my wife?in Paris years ago. We got out of the subway a few blocks from our hotel.?I took a moment to orient myself to my surroundings.?I thought I had some landmarks near our hotel?in my mind, but after an hour of walking, I knew I was wrong. I was moving in the wrong direction.?We had to turn around and go quite a distance to the right location.? ? It reminds me that the old real estate adage, "The three most important things are location, location, location,"?is true of our attitudes?as well.?When someone seems off, or angry or distracted, we make comments?about their mind's location, don't?we? Where's your head ? S/he has their head in the clouds You've?got to get your head straight Get your head out of your....?Well. you get the point The most important thing to set your day, week, or life up for success?is having a healthy and positive?mindset. To have your attitude?in the right "location." To be pointed in the right direction. That takes work.?That takes time.?That takes effort.?At times our life circumstances?do everything they can to change the orientation?of our mind to an unhealthy vantage point.?The world can be a harsh place. What is one to do to avoid?or get out of that negative place??? ? The next time I get up on the wrong side of the bed, I'm going?to get back in it. Then I'm going to exit off the opposite side to remind myself when the location of my mind is in a bad place, I can change the vantage point to a healthier direction. It may not change my circumstances, but changing my attitude?will have me in a stronger position to deal with the issues of the day. ? I'll give a couple more thoughts of what I do to change my mindset next week. Make it a great week! Dan Daly, CIPP/US Jack Thomas Michael Hoffman Jason Smith Jason Listak, P.E.

I’m home sick today. I felt something coming on Friday. You know the feeling. You’re just a little bit off. A little scratchy throat. You are hoping and praying you can avoid it.?But as the day progresses, so do the symptoms. Until it’s full blown and you need “the night-time sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head, fever, so- you-can-rest medicine.” (Are you old enough to remember that commercial? Or “Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is.” But I digress. As I said, I’m not well today.) The most frustrating thing for me is not being able to get things done. At least at the pace I’m used to. So, what do you do? We all have those days—when our energy feels drained, our spirits are low, or our body just isn’t cooperating. Whether it's physical illness or a mental fog, it’s easy to feel like you're stuck, waiting for things to change. But in those tough moments, it’s important to remember that taking things one step at a time is enough. It’s okay to not be okay. When you’re not feeling your best, don’t rush yourself to be "better" right away. Healing takes time, and it’s a process, not a race. Allow yourself to rest. Self-compassion is one of the most powerful tools you can use during this time. The world often encourages us to push through, to keep moving no matter what—but sometimes, the most courageous thing we can do is simply give ourselves permission to pause. If you can, try to shift your focus from what you’re unable to do to what you can do, no matter how small. Maybe it’s sipping a warm drink, getting some fresh air, or simply sitting in stillness. These small acts can feel like victories in times of struggle. And remember, this moment does not define you. You are not weak or broken for needing a break—it's part of being human. Hang in there, because “this too shall pass.” Before you know it, you'll have more strength and resilience than before. You’ve got this, even on the days when you feel like you don’t. Michael Hoffman Dan Daly, CIPP/US Jack Thomas, CPARachel Carlson Tammy Bey

Positive Mindset: The Power of Facing the Sunshine Walt Whitman’s quote, “Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you,” beautifully captures the essence of a positive mindset. This timeless wisdom reminds us of the transformative power of focusing on the good, even in challenging circumstances. A positive mindset isn't about ignoring life's difficulties; it's about choosing where to place your energy. Just as sunlight can lift our spirits and brighten our surroundings, a positive attitude can illuminate even the darkest moments. By directing our thoughts toward optimism, gratitude, and growth, we empower ourselves to move forward with resilience. The shadows in Whitman’s metaphor represent negativity, fear, or doubt. When we face toward the "sunshine"—the hopeful, uplifting aspects of life—we naturally push those shadows aside. It's not about avoiding problems but about shifting our focus so they don’t define us. Cultivating a positive mindset involves daily practices, such as prayer, meditation, recognizing moments of gratitude, practicing self-compassion, and nurturing optimism. It’s about finding the silver lining, even when the clouds seem overwhelming. When we keep our “face toward the sunshine,” we give ourselves the chance to thrive in spite of, and often because of, life’s challenges. In embracing a positive mindset, we allow ourselves not just to survive, but to flourish. And as Whitman reminds us, when we face the light, the darkness will always fall behind. Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. St Paul’s letter to the Philippians Jason Smith Michael Hoffman Rachel Carlson Tammy Bey Jason Listak, P.E. Brett Hammon John Beggy

Why do people attend PX groups? For many different reasons. Here are some thoughtss from my friend Michael Hoffman. "Two questions, twice a month have a massive impact on my life. In 2017, a good buddy of mine asked me to join him for lunch downtown. I am always up for lunch with a friend. Who isn’t?! I asked if it was just going to be us and he said “maybe, but sometimes a few other people come. But, it is just lunch.” We sat down at a local restaurant and a few others joined us. We introduced ourselves, ordered lunch, ate, and had a great time. It was exactly one hour, start to finish. And, he was right. It was just lunch! But, something so simple, yet so impactful happened. During lunch my friend told me they had a tradition of answering two questions. “What are you thankful for?” And “Is there anything you can do without?” He said I was welcome to participate or just listen. No pressure. I did listen and was amazed with the conversation. Everyone was thankful for something and everyone had a challenge they were facing. Just like me. Everyone wished life was easier but were also grateful for the people in their lives. Just like me. Everyone tried their very best and fell short sometimes. Just like me. When it was my turn, I did share my answers. First, I was thankful that my friend asked me to come to lunch. What a gift it is to have a friend who cares enough about you to extend an invitation. I had a few things I could do without that day, and I felt comfortable to share what was on my mind. Everyone listened, understood, and offered a helpful thought, if they had one. Over the last eight years, people have come and gone from our group. We had to move it online for a while, due to the pandemic. I don’t work downtown anymore, so we started a breakfast group closer to my house in the morning. I have heard thousands of answers to those two questions over the years. People have been thankful for little things and really big things. People have had little problems and really big problems. Just like me. The Pittsburgh Experiment is a group of people just like you. Come join us. It will make a massive impact on your life. You are officially invited!"

My wife and I went downtown Saturday morning to the Piratefest at the convention center. It’s supposed to get you excited for springtime and the beginning of baseball season. I’m not sure it worked. The traffic was crazy, and parking was scarce. We ended up parking five or six blocks away. We don’t mind walking, but the wet, cold weather made it interesting. Most of the sidewalks were clear. There was lots of slush and puddles with a smattering of piles of snow that we diligently avoided. But as we crossed 9th Street and stepped on the sidewalk where the handicap access was, we ran into a problem. I tried to get up the small incline, but I started sliding backward.?I was holding Cyndi’s hand, and she was a step in front of me. She tried to pull me up, but I started to pull her down the small slope with me. We didn’t slip and fall. We just slowly slid down to the street. We made another attempt to get up the little slope, but to no avail. That thin little sheet of ice was barely discernable to the eye, but it was impassable. We walked that block in the street instead of the sidewalk. Life is like that. We can usually avoid the large, noticeable pitfalls. We can negotiate around the big puddles and snow piles. We see them, we identify them, and we can get by them. What causes us to crash and burn is usually the unseen or barely discernable slick spots. Don’t be oblivious to the small patches of ice in your path. Those little slick spots can cause big problems. Michael Hoffman Jason Smith Jason Listak, P.E. Rachel Carlson

It was a great holiday season, and we were blessed to have all the family together for much of it. We particularly enjoyed having our grandson, Mario, with us. He is a beautiful and fun 15-month-old, with plenty of energy. Unfortunately, he was fighting an illness while he was with us. Other than his nose constantly running, you couldn’t tell he was under the weather most of the day. But when he tried to lay down to sleep at night, it was another story.?His sleep patterns were thrown off. He couldn’t seem to get comfortable. He just didn’t feel well. So, the topic of conversation for much of the week was about what was ailing the baby. At one point his skin got blotchy. Was he allergic to the pets? Probably not, he had been around his cat since birth. Maybe it was the dog. But he was rubbing his mouth. Was he teething??He started to have a cough. Was it RSV??Did his ears hurt? You get the picture. It is so hard figuring out what is causing the pain when Mario was not able to speak for himself and describe what he was feeling. He is not yet able to express what he’s experiencing. So, we all felt free to venture our best guess at what his problem was. The whole family felt free, although none of us are doctors, to give our diagnosis. Well meaning. But generally unhelpful and probably woefully inaccurate. How often do we do that with other people in our life? ?Even when people can speak for themselves, we don’t take time to listen, but we still feel free to diagnose their problems. We witness someone at work acting a certain way and assume we know why. We judge them based on our assumptions that we know what they are feeling. We are put off by their behavior without knowing what they are going through in life. We think we are good at “reading” people, when what we should be is good at listening to people. “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.” Jason Smith Tammy Bey Michael Hoffman Rachel Carlson

Congratulations to our friends Greg Spencer Bar?ta A Bey and Mamadou B. Baldé for being named to Pittsburgh Business Times 2025 Pittsburgh Power 100, a listing of the region’s most influential business leaders. Greg Spencer was named a Legend for his lifetime of achievement. We are so happy for you men and very proud to call you friends. "Those we define as influential in Pittsburgh’s business community are people with strength, leadership and a drive to succeed. They also are well-connected movers and shakers. They are executives, leaders and community builders. In short, they are the people to call to make things happen, and they are the people whose power extends well beyond their given roles." https://lnkd.in/emhtwTqi

U.S. Surgeon General?Vivek Murthy?has been sounding the alarm on the loneliness epidemic for more than a year. In his 2023 report?"Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation,"?Murthy wrote that loneliness is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. Young people, specifically, are reporting especially high rates of loneliness. So what’s he solution? Murthy believes decreasing feelings of loneliness actually depends on three factors, none of which have to do with ourselves: Relationships Service Community "When we focus on connecting to something bigger than ourselves, that's actually when we find joy," CNBC Story by?Aditi Shrikant 1/6/25