As much as I’ve always enjoyed reading, my short attention span makes it impossibly difficult to finish really long books like Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations. And chances are you’ve never made it all the way through the 1,208 pages either. But if you ever took a basic economics course in school, you’re probably familiar with the economic term from Smith’s timeless writings called “the Invisible Hand.” Now, I’m definitely not an economist. But if you don’t mind, humor me as I attempt to give my simple understanding of how the Invisible Hand works. Essentially, it represents the way human nature affects how the economy functions ... whether it’s humankind’s self-interest, fear, competitiveness, greed, uncertainty or even common sense, the Invisible Hand is our basic humanness at work.

When I lived in Chihuahua nearly 15 years ago, a friend of mine told me there’s a saying in Mexico that goes, “The only people who tell the truth are drunks and little kids.” Actually, I’m not 100 percent sure if that’s the exact saying or if it’s even a Mexican saying at all. Ironically, this conversation occurred over a couple of tortas after hanging out at a cantina all night. Nonetheless, I’m sure you can recall a time when someone you know was guilty of “drinking and talking” or when little kids proved that you have to watch what you say in front of them. So what is it that makes the truth so painful at times?

Whenever I see a squad car in the distance, my first reaction is usually to tap my brakes. Mainly, it’s because I’m speeding, but also because it’s a force of habit. And as much as I dread getting pulled over, I’m actually a pretty big fan of police officers. Just like the majority of the people who respect and obey the laws of the land, I have no reason to fear or avoid the police. Their job is to enforce our laws and protect the people within their jurisdiction. But what happens when they don’t or can’t?

It looks like a lot of us will remember 2011 as the “Year of the Showdown.” Between lockouts in the NFL and NBA and government gridlock in the House and Senate, compromise didn’t come very easily last year. So why can’t we all just get along? Of course, I wasn’t personally involved in any of the above disputes, so I have no idea what was said or done behind closed doors. But I’d bet dollars to donuts these conflicts boil down to one thing ... a lot of unreasonable people.

Over the past couple of years, I’ve come to realize the best part of holidays with little ones around is watching how excited they get about the surprises that await them. Whether it’s a birthday party, Christmas morning or Easter Sunday, their energy and excitement is off the charts. But as we get older, our enthusiasm for participating in some of these traditions just isn’t the same. Sure, the occasional scavenger hunt can be kind of fun, but being the only one who can’t find his plastic Easter egg tends to lose its luster 30 years later.

When’s the best time to start eating healthy? After a heart attack. How about exercising? After you’re already overweight. The best time to stop smoking? After someone you know has lung cancer. When’s the best time to start talking to your teenager? After the cops call. And when’s the best time to buy homeowner’s insurance? As soon as you buy a house. Duh?

Earlier this year, after almost 10 years of searching, the U.S. military finally got Osama bin Laden. Through a combination of observing, strategizing, communicating, planning, training, waiting and executing, U.S. Navy Seals “Team Six” brought the world’s most sought-after terrorist to justice ... a great day for the United States military and the safety of the entire world. However, as most people would agree, al-Qaida’s presence around the world doesn’t end with the demise of its top leader. And although we can appreciate that bin Laden is now gone, unfortunately, his death won’t diminish the terror organization’s desire to continue recruiting and building its terrorist network.

When it comes to hiring a new employee, what are the top three traits you’re looking for? Do these traits differ between entry-level positions and middle management? And finally, how did you decide which traits are most important? The desired characteristics for choosing employees is probably almost endless, so I won’t bother trying to provide a comprehensive list of possible choices. And I also won’t claim that there are any right or wrong answers to the above questions (although I’m a huge fan of trustworthy, productive and disciplined) ... that’s up to you to decide.