Politics

Blake Dowling: Coastal Chamber clarity

Published

3 months ago

August 30, 2025

Recently, one of our managers gave me a book titled “Clarity Principles.”

Our team member, Mike Harris, met the author, Mike Dennison, at a conference where he delivered a keynote speech. Mike brought back a few copies for our team.

Mike Harris and Mike Dennison – not Walt – at Aegis HQ.

As one of our elite leaders, Mike has played a crucial role in shaping our company. I extend my appreciation to our next generation of leaders: Louis, Keith, Chris, Zach Rowell, Leo, Zach Abraham, Alanna, Krystal, and many others who will succeed in the current wave of dinosaurs like me, who reference ’80s movies and songs that most don’t recognize.

Sharing these references on Teams often feels like a Nate Bargatze bit — what is Blake talking about now? Only Marc from our team knows.

Clarity Principles emphasizes execution, scale, and culture, providing insights on fine-tuning your company’s engine. It reminds me of the clergy at St. John’s Church, who say during every service, “No matter where you are in your spiritual journey, the church is here for you.”

Similarly, this book offers valuable takeaways regardless of your company’s stage.

For us, having recently doubled in size, opened regional offices, and moved into a new headquarters, it’s the perfect time for an exercise in sustainable scaling.

Clarity Principles – Bringing Clarity and Seamless Execution to Your Business.

The book offers valuable insights, such as the OATK (one ass to kick) concept and the T-ball analogy, which highlight how entire teams can become distracted by crises, often neglecting their core responsibilities.

We must also note that the author bears a resemblance to Walt from Breaking Bad. I had to resist suggesting to Mike that we go to Los Pollos Hermanos for lunch after our podcast shoot, and I almost found myself randomly yelling “JESSIE.”

In my youth, I was often mistaken for Dave Matthews, so I empathize with him on that front.

I read Clarity Principles while attending the annual Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce Community Conference last week at Amelia Island. It was the perfect moment to focus on business reading while participating in a conference aimed at enhancing our region. If you’d like to explore the Clarity Community and the author further, I had Mike on our podcast:

I first attended the Chamber Conference in 2006 when I started my entry-level Account Executive position at Aegis. Back then, I knew only five people at the conference, so I spent my time handing out cards and delivering one-minute pitches.

Everyone I approached listened attentively. How cool is that? The Chamber has created a platform for networking and professional development.

Now, 20 years later, I still attend the conference each year. While I no longer hand out cards or pitches as I did in the past, I remain eager to hear about others’ businesses. I met several first-time attendees, including mayoral candidate Jeremy Matlow, whom I greeted warmly, just as I was welcomed so many years ago.

*Incoming Tallahassee Chamber Board Chair, Eddie Gonzalez-Loummiet.*

Throughout the conference, I reflected on the Clarity Principles and the businesses in our region that have consistently scaled and represented themselves well over the years. The presenting sponsor, Premier Fine Homes, showcased perfect branding with a great sense of humor throughout the weekend.

Many names and faces come to mind from my 20 years attending the Chamber Conference. I think of the man who introduced me to Aegis, Steve Evans, a business legend; Dana Noles, who manages the event for the Chamber; Gary Yordon, who has MC’d the event for over 15 years; and, of course, Sue Dick, the Chamber CEO for 25 years.

*Tallahassee Chamber President Sue Dick on the Aegis Podcast set.*

Sue was one of the first people to visit our new Aegis building before we even moved in. No agenda, no requests — she wanted to see what our small business was up to. What a remarkable level of engagement from an organization with over 1,000 members!

Thank you, Sue, for 25 years of excellence, for making time for Aegis, and for all you have done for our region. I also extend my gratitude to all the volunteers who dedicate their time to improving Tallahassee. Tallahassee Board Chair, Sha’Ron James, and incoming Chair Eddie Gonzalez-Loummiet, your selfless contributions do not go unnoticed. If no one has thanked you lately, please accept my heartfelt thanks.

I’ve heard positive stories from numerous attendees at the conference, though some negative feedback has come from those who have never attended, based on misconceptions about what is discussed. What I have witnessed firsthand is nonprofits like Goodwill, Second Harvest, Habitat for Humanity, and Refuge House advancing their noble missions to help others.

I see generational and legendary businesses in our region, such as Target Print and Mail, Moore Bass, Secure Record Solutions, AMWAT, Sach Media, THF, and Full Press Apparel, which represent their brands and support our community every year I’ve attended.

I also see a community of friendships, celebrating commonalities and organizations supporting one another.

Additionally, our small business has grown, thanks to the friendships formed at this conference. Perhaps I’ve found clarity not just in Mike’s book, but also from a business community that gathers annually with the mission of improving our region.

*Literary critic Peter Jorge Louis III also endorses Clarity Principles.*

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Politics

Ron DeSantis says GOP must go on offense ahead of Midterms to bring back ‘complacent’ voters

Published

15 minutes ago

December 5, 2025

May Greene

Gov. Ron DeSantis is continuing to warn Republicans that next year’s Midterm contests may not go their way if the party doesn’t change course.

He recommends that Republicans make a strong case for what they will do if they somehow retain control of Congress next year, given that “in an off-year Midterm, the party in power’s voters tend to be more complacent.”

But DeSantis, who himself served nearly three terms in Congress before resigning to focus on his campaign for Governor in 2018, says House Republicans haven’t accomplished much, and they need to be proactive in the time that’s left.

“I just think you’ve got to be bold. I think you’ve got to be strong. And I think one of the frustrations with the Congress is, what have they done since August till now? They really haven’t done anything, right?” DeSantis explained on “Fox & Friends.”

“I’d be like, every day, coming out with something new and make the Democrats go on the record, show the contrast.”

The Governor said the economy and immigration are two issues that would resonate with voters.

On immigration, DeSantis believes his party should remind voters that President Donald Trump stopped the “influx” of illegal border crossers given passage when Joe Biden was in power.

After providing contrast to some of his policy wins through the end of 2023 in Florida, DeSantis suggested that the GOP needs to blame the opposition party regarding continued economic struggles.

“Democrats, they caused a lot of this with the inflation and now they’re acting like … they had nothing to do with it,” he said.

DeSantis’ latest comments come after Tuesday’s narrow GOP victory in deep-red Tennessee, in yet another election where a candidate for Congress underperformed President Donald Trump.

Republican Matt Van Epps defeated Democrat Aftyn Behn by roughly 9 points in the Nashville area seat. That’s less than half the margin by which Trump bested Kamala Harris in 2024. This is after U.S. Reps. Randy Fine and Jimmy Patronis won by smaller margins than expected in Special Elections in Florida earlier this year.

Though partisan maps protect the GOP in many cases, with just a seven-vote advantage over Democrats in Congress there is scant room for error.

Bettors seem to believe the House will flip, with Democratic odds of victory at 78% on Polymarket on Friday morning.

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Politics

Ron DeSantis again downplays interest in a second presidential run

Published

46 minutes ago

December 5, 2025

May Greene

The question won’t go away.

Gov. Ron DeSantis may be out of state, just like he was when he ran for President in 2024, but that doesn’t mean he’s eyeing another run for the White House.

“I’ve got my hands full, man. I’m good,” he told Stuart Varney during an in-studio interview Friday in New York City, responding to a question about his intentions.

DeSantis added that it was “not the first time” he got that question, which persists amid expectations of a crowded field of candidates to succeed President Donald Trump.

“I’m not thinking about anything because I think we have a President now who’s not even been in for a year. We’ve got a lot that we’ve got to accomplish,” the term-limited Governor told Jake Tapper last month when asked about 2028.

It may be for the best that DeSantis isn’t actively running, given some recent polls.

DeSantis, who ran in 2024 before withdrawing after failing to win a single county in the Iowa caucuses, has just 2% support in the latest survey from Emerson College.

Recent polling from the University of New Hampshire says he’ll struggle again in what is historically the first-in-the-nation Primary state. The “Granite State Poll,” his worst showing in any state poll so far, shows the Florida Governor with 3% support overall.

In January 2024, DeSantis had different messaging after leaving the GOP Primary race.

“When I was in Iowa, a lot of these folks that stuck with the President were very supportive of what I’ve done in Florida. They thought I was a good candidate,” DeSantis said. “I even had people say they think that I would even do better as President, but they felt that they owed Trump another shot. And so I think we really made a strong impression.”

But that was then, this is now.

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Politics

First place at stake for Jaguars vs. Colts

Published

1 hour ago

December 5, 2025

May Greene

How big is Sunday’s game for the Jaguars?

According to The Athletic, the Jaguars have an 83% chance of making the playoffs entering the weekend. That’s a pretty good bet. At 8-4, the Jaguars are currently in the third spot in the AFC.

However, Jacksonville stands a 42% chance of winning the division, slightly better than Sunday’s opponent, the Indianapolis Colts (8-4), who sit at 34% to win the AFC South.

With both games against the Colts still on the schedule and matchups with the struggling New York Jets, a trip to Denver to face the surging Broncos, and the season finale at home against the Tennessee Titans, the Jaguars need only to win the games they should win to make the playoffs.

Leaving the Colts games aside for the moment, if the Jaguars simply beat the Jets and Titans, they would have 10 wins. That is almost certainly enough to earn a postseason spot.

So, in a way, Sunday’s game against the Colts isn’t make-or-break. However, if the Jaguars want to win the division and host a playoff game, at least one win over the Colts is essential. Should the Jaguars win Sunday, they would hold a 1-game advantage over the Colts and, for the time being, hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over Indianapolis.

By one metric, the Jaguars can increase their playoff odds to 95% with a victory on Sunday. Even with a loss, they are a good bet to make the playoffs as a wild-card team. But the chance to start the postseason with a home game is a powerful advantage, one that division winners enjoy.

Health will be a major factor in Sunday’s game. The Jaguars hope to have wide receiver/kick returner Parker Washington and defensive end Travon Walker back in the lineup. Both missed some or all of last week’s game but practiced in a limited basis this week. Starting left tackle Walker Little and safety Andrew Wingard remained in the concussion protocol this week. Starting right guard Patrik Mekari returned from concussion protocol on Wednesday.

The Colts are also dealing with injuries. Cornerback Sauce Gardner did not practice this week, while quarterback Daniel Jones continues to play with a fracture in his leg.

The key matchup could be strength vs. strength. Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor leads the NFL in rushing with 1,282 yards, while the Jaguars are the league’s top rush defense, allowing opponents only 82.4 yards per contest. No running back has run for more than 90 yards against the Jaguars this season, and only one, Houston’s Woody Marks, has rushed for more than 70 yards in a game. Taylor averages nearly 107 yards per game this season.

The Jaguars last made the playoffs in 2022 in Doug Pederson’s first season as head coach. Liam Coen is trying to replicate the feat.

Interestingly, the game is one of three in the NFL this weekend with first place on the line.

The Baltimore Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday. Both teams are 6-6, and the winner will lead the AFC North. The Chicago Bears (9-3) also travel to Green Bay to face the Packers (8-3-1), with the winner taking the top spot in the NFC North.

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