Mississippi-native William Faulkner won the 1949 Nobel Prize in Literature for "his powerful and unique contribution to the modern American novel." He published four notable novels from 1929 to 1936 and was a prolific short story writer, but had little to show for it financially.

So, in the early-1930s, Faulkner went out west to Hollywood to earn money as a screenwriter. From the 1930s to the 1950s, he found reliable work writing screenplays. He was employed by at least three major studios over the years—MGM, Twentieth Century Fox, and Warner Bros.

Faulkner bonded with superstar director Howard Hawks over hunting and fishing trips (and drinking). William Hawks, Howard's brother, became Faulkner's agent.

Yet Faulkner was known as a bit of a "vagrant" in Hollywood. For years, he hopped around town and lived in various hotels around the L.A.-area.

When producer Jerry Wald hired him at Warner Bros., Faulkner was brought to the Burbank studios and introduced to studio head Jack Warner.

"I gave him a sumptuous office with two attractive secretaries," said Warner. "And I said: 'No one's going to bother you here, Mr. Faulkner. Your time will be your own.'"

"Thank you, Mr. Warner, but if it is all the same to you, I'd rather work at home."

"Now, we don't expect you to punch any clocks, Mr. Faulkner," said Warner. "You can come and go as you please."

"I would prefer not to work in an office," said Faulkner.

A few weeks later, an urgent issue came up with a script, so Warner had his assistant Bill Schaefer put in a call to Faulkner.

"You know he works at home," Schaefer told Warner.

"Of course," said Warner. "Call him at home." Schaefer followed instructions.

"This is long distance," said the operator. "We're ready on your call to Mr. Faulkner."

"Long distance?" Warner (almost) yelled.

"Yes, sir," said the operator. "He's in Oxford, Mississippi."

"Mr. Faulkner," said Warner. "How could you do this to me? How could you leave town without letting me know? You said you'd be working at home."

"This is my home," Faulkner told Warner. "I live in Mississippi."

Home is important.

We help entrepreneurs develop so that they can make choices like Faulkner did.

Now that (the first round of) coronamania is over, "The Man," wants a good lot of us who prefer to work from home to return to the office, "at least part time."

We help you stay independent of those (and perhaps other) mandates.

As always,

Brian

P.S. – Wherever you live, after this election wraps up, your enemies will tell you to "leave if you don't like it here."

Don't do that. Make them leave. Protect your home and family.

If you have a better opportunity elsewhere, by all means take it, but don't give up your heritage because your enemy doesn't like you.

Roughly one of every two people is now your enemy. Understand that it is personal.

It is also political, no matter what you think or they say. It is political.

But it is not about elections. They make it about elections.

Stand your ground. They will want you to abandon your home and your family. Don't do it.

The late Joe Sobran wrote, "Life always seems hopelessly complex to people who have no principles."

No legitimate moral principle allows for one to cast a vote for Harris-Walz.

Brace yourself when you wake up tomorrow, for life is getting hopelessly complex for half the country, and they'll try to take it out on you.