ub

Choosing a name for a website is often a deeply personal and meaningful process. For me, the origin of “UB Universal” goes back to my childhood and my strong sense of family. You see, I come from a family where there is a significant age gap between me and my older siblings—my brother and sister are both 13 to 15 years older than I am. Because of that, I became an uncle at a very young age. At the time, I didn’t fully understand the magnitude of being an uncle so early in life, but I was incredibly proud of the title. It made me feel older, more important, and connected to my family in a special way.

Interestingly, my oldest niece and nephew are only about 1 to 3 years younger than me. Despite our close age range, I insisted that they recognize my status as their uncle. I even took this insistence to amusing extremes when we were kids. I have vivid memories of playfully tying them to a tree in our yard and squirting them with water if they refused to call me “Uncle Bill.” It became a sort of game, but for me, it was all about establishing that identity as their “Uncle.” They’d laugh, squirm, and—eventually—give in, and those moments cemented the title in our family dynamics.

As the years passed, “Uncle Bill” evolved into a more casual nickname. The moniker “UB” came naturally, perhaps as a nod to the long-standing family tradition and the playful memories we shared. By the time I became an adult, the nickname had stuck. Now, when I visit friends and family in Sonoma County, no one refers to me as Bill anymore—everyone calls me UB or Uncle Bill. It’s a name that carries with it a deep sense of history, humor, and affection.

Today, I’m incredibly proud to have reached another milestone: I’m now a great-great-great uncle. My family has grown, and with it, the legacy of “UB” continues to spread. It’s more than just a name; it’s a symbol of the strong familial bonds and the joy of watching our family tree grow and evolve over the years.

When I decided to name my website, I knew it had to reflect something deeply personal, something that resonated with who I am and the values I cherish. “UB Universal” was a natural fit. The “UB” honors my long-standing nickname, a symbol of family, legacy, and the joy of being an uncle. The word “Universal” represents the broader vision I have for the site—a place where stories, experiences, and connections can be shared with a wide audience. In a way, the site is an extension of the inclusivity and community that I’ve always felt within my own family.

So, “UB Universal” is not just a name—it’s a tribute to my family, my childhood memories, and the unique role that I’ve played as “Uncle Bill” throughout the years. And as the family continues to grow, so too does the meaning behind the name, carrying with it the love and laughter that have always been at its heart.

Not long ago I was with a trusted business partner and friend for dinner. During the course of the evening we were sharing thoughts on business strategy, effort, and dedication. I shared with him the idea I call the Three D’s–Desire, Dedication, and Discipline. He shared with me his favorite quote “Success is never final. Failure is never fatal”.

I immediately fell in love with that quote. As I began to think about using it in my writing I thought I had better find out the original source for that quote. As it turns out it is most commonly attributed to either Winston Churchill or John Wooden. Further reading bore out the fact that many have used it in some form or another adding to it other parts and pieces.

It is easy to bask in the glow of Success, and far too easy to forget that Success is never final. Often basking in our current success leads to becoming complacent, which can cause us to get lazy when it comes to our daily efforts to constantly improve. In fact, that complacent attitude can lead to failure. It is important to always remember that our current, or past successes, are only temporary unless we build constantly on those successes.

In as much as it is important to remember that Success is never final, it is equally important to remember that Failure is Never Fatal. Babe Ruth hit 714 home runs, but he struck out 1330 times. The lesson here is that failing is never the end result if we are willing to learn from our failures and put the effort in to achieve success. It is just as easy to lose ourselves in our failure as it is to lose ourselves in our success. The next time you fail, take the time to evaluate what went wrong, get up, brush yourself off, learn the lesson from the immediate failure and turn your thoughts and attitude to success.