Do you ever feel pulled in a gazillion directions? I’m having one of those months. All kinds of problems and events are pulling me away from my regular work. As a result, I don’t feel as if I’m creative or productive—or effective. At all. I looked at where I’m spending my time: With family members […]
Can You Use the Principle of Least Regret to Choose Where to Spend Your Time? Read More »
CAL Newsletter: Which Kind of Power Do You Need to Avoid Triangulation? A Beloved Family Member (BFM) refuses all kinds of social media. Just refuses. However, BFM has friends on several sites. These Friends know I am related to BFM and message me to get to BFM. That’s triangulation. The first time this occurred, I
Which Kind of Power Do You Need to Avoid Triangulation? Read More »
You made a decision yesterday, last week, even a month ago, and you’re happy about it. Now, you uncover more data. That data threatens your decision. What should you do? Stick with the original decision? Change that decision? Can you even rethink that decision? Sometimes, we use the sunk cost fallacy to stick with old
When Can You Rethink A Decision? Read More »
Many of my colleagues and clients continue to focus on the short-term right now. They need to make money to keep their businesses afloat. I understand and empathize. And, they need to manage their family’s various pulls on their time. Some of my colleagues have moved to one parent in charge of home and schooling.
How Do You Balance the Short Term and the Long Term? Read More »
I’ve noticed something about this pandemic. The data we get doesn’t help me make good decisions. My reaction when I view the data? Dismay, sadness, and some horror around the total number of deaths. However, without sufficient trend data, we can’t make good decisions. (I happen to like the US COVID-19 Tracker to see a
How Can We Build Our Critical Thinking Skills? Read More »
Here, in the US, we’re trying to open schools at all levels, play professional sports, and open as much of the economy as possible. We want it all. Now. And, we’re having problems. Some elementary, middle-grade, and high schools have closed because they have too many virus cases. Several universities only opened for a week
What Principles Do You Use for Value Decisions? Read More »
As I write this in August 2020, the schools are planning how to open in the fall. And, the various college sports are trying to decide how or if they will play. How do we decide to persevere or to change? Schools fulfill many vital roles in a child’s life. The younger the child, the
When Do We Decide to Persevere or Change? Read More »
Right now, in July 2020, we have several problems: COVID-19 the disease, the effect of the virus on our economy, and a reckoning of our culture. Each problem shares a common characteristic. We can’t see the finish line. We might know what we want, and we can’t see how to get there. This is related,
How Do We Operate When We Can’t See the Finish Line? Read More »
We operate at various levels in our families, work, and society. We have shortcut names for these behaviors: the economic contract and the social contract. When we use the economic contract, we have a document that lays out our responsibilities and rewards. For example, at work, we have a contract for our job that discusses
When Do We Choose the Social Contract & When Do We Choose the Economic Contract? Read More »
We all practice being ready for our plans. For shopping, I make a list and decide in advance how I’ll pay. For travel, I plan when to make all the reservations and how I’ll get from one place to another. When I leave the house, I make sure to gather everything I need, especially now
What Do You Need to be Ready? Read More »