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 »
I’m holding two opposing views of my work. I see and speak with people all over the world, every week. And, I only see the people in my house in person. I feel as if my world is getting smaller. I have a long list of things I’m not doing: Traveling to clients and working
Can You Hold Two Opposing Views in Your Head at the Same Time? Read More »
I’ve been thinking about perfection these days. As a society, we seem to want it all. We want everything open. We don’t discriminate between schools and airplanes. And, several people have written to me, saying they want to be perfect in some or many areas of their lives. I wish I was perfect. Not only
How Much Imperfection Can We Live With? Read More »
As I write this, the US is in the midst of the race for the 2020 election. Yes, we call it the time leading up to the election a race. Interesting choice of words, isn’t it? Here’s what surprises me. Each of the major parties (and their candidates) sees and explains recent history differently. I
Does Your Truth Depend on Meaning? Read More »
I listened to Marcus Blankenship’s podcast Finding Career Opportunities Through Experimentation with Josh Doody. During the podcast, Marcus said something like this (I’m paraphrasing): “I wonder which was the problem: the decision or the outcome?” I thought that was a wonderful frame for how we might think about decisions. I don’t always differentiate between the
What’s the Problem: the Decision or the Outcome? 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 »
I’m gathering my data from this past year to prepare for my strategy for next year. I gather quantitative data about books, workshops, talks, and more. I assess my feelings as I finished my various work—the qualitative data. And, I note what I didn’t do. I gather this data every quarter. I actually note what
How Often Do You Reflect? Read More »
I’ve been following the issues and the punishments in the college admissions scandal. If you’re not based in the US, you might have missed this. The idea is that wealthy parents bribed and cheated their children’s way into elite schools. I’m not going to discuss the scandal itself. This post is about understanding the culture
What Do We Choose to Reward and Punish? Read More »
Early in my career, IBM dominated the computer landscape. They had the big mainframes. There were some alternatives, such as Xerox. I used a Xerox Sigma 6 in school. (I didn’t use punch cards until I started to work!) Later, they missed the minicomputer phase. There were two big competitors, Digital Equipment Corp (DEC) and
When Do You Choose the Safe Path? Read More »
I had a difficult time seeing a site on my iPad. I grumbled about it to Mark. I said, “They must have changed the font.” He replied, “Is your screen dirty?” I took his advice and cleaned both my glasses and my iPad. It was better, but I still had trouble seeing the site. They
What’s the Solvable Problem? Read More »