If I've been on hold for 30 minutes, listening to an automated message telling me: My call is important to youAn apology for the wait It's a classic case of "I cannot hear what you are saying because what you are doing is talking too loud". If I'm on hold that long, you're telling me … Continue reading PSA: Your Call Is Important to Us
Category: lessons
Insiders & Outsiders
"There are two kinds of political actors in this world: insiders and outsiders.Outsiders are free to speak their truth, Summers explains. But the price of such freedom is irrelevance in the halls of power. Insiders, by contrast, have a seat at the table where history is made. But to keep those seats, they must take … Continue reading Insiders & Outsiders
Zuihitsu: 2022-01
Technically, zuihitsu are longer reflections than what I tend to collect. But, the general idea is right. Here's this month's installment. If you want the complete set, please download the fortune file. 1. You need to play it poorly before you get anywhere good.2. Higher variance in key.3. Caring more is the first step to … Continue reading Zuihitsu: 2022-01
If You Don’t Plan Your Time, Someone Else Will
"The most effective way to make time for traction is through timeboxing, an actionable application of a well-researched technique psychologists call, “setting an implementation intention.” In other words, you make a commitment to do something you intend to do, not just in theory, but at a certain time. It’s a technique that can be used … Continue reading If You Don’t Plan Your Time, Someone Else Will
Never Complete, Never Left
"Rabbi Tarfon used to say: The day is short, the work is great, the workers are lazy, the reward is great, and the master is insistent. He also used to say: You are not called to complete the work, nor are you free to leave it."--quote by David R. MacIver, "Other people's needs." notebook.drmaciver.com. January … Continue reading Never Complete, Never Left
John Donahue on Food & Drink for the Soul
"One way, and I think this is a really lovely way, and I think it’s an interesting question to ask oneself too, and the question is, when is the last time that you had a great conversation, a conversation which wasn’t just two intersecting monologues, which is what passes for conversation a lot in this … Continue reading John Donahue on Food & Drink for the Soul
Let the Wild Rumpus Begin
"This time last year it looked like we might have a standard bubble with resulting standard pain for the economy. But during the year, the bubble advanced to the category of superbubble, one of only three in modern times in U.S. equities, and the potential pain has increased accordingly. Even more dangerously for all of … Continue reading Let the Wild Rumpus Begin
The Barstool Rule
"Folks, I’m a non participant in all forms of social media other than maintaining a mostly inactive LinkedIn account. Therefore, I’m unfamiliar with the condition of discourse out on the inter-webs. As an individual who’s spent a lot of time in bars and at card tables throughout North America, on those rare occasions that I … Continue reading The Barstool Rule
Looking & Acting Bad
"“Do you want material that looks bad before it acts bad, like shingles or clapboard, or one that acts bad long before it looks bad, like vinyl siding? A whole philosophy of maintenance falls one way or the other with the answer.”-Stewart Brand, "How Buildings Learn." True of maintenance, true of life. In 1997, the … Continue reading Looking & Acting Bad
The Fable of the Dragon-Tyrant
"Once upon a time, the planet was tyrannized by a giant dragon. The dragon stood taller than the largest cathedral, and it was covered with thick black scales. Its red eyes glowed with hate, and from its terrible jaws flowed an incessant stream of evil-smelling yellowish-green slime. It demanded from humankind a blood-curdling tribute: to … Continue reading The Fable of the Dragon-Tyrant
PSA: Tics, lol
There has been plenty of discussion of verbal tics: such as standpoint modifiers, fillers, endpoint modifiers, softeners, up talk, fast talk and vocal fry. The funny thing about that kind of discussion is that it normally assumes the speaker is not aware of what they are doing and/or it reflects the speaker's internal emotional state. … Continue reading PSA: Tics, lol
Tim Urban’s 21 Thoughts From 2021 For 2022
https://twitter.com/waitbutwhy/status/1476962460049584136?s=20 A string a tweets from Tim Urban, the writer at What But Why? I particularly liked this one on whether you or your idea is the boss. https://twitter.com/waitbutwhy/status/1476962471063785474?s=20
Vitalik Buterin on Rebellion as an Organizing Principle
Zuihitsu: 2021-12
Technically, zuihitsu are longer reflections than what I tend to collect. But, the general idea is right. Here's this month's installment. If you want the complete set, please download the fortune file. Patience is also a form of action.–Auguste RodinDo I need to insert myself into this conversation?The grass is always greener on the side … Continue reading Zuihitsu: 2021-12
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