“Whether you think you can, or thing you can’t – you’re probably right.” The words of Henry Ford, who, according to an article I read today, “has a lot to answer for when it comes to the climate-centred woes of our world”. Had Ford not set his manufacturing ideals among us, though, I’m certain another would’ve done. Given a demand that can lead to a … Continue reading If you think he’s to blame – you’re probably wrong
Every day I make a note on what I’m excited by and what’s currently a frustration. Having a poor memory, I find this really helpful as I occasionally look back. It prompts action. To do more of some things and less of others. There’s a pause for thought if the same frustration is coming up time and again – what am I doing to tackle … Continue reading Noting frustrations
When you’re waiting on the boss and what you’re hoping for isn’t materialising, it’s easy to be disheartened and feel knocked back. It might be just a nudge that’s needed for them, though. It’s not that it’s not going anywhere or your ask is unimportant. It’s merely that there are lots of things to move forward and many of them are important. Don’t get bitter, … Continue reading Not going anywhere
Over the course of my career to date, I’ve come across more technical details than I could hope to remember. When I happen on something unfamiliar, I try to look into it enough to be sure there’s not a complication I need to grasp. I’m not looking to get it totally, merely to absorb the key concepts involved. Thinking this way – in principles and … Continue reading Detail is good, principles are better
There are always going to be problems. Long term satisfaction isn’t found in the absence of problems. It’s in tackling the problems you care about solving. Continue reading Problems, everywhere
When the thing you want to stress doesn’t accord with what your audience wants to hear, take a moment to think about what that means. Perhaps you need to improve your delivery. Perhaps you need to better understand the audience’s needs. Or, perhaps, you’re just not aligned with the audience. Is the discord a signal that you’re not on the right path, for the long … Continue reading Picking your audience
As open plan offices go, the one I visited today was nice. Substantially nicer than the long corridor with desks I worked in, many moons ago. Without a community and a vibe there, though, it held none of the attraction of that earlier office. To survive, high street retail needs to do more than merely present what’s available online. Similarly, physical offices need to offer … Continue reading What’s to be in the office
While reading earlier I was struck by “the instrumental value of democracy is conditional on the electorate’s commitment to the pursuit of truth”. It had me reflecting on how much we’re prone to favouring what we want to hear. If we do seek truth, it’s often subjective and based on anecdotes. Not objective, and buttressed with evidence. Daniel Kahneman’s cognitive bias work showed how readily … Continue reading The pursuit of truth
Most days I find it tough to know what to write about. Every day now, though, I find myself paying more attention to things, looking for insight that I might write about. That’s of benefit, whether it inspires a post or not. I’m a good bit more mindful, without having set out to be. Continue reading Observing and writing
There’s a shallow kind, based on seeing attributes and hearing words that lend us to believe in someone. Folks can learn the words and attributes, then exploit this. Sales folks make a point of doing so. There’s another kind based on shared experiences and aligned values. This takes longer to form, though it builds a deeper commitment and is hard to short-cut. Remarkable politicians do … Continue reading Trust, for the long haul
