In the work I do, almost everyone knows who Tim Ferriss is. However, when I go talk to my friends from college, almost none of them know who he is. In the work my wife does, everyone knows who Nathan Fowkes is. However, when I talk to anyone who doesn’t […]
Month: January 2021
Meow, Meow, Meow
If you were to ask someone what sound a cat would make, chances are they’d respond with something that sounds similar to “meow.” One might argue that it’s because the way that cats vocalize is an observable phenomena that we can interpret slightly differently, but generally can come to a […]
The Status Quo Vs. Change
When faced with a problem, we have a choice. The choice between taking action to change your situation or staying mired in the status quo. Rarely do we choose action. Action is active, requires more labor, and requires you to actually commit to something. You have to speak up, enroll […]
My Dog Oskar
A quick story about a boy and his dog. When I was younger, my family adopted a dog who had been abandoned in the Northern California floods in the late 90’s. Oskar loved people, but whenever he’d see my grandmother (who lived with us) he’d back into a defensive position […]
What does value look like?
What is more valuable: The actual work, or making sure the work gets done? Creating the experience for the customer so they tell their friends, or creating slick ads for social media? Engineering the product, or raising the capital to hire the engineer? We can choose to pay people based […]
Autonomy and Responsibility
Often, we clamor about how we want more autonomy, freedom, and the ability to make our own calls. When we get it, often we’re suddenly hit with the responsibility that comes with that autonomy. The two are intertwined. They come together, and with freedom comes the responsibility of owning both […]
False Equivalents
False equivalents are really tricky, as often they take the form of things that might appear similar, but end up not being the same thing at all. In North America, coral snakes and scarlet king snakes both have red, yellow, and black bands, yet one is highly venomous and the […]
Empathy vs. Sympathy
To have empathy for someone is really being able to really see this other person and understand why they might have acted or said what they did. While it might not be logical to you given your background, it might actually be logical considering this other person’s specific background. It’s […]
Anticipation vs Preparation
Anticipation is awaiting a certain outcome. It’s waiting for the end of a sentence or wringing your hands for the next episode of your favorite show to drop. There is no action required to anticipate something, beyond thinking about it. Preparation is taking action to create contingency plans. It’s creating […]
Heroes
There are plenty of heroes who have made huge impacts in the world. Martin Luther King Jr. Malala Yousafzai. Marie Curie. The Wright Brothers. William Shakespeare. We often look to heroes like these for inspiration. To guide us as a role model of how we should live. To bring us […]