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 […]
Author: Rick
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 […]
The Ugly Measurement Mirror
A huge indication that something is wrong is when someone doesn’t want to measure something. Why? Because measuring things shines a light on objective reality, and looking at that objective reality can be painful if it’s not what you want to see. Whether it’s a waste treatment plant not wanting […]
Other Options
It’s tempting to do something the same way you’ve always done it, especially if it seems to get results. You don’t know what you don’t know, and if you’ve never seen any other way, it can be scary to try something new. That said, there’s a difference in trying something […]
Sandbagging
Sandbagging is when you lower your performance at an evaluation so that you can compete with those less skilled than you. It’s a cowardly practice that one engages in when winning becomes more important than trying one’s best. It’s believing that the end goal is more important than the process […]
Metamorphosis
The metaphor of a caterpillar transforming into a beautiful butterfly is great for selling the feel-good story of becoming one’s true, beautiful self. I have some issues with this, however. The first is that it assumes that caterpillars are flawed, and following the metaphor that means the way you currently […]
Coins Have Two Sides
Often we consider our hopes and dreams thinking about the positive side of the coin. We dream of being famous and think about the love and adoration we’d get from fans. We fantasize about being wealthy and the luxurious homes we might buy and the ability to quit our jobs. […]
Are You A Leader?
I’m not talking about the title you hold, or how many followers you have on social media. It takes almost nothing to make a company and add CEO to your business cards or to buy thousands of followers. I’m also not asking if you have fifty years of experience in […]