It’s nice to have something already written that shares my learning. The notes below are frequently given out to others following an interesting conversation.
A moment for tea
A moment for tea
One of those small pieces of advice I picked up years ago was “pause and savour the first sip of tea or coffee.”
Every time I remember to do so it’s a moment of quiet in the day.
It would do me good to find more of those moments.
Expanding my comfort zone
Expanding my comfort zone
I have never liked the phrase “Step outside your Comfort zone”. Why do that uncomfortable or scary thing? An implication of stepping outside is that I can’t step back inside when I may need to. I have had to commit to something I don’t yet understand.
I prefer to engage in being a learner and take the steps necessary to “expand my comfort zone”. Once expanded it is less likely to shrink in the future. And I can choose the direction to expand it in.
Interrupting the flow of work has a tax
Interrupting the flow of work has a tax
Nobody likes interruptions (unless they are good news) but regardless, each interruption that occurs takes not only the time of the interruption itself but a little longer as you strive to get back to where you were beforehand. It’s called the Interruption tax.
If you are in a flow state, this can take a long time and there is a risk you may not regain your previous level of thinking.
Reducing the cost of interruption tax
There are a few steps you can take to reduce the cost of an interruption tax.
- Limit the change of being interrupted. This can be anything from finding somewhere quite to work, to closing the door, to putting your phone on Do Not Disturb or making effective requests of those around you to keep away for a time.
- The previous step is even better if you can find a time where interruptions are less likely. This could be why many of us have been more productive working from home than in an office.
- Develop the habit of pausing for a moment when the interruption first occurs to take a quick note on whatever it was you were thinking of so that you can pick it up later. Then when you return to your task, refresh your memory.
- Ask briefly for a moment to complete what you are doing. Most will accomodate and it has the added benefit of improving your listening to the concerns of others because they have your full attention.
My Mission Statement
My Mission Statement
The behaviour and decisions in my life are made in accordance with this mission statement; the essence of which is grounded in the principles of truth, beauty, goodness and unity.
- I help people take powerful action to enrich their lives.
- I am responsible for my feelings, attitude and actions at all times.
- I treat all others with respect, dignity, love and integrity; as I expect to be treated myself.
- I draw on an internal well of fortitude to give strength to myself and others in time of need.
- I inspire and lead through example.
- I leave each day a better person than I entered it. As a scholar of life I continually learn and improve myself. Where I lack wisdom or knowledge I seek it out.
- My family and friendships enrich my life. I do all that I may to enrich theirs.
- I lead a virtuous life.
RSS remains an important technology
RSS remains an important technology
I’ve written several times over the past 20 years that RSS feeds are important yet can be a hinderance as much as a help.
RSS Gathers News and Audio to Me
I use them extensively in my news reader (currently News Explorer) to go out to websites that offer a RSS feed and pull the news to me. I don’t have the time to visit every site and see if there is something new to read.
RSS dropped in popularity with the demise of Google Reader, yet it remains fundamental to the operation of the web. Almost every single podcast is delivered by a RSS feed.
Full Text over Excerpts
If a site offers only excerpts rather than a full text feed, it is less useful to me.
It’s breakfast time and you’ve just sat down with a bowl of cereal, a hot coffee and the newspaper. Upon opening the paper you see a list of headlines and short paragraphs. Two stories grab your eye but to read them in full you have to go back to the news agency and pick up the full copy.
Unless the publishing platform being used prevents a full text feed, the only reason I can think someone would use excepts is to drive traffic to a site to increase hits to increase advertising revenue. In this way, RSS feeds that are except only are similar to online newspapers with a paywall.
If a site can’t provide full text1 then it is on the author to provide hand-written excepts rather than relying on the automatically generated text from the first paragraph.
My Parting Wish
Maybe I’m naive and believe good writing, shared in full, will bring people to my site to read more. If I’m wrong, then that’s ok with me as I write to prompt thinking in others first and foremost.
Footnotes
It's hard to play a different game when others stick to the old rules
It's hard to play a different game when others stick to the old rules
Effecting change, particularly when at the deep personal level required for Humanity in the workplace is bloody hard.
It’s like I’m learning to play a new game but those around me keep holding me back by playing to the old rules.
This has serious implications at the scale of society.
Nothing in a performance review should be a surprise
Nothing in a performance review should be a surprise
Some of the best advice I ever received.
Trial software in anger
Trial software in anger
These days it is possible to trial most computer software before you buy it. But what does ‘trial’ actually mean.
For me, trial once meant install, play around a bit and then forget. Now trial means use in anger. I’ve found in order to really try software I must put myself in a position of reliance. That is, rely on the software as if I had bought it and used it every day. By doing so I really begin to understand the capability of the software and my need for it (or not). Then I can make an accurate assessment about purchase or not.
More often than not, ‘trial’ translates to ‘buy’ as the value of the software becomes evident.
Some software comes with extras, add-ins and so forth than increase it’s power. When first trying software don’t include them even if they are free. The number of features available swamps any useful assessment. Add them only when you are familiar with and have a proven need for the base product. In other words, Don’t buy the expansion pack until you are ready for it.
Reading the manual also serves as a good generator of ideas on what the software can do for you.
Enlightened and desperate
The enlightened or the desperate
I’ve often said that the people who call on my services the most are the enlightened or the desperate. Can you guess which group is easier to work with?