A Full Measure of Kindness
George Saunders is an American writer and winner of the Man Booker Prize for Fiction for his novel Lincoln in the Bardo. His commencement speech to the 2013 graduates at Syracuse University is an ode to kindness. It’s one of the finest pieces of elocution I’ve come across in many years. The weight of this marvelous […]
The Gift of Persistence
I have to admit it. I’m a fan of the “Persistence Hunting Hypothesis.” The idea is that humans evolved as endurance runners. As the recent Olympic games have amply demonstrated, some of us are capable of incredible speed. But even the fastest will be shown the backside of any number of critters in a sprint, […]
Certain About One Thing
Werner Heisenberg was a giant of 20th-century physics. If you were collecting physicist trading cards, you’d want one of his. If you took high school physics, you probably remember hearing about “Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle.” If not, here’s the simple version . . . You can measure where a particle is or where it’s going, but […]
Lost in Space. Or Not.
Like most people, I’m not following what is or isn’t going on at the International Space Station. I might be able to pick Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams out of a photo montage, but only if they were posing in flight suits and floating weightless. If none of this is ringing a bell, you are […]
Remember the Time When . . . ?
Yesterday, four of us went to a local car show. It’s a delightful tradition in our community and very down-to-earth. There are a few high-end wondercars, but mostly, it’s just fun stuff community members own. An MG TD parked next to a BMW 2002 on one side and a lifted Willys Jeep on the other. […]
Just Like You
Sometimes, the roles we inhabit can box us in or weigh us down. If I’m with my children and slip into “dad” mode and they into “child” mode, our interactions too easily head down well-traveled paths. If I meet you for the first time across a checkout counter, my “customer is always right” meets your […]
Yes, You Can Be Like LeBron (clickbait headline, but bear with me)
A top athlete, like LeBron James, “trains” six to eight hours a day during the season (not including games) and four to six hours in the ten minutes that comprise his off-season. A lot goes into “training,” including skills, practice, strength and conditioning, flexibility and mobility, recovery and treatment, film study and mental preparation, nutrition, […]
Build Better Than Code
Talking with a colleague this morning about “code.” Not that kind. Building codes. They’re there for a reason. They level the playing field (everyone must meet a standard). They increase owner and buyer confidence (the building is safe, efficient, and durable). They make it possible for lenders to underwrite. Building codes also stifle innovation. You […]
We All Want Control
“Control” and “connection” are paired but opposed ideas. A sales conversation that feels like a battle for control versus one that feels like a connection will yield very different outcomes. This motivation for control is deeply rooted in a desire for predictability, certainty, autonomy, independence, influence, and power. Most of us fear chaos, many fear […]
What Would Happen if You Went “All In?”
The Paris Olympics has been a joy, a wonder, an occasional head-scratcher, and a living answer to the question, “What would happen if you went all in?” And the answer? Medals World Records Olympic Records Personal Bests Instagram Follows And also . . . Injuries Crushing disappointments DNF Finished last And also . . . […]