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What My iPad Teaches Me About Me–What it Can Teach You About You (and Me)—and Vice Versa

This article includes a couple hints about iPad/iOS usage—but more so, it offers a hint or two about our own consciousness and awareness—of ourselves and of others.

I use both my iPhone and iPad a lot, and I think I'm rather proficient. However, one morning I learned a couple new tricks. When I share them with you, you might say to yourself, "Duh, I knew that". Likewise, there are probably a few new things you'll learn about the use of your iPad (or iPhone, Android, power drill, milk truck, whatever) and you'll say to yourself, "Wow! That's really cool—look what I discovered". But upon sharing your new brilliant discovery with someone else, they may say (or think) "Duh, I knew that".

What's the point?

1 - Sometimes We Can't See What's Right in Front of our Face. i.e., the good old forest-for-the-trees effect. What to do about it? We shouldn't be afraid to tinker outside of our comfort zones. We might just be surprised how easy it is to discover or invent something new. It's healthy to find some quiet time to experiment, play and be "un-perfect".

2 - They Might See What You Can't See: Ever meet someone and say to yourself, "Gosh, that guy should be a teacher" or "She should be on stage (or whatever)—It's so obvious!". I don't think we should chart certain directions in life because someone else thinks we should. Heck, we live for only ~650,000 hours—if we're lucky—so each of us should do exactly what we want to do in life. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't listen to others. Quite often they can see what's obvious whilst we're blinded by our biases, filters and tapes. So when people see something in you—give it a listen—they just might be right.

3 - Competence: Clay Shirky in Cognitive Surplus points out that the feeling of competence is often best engaged when working right at the the edge of one's abilities. The experience of "I conquered this thing and I figured it out" feels better than it feels to hire someone to do something "perfectly" for you. I'm not saying we shouldn't delegate or outsource in certain situations—but I am saying that it's important to push ourselves to our edge. It just might feel better than we think.

Lastly: It wouldn't be very nice of me if I didn't share the iOS tricks I learned:

The iCal Page-Turn: For the year I've owned an iPad, I've liked iCal, yet loathed iCal page-turning. It's cool and cute to swipe the corner of the page and witness it turn to the next just like "real" paper. But I found the gesture to be somewhat unreliable (at least for me). Sometimes it takes me 2 or 3 tries until the page actually advances. But I just discovered: Simply touch the corner of the page for a moment or so—and let go. The page turns without fail. Duh!

The in-Box Call-Up:  When I'm viewing a single email in full-screen portrait mode, I find it a bit of a hassle to reach to the top/left to click the in-Box button each time I want to go back to my in-Box. Then, one day (by accident) I bumped/swiped the left side of the screen within the body of the displayed message. Voilà, my in-Box swoops-in instantly from the left. Duh!

Point 4:  Sometimes we should point when we think we should swipe—and sometimes we should swipe when we think we should point.

Craig Arthur James 2012

 

Human Nature is Pinteresting

I had my first experience with Pinterest today.

It was an oddly compelling experience, and it makes mees thinks about human nature. 

First: Whether out of necessity, or brilliance, Pinterest requires a Pinterest invitation-request in advance (at least at the time of this writing). After submitting a request - and waiting a day - I was invited.

• Human Nature Lesson (Reminder): We want what we can't have.

Interest: Pinterest asks about your areas of interest, such as architecture, food, etc. After clicking categories, Pinterest suddenly presents to you new (and existing) friends who are interested in similar things. Insto-presto I felt "validated".

• Human Nature Observation: We all want to be part of a tribe - and we all want to be accepted.

 

Imagery: There are many things that "move" human beings: The sound of music, a tender touch, or the taste of cinnamon. Then there are images. I'm reminded why the term "eye candy" exists. I found myself on an eye sugar-high.

   

I felt the reflection of humanity in an instant. Sure, in many cases, there were consumer products, pretty clothes and other images of "stuff". Not necessarily "humanity" one might say. Then again, we are what we put out there.

 

 

Then I realized that each image had a person attached to it. In essence, each of them was saying, "Hi, I'd like to share this with you". 

• Adage Confirmation: I heard it said, "Pinterest is Tumblr for people who can't write". Maybe. But I know this: A picture can indeed be worth a thousand words. I felt like I was able to get a "feel" for who people were in an instant - more than with any other social networking experience. 
• In one case, I think I even learned how to "see" in a certain way. I saw through the eyes of an architect. I didn't just see the designs this particular woman creates, but rather, I saw what she sees, and thus saw what inspires and informs her designs. 

I found myself instantly compelled to "pin" or "re-pin" images. I was kid again, "Mommy, Mommy... Look, look! There's a tree. Look, look. It's a bird!".

• Human Nature Observation #2: We're constantly hungry for discovery - and we're dying to share what we discover - with others.

It didn't take long for me to decide what categories interested me. Architecture, Tech, Science, Places and Design were a few that I clicked. In life, we tend agonize, "Who am I? - What am I about? - What am I meant to do?"  

• Likely Fact: Deep down, we probably know who we are. At least we "know" what interests us. We should listen to ourselves.

Wild fire: From nowhere, this image-bookmarking site goes from nobody to millions - in no time. In the U.S. alone, there were 18.7 million unique visitors in March, 2012. In spite of the millions, it still feels personal. The welcome letter remains in first-person: "I'm excited to invite you to join Pinterest, a social catalog. I can't wait to have you join our little community... - Ben & the Pinterest Team"

• Observation: Things happen fast in the 21st Century. You too can make things happen quickly - and with scale.

I was reminded of the power of the era in which we live. Have an interest, product or project to change the world? No problem, you can go from "zero to 60" in four seconds.

• Assertion: We can, in fact, change the world for the better, together - especially with the "cognitive surplus" we possess and the tools we now have at our fingertips. Clay Shirky's book "Cognitive Surplus - Creativity and Generosity in a Connected Age" points to brain research showing that we're naturally more prone to share, connect and support each other than we are to acquire, consume and take from each other. More than we might think.

 

Interested in the sources of the images contained within this blog post? 

Well then, join Pinterest, friend "CraigArtJames" (me) and see what my new friends have to share with you.

Craig Arthur James 2012

Consume, Conform or Create

Sue and I are in "create-mode" right now.  Writing, maturing certain concepts, and experimenting with technologies that we think can help change the world.

It's "so easy" these days to create and syndicate - through words, sounds, images and applications... and share those ideas and initiatives with the world.  Even better, it's now possible to work and collaborate with the world on doing something great.  Crowd-sourcing, Crowd-funding, Crowd-creating.

image by lorraine santana, creative commons 

150 years ago - Not so easy.  For example, it took 17 days for Lincoln's words to be transmitted across just few states (via Pony Express).  It was a miraculous feat, and no one thought it was possible.  Today: You-to-millions and millions-to-you... in an instant.

Yet, it's still difficult - i.e., to do the work - the work one is meant to do.  Our society bombards us with an array of inputs and action-items that constantly grab our attention.  Further, the Industrial Revolution set-up manufacturing and human systems that keep us on a treadmill of do-->produce-->consume--repeat.  We're not even conscious of it. 

Creative work (and create-ing) can at times feel like "cheating" or being selfish.  However, the interesting thing is that when we dive into the purposeful work we love, we're more likely to have a positive impact on others in the process.

So be selfish - give yourself permission - be powered.  Create something great.

craig arthur james 2012

Trashy Blog Post on Presidents' Day

Sorry if the title is misleading.

This post doesn't refer to some juicy scandal about a president - or even involve trashy talk about a president or presidential candidate (sorry ;-) No, I'm talking about actual trash.

You see, last night I didn't put the trash out because I didn't see the usual neighbor-trash on the curb.  I figured no collection in the morning due to the holiday.  That was that.

Then, as I left this morning - lo and behold - there was quite a bit of neighbor-trash out at the curb.  I thought to myself, "Oh, OK, there must be trash collection after all".

Hummm...

How do we form our opinions and make decisions?  Because of observations?  Assumptions?  Because someone else thinks or does something? 

Today, we can make our own informed decisions like never before.  We're armed with the information we need when we need it.  I could have jumped on the city's website to know the answer instead of guessing or making a decision based on what the neighbors did.

Alert!  Is this all I can think about on Presidents' Day?  Trash?!

I took some of my own medicine and jumped on a keyboard.  A few clicks reminded me about the origin of the holiday.  It dates back to the 1880s, when George Washington's birthday was first celebrated as a federal holiday.  "Washington's Birthday" was changed to "Presidents' Day" in 1971 - due, in part, to the proximity of Lincoln's birthday in February (Washington is February 22nd and Lincoln is February 12th) - not to mention the fact that retailers in the U.S. already named the holiday "Presidents' Day" for themselves anyway.

To think... I live in a country where I am fortunate enough to have my trash removed for me.

I also live in a country odd enough that the power of retail defines how we celebrate the legacy of our leaders.

Oh:  The answer to the trash removal?  I guess I'll find out when I get home.

craig arthur james 2012

 

Music in the Workplace... and Beyond

[This article is a post-airing update to the 2-14-12 "What's the Big Idea?" on Western Reserve PBS NEOtropolis]

On February 14, 2012 NEOtropolis covered "The Languages of Expression".  The "What's the Big Idea?" segment talked about the power of music in the workplace - and beyond.

Usually we think of music as pleasant or entertaining.  Well, it can be both of those things and much, much more.  Like the power of the smile, expression through music transcends language.  Science is telling us that music is essential to physical & cognitive health, and that it can be a useful tool in the workplace.

Below are the articles and resources mentioned during the segment. 

("Bonus" - If you watched the show, you witnessed that technology daemons within an electronic keyboard robbed host Luke Frazier and contributor Craig James from their chance to play a masterpiece live on the show.  At the bottom of this page is a rare opportunity to witness a "behind the scenes" green room prologue of the masterful (?) performance)

 

Music and Brain Health Links: 

The Surprising Effects of Music - Physical & Brain Health

Music Moves the Brain to Pay Attention from Stanford University 

 

Music Therapy:

A Northeast Ohio gem and a nationally renown Music Therapy department at:

The Cleveland Music School Settlement 

 

Music in The Workplace:

"Music at Work"

Inc. Magazine - 50 Songs to Listen to at Work

 

Luke, Craig & Music - Prologue:

As Luke says, "We will not be denied!"

  

What? The video (above) won't play for you?  Try This

View the entire Languages of Expression Episode & the Big Idea Segment @ minute 11:28

The above are not necessarily the views of NEOtropolis or Western Reserve PBS.  Rather, the above post has been produced by and are the views of this author, related to topics he may discuss as a contributor on NEOtropolis.  Further, the fabulous prologue video is not a production of Western Reserve PBS, but rather an impromptu video capture via iPhone courtesy Sea James. 

How to Catch Great Ideas

Picture a meeting at your company/institution/school.  Meetings are for getting things done:  Solve a problem - Create something new - Make a decision.  But often, meetings turn into arguments, power-plays, endless debate or inauthentic "discussion" for the purpose of getting the meeting "over with".

If the ideas served in meetings were beach balls, it may seem as though people are trying to shoot the ball with a gun... whack it down so nobody can play... or grab it and run home so the ball is just for them.

Recently, however, I've been reminded it doesn't have to be that way.

Curating ideas and developing solutions (in meetings or otherwise) isn't about ball-combat, but rather, it's about playing a game of catch. 

You have to let go of the ball (idea) in order to throw it.  You have to concentrate on the ball (idea) in order to catch it.  Each toss to and fro is about:

• Knowing where you are
• Knowing where your playing partners are
• Understanding their position
• Throwing the ball back with the genuine intention of a reciprocal catch

It takes being open, fluid, mobile and participative.  And yes, as trite as it might sound, it also takes chilling-out and having a little fun for cry'n out loud.

I continue to play serendipitous "intell-i-catch" with Ralph Solonitz.  We haven't planned a thing.  We don't even talk except for an occasional email.  He thinks with images and art.  I think with words.  It's been a blast, and I owe it to him for starting the game.

This week I tossed out a ball regarding social media and etiquette.  Ralph once again caught the ball and tossed it back.  Heck, I didn't even realize that I wasn't talking about social media and etiquette.

illustration:  ralph solonitz 12-29-11

intell-i-catch concept credit: sea james

...Now the ball's in my court.  Or is it?

craig arthur james 2011

How to Spell Etiquette in Social Media

Do you have a few words you constantly have a hard time spelling? 

I do.  One of mine is "etiquette".  Some sort of mental block.

Spelling it is one thing, but having it, especially in Social Media - is another.  With plentiful on-line tools and global conversations, how does one know the proper etiquette when say, communicating with someone from Japan or Spain?  How does one properly edit a tweet to make it fit within 140 characters when re-tweeting?  How should/shouldn't one alter the original tweet?  Etiquette is indeed far more than using the right fork at dinner.  It's a variable code of social conduct that morphs over time, differs by culture, and can be tricky in Social Media.

But the basics don't have to be that difficult.

Recently, I had a meeting with a colleague named Don.  I haven't seen him for years.

He reminded me of some (perhaps not so "common") courtesies:

• A couple days before the meeting, Don confirmed via Facebook.  His mobile number was contained within the message, just in case I needed it the morning of the meeting.
  
• I arrived three minutes early for the meeting.  In other words, I was late.  He was already there - all ready to go.
• He selected the place and provided location details in advance.  It was a great little neighborhood restaurant.  $13.00 for breakfast for two. 
  
• He expertly weaved conversation with eating.  He respected his food.  Not a crumb was left on his plate.
  
• He paid the tab.  The server received a gracious 40% $5.00 gratuity (He wouldn't let me get that either).
• After the meeting, I promptly received another Facebook message.  It was Don thanking me for the meeting.  
• While outlining my follow-ups from the meeting, I realized I wasn't sure of Don's current email address.  No worries, he highlighted the address within his thank-you note before I had the chance to inquire.
  

Considerate.  Anticipatory.  Thoughtful.  Classy.

Nuances aside, the thing to remember is that etiquette is about deference - the other.  The good old tried-and-true "do unto others" once again comes into play.

So, as we endeavor to communicate and relate effectively on-line (yet may be tempted to, or accidentally send, overly-brief, self-centric, maybe-even confrontational messages)... perhaps we should take a few extra moments to think about how things feel on the other end.

So there - Take that!

;-)

craig arthur james 2011

 

How to Escalate a Constructive Conversation

This Blog entry is the continuation of a conversation originated in email. 

You're invited to join it. 

Net-net, it's a discussion about America, the World and the Future... Trivial stuff like that. 

Have we become complacent?  Have we lost our way?  What does the future hold?

SCENARIO:

1. Read the early portions of the book That Used To Be Us, by Thomas L. Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum
2. The opening tells a story of Escalat(ors) in the U.S. and Construct(tion) in China.  We've fallen behind.
3. Sent an email to certain folks explaining how the story hit me
4. Numerous responses ensued via email
5. Migrated the conversation to this Blog
6. Responses, to-date, will become blog-post-comments within, if/as commenter(s) approve
7. Please add comments and share your thoughts

Between meetings and reading email responses, I had a few interesting serendipitous experiences.  One of them is briefly described below.  After that, you'll find the original message that started this whole thing.  Below that, one finds articles by Umair Haque you might find interesting.

AN AMERICAN COFFEE SHOP - AN EXPERIENCE - CLEVELAND, OHIO:

After a couple days of productive and enjoyable meeting(s) with colleagues, I find myself alone (literally alone, as the only customer) in a pretty darn big and rather nice coffee shop, not far from downtown Cleveland, Ohio.  It was the peak-peak of the (traditional) work-week (10:00 AM, Wednesday morning). 

I'm not saying this represents every coffee shop in America - or even Cleveland.  But it made me pause - and think.

I ordered a green tea and asked the young gent behind the register for a receipt.  The register's printer wasn't functioning.  The young gent asked the manager what to do.  She instructed him to create a hand-written receipt.  He searched for, and found, a receipt-pad... but discovered there were no receipt forms remaining within.  He inquired with the manager, yet again.

...At this point, I said, "Don't worry about it".

I proceeded to settle in for some wireless.

The wireless was down. 

Our gent from the register said, "Oh, yeah, I was supposed to bring in my laptop today to figure that out - but I forgot".

Meanwhile, the manager shuffles back and forth a couple times to pop outside for a smoke in a little alcove in front of the coffee shop.  She gazes upon a boarded-up crumbling theater across the street.

Plumes of smoke ascended from her as if they originated from her pony-tail (an attempt at creative writing).  By this time, another customer walks in, a middle-age woman.  She sits by herself and begins work on a crossword puzzle.  Shortly thereafter, four other people arrive.  It's three older gents and a young woman.  As they assemble together, the guys begin to berate the young woman for not having a job, and they expertly highlight her inability to secure one.

What's happening?

ORIGINAL EMAIL MESSAGE 12-19-11:

I'm reading Tom Friedman's & Michael Mandelbaum's "That Used To Be Us".  In the first few pages, they share this:  Meijiang Convention & Exposition Centre in Tianjin, China.  Built from the ground-up in 32 weeks:


In Washington, the Washington Metro system had two (2) broken escalators (21 steps each).  It took 24 weeks to repair those 42 steps --- i.e., about the same amount of time it took to build the entire Meijiang Convention Center Complex including countless huge escalators.

Meanwhile, back in DC, an outfit was paid $225K to study/assess the state of the Washington Metro system. (I'd do it for $224K: "Broke" ;-)

The Washington Post reported, "...people are getting used to it" (the condition of the system).

Wow.

Needless to say, this one gets a full read. 

As we all have our own version(s) of day-to-day do's that need to "get done" I do wonder what the future holds, in a macro sense... and what we (still) can do about it.

...Just thought I'd help start your day with a headache :-)

Thanks for letting me indulge. 

 

OTHER READING YOU MIGHT FIND RELATED / INTERESTING: 

Umair Haque - America: Excelling at Mediocrity

Umair Haque - Is a Well-Lived Life Worth Anything?

 

craig arthur james 2011

 

Three Indications You May Be Insanely Inventive

100-ish years ago, "Edison", "Westinghouse" & "Einstein" were the "Gates", "Jobs" and "Sagan" of their time. Those names still roll off our tongues, and big companies still bear their names.

Even though we depend on AC power, wireless communications and clean energy, we don't often think of Nikola Tesla. If it wasn't for him, the iPhone would be the "iHand-write-it, mail-it, and-wait".

Nikola Tesla

Tesla understood and basically invented those technologies in the 19th century. But people thought he was a bit "insane". Not because he had a few personality quirks (today we might call it OCD) but because his ideas, experiments and inventions were so extreme. "Wireless communication?" "Clean energy?" "Impossible!". "The guy is absolutely out of his gourd." Buggy whips were the smarter, safer, practical investment.

But he changed the world.

How do you know if you're onto something so BIG that it might help change the world too?

1. You make no sense. Your friends and colleagues think you're wacky, unrealistic and "out there".  They may even work hard to stop or block you. J.P. Morgan helped slow Tesla's advancing dream of "clean energy, everywhere, for everyone - for free". The Commodore would have none of that.  Otherwise, how could there be a "monopoly"? How could the energy business be controlled by a small group of companies, including General Electric (which Morgan helped create through his merger magic). No Nikola, no! We'll have none of that.
2. You can't help yourself. Tesla was known to work for three days straight without sleep. He was so focused on doing his work that he tore-up a contract that he had with George Westinghouse. That contract would have made him (Tesla) one of the first billionaires on the planet. But he didn't care (about money). He cared about the work. He cared about changing the world.
3. Intuitive insight. Brain science tells us that the brain is imperfect - but efficient. Our brains have been "filling in the blanks" (inaccurately) for survival reasons, for thousands of years. If you bumped into a prehistoric guy at Starbucks and asked him, "Hey, prehistoric alive-guy, when I saw you running yesterday, was it a) a lion or b) a tiger that almost ate you?" He'd likely answer incorrectly. He may not remember "lion" or "tiger" but his brain knew that he had to run like hell, regardless. Our brains still "know" what to do in a sub-second. However, in our modern society, we've become a bit too prone to stop, plan and analyze. It's as if we stopped, opened our laptop and reviewed the strategic don't-get-eaten plan while a liontiger runs toward us. Chances are your first thoughts are the right ones: Go with it. Trust it. Run like hell!

Today, amazingly, the notion of "clean energy for all, everywhere - for free" is actually here for us. But the "energy" is the energy of ideas, knowledge, culture and information that we can now seek (or share) for almost-free - from anywhere - anytime.

What an opportunity.

Thanks Nikola.

craig arthur james 2011

 

How to Beat Procrastination: Let it Happen (Sometimes)

I had coffee with a couple close friends recently.  Surface conversation turned big issues, quickly:  Technology, tech's impact on humanity - and more.  And then, to my surprise, our conversation evolved even further:  Into an Intervention, and I was the subject.

You see, earlier, I explained some writing plans - including a book that Sue (my partner) and I have in the works.

After some gracious listening, they issued some tough-love: "Yeah, yeah, yeah - we've heard it before - So when the heck are you going to actually ship something!?"  They were right.

I had all kinds of explanations (a.k.a., excuses) for my delays.  But I also shared some honest fears:  Fear of judgement, fear of success, fear of failure, fear of putting my "real self" out there.  I was concerned about the possible negative effects of personal writing, made public, and their impact on "business", family - and friends.
 
They continued:
 
"Uh huh… OK, whatever.  So, again, when are going to ship something?  We want some of what you've got.  What's holding you back?" 

 

 
Then I was asked to answer this: "If money was no object, what would you be doing?  Describe it for us."

With a bit of defensiveness, I answered, "OK, fine.  I'd be an anthropologist.  I'd be a sociologist.  I'd be a philosopher.  I'd be an idea guy.  I'd be observing, writing, and publicly speaking about the big questions of life.  You know, stuff like; 'Why is it the way it is?' 'Why do we do what we do?' 'How can we make it better?' ...That kind of stuff".

I expected that I'd hear some practical advice and receive suggestions that would take me in a different direction.  But that didn't happen.

They thought I was right-on-track.  They said it was obvious to them that that's exactly the kind of stuff I do.  That I'm an observer - a "new kind of anthropologist of the 21st Century"... and that I see the world differently, "just like a photographer who can see things that others can't", they said.

I was motivated.  I was kicked in the butt.  I was validated!  I was inspired to write my next blog post right away.  A day went by.  There was a post.  But it wasn't mine. 

It was one of my coffee klatch mates who wrote about his anthropological questions & observations of the day. 

SteveRucinski.com

But wait!  That's what I do - right?  I mean, sure, my preemptive blog-posting friend is a very thoughtful smart guy - I'll give him that - but heck, this is what they told me I'm destined to do. (Can you tell I'm an only child?!)

Then it dawned on me: 1) The work I'm meant to do is not "mine" alone, and 2) Sometimes we're doing some of our most important work without even realizing it.

The work I was to do that day was to demonstrate a willingness to be open, descriptive, and vulnerable about fears.  I was to demonstrate the courage to be "big picture" and philosophical.  I was to help a friend do his work, too.

So, in the end, I'm glad I procrastinated - and left the writing to a friend for that day.

Now I know I can't procrastinate any longer. Now I know that now is the time for me to write my next blog post, continue the work on that book... and keep doing the work I'm meant to do. 

craig arthur james 2011
 
 

"I Invented the World Wide Web"

Could you imagine saying "I invented the World Wide Web".

Well, this guy can - because he did:

        Tim Berners-Lee

A guy who's only 55 already having such an amazing impact on the history of humanity.  Imagine.

Ever wonder if you could come up with something as meaningful?  His story begins with being frustrated ~ 20 years ago.  Frustrated with having to go to different computers - having to use different software - and having to work in different data formats... to accomplish his work. 

"Why not use the Internet?", he mused... "There's this huge un-locked potential out there"... "What if we could all share data and information all across the world?

But his idea didn't just stay an idea.  First, Tim wrote a memo about it. 

Eighteen months later, he received permission from his employer to work on the idea "off to the side as a play project".   His imaginative play project resulted in an innovation now used by just about everyone in the world - impacting our lives in every possible way.  He made it happen.

In his TED Talk, Tim suggests that the real impact of the Web has only just begun.

What could you do?  What might be your WWW?  Tim has a simple challenge for us, for starters.

   

 craig arthur james

.smart .simple .mobile 2011

4 in the morning

Somehow it's 4 in the morning, again.  There's something special about this time.  It's quiet. 

I also think that our brains have a special affinity for this time.  They're rested a bit, but not so engaged in "activity", just yet.  Thus, they're able to think deeply, reflect and dream-up ideas.

This evening/night/morning... I ponder.  I ponder what it would be like to wake up at 4 in the morning - and be by one self.  I'm not saying that self-ness is necessarily a bad thing.  At times, I really need it.

Then there are other times.  Times when experiencing loss of a family member, a dear friend's son, or other.

You look around your quiet house, condo, apartment, studio or cottage - - - and wonder.  Wonder about what you're doing with your life - why you do it - and with whom.

Then, if you're lucky enough, you stumble up/down/over to your bedroom, where your partner or someone you love rests - and waits for you - anxiously.

I guess I'm just plain lucky today.  Lucky, indeed.

  craig a. james

 .smart .simple .mobile 2010

 

I'm out of breath. My shins hurt. I'm grateful.

A quick story.

After a day consisting mostly of family health and aging issues, I plop down at my zen of "work" space:  Another coffee shop.  As I settle-in and get into business, the million-mile-per-hour storm they've been talking about - actually hit.

Rain flying sideways.  People blown about like rag dolls. 

As I key at my laptop, I recline in the satisfaction of my expert timing (i.e., to be in "here" versus out "there")

As I continue to watch the downpour, I see an old gent across the street.  He's shuffling with a walker midst the rain and the wind.  Headed somewhere.  An umbrella was obviously not an option for him.  Heck, when it takes two hands to hold the thing that keeps you from hitting pavement... I guess you get wet.

I ran to my car - grabbed an umbrella... and ran to join this gent for a walk to wherever he may be going. 

Next, was a 15-block adventure.  My mission:  Hold the umbrella and keep us from being blown away.  His mission:  Walk without falling. 

Each step he took was met with a labored gasp.

Most of our conversation consisted of me asking questions about him, where he lived... and sports.  You see, he wore a blinding-orange Cleveland Browns cap - and I figured it might be a good topic.

Most of his responses were "yeah", but when we talked about the Browns, he lit-up for a moment.  Poor guy - just his luck he meets a guy who knows SQUAT about sports.  Quickly I learned that my (lack of) knowledge didn't matter at all.

After getting him safely to his destination - after saying my "goodbye" - and his saying his final "yeah"... I reversed course and hustled back to my "office", the coffee shop.  The wind was blowing, the rain a bit less - but still pretty nasty. 

By the time I arrived back at the coffee shop, I was a little out of breath - and my shins hurt from the hustle back.  It felt good.  I was grateful for it.

Before I dove back in to my work... I couldn't help stop and ponder:

What was this gent's life-vision? 

What was he thinking when he was 47, walking an old man through the rain?

What were his dreams? 

Did they arrive?  Slip away?  Is this it?

What are mine?   Am I conscious of them? 

Increasingly so.

- Time to get back to work.

  craig a. james

 .smart .simple .mobile 2010

 

Are you (we) part of a machine?

Woke up at 4:00 AM (again) this morning. 

It's funny how little decisions (even while lying in bed at 4:00 AM) can change the tone of a day.  Or longer.

My decision this morning (a somewhat predictable one for me) was to grab my iPhone and find a TED Talk to watch.  I've discovered such types of mental stimuli help me move from day-in-life Wish<->Worry thinking to bigger-picture Wonder-think.

Today, my inspiration was Tim Jackson, Author of Prosperity Without Growth.

 

 

Later in the morning, Sue & I enjoyed an early breakfast at a mom & pop neighborhood restaurant called Grumpy's 

One of our favorite things about Grumpy's is that they use old recycled coffee mugs - - You never know what you're 'gunna get. 

Timely.  Today, ours were "Retirement is a Ball at the Mall" and "Great Lakes Travel, Inc."  Basically; "Shop-'till-you-drop-and-take-a-vacation-too".

After you watch the video - you'll know why it's sort of uncanny that this was our mug-roulette outcome today.

While sipping our coffee, we solidified our geeky personas by (at times) playing with our iPhones.  We obtained our daily fix of the Seth Godin Blog... and then went about our day.

Tim's TED Talk has us thinking about the (stuff) we consume.  Seth Godin's Blog post today has us thinking about the (info) we consume.

After watching Tim & reading Seth you'll likely ask yourself:

• What is prosperity?  Really.
• What is the objective of the social, consuming species called "human"?
• Is it possible to achieve a society of meaningful prosperity & altruism?
• What will our future look like if we stay on our current tracks of consumption?

In many ways, Tim argues that our "success" is our failure - and that our decisions related to our relationships with money, "stuff" and "place" are at the heart of the future. 

Can we innovate at a rate faster than ever before in human history?  It's not just a provocative question. Tim explains how we have no choice but to do so - in order to survive.

It's an interesting time indeed.  If one ever wanted to "live history" while it's happening - I think we have our chance.

If you like Tim's TED Talk; you'll probaly be interested in this short video too:  Douglas Rushkoff & Life, Inc.

It's time for different kinds of conversations.

  craig a. james

 .smart .simple .mobile 2010

An important tip for all

Here's a tip for 'ya:  Tips matter.

(For the record; this blog entry is not a solicitation for a tip). 

SmartSimpleMobile Blog entries are intended to be amazingly brilliant insights on life-modalities.  Okay, maybe not amazingly brilliant, but at least thought-provoking - i.e., ideas and insights, along with practical tips and tricks that can be applied to lives and/or organizations.

Other times however, you'll find that the entries are musings about, well, a number of things... usually inspired by a day-in-a-life.  Today is one such day.  It's a day that happens to be one month since our last blog entry (Recently, things have been a little "distracting" - in the writing category.  I'll leave it at that).

So ironically, after a month of producing basically no "product" in this particular "work" category... we find a tip in our blog tip-jar.  The tip was two part:  monetary + words of encouragment.  It reminded us that "this" is a product - and that people might actually want some of it.

A short story:

...This morning I stopped for gas in midtown Cleveland.  There was a man on the premises with an elegant spirit and a big bold smile.  He was selling his services; i.e., to clean windshield windows.  I have no idea how this elegant authentic spirit ended up hawking window cleaning - basically on the street.  But I do know this; he was smilin', singing... and very gracious.  Actually, he appeared to be the happiest guy within a 10-mile radius.

He was sharp, too.  He read the situation as we talked.  He sensed that I wasn't providing "buying signals" and let me save face.  He said, "Looks like you just did yours" (though I didn't)... He allowed me to ease away from the encounter without making me feel like I had to explain or apologize.

Another car pulled up.  The gent begins to chat with the woman who was the driver.  Apparently he was able to "close" her, for while she was inside paying for her gas, he was cleaning her windows.

By now I was back in my car, and about to pull away.  I saw him one last time via a glance to my rear-view mirror.  I stopped, got out of my car... and walked over to give him a little tip on the woman's behalf.  Did I feel a little more tip-giving because I just happened to be a bit more tip-receiving recently?  Maybe... I don't know.  It was spontaneous. 

In fact, I'm not sure who gave/received more.  I exchanged a little piece of paper (that society says has "value") and in return, I received the energy of a human spirit.  In fact, I stand corrected:  I believe the energy received from this gent is without conditions of a tip.

So what's the point?  

A friend's support, love, donation and/or words-of-encouragement are powerful.  They become part of stories that touch lives in ways he or she might not imagine.

Doing one's work is powerful too.  Work creates stories as well.  I speak of "work" however one defines it;  Transplanting a lung, selling software, running a skilled nursing center, planting flowers, teaching, thinking, taking photos, providing burial services to a family who loses their 23-year-old son, consulting, serving coffee, fixing the Hubble, writing a blog entry... or washing windshields.  It all matters.

...I finish this muse as I grab a little bite at an even little-er restaurant.

It's time for me to go.
Time to pay my bill.
And time for me to calculate the tip for the women who is my server.

To think:  She doesn't even know the name of a certain SmartSimpleMobile supporter. 

Or maybe she does.

  craig a. james

.smart .simple .mobile 2010

Much ado about doing

 
Labor Day is upon us.  We reflect back on the Summer and take a pause before "hitting it" again on Tuesday.  At least for some.

Many in the service trade work all weekend long.  Blue Angels pilots are their busiest at the peak of the holiday.  ER nurses are probably busy too, as car accidents don't get scheduled according to hospital staff holiday weekend plans. 

But for the most part, the picture of Labor Day is festivity, celebration, cookouts... and maybe a mid-afternoon nap.

It's interesting to consider the history of Labor Day.  The first one was September 5, 1882 in New York City.  It became a federal holiday in 1894, the year of the Pullman Strike, when many workers were killed by U.S. military and Marshals. 

Pullman Strike Chicago

President Cleveland made reconciliation with the labor movement a top priority, and the legislation for the holiday was rushed through Congress - unanimously - six days after the strike.

How things have changed.  Years ago, the equation was rather simple:  Management and owners called the shots, and the workers did the "doing".  There's still plenty of that today, but more than ever before, there are free agents and virtual workers across the globe.  There are thinkers, writers, designers and idea-people who create value, even if they don't make or sell a thing (per se).

Their office might be a laptop on a rooftop as they watch the sunset.  She or he may be doing a proposal, a report or a blog post.  "Doing" today is often synonymous with the sound of keyboards and "clickity click click".  I wonder what the sound will be in another 100 years.

This pondering makes mees thinks even more; What is "doing" anyway?  I looked it up:

Dictionary.com's 57 definitions for "Do"

As a freelance consultant, one might be doing while thinking, talking or designing.  Some might consider that the most important work of all.  Others might consider it doing nothing at all.

One thing is for sure - and that is that the definitions of "work", "doing" and "productivity" are changing - and people are increasingly able to call their own shots regarding how and where they spend their time.  Many may feel they don't have that freedom - but maybe they do more than they know.  We're in a unique era where we just might have the greatest opportunity in history to stop, think and decide exactly what we do and why.  In fact, if we do so, when we look back on our lives and reflect on what we've done - we might still be doing it.

 craig a. james

.smart .simple .mobile   2010

Getting your bearings

Did you know that the oldest accounts of the bearing principle dates back to the Egyptians when they used tree trunks under sleds?   The earliest example of a recovered bearing is a wooden bearing supporting a rotating table dating back to Roman times.

Leonardo da Vinci is often credited with drawing the first roller bearing around 1500 AD, and the first caged ball bearing was originally described by Galileo in the 1600's... But most of these innovations weren't used for practical purposes until the 1700's.  Further, it wasn't until the late 19th century when the visionary innovator Henry Timken introduced modern industrial use of bearings.

Bottom-line; bearings are about reducing friction and increasing efficiency.  They've been around for 5000 years, but put to mass use only in recent centuries.

We think the many definitions of the word "bearing" (in addition to the above) are great metaphors for living a conscious life - and are useful when asking oneself about one's direction, balance & meaning.  Here's a few other Dictionary.com definitions of the word:

• A manner in which one conducts or carries oneself, including posture and gestures; a man of dignified bearing
• The act, capability, or period of producing or bringing forth; a tree past bearing
• Something that is produced; a crop
• The act of enduring or capacity to endure
• Reference or relation: It has some bearing on the problem
• Architecture:  A supporting part of a structure
• Direction or relative position; The pilot radioed his bearings
• Then there is "Baring"... Being open.  Revealing or divulging; to bare one's arms

craig a. james   .smart .simple .mobile 2010

Where are you on the Wish<-->Worry Continuum?

I'd like to introduce you to a thing we call the "Wish<-->Worry Continuum"... a consciousness-creating tool to help manage one's dreams and desires in life.

We all tend to be at one point of this Continuum at any given time. 

Consider this:

(No worries if you can't read the thought bubbles - they're repeated later in the post)

Let's say you're reevaluating your career, your financial situation and your future (probably most of us are).

We could stop in various boxes along the Continuum as we reevaluate our options, but it's easy to get stuck in the boxes on the ends - i.e., "Wish" or "Worry".  Sometimes we do end-runs to/from Wish and Worry without stopping anywhere in between.

Definitions:

• WISH:  A dreamy unconstrained, almost "separate from self" thought.  A "Wish" often acts like a noun even if we use it as a verb.  It's a "picture".  "I wish money grew on trees and time was endless". Heck, even if there's only a 0.0001% chance of that possibility, it's worth thinking about.  At least you're aware of what you'd consider to be ideal.
• DESIRE:  Again noun-like and something that's "out there" - but it's a bit more personal and digestible.  "My desire: To have the money I need and have control over all of my time too".
• WANT:  As we move down the continuum toward Want, we start using verb (versus noun) definitions of the word: "I want work or a job that also lets me have control over my time".  Even more personal.  It's Real. You can taste it.
• NEED:  Gut impulse. Very personal. Vivid.  Brief. Not hard to understand. "I need work"... or "I need money".
• PROBLEM:  Often our Wishes, Desires, Wants and Needs are packaged with Problems (or so we perceive).  Problems are usually matter-of-fact descriptions of barriers and obstacles.  We often make Problems nasty monsters with irritating rigidity - They're "fact" (we believe):  Example: "Work takes time - There's no way around that".
  
• WORRY:  Now that we've encountered the rigid monster of Problem, we easily fall victim to the monster's first-cousin; "Worry".  Worry is even more insidious.  It pulls you into self-centric dooms-day statements: "Oh no! I just can't find the work that lets me have control over my time too"... What am I going to do!?"  We wring our hands, sometimes to the point where our Worry spins us all the way back to Wish.  We bounce back and forth.  Meanwhile - we're standing still.

When you dream, ponder, and wonder about your future... where are you on the Continuum - and why?  Are there circumstances that make you more prone to be in one box or another?  What's the "optimal" mix?

The answer likely lies in a combination of all of the above.  Dream-crazy is good, as long as we tell ourselves "OK - I'm in Dream/Wish mode right now" - - It's useful in bringing clarity to our passions and dreams. 

Even a dose of Worry isn't so bad.  We all can use an increased sense of urgency here 'n there.  But it, too, needs to be in its place.  Know when you're there and put it to work.  Worry shouldn't drive actions, but rather be a wake-up call, prompting one to know one's fears and providing the required courage to look those fears straight in the eye.

Regardless, we believe consciousness is one of the first steps in navigating the Wish-Worry waters.  It's one of the keys to what we call "Adaptism" - the mode of choice & elegant adaptability.

                   SMART                 SIMPLE                 MOBILE

            (consciousness)          (clarity)          (change-ability)

When we're conscious of what we're feeling and thinking, we're far more likely to come up with hybrid solutions - "And" solutions versus "Or" solutions.  In the context of the work-time dilemma outlined in this post, perhaps there is work that *does* provide the desired control over time.  Or how about this possibility:  Finding work that is so aligned with your dreams that there's no longer worry about "control over time" because you're living your dream every single day.  Why not!?

We'd be interested in your comments on how you might manage your Wish-Worry Continuum.  What might be your "optimal" approaches?

Wishing you a great day - even if you worry it might not be one.

 - craig a. james | .smart .simple .mobile 2010

Is "Social Media" a dirty word in Business?

Social Networking.  Social Media.  Tweets.  Facebook.  Blogs.  Microblogs.  Foursquare. 

...Terms, technology & communication-modes are converging at breakneck speed.  How do businesses make sense of it all?  Should they care?  Where do they begin?

A meeting along this line today prompted me to post an article we wrote for Strategic Social Networking earlier this year.  It's found embedded, below.  It takes a look at why businesses do (or don't) use social media - and if they don't, why they should.

What's the "SmartSimple" moral of the story? 

Just start.  Keep it simple.  A few baby steps. 

As Guy Kawasaki says, 'If you're building a house, you need a plan before you do so.  If you're hiking with a sleeping bag, you plop down your sleeping bag and sleep.  If there's a snake, you move".

He's suggesting that Social Media is "sleeping-bag-territory".  It's new.  It's here.  It's here to stay.  The point is; it's changing so fast that one cannot "plan" in traditional terms.  He argues that the best "strategy" is to start with tactics, i.e., get in - start - and build the plan along the way.

Our SSN article enumerates a thing or two that might help you & your business ponder your first steps:

"Three Reasons Businesses Don't Leverage Social Media (and three reasons why you should")

I’m sipping coffee in a little coffee shop amidst Cleveland’s Little Italy, pondering a colleague’s recent question: “Why has business taken so long to see the value of social networking?” I look around. The place is packed. Patrons are communicating feverishly – with people located somewhere else. Texting. Talking on mobile phones. Clicking on laptops. Our technology tools have become an extension of our voice and ears, and social media has become part of our language.  

Businesses want to connect with, persuade and sell to people just like you and me – right? Yet, so many companies fail to embrace the communication modes so many of us prefer. Why?

1 – Fear (of losing power and control)

Consider the history of the U.S. Postal System. In the 1700s, the British controlled the colonial postal system. By 1774, the colonists viewed the royal post office with suspicion. Shortly thereafter, an alternative mail service was established. The inter-colonial mail service was the “social media”, the colonists were the “bloggers”… and those in power (the British) didn’t like it.

2 – Social Media has a bad rep (for business)

Consider the origin of social media. It didn’t start with computers, but it was born online… the phone line that is. It was known as “phone phreaking.” Phone phreaks were techies tired of the telecom monopoly extending sizable charges for long-distance calls. These early explorers built phone-system tapping devices that allowed them to make free calls and conduct virtual group discussions. More recent social media ancestors include Limewire and Napster – through which music was shared. A number of corporations, telephone companies and record labels look back on this history often sighting a different word: Stolen.

3 – What’s in a name? Everything.

The very term “social media” conveys images of idle socializing, gossip and misinformation. If it were referred to as “Critical Business-Advancement Messaging Networks” businesses would consider it more popular than the buzzword of the day. This is where NING and others have an upper hand. Though the name may mean different things to different people; the design of the solution resonates with business-types. Like Sun Microsystems said back in the ’90s “the network is the solution.” That’s what NING conveys: a solution providing user-controlled networks for specific applications and communities of interest. It implies context and purpose.

So why should you (and your company) leverage Social Media?

1 – The people you want to hire use it – a lot.

Smart businesses realize that value-creation depends on ideas, creativity and collaboration. Social media is the mechanism of choice for many of today’s talented creative innovators. Your company culture should be friendly to social media (unless of course you don’t want smart innovators on your team). Have you hired anyone lately without looking at their LinkedIn profile? Do you know that the top talent is likely evaluating your company’s social media presence as a qualifier as to whether they want to work for you (or not)?

2 – The people you want to reach (your customers) use it. Listen to them.

Angie’s List conducted a survey and found that 58 percent of their respondents use social media. They consider it a strategic tool for business development. Social media is a powerful listening system. Sure, you can ask customers what they want, but they may or may not tell you what they need. However, overhear them talking with each other - well then, now you’re getting the straight skinny.

3 – Happy employees = happy customers = revenue + profit

A report called Executive Insights into Enterprise Social Network Strategy indicated that social media was critical to providing a work-life balance for employees. Employees don’t operate 9 to 5. Rather, they mix their personal and work lives. Sure, there’s the risk that promoting social media could cause distraction during the work day, but it also promotes work in the off hours.  One of our clients learned this lesson in at least one case. They proudly proclaimed that securing one of their new clients was thanks to an employee trading Facebook messages with a friend. Upon closure of that deal, management didn’t care if the exchange happened during the day, at night, online, in person, in a suit or in sweats.

 - - - Here's another article, written by Money & Risk.  It's a great primer:  

"A Social Media Primer for Business Executives"

craig a. james | .smart .simple .mobile 2010

Brilliant Collaboration Requires Kindergarten "Simplicity"

Ponder this:  Kindergarten kids are smarter than CEO's.  Tom Wujec and his TED talk gets one thinking about smarter & and perhaps simpler ways of approaching problems - and working as a team.

Tom challenges our traditional thinking surrounding planning, strategy and success.

The challenge: Build a structure with;

• 20 spaghetti sticks
• One yard of tape
• One yard of string
• A Marshmallow

Get the marshmallow to sit atop your free-standing structure as tall as possible.  You and your four-person team have a short time to do so.

                               

The stats? 

• CEO's and MBA students score among the worst. 
• Kindergarten kids? You guessed it:  Among the best.

Why?

CEO's & MBA's are busy with power struggles, jockeying & lying... Further, they have the compulsion to create the "perfect plan".  Plan, plan, plan... before they really try anything at all.   After creating their masterful shock-proof "perfect plan"... they discover they have merely a few precious moments to implement.

They leap to the climactic moment - scramble together their structure (based on their prefect plan) - place the marshmallow on top, and...

Their creation collapses.

Now what!?  Mad-scramble.  Panic.  Crisis.

Ding!   Time's up.

The Kindergarteners on the other hand:  They've collapsed their tower multiple times - early in the process.  In fact, they've already tried to stack the marshmallow on top of their creation way before they've planned anything at all.  They begin with the end in mind. 

They develop thick skin.  They get used to multiple "failures" - They learn from each one - They adapt - Repeat.  They try again and again until something works.  Such an iterative approach is just one advantage the kids have over the big-guns.  Tom's 7-minute video shares additional insights Re: group dynamics, extrinsic motivation... and more.

So - are you preparing the perfect plan? - - or are you trusting that perhaps a little "play" may go a long way.

More on Tom Wujec:

      Tom Wujec's Website

Cheers,

- Craig James | .smart .simple .mobile

How to Juggle it All

Met with my close friend, Steve, today.  We compared notes on how to juggle all the priorities and pressures of life.   He let me bend his ear.  He listened.  He helped.

Midst our chat, he told me a story.   Many years ago he participated in a multi-day retreat where the act of juggling was used as a mechanism to teach certain lessons related to business and leadership.

Steve explained that he was excited to learn how to juggle - and that he knew he'd master it quickly.  

He was wrong.

Day after day, everyone was competently advancing their ability to juggle.  But Steve couldn't.  The instructor knew he needed special attention.

In a one on one session, the instructor asked Steve if he ever played baseball.  The answer was yes - for years. 

What was discovered?

In baseball; one does everything one can do to catch the ball. Dive for it. Whatever it takes.

In juggling, it's important to find rhythm and patterns... and especially at first, not bother to catch the balls at all.

Steve's brain was hard-wired to do the exact opposite of what he needed to do.  He found himself diving for great catches; but not learning how to juggle.  After the instructor helped him become conscious of this dynamic, Steve was able to clearly see the thought-patterns & habits that were holding him back.  More importantly, he learned where he needed to focus his attention and how to build new habits for this new challenge.  Shortly thereafter, he conquered the juggling that was previously conquering him.

Do we find ourselves juggling life - or is it juggling us?  Are our old patterns and habits applicable or hindrances?  Are we adapting and charging forward, or are we stuck chasing balls?

Steve brought me a couple gifts.  One was a book on writing.  Coincidentally (or was it?) within the very first page was a little story about W.C. Fields.  He lost his ability to juggle for six years after he read a scientific analysis of how he performed his juggling act.  Maybe one can become too conscious?  Perhaps there's a difference between "consciousness" and "self-consciousness"?

So how can we become conscious (but not over-conscious) of what we're doing and why?  Perhaps we should look to writers for help.

The authors of the book suggested that writers can increase their consciousness and confidence by gathering materials - i.e., inventorying thoughts, ideas, stories & unique words.  Basically keep a list.  Then, draw from that raw material when there's a book to be written.

It got me thinking.  I think I'm going to start three lists to help create additional awareness in my life:

1. What do I find myself doing over and over?  Like, for example, why am I compelled to write this blog post?  I don't get paid for it.  But I do it.
2. When I can't sleep, what are the topics that keep me awake?  Maybe those are the things I should look straight in the eye - and deal with.  Meet my fear.
3. When do I laugh? ...and I mean laugh -  You know, that "I'm laughing so hard I think I'm going to throw-up".   When was the last time I've experienced that?  What gets me there?

My new list-making makes for a new habit.  I may drop the ball here or there, but then again, maybe I need to be okay with that.

Wait! I think I see a bike

Do you identify with this picture? (not the one below) but the "run-run-run" picture.  Sure, trying to be Conscious & Clear about your life & activities.  Striving for Choice.  But sometimes it feels like a wild sprint toward an ambiguous destination.  That's my day today:  A seminar today - a client meeting tomorrow - a client session on Friday.  All great. Grateful for all.  I know why I "need" to do them. Even looking forward to them.

Yet, I still question what I'm doing.

As I drive through Midtown Cleveland (a place in between Cleveland's Public Square and University Circle) - my inner monologue says; "No time for that SSM Blog thing these few days" - I have things to do!  But then I see this beautiful shiny bike.  It crowns the entry of a basic-as-it-gets deli.  I double back.  I snap a shot.  A worried face looks out the window.  I'm more worried.  The guy looked like he could take-me-out, just because.  Tattoos. "Biker" look.  I pop my head in to explain that I just had to take a picture of that beautiful bike.  There were actually two guys in the deli, probably 50-somethings.  Smiles as big as the sky.  We wished each other a great day - and went on with our individual mad-dashes...

I'm not sure, however, they were dashing at all.

Fallow, Follow, Swallow - Do you Adapt?

Long ago - in my first "real job" (in tech sales) I learned my second important spelling lesson.  (Spelling lesson #1 may end up in another post one day)

The story relates to one of my first commission checks:  It was calculated improperly (not in my favor) - so I thought.

 

I proceeded to put together an extensive and impressive (also, so I thought) document... complete with my calculations & justifications.  I called for a meeting with the company Co-Owner & CFO.  (Pretty bold for a 21 year old punk).  We met at 7:30 AM.  I presented my document which began as follows:

"In the fallowing document..." 

Suffice it to say; The first sounds of the meeting were not words spoken, but laughs being laughed... followed by multiple shallow fallow farm jokes.

Talk about blowing credibility before you even get started.
(Believe it or not; they did adjust the commissions as I outlined).

But I still learned a lesson:  Check the spelling.  I've adapted to my occasional inability to spell; and am pretty good at checking things twice (which was a bigger deal back then - i.e., when there was no "spell check").

So what's the point?

Adaptability.

Darwin says that species do one of three things:

1. Species find a habitat that is survivable for that species
2. The species adapts to the habitat they're in
3. The species dies. Dead. Extinct.

Do you want to be in #2?  Or do #2?

Times are a changing.  Our "habitat" is changing.  Are we adapting?

Sue and I recently saw a Swallow near Lake Erie.  She/he was diving and cutting - right and left - like a jet fighter.  Amazing bird to watch.

We subsequently learned that Swallows truly eat on-the-fly.  Really.  Left turn - right turn - bug - gulp - next... All while flying these impressive patterns.

Evidently they evolved to adapt to their habitat; i.e., certain wetlands where bugs (dinner) fly around a-plenty.  No time to land, sit, etc.

...Guess Swallows want to, well, swallow (food) and eat.

Why do we follow the rules?

What if, in our modern time, we are living under ground rules which no longer apply?  Rules which were created long ago at a very specific time in history.  Rules with a specific agenda.  Rules which may no longer be aligned with lives of fulfillment, worth & happiness. 

But we follow the Rules.   Why?

 Douglas Rushkoff of Life, Inc. has a fascinating look at our time in history - especially here in the U.S.  He explores our acceptance of 'the way it is' - in spite of the fact that we may be living in a time of historic anomaly.

We have technology, the Net, and communication gadgets... but are we disconnected?

'Do we really experience one another?  Are we truly connected with the value we create?  Are we connected with our own sense of self worth?'

Answer for yourself:

 

 

 

More on What's Work

A comment on today's post asked: "Why do you ask?"; with regard to the post "What's Work?

Here's our answer:

I/we have always been fascinated by continuum.

Recently, there appears to be an increasing range of gray regarding what is characterized as work - or not. Exchange of value, or not.

Seth Godin raised the question in his own way this week http://bit.ly/aPgcNA and Richard Florida is asking all of us key questions regarding what we value, where we live - - and what we do via The Great Reset: http://www.creativeclass.com/richard_florida/books/the_great_reset/

SmartSimpleMobile is born of these questions... In part academic, in part applied... and in large part; based on our own experiences & questions recently.

We are interested in input from others re: what they think, and how they view "work" - - or not.

Thanks for the chime-in.

Cheers...

Could leisure keep your brain young?

Years ago, authors of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that participation in leisure activities such as reading, playing musical instruments and dancing were associated with maintaining a healthy brain... In fact, it is likely to reduce the risk of developing dementia later in life.

A dance-read-or-song a day... may just keep the psych-doctor away. 

Eat an apple too.

Plan or Prepare?

So often people ask "so what's your plan?"   Fair question.

But sometimes - you can't "plan" on things.  Take, for example, aging parents or an unexpected accident.  One doesn't "plan" for when those things do (or don't) happen... but one can prepare.

It's hard to do so - mostly emotionally.  But it can be done... and it usually starts with starting.  Just one little step toward preparing for things you don't want to think about can go a long way.  Once you start, you've started.  The 2nd step is easier, and so on.

What's that first baby step for you? (as the movie "What about Bob" would ask you).   Do just that one little thing today - - and you're on your way.