Sometime reality sucks, or is uninteresting, or contradicts what we have always believed. That's what makes magic shows work - we know that he didn't really pull a dove out of thin air, but it's fun to believe the unbelievable, if only for a few seconds.
We're bombarded with illusions every day - images, thoughts, ideas that someone has conjured up to make us see something a certain way. Some call this marketing: The car salesman wants us to see the car with the shiny new car smell (that will disappear in a few weeks) and all the cool gadgets and gizmos (we could never afford); The real estate agent wants us to see a model home (without the laundry, clutter, & dirty dishes that were all shoved into cabinets and closets just moments before the prospective buyers arrived); The Red Lobster ad wants you to fantasize about the delicious looking platter of seafood (without the 30 minute drive to get there, the 1 hour wait when you get there, the crying baby at the next table, and the expensive bill.)
When you walk into many natural history museums, you'll often find a room with a very tall ceiling which is home to a T-Rex standing tall and looking ferocious, and it's long tail stretched across the floor. In reality, scientists discovered long ago that the T-Rex didn't walk like that - The T-Rex walked down on all four legs with it's tail sticking up in the air. That just wouldn't have had the same consumer appeal as the frightening T-Rex standing tall and erect, so bones were assembled in unnatural ways to create the illusion the curators were going for.
As you experience your day today, be on the lookout for smoke and mirrors. Are you seeing reality, or an illusion that was created to serve someone else's needs. Or if that seems too cynical or pessimistic, then just like the spectator at the magic act - sit back and enjoy the show.
System of Record - Revisited (Wait!! Not as boring as it sounds!!)
Last night I took my son to one of those walk-up clinics. He had a sore throat, and the clinic was much more convenient than waiting until today when his Doctor's office was open. While there, we decided to get his immunizations updated for school. They asked if his Measles shot was up-to-date and I realized that if we were at his regular Doctor, they would know that.
That got me to thinking about the concept of "System of Record", which is a software term which refers to the 'official' version of a piece of information is stored. In the olden days, service providers served as the official system of record of the information related to the services they provided. For example, all information related to your health was available at your doctor's office; all information related to your auto and property insurance was available from your insurance agent; etc.
In today's distributed services world, when we shop our services around, who is responsible for maintaining 'official' information? I guess it's us. Maybe it should have been us all along, but honestly, I don't like recordkeeping and I believe that most people feel the same way about it. So as we shop services around and drop our information all over the place, aren't we headed toward information management problems? Now my son's medical record resides in (at least) two places, and both are incomplete.
There may be a business opportunity for "Information Portfolio Management". I'm not sure what the details may be, but hmmm.... sort of clearinghouse for general purpose information.
That got me to thinking about the concept of "System of Record", which is a software term which refers to the 'official' version of a piece of information is stored. In the olden days, service providers served as the official system of record of the information related to the services they provided. For example, all information related to your health was available at your doctor's office; all information related to your auto and property insurance was available from your insurance agent; etc.
In today's distributed services world, when we shop our services around, who is responsible for maintaining 'official' information? I guess it's us. Maybe it should have been us all along, but honestly, I don't like recordkeeping and I believe that most people feel the same way about it. So as we shop services around and drop our information all over the place, aren't we headed toward information management problems? Now my son's medical record resides in (at least) two places, and both are incomplete.
There may be a business opportunity for "Information Portfolio Management". I'm not sure what the details may be, but hmmm.... sort of clearinghouse for general purpose information.
Why Bother Reading This?
IN 2005 I attended Elliot Masie's huge learning conference in Orlando, where learning managers were inundated with new techniques for flooding employees with more information: email blasts, blogs, RSS feeds, podcasts, wiki's, online reference libraries, .... Yikes. Poor slobs back home didn't know what was to hit them in the months to follow.
Some say "Information is Power", while others say "Ignorance is Bliss". Regardless, the bountiful sources of information place a great burden on individuals to select content to consume, and determine what to do with newly attained knowledge.
So why bother with this blog? Since the scope is not mathematical proofs, or the result of scientific experiments, then it must be entirely opinion. Some of you may scan the blog and move on, some may realize that "No, it's not that dude from the White Shadow" and return to Google, and others may choose to read for a while and hang onto one ore more of my thoughts.
Whichever is your reason for stopping by, thanks for your attention.
Some say "Information is Power", while others say "Ignorance is Bliss". Regardless, the bountiful sources of information place a great burden on individuals to select content to consume, and determine what to do with newly attained knowledge.
So why bother with this blog? Since the scope is not mathematical proofs, or the result of scientific experiments, then it must be entirely opinion. Some of you may scan the blog and move on, some may realize that "No, it's not that dude from the White Shadow" and return to Google, and others may choose to read for a while and hang onto one ore more of my thoughts.
Whichever is your reason for stopping by, thanks for your attention.
Innovate through Intersections
Every once in a while a new seminal idea appears. These are not likely the result of an inspired yoga session, or round robin brainstorming meeting. Rather, they often emerge from heavy quanitites of research, writing, and introspection by brilliant theorists and researchers.
Most ideas, however, are combinations of multiple seminal ideas. Most innovation is the result of chemistry: mixing together ingredients to create some new compound. Those who tend to be really creative innovators tend to be good at creating intersections: crossing two typically unrelated concepts to create something new. (Remember the old Reese's Peanut Butter Cup commercial?)
A Couple Great Intersections:
Home computer meets the notebook -> Laptop.
Computer meets the pocket Daytimer -> Palm/PDA
Mexican Restaurant meets McDonalds -> Taco Bell
Bell meets clock -> Alarm Clock
Alarm Clock meets radio -> Clock Radio
Classical meets Jazz -> New Age Music
Copier meets Telelphone -> Fax Machine
So if you're interested in innovating, try creating unexpected combinations and imagine the result.
Most ideas, however, are combinations of multiple seminal ideas. Most innovation is the result of chemistry: mixing together ingredients to create some new compound. Those who tend to be really creative innovators tend to be good at creating intersections: crossing two typically unrelated concepts to create something new. (Remember the old Reese's Peanut Butter Cup commercial?)
A Couple Great Intersections:
Home computer meets the notebook -> Laptop.
Computer meets the pocket Daytimer -> Palm/PDA
Mexican Restaurant meets McDonalds -> Taco Bell
Bell meets clock -> Alarm Clock
Alarm Clock meets radio -> Clock Radio
Classical meets Jazz -> New Age Music
Copier meets Telelphone -> Fax Machine
So if you're interested in innovating, try creating unexpected combinations and imagine the result.
Become a Brilliant Conversationalist!
We're all guilty of talking about ourselves from time to time, after all, it's the one topic that we are absolutely the world's renowned expert on. Although we all have interesting tales to tell, the contradiction is that a person we are talking to may prefer to be telling their own tales.
Dale Carnegie once said that the person who let's others talk about themself is often seen as a brilliant conversationalist. The trick is keeping the conversation going by getting others to talk. Some may need a lot of prompting, probing, and urging to keep talking. That's your job as the brilliant converstionalist. Continue prompting, probing, asking, and urging to keep them talking.
This can be more difficult with some than with others because you may run out of questions, or you may become bored. In future blogs we'll continue to explore the art of small talk.
Dale Carnegie once said that the person who let's others talk about themself is often seen as a brilliant conversationalist. The trick is keeping the conversation going by getting others to talk. Some may need a lot of prompting, probing, and urging to keep talking. That's your job as the brilliant converstionalist. Continue prompting, probing, asking, and urging to keep them talking.
This can be more difficult with some than with others because you may run out of questions, or you may become bored. In future blogs we'll continue to explore the art of small talk.
Best Practice: "Inform" trumps "Impress"
"Storing the MBO's and PA's for the EMG requires the highest level of data security available. Can secure access be provided on a NAS device, or will a SAN be a better option?"
The person who said this sounded very impressive. The problem is that 99% of his listeners didn't understand at least one element of the statement. This isn't just a technology acronymn phenomena. It is common with business and company unique terminology.
An empathetic person will assume that at least one of his listeners won't understand something that is being communicated. See http://kenhoward01.blogspot.com/2007/05/best-practice-of-day-empathy.html
The tricky part is informing without insulting. If you're not careful you can sound like a 1st grade teacher explaining the difference between a cow and a pig. As a general rule, some acronyms are well understood as words (NASA, IRS, etc.) and can be stated without explanation. Others are commonly used but may have multiple uses (an IRA is a bank account to a banker, but has a completely different meaning to an Irishman) and using the words instead of the acronym might not be a bad idea. "I try to maintain the minimum in my Individual Retirement Account - IRA - when possible." I just blurt it out in both flavors and try to not sound condescending.
The bottom line is, if you are empathetic to your listener, you will be more inclined to provide more information and inform. Rarely will someone be impressed by a blabbermouth who tends to throw around a lot of big words and fancy acronyms. Someone who explains, informs and educates will be more likeable and tends to facilitate more productive communication.
The person who said this sounded very impressive. The problem is that 99% of his listeners didn't understand at least one element of the statement. This isn't just a technology acronymn phenomena. It is common with business and company unique terminology.
An empathetic person will assume that at least one of his listeners won't understand something that is being communicated. See http://kenhoward01.blogspot.com/2007/05/best-practice-of-day-empathy.html
The tricky part is informing without insulting. If you're not careful you can sound like a 1st grade teacher explaining the difference between a cow and a pig. As a general rule, some acronyms are well understood as words (NASA, IRS, etc.) and can be stated without explanation. Others are commonly used but may have multiple uses (an IRA is a bank account to a banker, but has a completely different meaning to an Irishman) and using the words instead of the acronym might not be a bad idea. "I try to maintain the minimum in my Individual Retirement Account - IRA - when possible." I just blurt it out in both flavors and try to not sound condescending.
The bottom line is, if you are empathetic to your listener, you will be more inclined to provide more information and inform. Rarely will someone be impressed by a blabbermouth who tends to throw around a lot of big words and fancy acronyms. Someone who explains, informs and educates will be more likeable and tends to facilitate more productive communication.
Best Practice: Try 'AND' not 'BUT'
The word "BUT" can be a turnoff to many people. As an exercise, the next time you plan to say "BUT", try "AND" instead.
With 'BUT':
John: "What do you think of the dinner I cooked for you?"
Mary: "It's delicious, but it's going to ruin my diet."
With 'AND':
John: "What do you think of the dinner I cooked for you?"
Mary: "It's delicious, and I appreciate all of your hard work!"
Generally, 'BUT' is a conjunction which tends to join the first part of a statement with a negative phrase. Heavy 'BUT' users tend to be characterized as critical and pessimistic.
On the other hand, the conjunction 'AND' tends to elicit a postive/optimistic ending.
These thoughts are simply random musings of the author, and I hope they benefit you!
With 'BUT':
John: "What do you think of the dinner I cooked for you?"
Mary: "It's delicious, but it's going to ruin my diet."
With 'AND':
John: "What do you think of the dinner I cooked for you?"
Mary: "It's delicious, and I appreciate all of your hard work!"
Generally, 'BUT' is a conjunction which tends to join the first part of a statement with a negative phrase. Heavy 'BUT' users tend to be characterized as critical and pessimistic.
On the other hand, the conjunction 'AND' tends to elicit a postive/optimistic ending.
These thoughts are simply random musings of the author, and I hope they benefit you!
Best Practice: Learn to Decode Secret Messages
People often speak in a secret hidden language. Recognizing this, and learning to "decode" may eliminate much stress from your life, and greatly enhance our ability to communicate with others. If you master this singular skill, you can remain happily married, be a stellar employee, and become a whiz at small talk.
Spouse says, "I'm the only one who does any work around this house -- you're all slobs!"
Translated: "I had a crappy day and I'm really tired. I like coming home to a clean house, and I'm really disappointed when I come home from work and it's a mess. I would really appreciate it if all of you would stop what you're doing for a while and help me tidy up a bit. That would help me relax."
Boss says, "You're late again!"
Translated: "There are certain things that are important to me, and being at work at 8:00 is one of them. When people show up to work at 8:00, that tells me that they like working here and are enthusiastic about starting their day. That makes me feel good. Please be at work by 8:00 so I can feel good."
Person you just met at a party says, "Nice weather lately!"
Translated: "I don't know anything about you or what interests you. I'm going to throw you and easy one to see what you do with it. If you respond normally, and are pleasant, hopefully we can dive into some other topic that's not as boring."
Your response: "Yes, sure is!"
Translated: "Ok, I'll take the bait. I don't know many people here either, and it would sure pass the time to have someone to talk to. Maybe we'll even find we have something in common and find something that's actually interesting to talk about."
Spouse says, "I'm the only one who does any work around this house -- you're all slobs!"
Translated: "I had a crappy day and I'm really tired. I like coming home to a clean house, and I'm really disappointed when I come home from work and it's a mess. I would really appreciate it if all of you would stop what you're doing for a while and help me tidy up a bit. That would help me relax."
Boss says, "You're late again!"
Translated: "There are certain things that are important to me, and being at work at 8:00 is one of them. When people show up to work at 8:00, that tells me that they like working here and are enthusiastic about starting their day. That makes me feel good. Please be at work by 8:00 so I can feel good."
Person you just met at a party says, "Nice weather lately!"
Translated: "I don't know anything about you or what interests you. I'm going to throw you and easy one to see what you do with it. If you respond normally, and are pleasant, hopefully we can dive into some other topic that's not as boring."
Your response: "Yes, sure is!"
Translated: "Ok, I'll take the bait. I don't know many people here either, and it would sure pass the time to have someone to talk to. Maybe we'll even find we have something in common and find something that's actually interesting to talk about."
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