All posts by steve@kerrzone.com

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

It’s Obvious

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The other day I overheard a colleague saying ” philosophy is often the art of expressing  the obvious”.   Given that obvious things are easily perceived and understood, this sounded like a shot.

On deeper thought it occured to me, the obvious is sometimes hidden by it ordinariness.  Obvious things don’t stand out and thus get ignored.

Leveraging the Obvious

Acting or behaving according to some obvious principles requires a concious understanding and recognition of the concept.  It may be easily understood, but also easily ignored.

Of course, what appears obvious might not be and could benefit from some some analysis and clarification.  Hence the interest of philosophers.

For Example

Check the distance before you jump.  This appears to be a pretty simple, easily understood statement.  Makes sense.  Wait,  is this just about broad jumping or leaping from one roof top to another?

Could this be more of a metaphoric phrase about a possible approach to life.  Checking the distance is about considering the potential  risk and benefit.

Is taking the action, which in the metaphoric sense may be more than jumping (e.g., asking for a raise, investing in a stock, getting married) worth it.

And so, the obvious might not be so obvious, thus enters the philosopher.

Pay Attention

Ignoring or accepting the obvious without thought could be at your detriment.  Is there a deeper meaning?  Can it help craft your behaviour to be more successful?

These are not easy questions nor is the answer obvious (he,he).  Think conciously for a moment the next time you encounter the obvious.  It might be enlightening.

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

My Opinion

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It is natural to form a view or conclusion based on the facts as we interpret them.  The factual analysis is most likely colored by our bias, conscious and unconscious.

These beliefs, or opinions are typically less strong than positive knowledge but backed by observation and data making them stronger than an impression.

Our own filters and personal perspective can make these conclusions unique.    Others may share your opinion, or not but exercise caution about treating an opinion as knowledge just because of what others think.

Benefiting from Opinions

To a large extent sharing your opinion and listening to those of others can provide you with valuable insight.  Often this can include a view you had not thought of.

This can come as direct feedback from others when you share your thoughts, or just a personal aha moment one your part triggered by someone elses opinion.

Ultimately opinions can form the germ of an nacient strategy.  However, it makes sense to validate the facts as you proceed before leaping full bore into a tactic in support of the strategy based on opinion alone.

The opinions value lies in the framework it creates.  In essence, a place to begin.  It is critical not to let the opinion alone drive action, the lowest risk approach being founded in positive knowledge.

Unforunately, reality bites and positive knowledge is not always at hand.  Hence the formation of opinions and their associated actions.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Entertainment

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Everyone has a unique individual perspective.  Sometimes peoples perspectives match closely and sometimes that is not the case.  The more consistently multiple perspectives align,  the higher the level of agreement.

During our daily activities, work or play we observe, analyze and conclude.   To clarify, I am using the terms work and play broadly.  While not absolutely correct, for ease of broad classification I mean these two terms to cover everything you do:

  • work are all activities you do for someone else for compensation (whether monetary, personal satisfaction or other)
  • play is everything that is not work, although some of these things that don’t conform to the definition of work, are not always associated in our mind as play because this term has a connotation to some degree of being fun.

Entertainment at Work

Entertainment is typically an event, performance or activity intended to provide amusement or enjoyment.  Typically most do not expect to be entertained at work.

An exception to this might be an usher in a theatre or stadium where the job could include the opportunity to watch the event or performance.

Entertainment should provide pleasure, which in turn can be a motivation to do a better job.  By this logic, encouraging and creating an entertaining work environment where the general overriding perspective is positive, could lead to better outcomes.

Workers regularly observe, analyze and conclude about the things occurring around them.   Shaping these perceptions toward the positive can be motivating.

Uplifting your Workplace Culture

Give some thought to altering the workplace perspective and increasing the entertainment levels within your organizational culture.  You may be surprised by the outcomes.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Contradiction, Argument, Debate and Fighting

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There are a variety of techniques for dialogue.  Ultimately the goal is to build knowledge and understanding through repectful but stimulating interraction.

These discussions can be divided into four categories.

Contradiction

While contradiction can be used in an argument in and of itself basically contradiction is the statement of a position opposite to one already made.

This category of dialogue can be conducted respectfully but is relatively superficial.

Arguments

Arguments differ from contradiction  because they need to include a reason or set of reasons with the aim of persuading others that an action or idea is right or wrong.

That is, arguments are rational, and while without care they can morph into more heated discussion with care they can be conducted in a very respectful manner relative to all participants.

Debate

Debates are in essence an argument within the context of a formal structure.  The may be moderated with time periods set for each participant to put forward their points.  The topic is usually defined and the discussion held within the topics boundaries.

These are respectful in nature,the rules of the debate are designed to make that the case.  Although, as in the example of the recent U.S. presendential election debates, this is not always achieved.

Fighting

The main difference between a fight and all the other categories involves the use of personal attacks.  As soon as the dialogue moves from the focus of the topic to the personal (easily identified when the pronouns  “I or you ” enter the conversation), it is more a fight than anything else.

This is basic human nature, the personal statements are interpreted as attacks, and attack is the underpinning of a fight.  These discussions quickly move from the rational to the emotional.

This category is to be avoided.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Go Your Own Way

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Released in 1977 on the Rumors album the rock band Fleetwood Mac imortalized the phrase “Go your own Way”.  Songwriter Lindsay Buckingham, embittered ex-spouse of vocalist Stevie Nicks, wrote the song covering his perspective of the breakup.

Stevie has stated on a number of occassions she dislikes the lyrics which are not an accurate protrayal of her, obviously Lindsay had some annomosity.

Of course this never stopped her performing  the song, what is one of the bands biggest hits.

NAFTA Renegotiation

The North American free trade agreement refresh negotiations started last week and the talks and associated political rhetoric have been hot topics in the media of late. (No surprise there).

It suddenly hit me, time for Mexico and Canada to sing out.  Hey Mr. Trump, “Go Your Own Way”.  How much can one put up with.  Like Lindsay Buchingham had strong feelings and ties to Stevie Nicks, Canada does have a special bond with America.

However, enough is enough.  It is time to draw the line in no uncertain terms.  All Mr. Trump seems to understand is direct action, not rhetoric or threats.

So it is high time to make it clear not everyone thinks it is all about America.  If the country is driven to isolationism by an unpopular leader (less than 30% popularity) then, so be it.

Consequences

Actions create outcomes.  These can be positive or more like consequences (a negative slant on the result).  America has chosen it’s bed.  Time to sleep in it.  If the results (consequences) are not what is expected, well I can’t be my brothers keeper, can I?

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Curiosity

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Being inquisitive, that is having a healthy sense of curiosity means you a have desire to learn and know about anything and everything.  Of course, as the well known saying goes, ” curiosity killed the cat”

This is a cautionary note, a reminder really to practice balance in everything.

While knowledge can be a powerful tool in helping you reach your goals or assist others with theirs, misuse arising  from misunderstanding or an incomplete picture can lead to negative results.

Worrying Yourself

Often when we think others have information they are not sharing (restricted or secret information) we get upset.  This can drive curiosity, but this is generally not a healthy curiosity.

Care is needed in attempting to gather information others might not want you to have.  This could be used by them as leverage to get a reaction from you if someone realizes what you are doing.

As well, you can worry about the unknown and make up scenarios that might be far from reality.  This can lead to actions on your part which you may later regret.

Self Control

There will always be things others know and you don’t.  And of course things no one knows.  Seeking knowledge in a balanced way lets you control how much, when and what you do with it.

Knowledge that others have, unknown to you won’t impact you.  Once that information becomes known to you it might have an effect but there is little value in seeking it out in advance.

To what purpose?  Even advance knowledge could be worrisome.  My advice, relax, all will unfold in the fullness of time.

 

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Relaxing

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The act of relaxing entails engaging in an enjoyable activity so as to become less tired or anxious.  Like a vacation.  Some equate inactivity with relaxation but personally I think it is more about the kind of activity.

Boredom can be stressful.  Being able to occupy yourself in a  satisfying way is associated with enjoyment.  Waiting, wondering and not being sure what the future will bring, can be uncomfortable.

Enjoyment

Taking pleasure in something, i.e, feeling good, enjoying, is a key part of relaxation.  In fact, writing a song for profit or a wrting book or just practicing your profession can be relaxing.  (That is any profession ranging from accountant to swim suite model to doctor and all stops in-between).

Focusing on things that relax you is pleasurable.  A personal goal of mine is to seek maximum pleasure (as long as I don’t impinge on the pleasure of others).  Therefore doing things that are relaxing is something I seek out.

Keep on Moving

Sometimes the challenge is not about avoidance ( i.e., finding ways to not do stressful things).  The greater difficulty can sometimes be finding things that are pleasurable to do.

These can range from playing a video game to planting a garden.  Debating a topic or investing in the stock market.  There are a million activities humans can engage in.

An activity that provides maximum pleasure for one person might be an anathema to another.   For each of us, knowing what relaxes you and seeking it out, is an important part of living your life to the fullest.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Optimism

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Optimism describes an attitude.  When you feel hopefulness and confidence about the future, your perspective is said to be optimistic.  Is this a sustainable perspective?

Personal attitude is yours to control.  Optimism can be a fabulous way to approach each day, why not.  By it very nature optimism is positive and associated with good feelings.

Approaching each day feeling good is not a bad thing.  Consistent and persisent optimism is positive so why not adopt this a a permanent attitude.?

Trouble on the horizon

When hiking you run into a bear.  Your optimistic attitude leads you not to react, after all everything will work out.  Although an exaggerated example, there probably are cases where optimisum should be temporarily suspended.

Proactively worrying or predicting negative attitudes (pessimism) is probably not a good replacement for an optimistic attitude but realistically recognizing  the potential for bad results is probably not a bad thing.

Attitude Drives Outcomes

Whatever your underlying perspective, for example positive, negative, worried or optimistic; the way you behave is directly impacted.

If you are feeling good your eaction is typically more positive than if you are worried or fearful.  This is a good argument to strive for an optimistic viewpoint as your go to attitude.

Believe and Succeed

Athletes and sale people are well familiar that visualizing and believing in sucess to come can be a significant driver of results.  So don’t just be hopeful but believe it will be good.

You can get what you wish for.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Submit and Hope

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When planning a change or presented with a change to consider most people follow a simple three step approach.  This can be a conscious or unconcious activity.

First, analyze, then based on the analysis act and finally judge the results, ie, succeed or fail and repeat.  The choices to act can range from wait and see, submit and hope for the best or to proactively influence the change.

For Example

You are thinking of making a lifestyle change from a single to married status.  Whether conciously or without great direct thought the impacts of the change  are considered ( this happens whether you realize it or not).

You may actively list pros and cons or just let emotions and intuition drive your action.  Or a combination of conscious and unconscious thoughts may lead to the decision.  You will get married, or not and you will be happy with the decision or not.

Waiting, Hoping

As you move through life you may encounter change initiated externally to you .  That is, a change made for you, not by you .  In these cases, the process, analize, act, check results is the same.

When the change appears positive or exciting, something that creates an opportunity for you you may decide to wait before acting or submitting your thoughts and then hoping for the best.

This does raise an interesting question about the correct balance between creating your own destiny (being proactive and working to control the results) versus waiting/hoping for the best (like winning the lottery)

People do win lotteries but my recommendation is always take some proactive steps to influence the results ( to some extent).  After all, it is your destiny.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Secret Information

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Information generally falls into one of four categories.

  • things you know that others do not (potentially restricted information)
  • things others know that you do not (potentially restricted information)
  • things you know and others know (public information)
  • things nobody knows, you do not even know you don’t know in some cases (the unknown)

Why Restricted?

The first two categories (info you know or info known by others) can be shared but that is not always the case.  In cases where it is knowingly withheld, it becomes restricted or secret information.

In the case of restricted information, people may be aware it exists but some people are purposely denied access to this information based on specific criteria.

The restriction principle is based on a belief the information could be misused or cause undesirable results if broadly or publically disseminated.

Secret Information

Secret information is actively hidden.  The subtle difference between this and restricted information is the intent is the information owner not only restricts access to the information but also supresses awareness that the information even exists .

Leveraging Restricted and Secret Information

Secret and restricted information exist for the purpose of manipulation.  That is,  limiting the availabilty of information is solely for the purpose of influencing or manipulating outcomes.

For me, this raises an interesting question.  Is there really any value to restricted or secret information.  Would not results be more collaberative and of a higher quality if everyone had a chance to participate?

Isn’t the practice of withholding or hiding things you know, more for your personal agenda (self interest) than for the protection of others?  Universal sharing reduces fear of the unknown and can make the job of influencing or manipulating more difficult.

The old saw, information is power, becomes less overarching a principle within environments where all information is shared openly.