Day 27

"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after." Henry David Thoreau

People think they know what they want but the active conscious often deceives them. That is, the part of their mind that holds a conversation with yourself.

Motivated people, those that seek to accomplish extraordinary feats, seem bothered. Not bothered in the sense that they are slightly annoyed but that there is something internally that is off center.

They describe it to other people as "I'm trying to do this.." but often the topic at hand is a feeble attempt to give words to something the subconscious has taken captive.

I believe that as people decipher the encoded message over time, when they learn by feeling and not by logic what motivates them (through trial and error), it will allow them to make progress on their true objective. With that, happiness and contentment will come.

Day 26

The more you know, the less you need.

Knowledge empowers us. It takes what was a constraint and burden and turns it into a valuable opportunity.

I often use the initial phrase when helping people understand what to take backpacking. Their instinct is that an enormous backpack heavily filled to the brim with "the essentials" is a must.

The irony is that they do not need most of the items they voluntarily carry and it actually makes their hiking miserable because of unnecessary weight.

Learn to examine your end goal. Then, scrutinize what it actually needed to accomplish that and only that.

You'll find that you leave things behind, in a good way.

Day 25

In the mid nineteen hundreds, a man named Joseph Campbell outlined a concept called the Hero's Journey. 

Google it to see an illustration. 

Essentially it is the explanation of why certain stories persist far beyond the original civilization that circulated it. 

Think Homer's Odyssey. Hercules. Harry Potter in a couple hundred years. 

It's very simple to understand and clear to see how all of these stories, along with many others, contain the same core elements. 

I believe the most valuable startups also follow the Hero's Journey. It has become one of the most valuable tools I have used when presenting my team's work or ideas to others. 

It allows an audience to connect with my customer and empathize with them. Regardless of whether the listener agrees with or supports my cause, they have a hard time forgetting the story because it feels familiar. 

Be memorable. 

 

Day 24

"It's not an adventure until something goes wrong"

The quote above is an all time favorite for me.

Set out to do something. Recognize that when things don't go as planned, the adventure is simply beginning.

Navigating unforeseen circumstances will be challenging, especially when all of your planning now seems like it was a waste of time.

If everything were to happen as you expected, you would learn nothing.

Allow the experience to become remarkable.

Day 23

The fight or flight instinct has always fascinated me.

In our day and age, this response generally manifests itself to perceived mental danger or discomfort. The "I feel so awkward, how do I get out of this right now" sentiment.

For the most part, we don't have to worry about physical harm on a regular basis. Yet everyone is constantly examining their environment and avoiding situations that make them feel out of place.

What moments should we elect to fight ourselves and resist the urge to flee? Is personal progression a few mental punches away?

In nature, fleeing was often the clear logical choice. One would think that you would only fight when necessary.

However, it seems that for mental obstacles, wisdom would tell you that the opposite is true. Fleeing ideally only occurs when necessary.

There seems to be a great deal to learn about ourselves.

Day 22

It's very exciting to speak of new ideas and the merits of it.

The Oxford dictionary defines an idea as "a plan, thought, or suggestion, especially about what to do in a particular situation".

That definition simplifies what an idea really is. It's a presupposed opinion that's reliant upon you understanding the variables of the situation.

Examining this definition should cause us to shed the ignorant excitement surrounding your idea and see it for what it really is.

An educated guess. That often requires significant time and money to verify the truth of.

Let an idea be just that and seek to understand what the human you are designing for truly values.

Their criteria will limit most options and the idea will present itself.

Day 21

Early stage is an art.

Late stage is a science.

This short phrase beautifully describes the progression of successful startups into companies.

It's often the reason that most companies experience a transition in leadership as they grow and look to capitalize.

Founders are often great artists and terrible scientists. The monotony and bureaucracy of science takes a toll on their drive.

I don't think it's a fault of the founders. Some want to become a Da Vinci in that they become artistic scientists.

Others recognize their talent as gifted artists and are able to make the conscious decision to move on when the white coats arrive.

Day 20

Ironically, one of the best pieces of advice that I have "taken" is "Get a lot of advice but don't take any."

We often seek those with experience in making a decision. Something I've noticed is that the world changes over time. How they succeeded in the past is not necessarily what it will take to win in the future.

If you do what they did, and the setting is different, it will not have the expected outcome.

Get a few pieces of advice. Then take what you know and what your gut tells you. Then try something new.

Day 19

When a company is founded, the most diverse roles will belong to the founders. They will literally lead every function of the business. 

It's interesting to notice that literally every employee hired after the founder becomes slightly more narrow in what task they are expected to perform. 

Eventually you have a bunch of "snipers" who are trained to do one thing very well. These snipers are excellent marksmen but they also begin to create information silos across a company. The different departments have no context into the other and communication suffers. 

It would be very interesting to examine different hiring methods which in turn lead to diversified job descriptions. 

Day 18

Sleep is begging for my attention.

Interesting to think that the original reason a home was created was to have a secure place to sleep. That was all.

Activities such as cooking, using the restroom, and washing clothing were done outside.

Over time, humans used technology to improve their sleeping space to become multifunctional. These activities could now be done inside.

All of the extra functionality is great. However, if you weren't able to comfortably sleep there, none of the rest matters. You would abandon that "house" in search of somewhere to rest.

Just a simple thought exercise to focus on the core value of things in our lives.

Day 17

Everyday more and more information is readily available for our consumption.

Information is only valuable if the new knowledge can be put to use. It is easy to want to wait to make a decision until one has acquired a wealth of information on a topic.

As I look back on my experiences, the best learning experiences I had were when I quickly gathered some data to feel mildly informed and then I quickly made a decision to see what would happen.

Often times I learned things the hard way. Although, I don't think more data would have helped. It may have even biased my actions and talked me out of doing something.

It's critical to know what you are trying to accomplish and what you are trying to learn from an action you are about to take.

Day 16

Some of my previous posts have centered around the topic of communication.

One of the definitions of communication is "information transferred or conveyed". We inherently begin to think of two or more people being involved in this process.

Lately I've been dwelling on the thought of self communication. I wish I had a better phrase but I'll call it that for now.

Regrets often come from a misalignment of actions when compared to long term intentions. It's interesting to think that the person we communicate most with is ourself. Every waking moment that isn't occupied with communication between others is being consumed by communication with yourself.

How often do you disagree with yourself? Or ask yourself why you want something multiple times to cast clarity on what you are really want?

The more time I spend contemplating this, I'm convinced that the best way to improve communication with others is to actually first improve communication with yourself.

Day 15

Not really a fan of Facebook but there is a Mark Zuckerburg quote that I'm quite fond of.

"The biggest risk you can take is not taking any risk. In a world that is changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks."

Cleverly conveys that failure should be welcomed with open arms. Most startups fail. That's okay.

I constantly listen and read other entrepreneurs' stories and the commanding theme I hear over and over again is how their failures gave them wisdom with which they could put their new knowledge to use.

Remember that the best ideas are crazy until they are not.

Day 14

This post is to serve more as a reminder than a revelation.

Time is the most important resource that we have. Simply because it is limited.

It's clear that money cannot buy you more time. However, I do believe that with careful intentions, wealth allows you to use time more wisely.

The average person will spend the first twenty odd years of their life learning how to start trading time for money. They will spend the next forty or so years capitalizing on that skillset.

The sad part part for that person is that after time trading tyranny is over, their most limited resource is running scarce.

Avoiding this paradox requires replacing a variable in the following equation.

your time + building someone else's dream = some money

p.s. you have 24 hours everyday so that variable isn't going to change.

Day 13

In my extremely biased opinion, I believe these 5 things are humans greatest inventions. 

1. Vocal Languages

2. Written Languages

3. Printing press

4. Telephone

5. Internet

You will notice that my list is actually chronological and this is intentional. There are other inventions that arguably could be on this list but it's import to know that all other inventions are predicated upon the inventors ability to build upon previous work and knowledge. 

Vocal language allowed 2 people to exchange information. 

Written language allowed 1 person to spend a considerable amount of time writing their knowledge. Then, one at a time, others could consume the first persons' wisdom. 

The printing press removed the painstaking barrier of literally writing one book at a time and scaled societies ability to disseminate information. Information could be spread as quickly as a horse or train could deliver it. 

The telephone allowed information to be exchanged immediately between two people, humiliating the speed at which it previously took to send a letter. 

Finally, the day of the internet arrived. While the telephone could deliver information immediately, the internet could do so to literally billions of people. Not only that, but it amazingly stores the information like a book and also has the ability to easily translate one language into another. 

Each invention was simply an improvement in communication. They were at least 10x better than the last iteration. 

What will be 10x better than the internet? 

Day 12

Actions align with incentives.

It really is that simple. Assume people are selfish and when you want them to do something, seek to understand what they hope to gain from it.

Then make it abundantly clear how they will acquire their desire and let them go to work.

Day 11

As society learns and progresses, every day we set a record for the most technologically advanced civilization that has ever existed. Or at least that we are aware of. 

We are constantly using new tech to solve old problem. It has exceeded expectations in many regards. 

However, this also causes us to overthink what a solution to a problem needs to be and bloat the solution with unneeded features. 

With more options, we must learn to quickly say no and eliminate the unnecessary. 

Day 10

People who make their admirable aspirations public and make quantifiable progress against those goals are often called visionaries. 

When the word leaves your tongue, it causes you to think of those who have bold endeavors. Humans who can see the future as well as you see this computer screen in front of you. 

I think "visionaries" have those qualities, but this is not what actually makes us call them a visionary. What makes a successful visionary successful is actually their ability to simplify their vision into a form into which an average person can now "see" what they see and begin to assist in the construction of the future. 

The world is full of people with visions of the future and without action, they become fantasies. 

Earth lacks those with a vision so glaringly risky but rewarding that the visionary needs not motivation, but assistance in this pursuit. They realize they cannot do it alone. If others are to be recruited to the cause, the vision must be shared. Each person must be able to visualize the exact same thing without ever being able to actually see it until it comes to fruition. This is why it is so difficult. 

But rewarding. 

Day 9

Sometimes feelings are more important than facts.

People want to feel like they have a say in something or made a contribution. Even if their opinion wasn't given weight in the final decision, they want to feel like a tiny part of the solution was theirs.

The effect that this illusion of control has is enormous.

As an example, feelings cause people to not vote even though it's a fact that their vote literally counts.

Often when you can't see the logic in another persons decision, it's because you're examining the wrong variable. They are not using logic, they are using emotion.

Day 8

Every resource our economy uses to create goods and services has always been available except for one.

Knowledge.

The only variable that has changed over the course of humanity is our understanding of how to utilize the available resources to improve upon the last iteration.

Often our aspirations feel limited by "things" we don't have. It might just be that the pieces of the puzzle are currently surrounding you. In the ground as minerals, as text in a novel, or wisdom from a tradesman.

Innovation is often heralded as something genuinely new, but this is a myth. It is simply a more clever recombination of existing resources than previously perceived.

Day 7

I don't believe the customer always knows what they want but they are usually right about what the outcome they are seeking should be.

People have problems and proceed to use their capital to make them go away.

I as the customer know how I want to feel but I'm not always going to be capable of imagining what the best solution to my problem is. If that were the case, I would have likely already created such a solution.

Henry Ford said it best. "If I had asked people what they would have wanted, they would have said faster horses".

Day 6

326 million trillion..... gallons.

Is the predicted amount of water on Earth. Hard to fathom.

It's incredible how humans are attracted to water. The larger the body of water, the stronger the pull they feel.

The ocean takes upon itself the tall task of hosting billions of visitors each year.

Majestic lakes at the most famous national parks greet millions with a shimmer and a ripple.

Thousands will descend upon a city pool over the course of a summer.

We would die in 3 days without water.

Is that fact of necessity what causes us to derive such a strong emotion from its presence?

Day 5

The difference in the form of existence for humans is drastically different in the year 2000 than it was in the year 1000. Not even comparable.

Looking forward to the year 3000, it's hard to imagine what life will be like. Despite my inability to envision this environment, I'm willing to stake my claim that it will be more than 10 times different than the first comparison.

If I'm going to be dead before the end of this century, why dedicate the little time that I have to thinking about an era far beyond my biological reach?

I would love to have a movie-like motivating speech for you that rouses your excitement to deliver a short verse in the overall play of humanity but the fact is that we won't be able to measure our impact while we live.

I can't think of a single person that society reveres that didn't affect more lives in a positive way after they passed away than they were able to influence before their death.

For the Christians, Christ helped thousands during his life but his influence far exceeds that now.

Gandhi set his sights on helping a few hundred million people achieve the pride of independence and the amount of people in that nation alone enjoying this benefit has nearly quadrupled.

Steve Jobs created what became the worlds most valuable company but the value of startups that will be created by entrepreneurs he indirectly inspired will cumulatively dwarf any valuation Apple has ever received.

Humans often act according to their self interests. I think the way the phrase "self interests" is generally used gives it a negative connotation, but the figures listed above, along with limitless others, have shown us how personal endeavors can become noble and far-reaching.

Day 4

I generally like to believe that I make data driven decisions. However, I find that phrase is far too prevalent in communities where valuable innovation is persistently pursued. 

I find that most people tend to focus on the word "data" in that phrase and not enough on "driven decisions". 

Being resolute in a decision and firmly pursuing it with an understand of what outcome you are hoping for yields far better experience than simply examining data and letting the wind take your ship farther into the ocean of indecision as you wait for the next data point to guide you. 

It's incredible how many people I interact with on a daily basis that tell me they've now started doing something new because an article they read stated that a "subject" who does "insert action" in "this" way sees "this result". 

Gleaning insights from the experience of others is invaluable. Gathering data to inform your actions is preferable. I'd simply caution to remain biased towards action and give that gut feeling a chance now and then. 

Let's face it. You'll never seen an article titled "People who follow their gut feelings are seeing are 50% increase in...". Just because it's difficult to study and quantify does not mean it should not be given weight to. 

Data driven decisions is a safe way to have predictable and incremental results. If you're hoping to challenge a gorilla in the market, it is likely they not only have access to more data, but more analytical tools and the talent to inform their next decision. 

Don't challenge the gorilla to see who is faster at climbing the tree. Make the gorilla compete in a way that the infrastructure it possesses, which is the source of its pride at the moment, now severely limits its ability to compete. 

Do something crazy that doesn't make sense. 

Day 3

"the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way." 

That is the definition of motivation. 

We tend to believe some people are self motivated and others lack that drive. Examining the definition of motivation, we can see that motivation is simply a second order consequence to reason. 

The natural man first examines his needs and his actions then align with his incentives to acquire those needs. 

As the person examines the options they have in reaching their "reason", their ability to perceive control of a myriad of variables will affect how voraciously they pursue the endeavor. 

Two people desire to accomplish the same task and reason to pursue it. If the first believes their actions have little effect on the outcome, motivation dwindles. If the second believes that they have the ability to manipulate the outcome, motivation skyrockets because input is perceived to exchange favorably for output. 

Millions of managers, parents, and teachers are constantly considering how they might motivate their subjects.  A better paradigm might be "How do I help someone establish a reason and then perceive control of the situation?" The second order consequence then follows. 

Day 2

Thinking of what to write about is easy. The constraint is conveying the exact emotion you want to the reader. 

How might I tell a story of a time I endured extreme cold and beg of empathy from the reader when other humans have persisted through far more rigid temperatures? Does the meter on the thermostat determine the ferocity of language that I'm allowed to use in this supplication? 

While the temperature may have been the first domino to fall, it is not the cause of my despair. It's how I felt in that moment of darkness. 

I don't want you to have to experience the cold. I just want you to feel how I felt. 

That bitter moment of my life was endured at the base of a mountain in which Jack Kerouac spent a summer atop of in a fire lookout. 

The words to describe this story, like others, are elusive because they don't let you feel how I feel. 

I resonate with Jack in that "One day I will find the right words and they will be simple". 

Day 1

Was this mental coercion? Let's check the definition.

Coercion : the practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats.

Could be. Only time will tell.

Anyways.

Writing is unique. For example, most people would stare dazed and confused if I started making up words. Unimaginable combinations of our latin alphabet. Interpreting the implication or intention of the word would be irritatingly impossible.

Although ole spear shaker is given credit for creating or repurposing about 1,700 words. As the centuries tick away, we can't fathom a lexicon that lacks such lauded linguistics.

The best words are crazy until they are not.