I saw the photo of the founder on the wall of his teachers.
The greatest honor the school could give.
No one wanted to grant this so soon.
But it was no one’s choice.
The wheel of life keeps turning.
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Genuinely curious
Sometimes you gotta just crank for the deadline, but I think the best long term play for one’s career is to ask genuinely curious questions.
The more you understand, the better you can work with your team and distill information for the decision makers above you.
And the best way to get there is to ask.
I’ve often told consultants or vendors, talk to me like a fifth grader. Teach me the premise of the problem so I can wrap my head around the problem cogently.
Of course, sometimes you have to get all the real experts in the room to resolve an issue. But it helps to have a good sense of when its necessary to push the big red button.
Such an instinct is developed over a long period of time, adding knowledge day by day, taking advantage of the many learning opportunities along the way.
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Default Settings
What are the default settings that I work with?
When I open up the computer in the morning, its gmail, facebook, espn, huffington post. Unless I’m a good boy, in which case it’s the new post editor for this site.
Even though that initial four website scan is generally pretty fast, it is still ten minutes that I should be exercising, which is sorely lacking in my life.
Same with my food. We’ve fallen into a rut of going cheap at the local Burger King, down the block from the office. I think I need to start going a little further down the street to the Albertson’s and start buying salads.
Maybe the only default setting that doesn’t feel completely like a vice is when I’m feeling a little frazzled in the morning. If I have a spare moment, I’ll drop by the coffee shop, order an espresso and decompress. Occasionally there will be a lightning bolt of inspiration — I don’t know its the change of scenery, or the caffeine, but I’ll take it.
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Good places
When you find one in this world, hang on to them tightly. There is a sacredness to such places.
Time flows slowly but inexorably, inevitably such a place will transform and change, and it may no longer be the right place for you.
Savor the moment, and count yourself fortunate.
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Everybody helping
I guess I was a lucky kid, as I generally grew up with the assumption that people liked what they did with work.
Even though I’m lucky as an adult and I’ve enjoyed my jobs, that is clearly not an assumption I would make nowadays.
But still, that is a powerful ideal to reach for. Not necessarily overblown “follow your passion” BS, more of “find a job that you like and be a professional on days you don’t.”
And on the flip side, when you run into someone that doesn’t reach it, have a little pity for them.
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Nevada State College Cafe
I was about half an hour early to a meeting so I ended up grabbing a coffee at the campus cafe and surveyed the setting.
It was good to contemplate the users of my building. I needed to descend from the fog of bureaucracy and see the young women and men who will be using this building.
The people in that shop will be graduated by the time my building opens up, but the next round of future teachers of Clark County will be following right behind them.
And not long after, my daughter and then my son will be following behind them.
My two little ones are closer in age to these young folks than I am.
How time has flown.
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A dream, glimpsed briefly
Sometimes life will let you live your dreams.
However, what you thought may be years, may only be weeks, or merely minutes.
Life is both kind and cruel.
And yet, if a taste is all you get, then savor it.
After all, some dreams stay merely that.
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Velvet and Iron
The image of the iron fist in a velvet glove is a powerful one.
A simple dichotomy in a clear concise image.
A snapshot of careful politeness but a firm will.
But is it a good one to keep in mind?
Is it misplaced machismo hidden in a genteel setting?
Is this worldview too binary?
If not this frame, then what?
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A working relationship
As a two architect household, we had a heck of a time making decisions for our own house remodel, especially since I’m a bang it out guy and she’s a bit more of a pump the brakes gal. It definitely made for some interesting “conversations”.
Ultimately the exercise was a great crucible for the relationship, and I learned to completely trust her gut. Whenever she had the nagging vibe something wasn’t right — she was right. While it might take a while (and an unreasonable amount of effort) to come up with a better solution, the end result benefited from reevaluating the condition.
That said the house remodel did drag out an ungodly amount of time, but we were living rent free with my in laws and I get along well with them and I think they liked having the girl around to keep them amused.
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Whispers at the park
The Clark County park system has program where one can purchase a memorial plaque at a tree.
My girl has always been intrigued with these plaques, and she likes having them read out to her.
To her it’s all so abstract, but when I get something near 1979, my eyes open up.
They are reminders that life is short, and it runs quick.
Go make the most of this time, it’s what we got. Nothing more is promised.