My Wife Is Not Google

I've had a lot of ponderous moments lately after listening to the audio version of "The Shallows" by Carr and starting into "Cognitive Surplus" by Shirky, I've been asking myself, "What has the Internet...and more specifically Google..done to MY brain?"

  1. The Internet has made me a great party favor among my less digerati friends, "Hey iphone boy...what year did Diver Down come out?" (seconds later...the answer via google)
  2. The Internet has enabled the thought stream pouring from my mind to outpace the ability of my fingers to to keep up when typing.
  3. The Internet has given me awareness of just how fast things are moving and how difficult it is for businesses to keep up.  If you aren't immersed...how COULD you keep up?
  4. The Internet has taught me that more information is not what makes one more valuable.  What makes one valuable is the ability to filter the vast yet growing torrent of available attention grabbers (data/media/information) into meaningful trends, analyses, and decisions.
There are more items too numerous to list that I can attribute to the web.

But I think what's most important is that I've learned that my wife is not Google.  I have over the last few years I've increasingly applied the same "Google Modalities" to interactions with my wife. 

  1. Give me instant answers.
  2. Be efficient.
  3. Be always on.
  4. I Always find what I'm looking because I'm a good searcher.
  5. I rarely pay attention to page 2.
  6. The answers to any question about me, my schedule, and my thoughts are out there in the cloud for you to see.
What I'm learning is that the more I treat my wife like Google...the more like the Google Algorithm I become.  The cold mechanized assimilation of bits to create a self-aware consciousness is no way to cultivate wonder with your mate.

I'm making some changes to be less connected and more "available and engaged" vs. just "being there"...not because I've been asked to...but because I'm certain it's the right thing to do. 

 

The Shallows Drives Execution - The Depths Drive Strategy

So I'm driving this morning and listening to "The Shallows" by Nick Carr and something hits me so hard I had to pause the audio book and contemplate what I'd discovered about myself.

I use my web skimming, hyper-active, totally immersed, always-on, matrix like connectivity to execute in business.   and...
I use my slow down, book reading, long term, ponderous, simplified thinking to be strategic in business.

These items may seem trivial and obvious but I'd challenge you to look at your own situation and ask, "Am I applying true strategic thinking and perspective to a challenge?  Or am I just using my web skills to rapidly and blindly apply quick fixes to the challenge because they're in my comfort zone?"

The web has absolutely rewired my psyche, as Carr discusses in The Shallows, to manage vast volumes of snippet based information with constant interruption.  However I'm taking cognitive steps to maintain the deep thinking "slow twitch" process of immersion into longer texts, books, and strategic thinking to balance my skills and my life.

There's a distinct lack of strategic thinking out there (maybe look at Government as an example) so perhaps the ability to simply read a 200 page book and to think critically applying lessons learned will become a high value skill set and job description line item.  I can see it now:

  • Must be able to read a 200 page paper book without checking email on blackberry or sending a text message.
What other skills do you see on the job description of the future strategic thinker role?
 

Calling all Holistic Medicine Practitioners and Natural Foodists

I will admit I'm homeopathic skeptic (honed in part by the smarts of Brian Dunning).  I agree that your practices have value, make people feel better, and can improve quality of life dramatically.  I just don't agree with wild eyed medical claims of miracle pain relief, longer life, and less disease per capita among followers of your practices.  But I'm in a bit of a pickle.

Background
I have what amounts to massive arthritis and a seriously degenerated meniscus in my left knee. (Caused by a small missing bone chunk on the knuckle of my left femur removed in late 90's after osteochondritis dissecans caused the piece to eventually separate and it was removed.)  Back then, there were no real options to "fill in the missing spot with some nice smooth material" to avoid the constant grinding away of cartilage over the years.  I remember asking the Doctor "What does the future hold for my knee" and he said, "Just don't choose a career where you go up and down ladders for a living."  Allrightythen.  There probably were options then but what can you do...you listen to your Doctor and move on.

Fast forward 20+ years to about 6 months ago.  The usual cracking, grinding, and occasional "give out" in my knee turned into constant pain and swelling.  MRI's and 2 great Orthopedists later and the diagnosis is the same:  There are no options that will provide real relief.  You can try braces, daily anti-inflammatories , injections (cortisone or orthvisc) but those are questionable at best, can be pricey, and won't work forever.  Your only real option is knee replacement but DON'T do that until you are older and/or really not able to function because although very safe...SOMEONE WILL BECOME the outlier who has infection, a failed replacement requiring multiple tries, amputation (above the knee), and of course...the ultimate complication--death. 

I agree with the docs and appreciate their tactics.  Suffer and deal because if you can still function and work around it, no sense in hacking off your parts plus technology does improve so longer waits could mean Steve Austin like bionics.  So I'm in a position where I'd prefer not to take the drugs daily and I'm limping full-time which I know is causing "gait modification" which is causing muscle tension/strain/atrophy, etc. and my mind is subconsciously using this as a crutch to avoid exercise. (Yes cycling and swimming are great alternatives but I'm suggesting that my brain is giving me an out. Psychology yes.  Easy to overcome...not right now.  Additionally, I've let my weight creep to gastronomic proportions and I realize that 60lbs less down force on said knee must be a good thing.

Offer
I am willing to submit to the wishes of a holistic-natural regimen to improve my knee and overall wellness stemming from my situation if a local Des Monies based person (or team) would care to do a case study on the results.  I'm making assumptions of course that this is valuable to you and your industry...but I may be WAY off here so excuse my ignorance.  Maybe you'd like me to lose 60lbs before we start so that element of variability is resolved...ok...let's do that.  I will become an advocate for you and share my story far and wide. 

I'd need you to provide me the supplements or treatments so I don't have to invest gobs of cash into this.  I will be honest and will follow your instructions explicitly.  CAVEAT: I do hope that your plan does not involve impossible requests like "never have a steak or a glass of wine" ever again.  If it does...I just don't see that happening and it's quite abnormal to advocate for complete elimination of things that can be consumed in moderation.  Fat doesn't kill.  Animal flesh doesn't kill.  Wine doesn't kill unless abused, etc.

Maybe I'm being silly and natural medicinal practices are so widely accepted that I need to just visit a health food store and pony up.  So be it.  But, if skeptical me can restore range of motion, reduce pain and edema, and get never have to get a knee replacement...I think we'll both win. 

You will find me 100 ways to Sunday if you're interested but the fastest method is doug AT mitchgroup DOT com. 

Please if you know someone, forward this on and let's see if this pathway holds promise.  Otherwise, I'm still hunting down clinical trials and such around the Interwebs. 

Thanks team.

 

Strategy vs. Execution

I execute.  We all know the "perpetual idea machines" out there...but through start-up life and regular life I'm sure you've noticed too that there are plenty of ideas and few who act.  Those who execute are typically viewed as being "successful" and "go-getters".  But when it comes to STRATEGY vs. EXECUTION, I like many struggle with wanting to dive and execute when times call for strategy development.  Recognizing this internal battle is key.  I see solutions through the prism of my own experience and execution filters.  Yes, they've served me well...but they are NOT universal.

So, here's a quote I just noticed from Obama's campaign mastermind David Plouffe, "The importance of creating a strategy.  He said “The most fundamental part of organizational success is creating a strategy and then running every decision through the prism of that plan.”

It's too easy to throw tactics (today most often the "social media kitchen sink") at any marketing opportunity.  Development of the strategy is the filter through which tactical tools can be deemed appropriate and supportive.

 

Unemployment Benefits Becoming a Way of Life

I've been reading quite a few pieces lately about how staffing/temp companies are having trouble filling jobs even at $12-$16/hour even though candidates have been out of work for over a year.  "But if I'm out there working for a lower wage I might miss the opportunities to get a higher paying job and I'll miss valuable networking opportunities so I need to stay unemployed" was one reason quoted by an interviewee (paraphrasing).

Did you know that in some states ex-workers can collect benefits for 99 weeks?  Yes, that's only a 5-week vacation short of TWO YEARS.  I can hear the grumbles now coming from a few mouths about fairness, safety nets, and social responsibility.  But when does it end? We always hear the stories about how there's just no work out there but I'd counter that there's plenty of work..it's probably however below the "wage tolerance" of the worker.  But if one has the financial mojo to make it (ie a spouse working, no/low bills, etc.) then we''ve set up the system to enable and encourage people to stay on the tax payers' payroll.  "We pay in so we deserve this" (I'll say it for you)"  "The unemployment pay is so tiny how can you consider this a big deal considering I used to make $xx,xxx/year".

Our state among many is still looking toward universally "free" pre-school too (ie your childcare paid for by all of us). If we extend unemployment to 5 years and pass free-preschool (probably starting at 9 weeks after birth because without proper socialization (indoctrination you know what happens), we just might experience another baby boom!  

So as a man who was obviously left behind and suffers greatly due to an employed dad, a stay at home mom, and no pre-school...please help me understand how WE will pay for this.
 

Will MLM for Dudes Work? ManCave thinks so...and so do I

Ok.  Today's Register has an article highlighting a brilliant idea that I wish I'd had called ManCave.  It's a Multi-level-marketing operation for men selling manly grilling and drinking stuff to other dudes.  Is this the end of the women's ownership of the "Get together with wine and food where women chat, drink, and eat while spending $50--$100 on 'free stuff"?  Steph hosts at least 6 parties per year to "get the credit so we can earn free stuff" and invariably that free stuff costs me $80-$125.  Oh reasons abound about why we need this or that or we need gifts for grammy and grampie for _____________ occasion.  Bottom line the model works and wives seem to use these gatherings to have social time and shopping simultaneously.  

 ManCave (based in MN) offers premium grilling and drinking products, accessories, and real meat centered around the BackYard BBQ where men have no trouble sitting and doing absolutely nothing except rambling on about nothing in particular (a male attribute that vexes women globally).  But will this work for dudes? Will we listen? Will we pull out our credit cards and swipe them on site after pounding a couple brats, a meat skewer, and a half dozen Three Floyds Gumball Heads? 

In a word...YES.  Dudes are typically meat, beer, and gadget centric.  These things are all simple and uncomplicated.  So is this business model and I believe it will thrive.  So ladies, I do believe the ladies night out to a Tastefully Simple  or Pampered Chef party has just met its match.  Welcome...MANCAVE and sorry to slaughter that sacred cow.  Moo. 
 

My Article on Des Moines Was Just Published on NewGeography

This article just went live today.  It really shares my thoughts on what puts Des Moines in a special place in my heart.

http://www.newgeography.com/content/001522-i-heart-des-moines
 

How quickly we get overloaded with information

I signed up for the New York Times and Washington Post early AM email summaries a while ago.  I enjoyed the early morning synopsis of events just to get my day rolling.  After a while, I saw how many more optional bits of information I could get...headlines, opinion, "the scoop" etc...so I signed up for about 5 more email alerts.  Within 2 days I was reading NOTHING and deleting ALL of the emails.  I went from "comfy and happy" to "overwhelmed and frustrated" by TAKING what they were giving. 

I'm back now to 2 emails per day with stories and headlines so I'm not caught off guard...then I have the Wall St. Journal on the iphone to get the "real story".

Ahhhhh
 

to the casual observer

I'm sure you get busy like I do...and maybe for a week at a time get stuck with headlines only vs. any deep dives into stories.  I've been in that situation over the last week or so and this is what I remember:
  1. Obama is going to make health care cost less and insure most people.
  2. Obama is going to make broadband affordable and available to all Americans.
  3. Obama is going to fix education at the Federal level.
When is he going to deliver perpetual motion and anti-matter?  Is anyone out there (regardless of party or beliefs) experiencing a little "Obama-giv-itis"?
 

As the snow melts...so are the days of our lives

We're returning to normal a bit more here in the Middle West.  Snow piles are almost gone.  We're headed into flooding season for the low landers.  We are getting more sunshine.  Neighbors are showing themselves again for the first time since early November.  Kids are riding bikes (man some have grown over the last 4 months).  Businesses seem just a bit more energized too.

It's almost as though there's a correlation we're seeing between season and willingness to make decisions and find the drive to push hard again. 
Do we have a "compressed willingness to make progress" here where it's colder and we're locked indoors for a few months?
Does lack of real sunshine drain people's life force subtly enough that they don't notice while they subconsciously choose hibernation?

I can "feel" a difference in only 2 weeks...and perhaps not ironically, 3 large businesses have come on board with us in the last 3 weeks.

Coinkydink?

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CA born and raised guy living the entrepreneurial dream in the heartland of Des Moines, Iowa.

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