Look at the picture. Vogue. Hyundai. TDK. Samsung. Coke and McDonald's of course. Think about your journey through a typical day. Billboards. TV. Podcasts. Magazines. Basically all of the internet. Each laden with marketing messages. And because I'm cheap, even this blog is flashing ads at you. Sorry about that. I'm starting to think that …
Who do you blame?
A teenager you know has started to smoke. A teenager you love. You've caught her. You're angry. Who do you blame? Is it the teenager? She has agency, doesn't she? She's smart. You know she's smart - you've talked to her about her feelings on religion, her interest in Buddhism. You know that she knows …
Normalised
"I, Pencil, am a complex combination of miracles" Leonard E. Read I saw a tweet today complaining that there was no snow, although snow was expected as per Michael Fish (or his modern day equivalent). Essentially, the tweeter was annoyed that we cannot predict future weather everywhere with 100% accuracy. It is amazing how easily we …
Two types work, two types of change
There are two types of work - running things and changing things. By "running things", I mean playing a defined role within a system. "Changing things" means helping to refine or remodel that system. There are two types of change - optimisation and overhaul. By "optimisation", I mean making an existing system more effective in achieving …
A thing
Everyone needs a thing, some expertise. Everyone needs a personal brand. Look on Twitter and especially LinkedIn. Most people have a thing. Some people don't, but then they call themselves Futurist, or whatever. I don't know what my thing is. I'm not an expert in anything (the smarter and more loyal among you probably inferred …
A little break
I haven't written for over a week. Partly as I've been busy. Partly as I wanted to feel what it feels like when one is not writing. What I noticed: Like a train, writing is hard to get going again once it stops. You need to keep on doing it. Momentum, baby. The big MO. …
A grand unified theory of humanity?
Physics has moved from a study of directly observable phenomena to a dual study of the very large and the very small. At one end, scientists observe the cosmos, black holes and gravity with ever more powerful telescopes. At the other, they search for the particles and waves that are the ingredients of electrons, protons …
Busy
I can't meet you this weekend. I'm busy. Sorry, I'm not free until mid-October. Work is so hectic right now! I've got so much to do. Most of the time, I am busy. Doing this, doing that. I was focused on advancing my career, delivering slides to clients to sit in their drawers. Focused on …
What should I wear?
What do you choose to wear? Depends, right? I find I'm thinking through a bunch of questions as I mindlessly throw something on in the morning. So, am I exercising or yoga-ing? What's the weather like? How much time do I have to get ready? Easy ones to start off with. Functionality is (usually) key. …
Vulnerable
What will she say? What will he think? How will they feel? I was afraid to be myself. I've been taught by parents, by school, by society to conform, to be quiet, to do what I'm told. I was afraid to share who I am. The more I explored, the more I questioned key societal …
musings of an untrained mind 