In the spirit of juxtaposition, this week’s theme is Be Competitive! Last week we looked inward and tried to center ourselves; this week we look outward and consider how competition is embedded in our lives. Competition drives innovation in fair markets and it also pushes us to be a little bit better than we thought we … Continued
The word mindful didn’t always carry much weight with me. But a recent conversation helped me better understand what it means, and set me on a journey to actively pursue mindfulness. I thought mindfulness was about caring, putting others before yourself, and just being an all-around nice guy. You know, being mindful of others. Then I came across a … Continued
We’ve all had a wonderful and busy summer. Be proud of what you have accomplished! Take a minute to taste what you have done, and give yourself a nice treat. But remember: we’re not going to stop here. Let’s move forward and keep our buckets full.
Fostering is all about taking something in that isn’t yours and giving it a positive, nurturing environment. The end goal is to give it the love and care that it needs until it finds a ‘forever home’. Sometimes the things we foster are less than perfect, but with guidance, they can be transformed. This week, … Continued
It’s easy to get stuck into an endless, monotonous loop. This week, try to focus on changing that. When you’re in a situation that seems inescapable, do whatever you can to get out of it. Continue from last week and do something out of character. Find help if you need it.
This week, try something out of character. Step outside your ingrained personality box and experiment with an opposing mindset. Don’t limit yourself in the way you think about a question or problem. By actively experimenting with the way we think, we will hopefully become more creative problem solvers and more empathetic individuals. If you are a … Continued
We work on hard problems, and from time to time, the problem seems more like a brick wall. This week, instead of trying to use your head as a sledgehammer, walk away. Usually, walking away and taking a breath gives you a new perspective on the problem. Solutions frequently come to me in the shower; most likely because … Continued
Kids are inherently curious. Around three years old, every kid goes through a “why” phase — a couple weeks or months where every single thing anyone tells them is met with “WHY?” They don’t care about the facts before them. They want to know the motivation, the rationale, the science behind the facts. Why did … Continued
As a designer, my work is informed by a number of factors: the needs of the user, industry trends, and personal aesthetics. As a human, my actions are informed in similar ways: the moods of others, their needs, and my own. In both, I’m in constant pursuit of empathy. Empathy is a skill. Empathy takes … Continued
We all wish we had more time, money, and knowledge to make the things we want to make, but sometimes these constraints are an advantage in disguise. Constraints force you to make do with what you’ve got, and get creative in ways you wouldn’t otherwise consider. Instead of seeing your constraints as barriers, think of them as puzzles. … Continued
One theme, two ideas: 1. There’s only one you. So bring your whole self to work. The separation of your “work persona” from your “home persona” is a particularly pernicious part of our economic system, encouraging us to be professional robots instead of vulnerable human beings. If we are building a better place to work, we … Continued
This week, do without doing. Be at one with your work. Cultivate a still and watchful mind as you work, so as to see the most natural way to design or implement something. Find your flow and the task will be accomplished without effort. Make simple changes to things as they are; then the change … Continued
We often talk about maintaining a healthy work/life balance, but what does that really mean? This week’s theme is about the rest of that system: the lever and the fulcrum. Because how and where you apply pressure will affect the amount of force necessary to create change. Challenge yourself to think about how your professional life and … Continued
I wanted to pick something that might be helpful to you but more so, appropriate coming from me. And whatever that implies. So this week, I’m going to ask you to MAKE A LIST of THREE THINGS for EACH DAY. Step 1: Open your computer, get ready to work. Step 2: Write down three things that you want … Continued
This week, we’re challenging everyone to say YES. What’s the question, you ask? What exactly am I agreeing to here? Anything. Everything! So often, new or unexpected questions/requests/requirements drive us straight to the negative places in our brains: I don’t know how to do that. I don’t think it can be done. There are a million … Continued