On the dot

Hardy is a first-grade student who followed instructions in school to earn prizes. He showed his mother the cheap plastic rewards he had received for standing quietly on a dot. The school system is seen as teaching children obedience and consumption through this practice. The post questions whether teaching children to "stand on a dot" or follow strict orders is necessary. There is a suggestion that people may have already spent too much of their lives conforming or "standing on dots." The post criticizes schools for implementing such practices in a very obvious and unapologetic manner. The author expresses concern over this teaching method, and its impact on both the individual and society at large.

#teaching#school#standing

Ride your own bike

Enjoying a bike ride is the main goal, not racing or speed. It's not necessary to have a high-end, handmade carbon bike to enjoy cycling. Cycling should be a personal experience, not a competition against others. It's okay to be slower than other cyclists; everyone rides at their own pace. The realization that biking isn't a race can make the experience more enjoyable. Speed isn't a measure of success in biking, the journey is. It's important not to compare yourself to other cyclists, as everyone has different skills and equipment.

#bike#experience#cyclists

The status quo is very good…

The status quo is persistent and excels at maintaining itself. New research indicates that computers and robots are now superior to humans at solving CAPTCHA puzzles. The eventual obsolescence of CAPTCHA puzzles is inevitable. The key question is when will these puzzles be phased out. The process of change requires someone to take responsibility and worry about the issue. Assembling a group to approve the shift from the status quo is a necessary step. The person leading the change must take responsibility for the outcomes following the shift. Managing a technological intervention can be challenging, especially when dealing... ...with individuals who prefer maintaining the status quo due to other priorities. It is often easier to be a bystander than to be a leader and initiate change.

#status#puzzles#change

Childish or childlike?

Childlike refers to the sense of wonder and ability to see the world with fresh eyes. Childlike behavior involves creating magic and perceiving things in a new light. Childish behavior suggests living without considering the consequences of actions. Adults often excel at assessing the long and short-term consequences of their actions. However, adults also tend to ignore these consequences. Adults can aim to be childlike, encompassing a sense of wonder and curiosity, without being childish and irresponsible. Being childlike is possible without engaging in childish behavior or neglecting responsibilities.

#behavior#consequences#Childlike

The unsurprising confusion about ‘per capita’

People often make assumptions based on vivid and distinctive answers rather than considering the actual numbers or ratios. Per capita crime rates are often higher in rural areas than in cities, despite the perception that cities are more dangerous. Alaska has a higher number of millionaires per capita, not because there are excessively... ...many millionaires, but because the overall population is underestimated. The importance lies in the percentage, not the absolute number when considering instances related to population size. People are not naturally inclined to consider the chances of seeing something in relation to the number of times they notice it. Despite the perception that flying is dangerous, it is statistically safer than driving. Similarly,... ...peer-reviewed medicine is more likely to cure illnesses than anecdotal remedies. The average social media post is seen by a small number of people, even if it feels like the ones we see are seen by many. Reality can be complicated and considering the source of information can help clarify what is actually happening.

#number#considering#People

Defending the apostrophe

The use of apostrophes is often misused or overlooked in everyday language. There are instances where apostrophes are added where they are not needed and omitted where they are necessary. Despite these mistakes, language is constantly evolving and the role of the apostrophe may be changing. Some people use apostrophes incorrectly in an attempt to sound more intelligent, while... ...others avoid them altogether to save the hassle of figuring out their correct usage. There are always those who will try to defend and preserve language rules, but language changes regardless of these efforts. The cycle of informal language becoming formal, then prestigious, and then obsolete is a common trend. This process is likely to speed up due to advances in technology. Artificial Intelligence appears to have a good grasp on the correct use of apostrophes.

#language#apostrophes#correct

Now in Spanish

The Carbon Almanac, a book about climate change, is now available in Spanish. The Spanish version is free to download, share, and print. Despite being published in multiple languages (Italian, Czech, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Dutch), no Spanish-language... ...publisher wanted to publish it, leading the authors to buy the rights and do it themselves. It is among about twenty international editions of the free Generation Carbon, a Carbon Almanac book for children. These books have been downloaded and shared millions of times. A global network of volunteers created a foundational text for the urgent discussion about our climate. The English edition of the book has won awards. Special acknowledgment is given to Anna Kohler Smith and her team of volunteers for leading the entire... ...Spanish translation process, from conceptualization to rights acquisition to publication.

#Spanish#Carbon#book

For customers vs to customers

Companies need to decide if they are working for their customers, giving them what they want, or if they are trying to extract more income from them. Serving customers does not necessarily mean lowering prices, but providing greater value for what they pay. Companies should use their resources to serve customers in ways that would make them miss the company if it were gone. Many companies are using software and AI to improve their profits, but not enough are using them to enhance the customer experience. Amazon is testing a new format for displaying product reviews, which could impact merchants, profits, and consumer purchases. The new format might not give as much advantage to higher-rated items, pushing vendors to buy ads and run coupons instead of improving their product. Companies that make it difficult for customers to unsubscribe or push unnecessary options risk losing the ability to serve others. Organizations that prioritize serving themselves over their customers may eventually lose their customer base.

#customers#Companies#serve

Cram Down – A Test of Character for VCs and Founders

Cram downs are a practice used by venture capitalists to provide more cash to struggling startups, but with unfavorable new terms for the founders. This practice was popular after the dotcom crash, and is making a resurgence due to changing economic conditions. Cram downs often involve re-writing stock agreements, forcing existing investors to participate... ...in the new financing or lose out, and can significantly devalue common shares. Venture capitalists justify this practice as their fiduciary responsibility or good business, however, it can be seen as abusive and usurious. Startups that are struggling to find product/market fit, generate sufficient revenue, or lack patient capital are especially vulnerable to cram downs. Founders agree to cram downs out of desperation to keep their company afloat, often compromising their ethical stance in the process. The article suggests that cram downs would not exist without the founder's agreement and encourages founders to consider walking away and starting afresh. The author argues that cram down funding is not a lifeline but a noose, as it often leaves... ...employees with little to show for their work and rarely turns around a failing business. Founders are advised to take time to consider alternatives, seek advice, and visualize what life might be like after their company ends. The article concludes by suggesting that if a founder is prepared to walk away, they might end up with a much better deal.

#downs#cram#practice

The useful agreement

Written contracts do not have to be adversarial but should be effective. It's important to highlight the controversial or complicated parts of an agreement when presenting it to someone. The best time to understand an agreement is when you sign it, not later. The author plans to publish a post about a new project, which will be posted four hours later than usual to accommodate different time zones.

#agreement#time#later

NFL Draft Day Decisions

Bill Walsh, the San Francisco 49ers Head Coach, had a specific plan for the 1986 draft, targeting three specific players. However, all three of his desired players were picked before his selection, forcing Walsh to quickly adapt his strategy. Despite this setback, Walsh remained composed and did not act out of desperation or disappointment. Instead of focusing on short-term wins, Walsh traded with Dallas and Buffalo, which allowed... ...him more assets and kept him in a position to select the next player he wanted. Walsh then formulated a new plan, identifying his strengths and weaknesses and re-evaluating which players now qualified. He also ensured that he was receiving the best advice from his evaluators, filtering out potential misinformation. Despite the change in plans, Walsh maintained the same enthusiasm and commitment to his new plan. As a result of this adaptive strategy, the 49ers ended up with one of the most successful drafts... ...in NFL history, obtaining eight starters who would later help the team win Super Bowls. Walsh's experience demonstrates the importance of flexibility and adaptability in decision-making,... ...with the final outcome being more important than the initial plan.

#Walsh#plan#players

Dreams and roadblocks

Understanding the desires and interests of the people you are serving is the first step towards achieving your dreams. Identifying the obstacles that prevent these people from getting what they want is the second step. Helping people achieve their goals when they are ready makes marketing efforts more effective.

#people#step

Sunday Thinking

The Sunday Thinking newsletter is designed to stimulate thought processes for the week ahead. The concept of the "Power of Three" - stillness, solitude, and space - is important for making good decisions. Stillness allows for clarity, solitude reduces noise, and space provides distance from others' opinions and expectations. Self-awareness is cultivated through life auditing and questioning, focusing on small victories and daily improvements. Questions for morning reflection include identifying things to be grateful for, desired feelings for the day, and commitments. Evening reflection questions include identifying who was helped, what brought joy, and accomplishments of the day. Thriving is an art and involves using "no" as a complete sentence, continuously rediscovering oneself, and balancing empathy for others with self-empathy. An important aspect of thriving is knowing when to speak, listen, leave, pivot, pause, and persevere. The newsletter promotes a new way to get wine deals through WineText, which offers daily deals with potential savings up to 70% off. Reflection question for the week: "What are some things you've had to unlearn in order to move forward?" Weekly intentions include feeding imagination, choosing ease over hurry, keeping promises... ...to oneself, being intentional with habits, and engaging with the present moment. Recognizing that the biggest obstacle to inner peace is our own reactions to situations is crucial to developing self-awareness and calmness.

#include#newsletter#week

Why The Pentagon Can’t Count: It’s Time to Reinvent the Audit

The Pentagon has repeatedly failed its financial audit due to its complex and massive financial management systems. Auditing the Department of Defense (DoD) is a massive task as it involves counting the location... ...and condition of every piece of military equipment, property, inventory, and supplies. The DoD is the largest employer in the country with 2.9 million people and has 643,900 assets... ...ranging from buildings, pipelines, roads, and fences to aircraft and battle force ships. Despite spending close to a billion dollars annually on auditing, the Pentagon has consistently failed to meet audit standards comparable to private companies. The DoD could innovate in auditing by leveraging new technology and approaches, including predictive analytics, fraud detection, and machine learning. The DoD has a history of leading business innovation, such as creating the COBOL programming... ...language in 1959, demonstrating its potential to innovate in the auditing sector. By allocating 10% of the auditing budget to Small Business Innovation Research programs, the DoD could... ...stimulate the creation of new startups in the auditing/data management/finance space each year. The DoD could also work with existing government audit standards bodies to create new machine-driven and semi-automated audit standards. Such investment could lead to the establishment of a defense audit center of excellence, fostering academic research and public-private partnerships. These actions could drastically reduce audit costs, standardize the DoD's financial management environment, and improve budget transparency. Despite these potential benefits, the DoD has not pursued this innovative approach, missing... ...an opportunity to lead in the development of next-generation auditing tools and services. Transformational, contrarian, and disruptive advice is needed to drive change within large organizations like the DoD. The DoD should consider if the high cost of auditing is leading to greater efficiency and better management, or if there might be more effective approaches.

#auditing#audit#management

Lessons on Leadership: Michael Abrashoff on Turning the Worst Ship in the Navy into the Best

Michael Abrashoff transformed the USS Benfold from being one of the worst-performing ships... ...in the navy to the highest-performing within three years without changing the crew. Abrashoff encourages organizations to reward risk-takers and innovators, not those who avoid change and controversy. He believes that the key to leadership is understanding oneself first, which can lead... ...to a transformation in how leaders interact with their team and make decisions. He stresses that leaders need to allow their subordinates to fulfill their talents to the utmost, emphasizing that... ...many limitations are self-imposed by the leader due to their own fears, ego needs, and unproductive habits. Abrashoff argues that command-and-control is not the most efficient way to tap into people's intelligence... ...and skills. Instead, he advocates for creating a culture where employees take ownership. He believes that rules should be questioned and challenged, as many may become obsolete over time. Abrashoff found that people leave organizations mostly due to lack of respect, inability to impact the... ...organization, not being listened to, and not being given more responsibility, rather than low pay. He suggests leaders should see the world through the eyes of their subordinates, which can make it easier to identify and address problems. Abrashoff criticizes systems that reward micromanagement, which he believes disempowers subordinates and removes ownership and accountability. He encourages leaders to constantly seek better ways to do things and to implement processes that people enjoy carrying out. Abrashoff argues against creating extensive rules and policies for every possible contingency, as they become difficult to change and discourage ownership. He believes that giving the right people direction and autonomy increases the odds of success. Instead of rules, Abrashoff suggests organizations should use principles, allow for exceptions... ...and judgement, and train people to think and make decisions on their own. His book, "It's Your Ship," details the techniques he used to win trust, create an environment where people felt accountable, and gain commitment.

#Abrashoff#people#believes