employee and leadership

“Do you know what leadership means, Lord Snow? It means that the person in charge gets second guessed by every clever little twat with a mouth. But if he starts second guessing himself, that’s the end. For him, for the clever little twats, for everyone. This is not the end. Not for us. Not if you lot do your duty for however long it takes to beat them back. And then you get to go on hating me, and I get to go on wishing your wildling whore had finished the job.”
―Ser Alliser Thorne to Jon Snow

2018 Is Shaping(SHāp) Up to Be the Fourth-Hottest Year. Yet We’re Still Not Prepared for Global Warming.

It’s hot. But it may not be the new normal yet. Temperatures(-ˌCHo͝or,ˈtemp(ə)rəCHər) are still rising(rīz).

By Somini Sengupta

This summer of fire and swelter(ˈsweltər) looks a lot like the future that scientists(ˈsīəntist) have been warning about in the era(ˈerə,ˈi(ə)rə) of climate(ˈklīmit) change, and it’s revealing(riˈvēliNG) in real time how unprepared much of the world remains(riˈmānz) for life on a hotter planet(ˈplanit).

The disruptions(disˈrəpSHən) to everyday life have been far-reaching and devastating(ˈdevəˌstātiNG). In California(-nēə,ˌkaləˈfôrnyə), firefighters are racing(rās) to control(kənˈtrōl) what has become the largest fire in state history. Harvests(ˈhärvist) of staple(ˈstāpəl) grains(grān) like wheat((h)wēt) and corn(kôrn) are expected to dip(dip) this year, in some cases sharply, in countries as different as Sweden(ˈswēdn) and El Salvador(ˈsalvəˌdôr,ˌsalvəˈdôr). In Europe, nuclear(-kli(ə)r,ˈn(y)o͞oklēər) power plants have had to shut down because the river(ˈrivər) water that cools the reactors was too warm. Heat waves on four continents(ˈkäntnənt) have brought electricity(əˌlekˈtrisədē) grids(grid) crashing.

And dozens(ˈdəzən) of heat-related(riˈlātid) deaths in Japan this summer offered a foretaste(ˈfôrˌtāst) of what researchers warn could be big increases in mortality(môrˈtalətē) from extreme(ikˈstrēm) heat. A study last month in the journal(ˈjərnl) PLOS Medicine(ˈmedisən) projected a fivefold(ˈfīvˌfōld) rise for the United(yo͞oˈnīt) States by 2080. The outlook for less wealthy(ˈwelTHē) countries is worse; for the Philippines(ˈfiləˌpēnz), researchers forecast(ˈfôrˌkast) 12 times more deaths.

Globally, this is shaping up to be the fourth-hottest year on record. The only years hotter were the three previous(ˈprēvēəs) ones. That string of records is part of an accelerating(əkˈseləˌrāt) climb(klīm) in temperatures since the start of the industrial(inˈdəstrēəl) age that scientists say is clear evidence(ˈevədəns) of climate(ˈklīmit) change caused(kôz) by greenhouse gas emissions(iˈmiSHən).

…
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/climate/summer-heat-global-warming.html

Use the tricks(trik) that worked on you.

By Derek Sivers

Find a media outlet that writes about new music.

You’ll read about so many artists that you’ve never heard(hərd) of before, and see their photos too.

Out of all of them, only one or two will really catch your attention(əˈtenCHən).

Why? I don’t have the answer(ˈansər). Only you do. Ask yourself why a certain headline or photo or article caught your attention.

Was it something about the opening sentence(ˈsentns)? Was it a curious(ˈkyo͝orēəs) tidbit(ˈtidˌbit) about the singer’s background? What was it exactly that intrigued(inˈtrēɡ) you?

Analyze(ˈanlˌīz) that. Use that. Adapt(əˈdapt) those techniques to write a headline or article about your music.

This also helps you get into the mindset of seeing yourself from others’ point of view.

https://sivers.org/wwoy

Hillary Clinton(ˈklintən) Concession(kənˈseSHən) Speech

…

This is not the outcome we wanted or we worked so hard for, and I’m sorry we did not win this election(əˈlekSH(ə)n) for the values we share and the vision(ˈviZHən) we hold for our country.

But I feel pride(prīd) and gratitude(ˈgratəˌt(y)o͞od) for this wonderful(ˈwəndərfəl) campaign(kamˈpān) that we built together. This vast(vast), diverse(dəˈvərs, dīˈvərs), creative, unruly(ˌənˈro͞olē), energized(ˈenərˌjīz) campaign. You represent(ˌrepriˈzent) the best of America, and being your candidate(-dit,ˈkandiˌdāt) has been one of the greatest honors(ˈänər) of my life.

I know how disappointed(ˌdisəˈpointid) you feel, because I feel it too. And so do tens of millions of Americans who invested(inˈvest) their hopes and dreams in this effort(ˈefərt). This is painful, and it will be for a long time. But I want you to remember this.

Our campaign was never about one person, or even one election. It was about the country we love and building an America that is hopeful, inclusive(inˈklo͞osiv), and big-hearted(härt). We have seen that our nation is more deeply divided(diˈvīd) than we thought. But I still believe in America, and I always will. And if you do, then we must accept(əkˈsept) this result and then look to the future. Donald Trump is going to be our president(ˈprez(ə)dənt,ˈprezəˌdent). We owe(ō) him an open mind and the chance to lead. Our constitutional(ˌkänstəˈt(y)o͞oSHənl) democracy(diˈmäkrəsē) enshrines(enˈSHrīn) the peaceful(ˈpēsfəl) transfer of power.

We don’t just respect that. We cherish(ˈCHeriSH) it. It also enshrines the rule of law; the principle(ˈprinsəpəl) we are all equal in rights and dignity(ˈdignitē); freedom of worship(ˈwərSHəp) and expression(ikˈspreSHən). We respect and cherish these values, too, and we must defend(dəˈfend) them.

…
https://www.vox.com/2016/11/9/13570328/hillary-clinton-concession-speech-full-transcript-2016-presidential-election

Brain(brān) Gain(gān): A Person Can Instantly(ˈinstəntlē) Blossom(ˈbläsəm) into a Savant(saˈvänt,sə-)–and No One Knows Why

Some people suddenly become accomplished(əˈkämpliSHt) artists(ˈärtist) or musicians with no previous(ˈprēvēəs) interest or training. Is it possible innate(iˈnāt) genius(ˈjēnyəs) lies dormant(ˈdôrmənt) within everyone?

By Darold A. Treffert

Savant syndrome(ˈsinˌdrōm) comes in different forms. In congenital(kənˈjenətl) savant syndrome the extraordinary(ikˈstrôrdnˌerē,ˌekstrəˈôrdn-) savant ability surfaces in early childhood. In acquired(əˈkwī(ə)r) savant syndrome astonishing(əˈstäniSHiNG) new abilities, typically in music, art or mathematics(maTH(ə)ˈmatiks), appear unexpectedly in ordinary persons after a head injury(ˈinjərē), stroke(strōk) or other central(ˈsentrəl) nervous(ˈnərvəs) system (CNS) incident(ˈinsidənt) where no such abilities or interests were present(priˈzent,ˈprezənt) pre-incident(pri).

But in sudden savant syndrome an ordinary person with no such prior(ˈprīər) interest or ability and no precipitating(prəˈsipəˌtāt ) injury or other CNS incident has an unanticipated(ˌənanˈtisəˌpātid), spontaneous(spänˈtānēəs) epiphany(iˈpifənē)-like moment where the rules and intricacies(ˈintrikəsē) of music, art or mathematics, for example, are experienced(ikˈspi(ə)rēənst) and revealed(riˈvēl), producing almost instantaneous(ˌinstənˈtānēəs) giftedness and ability in the affected(əˈfektid) area(ˈe(ə)rēə) of skill sets. Because there is no underlying disability such as that which occurs in congenital(kənˈjenətl) or acquired(əˈkwī(ə)r) savant syndromes, technically sudden(ˈsədn) savant syndrome would be better termed sudden genius.

…
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/brain-gain-a-person-can-instantly-blossom-into-a-savant-and-no-one-knows-why/

Is Becoming Wealthy(ˈwelTHē) Inherently(-ˈher-,inˈhi(ə)rənt) Evil(ˈēvəl)?

By Steve Pavlina

Is it morally(ˈmär-,ˈmôrəl) wrong to attempt to become wealthy?

It’s no surprise to me that the Million Dollar(ˈdälər) Experiment(ikˈsperəmənt), while mostly getting a highly positive reception, has also uncovered(ˌənˈkəvərd) some opposition(ˌäpəˈziSHən) from people who believe the pursuit(pərˈso͞ot) of financial(fī-,fəˈnanCHəl) wealth(welTH) is inherently greedy, selfish, immoral(i(m)ˈmôrəl), or just plain(plān) evil.

How do you feel about the whole idea of having more money than you need? A lot more. Excess(ikˈses,ˈekses) cash. Does that concept excite(ikˈsīt) you or make you feel uncomfortable(-ˈkəmftərbəl,ˌənˈkəmfərtəbəl)? Is is attractive(əˈtraktiv) or repulsive(riˈpəlsiv)? A mixture(ˈmiksCHər) of both perhaps? Do you feel you’d have to compromise(ˈkämprəˌmīz) your integrity(inˈtegritē) in order to achieve this goal?

What about earning money very quickly? A fast turnover(ˈtərnˌōvər). Making a quick buck(bək). Does that raise(rāz) some level of indignation(ˌindigˈnāSHən) within you?

If a friend were to say to you, “You know what. I’m going to go ahead and become rich,” how would you react? Would you assume(əˈso͞om) this person has become a “sell out” or is about to compromise their integrity? Would you ridicule(ˈridiˌkyo͞ol) them for even setting this goal? How would you feel after they achieved the goal? How would you feel if they failed(fāld) and gave up?

Isn’t it interesting to witness(ˈwitnis) the complex(ˌkämˈpleks, kəmˈpleks, ˈkämˌpleks) feelings that arise(əˈrīz) when we examine(igˈzamən) our beliefs about money? Notice(ˈnōtis) that I haven’t even addressed the actual(ˈakCHo͞oəl) process of acquiring money in any of these situations(ˌsiCHo͞oˈāSHən), merely(ˈmi(ə)rlē) the notion of wealth itself.

What role does intention play in the pursuit of wealth? Is the very idea of intending to be wealthy inherently evil, corrupt(kəˈrəpt), or somehow wrong? Or can one become wealthy and still have integrity?

The level of “good” or “evil” you associate to money comes from your own beliefs and intentions, not from any innate(iˈnāt) quality(ˈkwälətē) that money possesses(pəˈzes). By itself money is neutral(ˈn(y)o͞otrəl) and powerless. Your own thoughts will serve to define the role of money in your life.

…
https://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/11/is-becoming-wealthy-inherently-evil/

What Do You Need To Feel Secure(səˈkyo͝or)?

By Steve Pavlina

One value that seems to hold a lot of people back from setting(ˈsetiNG) and achieving big goals is the need for security(səˈkyo͝orədē). Security is a feeling of certainty(ˈsərtntē) that everything is OK and that all your basic(ˈbāsik) needs will be provided for. On the surface there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s great to feel secure. Abraham(ˈābrəˌham) Maslow lists it as one of the basic human needs. If we don’t feel secure, we can’t move onto higher levels like love and self-actualization(ˈakCHo͞oəˌlīz). If we have doubts(dout) about paying the rent at the end of the month, how can we possibly go after our really big dreams? You gotta(ˈgätə) feel secure first, right?

So how is it that most self-made millionaires(ˈmilyəˌne(ə)r,ˌmilyəˈne(ə)r) in America started broke or in debt(det)? How is it that some people are able to start a new business while completely(kəmˈplētlē) broke and with little or no income and with no guarantee(ˌgarənˈtē) of success? Do entrepreneurial(ˌäntrəprəˈnərēəl) risk takers simply have a lower need for security? If you read the biographies(bīˈägrəfē) of very successful people, you see a common pattern again and again — from an external(ikˈstərnl) point of view, most of these people were not in a secure situation(ˌsiCHəˈwāSH(ə)n) when they started going after their dreams. Sylvester Stallone(stəˈlōn) was so broke he had to sell his dog in order to afford to keep shopping around his Rocky(ˈräkē) script (which no one would buy). Tony(ˈtōnē) Robbins(ˈräbənz) did his dishes in his bathtub(ˈbaTHˌtəb) because his tiny apartment had no kitchen. Brian Tracy(ˈtrāsē) was a day laborer(ˈlāb(ə)rər). Og Mandino was a homeless(ˈhōmlis) drunk(drəNGk) who wandered(ˈwändər) into libraries(-brərē,ˈlīˌbrerē) to stay warm. Babe(bāb) Ruth(ro͞oTH) started out in an orphanage(ˈôrfənij). While some successful people start out with a lot of advantages(ədˈvan(t)ij), most don’t.

Meanwhile(ˈmēnˌ(h)wīl), how is it that others who seem to be in a far more financially(fəˈnan(t)SH(ə)lē, fīˈnan(t)SH(ə)lē) secure situation are paralyzed(ˈparəˌlīzd) from taking action? People who have some money in the bank, a nice home, and a steady(ˈstedē) paycheck(ˈpāˌCHek) still don’t feel secure. Meanwhile, others with far worse starting positions pass them by. Why?

The reason isn’t that some people need security more than others. I think everyone needs to feel secure. The difference, however, is that the entrepreneurial-minded define security internally while others define(dəˈfīn) security externally.

…
https://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/01/what-do-you-need-to-feel-secure/

Away Luggage(ˈləgij): Our Story

What we believe

We live in an age of access(ˈakˌses). Anyone can go everywhere. The world is a shared(SHe(ə)r) place, and every trip is part of the exchange, no matter the destination(ˌdestəˈnāSHən). We believe in making connections: on the road, online, and in person. We value access over aspiration(ˌaspəˈrāSHən), and exploration(ˌekspləˈrāSHən) over escape(əˈskāp). For us, all time away is time well spent.

How we got there

What you take with you matters. Your luggage should pull more than its weight—it should be your home between homes, your closet(ˈkläzit) between closets, your outlet(ˈoutˌlet) between outlets. Because if you’re looking down at your dying(ˈdī-iNG) phone and broken bag, you can’t see up, out, and ahead to the world in front of you.

What we make

Quite simply: everything you need away—and nothing you don’t. We started with the perfect suitcase(ˈso͞otˌkās), then built from there, creating a range of travel(ˈtravəl) standards that speak(spēk) to different personal travel styles and needs, each one developed(diˈveləp) from the travel stories of friends and seatmates(sēt māt). Our pieces(pēs) aren’t “smart,” they’re thoughtful(ˈTHôtfəl), with features that solve real travel problems and premium(ˈprēmēəm) materials(məˈti(ə)rēəl) chosen to be resilient(riˈzilyənt) and beautiful. The result: travel standards that are perfectly, functionally(ˈfəNGkSHənl) minimal(ˈminəməl)—that help you find your way by staying out of it.

…
https://www.awaytravel.com/our-story

The Power(ˈpou(-ə)r) of Positive(ˈpäztiv,ˈpäzətiv) People

Are your friendships giving you a boost(bo͞ost) or bringing you down?

By Tara Parker-Pope

Are you spending time with the right people for your health and happiness?

While many of us focus primarily(prīˈme(ə)rəlē) on diet(ˈdī-it) and exercise to achieve better health, science(ˈsīəns) suggests that our well-being also is influenced(ˈinflo͝oəns) by the company(ˈkəmpənē) we keep. Researchers have found that certain health behaviors appear to be contagious(kənˈtājəs) and that our social networks — in person and online — can influence obesity(ōˈbēsitē), anxiety(aNGˈzī-itē) and overall happiness. A recent report found that a person’s exercise routine(ro͞oˈtēn) was strongly influenced by his or her social network.

I was reminded(riˈmīnd) recently of the power of the crowd during a wellness cruise(kro͞oz) sponsored(ˈspänsər) by Times Journeys(ˈjərnē). The event attracted(əˈtrakt) a group of like-minded travelers who, despite experiencing(ikˈspi(ə)rēəns) various(ˈve(ə)rēəs) levels of adversity(adˈvərsitē) in their lives, including cancer, vision(ˈviZHən) loss(läs,lôs) and the recent loss of a loved one, were remarkably(riˈmärkəbəl) optimistic(ˌäptəˈmistik) and upbeat(ˈəpˌbēt). The group ranged in age from 17 to 90. One inspiring(inˈspīriNG) man, in his 80s, had adopted(əˈdäpt) a vegan(ˈvejən,ˈvēgən) lifestyle(ˈlīfˌstīl) and a strict(strikt) exercise routine to control his diabetes(-tis,ˌdīəˈbētēz). Another new friend, a woman in her 50s who had survived(sərˈvīv) lung(ləNG) cancer, cheered(CHi(ə)r) me on and kept me going during a particularly(pə(r)ˈtikyələrlē) difficult workout.

After the trip(trip), we all promised(ˈpräməs) to keep in touch. Buoyed(boi,ˈbo͞o-ē) by the experience, I returned home with a renewed commitment(kəˈmitmənt) not only to exercise and healthful living, but to simply step up my social life and spend more time hanging out with happy people.

Dan Buettner, a National Geographic(ˌjēəˈgrafikə) fellow(ˈfelō) and author(ˈôTHər), has studied(ˈstədēd) the health habits of people who live in so-called blue zones — regions of the world where people live far longer than the average. He noted that positive friendships are a common theme in the blue zones.

“Friends can exert(igˈzərt) a measurable(ˈmeZH(ə)rəbəl) and ongoing influence on your health behaviors in a way that a diet never can,” Mr. Buettner said.

…
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/10/well/the-power-of-positive-people.html

Shine(SHīn) a spotlight(ˈspätˌlīt) on one idea at a time.

By Derek Sivers

Writing in this format(ˈfôrˌmat) of short little articles has been really rewarding.

I present(priˈzent,ˈprezənt) one little idea, something you can read in under two minutes, and shine a spotlight on it.

If it’s well-received(riˈsēv), I’ll see it tweeted(twēt), linked-to, forwarded, and shared on forums(ˈfôrəm).

The comments always improve upon it, making me see new perspectives(pərˈspektiv), or how I could have communicated it better.

I’m usually surprised(sə(r)ˈprīzd) by which ones get a reaction. Something obvious(ˈäbvēəs) to me may be powerful to others. Something powerful to me may be obvious to others.

But each idea gets its chance in the spotlight.

The work it takes to present it clearly and succinctly(sə(k)ˈsiNG(k)t) is rewarded, because it’s:

easier to communicate
easier to explain(ikˈsplān) to others
more likely to be read, instead of someone saying, “Too long, I’ll come back later,” never to return.

When I’ve written articles that were too long or had too many ideas, they didn’t get much of a reaction.

When I read books, I often feel bad for the brilliant(ˈbrilyənt) idea buried on page 217. How many people will read that?

Stop the orchestra(-ˌkestrə,ˈôrkistrə). Solo(ˈsōlō) that motif(mōˈtēf). Repeat it. Let the other instruments(ˈinstrəmənt) build upon it.

Present a single idea, one at a time, and let others build upon it.

https://sivers.org/1idea