Taking a Step Back

Sometimes trying to solve the problem at hand isn’t the best way to get a solution. Oftentimes when I take a step back and look up from the problem at hand, I discover a more simple solution. To take this concept even further, it’s been said that the best ideas come in the shower, and I think that’s because we’re …

The Road

The road, everyone walks on one and is headed somewhere. Our destination is something that we can intentionally choose or we wander aimlessly hoping to end up somewhere decent. The road itself is not the same for everyone. It is unique in location, twists and turns, and mountains and valleys, but the principles and lessons that can be learned are …

Perfect Practice

Practice makes perfect. It’s a simple phrase with good intentions but highly inaccurate. Perfect practice makes perfect. Learning to practice better is the journey. It’s not about perfection it’s about growth. It’s about refinement and intentional decision making. Improving how to practice is key. It requires reflection and correlation.

Corners

Corners are everywhere. They are milestones for our lives. They are course changing decisions that need to be made. Corners are always there; we just don’t see them until pressure is applied. Sometimes they are subtle other times they are blatant. Corners refine tribes and cultures and either unify or divide. Corners make or break leaders. They are also known …

Being Raw

Recently we’ve been documenting our own journey, and through reviewing what we’ve recorded, we can see more of the good and bad in our lives. We can see more of where we’re hiding and being fake because we don’t want to be rejected. The more we go on this journey, the more we’re discovering who we are instead of being …

Happenstance or Intentional

Humans are naturally intentional. When unintentionality is present, it’s simply because one chose to be.  Unintentionally is simply deferring the present to avoid being uncomfortable. We ignore the present to hold on to what we have rather than growing and improving to continue moving forward. Unintentionality is convenient when we need it to be. It’s justified in moments of fear …

Clean the toilet to win the war

The U.S. military wins wars because they clean toilets, shine their boots, and make their beds. Historically, disease is the number one cause of death for militaries. Wars have been lost because little things like hygiene were taken for granted. In basic training, soldiers are taught to clean toilets before they shoot a weapon. The principle of assigning value to …

What’s required to become a programmer?

What do I need to know to become a programmer? Not much, just the basics of problem solving and critical thinking. If you can triage a problem, and are willing to learn and think, then you’re off to a great start.  And think about this:  Do you know how to learn?  Learning is required in programming. It’s a field where …

The Endgame

The “endgame.” It’s the only game to play, it’s the only game that matters, and, to be serious, it is the only game that exists. Very few people play for the end game. Most people only play for the here and now. They play for the instant gratification, they make choices and decisions based on how fast they will see results. …

The 99%

Growing up, my Dad was big on hard work. On the weekends we worked on projects around the house. As I grew older, I farmed with my uncle, built a house with my Dad, and once I was old enough to get a job, I did. My father wasn’t a taskmaster, but he understood the importance of hard work and it …