Category: Random Thoughts

Ma! – The Meatloaf!

On By brainsbriIn Food, Observations, Personal Development, Perspectives, Random ThoughtsLeave a comment

Meatloaf.

A simple enough dish, right?

At least to any American mind, which likely imagined something like this:

It’s just a loaf of meat – how could that possibly be misconstrued?

Until you order a meatloaf in Europe and you get this:

The most important thing you can know is that you know nothing.

There’s always the possibility – regardless of your confidence level – that an alternative reality exists outside your personal little experience bubble.

It may be worth a peek outside that bubble every once in a while to test some of your assumptions – in particular the ones in which you have the highest confidence.

Some instances are harmless.

This “new” form of meatloaf that I accidentally discovered a few years ago was actually pretty tasty, but even if the outcome had been different, no major harm done. A few swigs of beer to cleanse the palette and a couple euros to pay for the meal, and it would have all been forgotten.

Other examples have greater impact.

How many days to replace a light bulb?

On By brainsbriIn Curiosity, Project Management, Random Thoughts, Strategy, Systems ThinkingLeave a comment

It took nearly a year and a half for a paper towel dispenser to be replaced in my office.

Because it was too expensive? Not likely – I’d guess under $100.

Because it was too complex and needed that amount of time? Nope – that type of task should conservatively take about 4 hours of actual work to complete.

Complex tasks need that amount of time to be completed.

Simple tasks – like this dispenser – are sidelined to focus on the complex, “more meaningful” tasks. Simple tasks could (and should) just be handled when they are identified, but they are delayed by complex project management processes.

Simple tasks are bogged down by process.

But without process, complex tasks inevitably fail.

What’s the solution?

The 100th Post

On By brainsbriIn Random ThoughtsLeave a comment

I suppose this is a milestone 🙂

I should have been here much sooner, as my goal at one point was to post daily – from the looks of it, a 2021 new year’s resolution gone awry.

But life has a way of distracting us sometimes.

So as I reflect back on 5 years of sharing my thoughts with the virtual world, I can only hope that I have made even a marginal impact on at least one real person.

And if I haven’t, I am thankful for my own growth on this writing journey, learning how to say more with less.

How to clearly convey a message without overwhelming an audience to my stream of thought.

How to break through the fear of exposing these abstract thoughts of mine to reality.

How to avoid altering my thoughts to fit an audience.

And now, onward to 1,000 posts!

Back in my Day

On By brainsbriIn Deep Questions, Personal Development, Random Thoughts, StrategyLeave a comment

Life was difficult “back then” – those that preceded my generation went through hell, and I commend them on their journey. Their feelings are valid.

But my empathy ends when, on their ascension to power, they adopt the very practices they claim to hate.

The ones who subjected them to those detrimental practices are long retired – or in some cases, probably dead now – this new cohort can choose one of two paths for leading the next generation:

  • Continue previous practices, demanding the newcomers experience the same “rite of passage” they experienced.
  • Contemplate how they would have preferred to be treated, and do that instead.

The former approach saddens me. Irate with their previous leadership, and either unable or unwilling to address it with them, this new regime passes the negative energy downhill as a way to feel better.

The “I had to do it, so do you” mentality.

But there’s no more admirable act than the latter path – to suffer through adversity on the ascent, but then choose a better path when given the power to similarly subject others to the same fate.

A path toward progress.

Society collectively obsesses over continuous process improvement, but what about continuous people improvement?

We constantly improve everything in the workplace except the human condition.

Make the right call.

Be better.

Do better.

We feel your pain for what you went through – honestly – but take the bold leap to improve the human condition.

If you choose not to, then that’s a shame – but we will patiently await our turn to do the right thing.

Earth First

On By brainsbriIn Environment, Food, Modern Challenges, Nature, Observations, Perspectives, Random ThoughtsLeave a comment

I start my day in the shower using soap from the United States, eventually drying myself off with a towel from Turkey or Pakistan, and then I shave using shaving cream from Canada.

I dress myself with clothes from Vietnam, Malaysia, or Bangladesh (all of which were washed in a washer and dryer from the United States), before heading to work in my vehicle made in Japan.

Before departing I grab my headphones and cell phone that were made in Vietnam, both of which were charging through an electrical outlet made in China that is connected to Romex wiring in my walls made in the United States. That wiring attaches to an electrical panel from either the United States, Mexico, or China.

I bring a lunch to work each day. In my kitchen I find limes and asparagus from Mexico, kiwi from Italy, chia seeds from Paraguay, Ramen from China, potatoes from Canada, quinoa from Peru, and bananas from Guatemala, all of which are stored in appliances and cabinets from the United States.

I use my cutting knives from India to prepare my meals, which I cook on cookware from the United States when I’m using the stovetop, or on a baking sheet from China (with a silicon baking sheet from France) in the oven. If I’m packing for work I’ll store my food in Tupperware from the United States that goes into a lunch bag made in Vietnam, but if I’m eating at home I’ll use plates from Indonesia and bowls from China.

Hey, look, I also found a bottle of water from Fiji hiding in the back of the pantry (more on the absurdity of this particular product in a future post).

What else can we find?

My workshop has drills from Japan, nails from India, nail guns from the United States, and a chainsaw from Germany.

I write draft posts on a legal pad made in India (or in a notebook from the Philippines), with a pen from Tunisia, before typing those words on a keyboard made in China connected to a computer made in Vietnam. I typically store my computer, legal pad, notebook, and pens in one of a few bags I own that were made in the Philippines.

For those who lost track, that is 21 unique countries spanning 6 continents.

I can connect with someone across the planet in less time than it takes me to walk next door to say hello to my neighbor.

The oxygen that my lungs are absorbing in this very moment – molecules are physical things, after all – came from air that ignores the arbitrary lines we draw on our fancy maps. It came from somewhere on this planet, but that’s slightly harder to pinpoint.

We are one world.

Earth must come first.

The transition will be rough – but inevitable.

Get on board.

Building up to the Boycott

On By brainsbriIn Imagine a world..., Personal Development, Perspectives, Random Thoughts, StrategyLeave a comment

Imagine a world where we all stopped buying non-essentials for three months.

What power the masses could wield with such discipline. But that would be difficult.

The better move is gradual – over the next six to eight months, train yourself by heavily scrutinizing your spending, and slowly remove unnecessary purchases from your life.

Spending 10% less 8 months from now during the upcoming holiday season would be a win.

Then repeat next year.

We don’t deserve fusion

On By brainsbriIn Modern Challenges, Observations, Perspectives, Random Thoughts, Systems ThinkingLeave a comment

Unlimited energy is appealing in theory – but we’re laughably irresponsible with the finite energy we have now.

Imagine how wasteful we’d be with [virtually] no limits.

Think about how you are with a new tube of toothpaste, or a new shampoo bottle. How about at the buffet?

It isn’t until we reach the last drop that we start behaving in the conservative ways we should have been from start.

Don’t bring checkers to a chess match

On By brainsbriIn Observations, Other, Personal Development, Perspectives, Politics, Random ThoughtsLeave a comment

Recent events sparked some new thoughts on a concept I introduced in a previous post.

Pay attention to the rules before engaging in the game. Intimately understand the system and identify the levers that achieve maximum impact.

I did not participate in the 28 February economic blackout:

  • It’s the wrong tool for the intended impact. Halting spending for one day seems significant to the average person, but it’s a rounding error – a mere blip – on the Income Statements of the targeted large-cap, multinational companies currently in the crosshairs. These companies measure their finances quarterly, in lockstep with financial markets – they easily absorb a single-day financial hit.
  • Going cold turkey never works anyway. Keeping the first bullet in mind, companies won’t even see the impact of a one-day sales drop if individuals switch back to regularly scheduled “spending” programs and merely shift planned blackout day purchases to the next day*. Abruptly halting all spending on a single day is not sustainable for the average consumer anyway, and the inevitable return to normal spending habits becomes a non-impact since those sales still appear on the same quarterly financial statement.

*We’ll ignore for now the rare instance where a blackout day falls on the last day of a fiscal quarter.

If financial impact was the goal, a barrage of wooden arrows just shattered against tank armor.

If the goal is to stand in solidarity with a specific community or cause – great.

Unify.

Drive change.

I support the intent – just recognize the false lever and re-evaluate the strategy.

So no, I did not participate in the Feb 28 economic blackout:

I did shop at local stores though – because I typically do anyway.

I still used my credit card sparingly – I always do anyway.

These two actions form the core of the normal spending habits I established over the past decade.

Looking to make an impact? I emphasized “normal spending habits” twice in this post for a reason. Incrementally alter daily habits, fiercely and resolutely guard that checking account, and allow the desired global impacts to become a side-effect of individual self-improvement.

Selective Individuality

On By brainsbriIn Other, Personal Development, Politics, Random Thoughts, Systems ThinkingLeave a comment

We scream from the rooftops that we want our independence. We need no one. We should be treated as individuals, and allow ourselves to live our lives.

Perfectly fair.

But unless you’re sewing your own clothes, building your own home, assembling your own car, generating your own electricity, and growing your own food, then you are obliged to acknowledge that you are reliant on others. Very few achieve – or even want, I’d argue – total independence.

We cannot selectively decide that we want individual treatment in certain situations that favor us, but then demand equitable treatment when the benefits are unfavorable.

We are a social species. Like it or not, we need each other. Embrace the help. Support your fellow humans.

Notice of Annual Rent Decrease

On By brainsbriIn Environment, Imagine a world..., Politics, Random ThoughtsLeave a comment

Imagine a world where a landlord sends this letter to their tenants:

“Because I had such a great investment year and my needs are well covered, I am reducing your monthly rent by 5% for the next year, at which point we will reevaluate.”

A preposterous thought, right? I mean – what landlord in their right mind would offer such a ludicrous deal? A rent decrease? Not in our growth-minded system.

Pull that thread a bit. See what answers come to you. How did we come to believe that this concept is so ridiculous? Why is there a constant demand for growth that drives our current behavior?

Maybe it only seems crazy to us because the suggestion runs counter to our current mental models. What if we changed the system conditions to allow for it?

Question [almost] everything

On By brainsbriIn Personal Development, Random ThoughtsLeave a comment

Question everything.

A mantra of mine that I’m altering today.

Earlier today I caught a glimpse of an abandoned shopping cart off in the woods, and my brain immediately generated a barrage of trivial questions:

  • How did that get there?
  • Is there anything in the cart?
  • Who would abandon a cart there?
  • What store could it be from?
  • What stores are around here?
  • Which stores have blue in their color palette?

I cut off the impulse with one final question: Who cares?

Some questions aren’t worth the energy.

Don’t question everything.

Choose your questions wisely.

Debate yourself

On By brainsbriIn Other, Personal Development, Politics, Random ThoughtsLeave a comment

Locked in on a certain position?

Temporarily take the opposing viewpoint and come up with every possible counterargument imaginable.

Pick it apart. Take every angle you can think of to disprove what you think. You owe it to yourself to develop these counterpoints, as they’ll either disprove your original stance, or help you solidify it. Either outcome is acceptable. In the former case, you evolve your viewpoint. In the latter, you have a coherent and competent rebuttal if the position ever comes up in discussion.

Saying you believe something and then immediately relying on anger to defend it is unacceptable.

Develop a full case for your position so you can defend it properly – and respectfully.

How much technology is enough?

On By brainsbriIn Personal Development, Random ThoughtsLeave a comment

Rejecting new technology is often seen as a landmark on the road to old age. It’s a sign – presumably – that one is now incapable of learning advanced tech in their later years.

Or, perhaps, it is merely an awakening – a realization as people age that the technology they grew up with was enough.

The text message has evolved in my lifetime from basic texting capability to sending images, links, stickers, and emojis, but I just hit my limit. A few days ago I received a “Happy New Year” text message, and when I opened it I was greeted with a visual assault of an animation to celebrate the occasion. I was then blessed with a repeat performance when I sent the same words back to the sender. No value added.

So as I start the latter half of this journey we call life, I reflect on those times I’ve criticized elders for their inability to grasp new technology. Reassessing any time I injected the word ‘luddite’ into a conversation, accusing someone of refusing to keep up with the times. Now I wonder if they knew something I didn’t. Did they know something I’m now starting to stumble upon?

Maybe that’s the trick – knowing when we’ve reached the point of ‘enough’ in life, and being content with what that provides.

Maybe future generations will catch on sooner.