Weekend Building Blocks - 23 JUN 2017


There's no value in collecting blocks unless you're connecting them to build something awesome!
I made a decision this week in Weekend Building Blocks -- I invoked my No Dickheads Rule. The absolute best thing I read this week is from a guy I know. He's a pompous, arrogant hypocrite who resorts to personal attacks against those who see the world differently than he. You won't be hearing about his awesome article from me. This is a reminder to not be a dickhead - a reminder that I myself need from time to time.
  1. Future of Work: Four Shifts Leaders Must Focus On. This is a short blog with an infographic. Tanmay Vora summarizes some thoughts from Kenneth Mikkelsen on shifts of mind, skill, behavior, and system...needed to succeed in the current climate of work. 
  2. Why Chefs and Soldiers Make the Best Product Managers. Few people know that I've moonlighted as security in a banquet hall and an Irish pub. Watching the kitchen and wait staff harmonize (and not always in a cool & collected way!!) to bring food together was quite impressive. I certainly see how the skills relate to a variety of industries!
  3. Why Learning Beats Knowing. In this Radio Free Leader podcast, host David Burkus has a conversation with guest Liz Wiseman. Liz talks about the value of not knowing, but being willing to learn. She's got some great stories that demonstrate her stance on being a constant learner and the mindset required to grow oneself! (Burkus' podcast is quickly becoming a favorite of mine!) 
  4. The Case for Blue Collar Work.  This is an Art of Manliness podcast episode with Mike Rowe from the TV show Dirty Jobs. Rowe is much more than a television series host. He's advocating for career development, opportunity, and finding a sense of purpose in work. As a college dropout, this podcast episode hit home with me. 
  5. Inversion: The Crucial Thinking Skill Nobody Ever Taught You. James Clear makes a case for thinking of the opposite of what you want. It's a style of self-challenge, preparation, and adopting a vital mindset to prevent or respond to failure. I sorta have been doing this in many aspects of life, but not with the intentionality that Clear describes. Go ahead...try it! 
Enjoy!! 
    Lou Hayes, Jr.
    thinking & adapting like a Tactical Philosopher

    Comments

    Post a Comment

    Popular posts from this blog

    Presentation Hack: Your Last Slide(s)

    Image
    I've written before about introductory presentation slides . When the audience is filtering into the room, I prefer to play a few minimalist slides on a looping show over the typical static slide jammed with titles, organizations, names, events, and logos. (Many of you have circled back to me after having used this trick to share your successes with it! Thanks for trying it!) But what about ending the presentation? What tricks do I use to bring closure to a projected slide deck? How do I handle a summary or a Question-and-Answer session? First let me contrast two (2) different chronologies of the tail ends of presentations: Weaker Ending Final detail point. Grand closing (climax?) "Are there any questions?" Answer them if they're asked. Thank the audience. Awkwardly leave the platform Stronger Ending Final detail point. Brief Summary "Before I get into the final closing, what questions can I answer?" Answer them if they...
    Read the entire post here »

    Presentation Hack: "For those of you who don't know me..."

    Image
    I've been to quite a few weddings. Not that I've been invited to more than any of you, but I have moonlighted in a few banquet halls over the years. As such, I've heard my fair share of toasts by Best Men and Maids of Honor. (And eaten my fair share of dinners in the back half.) For many Best Men or Maids of Honor, the dinner toast is one (1) of the most stressful aspects of a wedding weekend for them. Public speaking causes all sorts of anxiety - magnified by the pressure of knowing your failure might ruin your best friend's most special day of his/her life! Yikes! It doesn't take long to determine who is comfortable holding the microphone. And whether I can see the body language or not, it's sometimes the first few words that come out of their mouths that give it away. Few public speaking phrases get me to cringe as reliably and as intensely as an introduction of  "For those of you who don't know me..." This introduc...
    Read the entire post here »

    The Generalist versus The Specialist

    Image
    There exists a conspiracy against the Generalist. Today's culture rewards those who Specialize: doctors, athletes, teachers, cops. Being labeled a Generalist comes with ridicule of being luke-warm, a moderate, uncommitted, or without passion. Those images are false. They are hallucinations. Time and time again, life penalizes the Specialist. We never learn from our mistakes. Striking a balance between being a Generalist or a Specialist hinges on one factor: one's confidence in the future . The equation is quite simple -- the greater the predictability of approaching problems, the more one should become the Specialist; the less foresight one has, the more benefit in being the Generalist. This axiom holds for any aspect of life: financial investment, medicine, emergency preparedness, physical fitness, backcountry camping, education, gambling, and of course....law enforcement operations. As with most of our theories, this is a spectrum bookended by two extremes. With a ...
    Read the entire post here »