Freelance – Knowledge ATMs

Every organization, including our 4 fundamental aspires to grow. The growth stages follow one after another from Start Up to 3 Growth phases to Maturity and Decline unless a Reinvention transformation kicks off before it is too late.

“5” Steve Zahn, 51: “You will be attracted to a subject appreciated by many and understood by few. When you go deeper, you will learn how you are uniquely equipped to be among those few should you choose to devote focus to this.” Scorpio

Hi and welcome to Sunday’s Episode 86 in Season 2 of “My Pandemic Year Natural Experiment” on this 26th day of July in the summer of 2020.

“The Tau of Steves: What You Don’t Know Could Fill a Book”

Table of Contents

Season One and Two are a two-year examination of how bits of wisdom changed during the “normal” pre-pandemic and then in this unfolding pandemic year.

Previously in Season Two, the Pandemic Year

S2 E85 — How to Up the Odds in Your Favor: S2 E84 — Maybe Robin Hood Got It Right After All, Eh?; S2 E83 — Why Shouldn’t You Always Lean On Things That Worked Before?

Related from Season One, the Normal Year

S1 E86 — Day 86 of My 1-Year Natural Experiment; S1 E85 — What happens when the fear subsides?; S1 E84 — Crisis averted? Energy depleted? What are we going to do?; S1 E83 —The Tau of Steves: What You Don’t Know Could Fill a Book

Context

This is a continuation of “Volume Two Manuscript — WorkFit” a work-in-progress.

In the last episode I summarized everything you need to know about four basic organizations to stack the odds in your favor when shopping around for your next job opportunity.

Oh, what disaster to avoid (unlike me) in your next career move.

Now, we’ll build on better and worse fit options for each of the 16 talent profiles:

Paradoxy-Morons

- - 101 PMBI Breakpoint Inventors
  - 102 PMTL Thought Leaders
  - 103 PMCI Commercial Innovators
  - 104 R&D Experimenters

Emerging-Entrepreneurs

- - 105 EEMA Marketing Athletes
  - 106 EEOA Operational Accelerants
  - 107 EERPT Resilient Product Teams
  - 108 EECBG Core Business Groups

Sustaining-Associates

- - 109 SAICA Internal Change Agents
  - 110 SAAS Analytical Specialists
  - 111 SAAT Agile Tiger Teams
  - 112 SALS Loyal Survivalists

Systematic-Professionals

- - 113 SPIC Idea Packagers
  - 114 SPBE Brand-as-Experts
  - 115 SPPP Professional Practitioners
  - 116 SPIT Institutional Traditionalists

Let’s we review stages of organizational growth from Start Up to Maturity and from Decline to Reinvention.

Five Major Stages of Growth for Organizations

Key points to keep in mind:

Every organization, including our 4 fundamental aspires to grow.
The growth stages follow one after another from Start Up to 3 Growth phases to Maturity and Decline unless a Reinvention transformation kicks off before it is too late.
Each new stage of growth requires a different talent culture than the previous one. One or two dominate at each stage.
There’s no guarantee a specific company and organization will master the gap between stage its current and potential next stage.
That fact represents a second set of better or worse fits.

Next up.

Let’s begin in the “beginning” with Start Up and build a case for “peeling off” two Paradoxy-Morons and one Emerging-Entrepreneur:

- - - 101 PMBI Breakpoint Inventors
    - 103 PMCI Commercial Innovators
    - 105 EEMA Marketing Athletes

Did you notice we “skipped” some? That’s odd, isn’t it

Evidence

I forget finding the right fit remained frustrating elusive to me until I noticed how companies and organizations evolve into talent cultures that define them, until something forces a change and a different set of talent is required to survive.

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

“4” Steve Winwood, 71; Stevie Wonder, 69; Stephen Colbert, 56: “Behind the door that’s a few stops down the lane exists another world, a world that you will lend some imagination to until you’re let in and can get a sense of its reality.” Taurus

Is that the portal to the Twilight Zone? There was a time when I lived in Cincinnati about a mile and a half from the house that Rod Serling lived as he imagined the original.

“3” Steve Howey, 42: “Generally, most people feel automatically sure of what is reality. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to go about their day. To question your automatic responses is always an act of growth.” Cancer

Is it too late for me to challenge myself about why I selected this one?

“3” Steve Carrell, 57; Steve Martin, 74; Steve Wozniak, 69: “It will occur to you that an area you’ve focused on seems devoid of juice. There’s nothing here for you now, if there ever was. Move on. There are other things to squeeze.” Leo

Only one area? Haha. Another element to consider is just how long it takes an introvert like me to muddle through these passion projects. Or, is this about Patreon?

“3” Steve Kerr, 54: “You’re safe to let whimsy have its rule. Wish crazily. There is something of value in far-out or silly dreams. You can assess what is possible later. Right now, let your imagination soar.” Libra

Whimsy and silly don’t seem to be on my pandemic lock down agenda for the day. But the day is still young and I have to say I’d love to let my imagination soar!

“4” Steve Harvey, 62: “Don’t fight against problems. Struggle wastes energy. Sink to the bottom of a problem as if it were a swimming pool. It won’t take much to bounce off the bottom with your toes and resurface to a cleansing breath.” Capricorn

My metaphor living on the California coast near the Pacific Ocean shifts to waves of change about to break over you while you body surf. You dive quickly to the sandy bottom allowing the force of nature to push and pull you as it passes and then you spring to the surface mindful of a second and third set. You select one and ride it to shore, or you duck dive one more time.

“4” Steve Jobs, (1955 – 2011: “Why do people tell you their stories and share with you the intimate details of their lives? It’s because your warmth is a heart-opener that they do not get every day.” Pisces

Early in my first career one school of psychology grew out of California’s North San Diego County and advocated for “unconditional positive regard.” I’m guessing that value has underpinned my engagements with clients, C-Suite executives, students and co-workers throughout all my careers.

What’s Going On …

Literally Bottled and Set Adrift from KnowWhere Atoll

- @knowlabs followers of one or more of my 35 digital magazines organically grew from 4427 to 4516.

Foresight

Quality-of-Life

Long-Form

- Saw the movie, didn’t realize that one of my favorite authors, Michael Connelly — his detective Hieronymus (Harry) Bosch book series and Amazon Prime series — also wrote, “The Lincoln Lawyer” which I just finished. Gotta tell you I can’t not see his lead character (Mickey Haller, Bosch’s half brother) as anyone else but Matthew McConaughey.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION

January 5, 2023

S2 E85 — How to Up the Odds in Your Favor

Up until this point, the discussion about better and worse fit jobs and clients focused on me for illustrative purposes. But you may have, hopefully, noticed an affinity for one or more of the four organizations. And you may have felt an attraction to one or more of the 16 talent profiles which define an employer’s culture.

“5” Steve Greene, 34; Steve Guttenberg, 61; Stephen King, 72: “It would be cool if you had a manual for this project, but all the information out there is either too plentiful or too scanty to be of use to you. Reach out to a mentor for information that’s the right size.” Virgo

Hi and welcome to Saturday’s Episode 85 in Season 2 of “My Pandemic Year Natural Experiment” on this 25th day of July in the summer of 2020.

“The Tau of Steves: What You Don’t Know Could Fill a Book”

Table of Contents

Season One and Two are a two-year examination of how bits of wisdom changed during the “normal” pre-pandemic and then in this unfolding pandemic year.

Previously in Season Two, the Pandemic Year

S2 E84 — Maybe Robin Hood Got It Right After All, Eh?; S2 E83 — Why Shouldn’t You Always Lean On Things That Worked Before?; S2 E82 — How Do You Inject Innovation into a Century’s Old Company?

Related from Season One, the Normal Year

S1 E85 — What happens when the fear subsides?; S1 E84 — Crisis averted? Energy depleted? What are we going to do?; S1 E83 —The Tau of Steves: What You Don’t Know Could Fill a Book; S1 E82 — Why Writers Aren’t the Only Endangered Species. Sigh.

Context

This is a continuation of “Volume Two Manuscript — WorkFit” a work-in-progress.

In recent episodes (S2 E78, S2 E80, S2 E82 and S2 E84) I shared my Worse and Better fit experiences to illustrate a little more in depth description of what it is like working in and for clients in Paradoxy-Morons, Emerging-Entrepreneurs, Sustaining-Associates and Systematic-Professionals.

In this episode, let me summarize the key points you may to know to avoid your next career disaster.

Four Talent Profiles Attracted to Paradoxy-Moron Organizations

Summary

What makes Paradoxy-Morons tick?

Disruptive Innovation, Independence and Speed

They notice how limited the traditional, status quo solves the really complex problems and challenges

Disrupting.

A fast-paced, innovative culture that attracts and retains the best of the best.

Motto?

“It’s better to seek forgiveness than to ask permission.”

What are their unique challenges?

- - - They champion paradigms based on new science discoveries.
    - Once is not enough. From one world beater to several again an again
    - Finding commercial applications of disruptive innovation in the form of new product categories — which haven’t been proven until flawed prototypes and buggy technology work themselves out

What are the takeaways?

Innovations have to come faster. Concurrent overlapping talent demands.

In the start up stage they are capable of anticipating something new and act decisively to establish a new market, industry, technology or a new scientific discipline.

Which Talent Profiles find a better fit with Paradoxy-Morons?

- - - 101 PMBI Breakpoint Inventors
    - 102 PMTL Thought Leaders
    - 103 PMCI Commercial Innovators
    - 104 R&D Experimenters

In which organization will they find a worse fit?

Sustaining-Associates with their emphasis on:

- - - - Higher degrees of Sustained Improvement, Affiliation and Mastery
      - Building predictably upon past history and loyal customer retention.

Four Talent Profiles Attracted to Emerging-Entrepreneur Organizations

Summary

What makes Emerging-Entrepreneurs tick?

They rapidly introduce new products into new rapidly moving niches while capturing emerging knowledge no-one else has and based on that experience introduce tweets to early business formulas.

Bias for Action.

New Knowledge, Affiliation and Speed

Knowledge creation — teams introduce new products by applying emerging new knowledge for a competitive advantage.

Motto?

“There’s no time like the present”

What are their unique challenges?

- - - The 20% accomplish 80% of the results.
    - They learn rapidly by doing.
    - Figuring out what has to happen to boost performance with fewer and fewer trials and errors.

What are the takeaways?

Imagine a relay race with individual record holders. But, it takes flawless baton passing as a team to achieve world-class status.

Affiliation bonding is to the team. It’s up to the team to learn the fastest way to take a new idea and introduce it into the marketplace.

They need to guard their organization’s core capabilities and emerging proprietary processes while quickly managing increasing degrees of complexity as they grow.

Which Talent Profiles find a better fit with Emerging-Entrepreneurs?

- - - - 105 EEMA Marketing Athletes
      - 106 EEOA Operational Accelerants
      - 107 EERPT Resilient Product Teams
      - 108 EECBG Core Business Groups

In which organization will they find a worse fit?

Systematic-Professionals with their emphasis on:

- - - - Higher degrees of Embedded Knowledge, Independence and Mastery
      - Classified, categorized, tested and benchmarked knowledge.

Four Talent Profiles Attracted to Sustaining-Associate Organizations

Summary

What makes Sustaining-Associates tick?

112 SALS Loyal Survivalists anchor the Sustaining-Associates culture. They manage people, technologies, processes, and organizational structures to sustain the innovation they’ve already mastered. Employees identify with the organization and have high affiliation needs that favor slower paced industries and cultures.

Brand Loyalty.

Sustained Improvement, Affiliation and Mastery

Building predictably upon past history and loyal customer retention.

Motto?

“If it win’t broke don’t fix it.”

What are their unique challenges?

- - - Missing competitive threats and responding too late.
    - Resting on their traditional successes.
    - Preparing the next generation of leaders for a different competitive environment.

What are the takeaways?

To mature and survive their brand needs to be accepted by the majority of the total available market.

A loyal affiliated talent culture needs constant retention so associates maintain the organization’s reputation.

Through their behaviors they develop a trust mark that keeps bringing long-term customers back again and again

Which Talent Profiles find a better fit with Sustaining-Associates?

- - 109 SAICA Internal Change Agents
  - 110 SAAS Analytical Specialists
  - 111 SAAT Agile Tiger Teams
  - 112 SALS Loyal Survivalists

In which organization will they find a worse fit?

Paradoxy-Morons with their emphasis on:

- - - - Higher degrees of Disruptive Innovation, Independence and Speed
      - How limited the traditional, status quo solves the really complex problems and challenges

Four Talent Profiles Attracted to Systematic-Professional Organizations

Summary

What makes Systematic-Professionals tick?

These are the experts who love their profession instead of a specific organization like Sustaining-Associates do. They’re the Idea Packagers, Professional Practitioners, Traditional Institutionalists in standards-setting associations led by well-known Branded Experts in the field.

Advanced Degrees and Certifications.

Embedded Knowledge, Independence and Mastery

Emerging knowledge is classified, categorized, tested and benchmarked.

Motto?

“Robin Hood had it right”

What are their unique challenges?

- - - Research into complex problems and complicated large systems
    - Working in knowledge organizations and consulting partnerships.
    - Application of proprietary best practices and knowledge gleaned from their benchmark databases.

What are the takeaways?

Methods and Metrics. They prefer to distance themselves to remain objective and follow a well-articulated and tested methodology.

Their majority of clients are large-cap companies, government partners and the medical industry systems.

Studying these organizations provides a giant learning laboratory.

Acknowledged expertise attracts potential clients.

Rainmakers play an outsized role developing new and repeat business.

Which Talent Profiles find a better fit with Systematic-Professionals?

- - - - 113 SPIC Idea Packagers
      - 114 SPBE Brand-as-Experts
      - 115 SPPP Professional Practitioners
      - 116 SPIT Institutional Traditionalists

In which organization will they find a worse fit?

Emerging-Entrepreneurs with their emphasis on:

- - - - Higher degrees of New Knowledge, Affiliation and Speed
      - Knowledge creation — teams introduce new products by applying emerging new knowledge for a competitive advantage.

Up until this point.

The discussion about better and worse fit focused on me, for illustrative purposes. Hopefully, you may have noticed an affinity for one or more of the organizations. And you may have felt a tendency for one or more of the 16 talent profiles.

Next up,

We’ll build on better and worse fit options as we review stages of organizational growth from Start Up to Maturity and from Decline to Reinvention.

But, first what do the Steves offer as TauBits of Wisdom?

Evidence

“5” Steve Zahn, 51: “Things may not change immediately or even slowly, but the important thing is that they will change eventually. Never give in to cynicism. Your mind is made for beautiful thinking.” Scorpio

Got it, you are preaching to the choir with the first sentence. It’s the second one that is extremely hard for me in this pandemic world today.

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

“4” Steve McQueen (1930 – 1980): “If you worry about what you are going to say, then it will prevent you from listening to what is being said. Whatever you can do to put yourself at ease will give you an advantage.” Aries

Gotta tell you I followed this TauBit of Wisdom after learning it the hard way. I was so intimidated by advising former Vice Presidents and CEOs when I never was one, until I asked a simple question, “What have you been doing about …?” and listened.

“3” Steve Winwood, 71; Stevie Wonder, 69; Stephen Colbert, 56: “Are you holding on to false hope? No. Hope, in and of itself, is an act of truth and light. Believe the best and hold on, white-knuckled, to that version.” Taurus

Or does hope lead to false expectations? And do false expectations lead to confirmation bias. And does confirmation bias lead on a slippery slope to conspiracy theories? Seem like it, eh?

“4” Steve Smith, 30: “Your head and your heart have not had a meeting in a while, and they will go in two different directions until you bring them into alignment through something peaceful, like meditation, dance or creative play.” Gemini

I choose the first and last alignment choices.

“4” Steve Howey, 42: “Make space. Get rid of things before you have a replacement. Emptiness is not nothingness. Space is a “something” even if you don’t know what it is. Potential counts.” Cancer

Yeah, I see how being cooped up for so long drives you a little crazy without space.

“4” Steve Carrell, 57; Steve Martin, 74; Steve Wozniak, 69: “Assume that people are doing their very best. If they don’t act like this is the case, they may be consumed with fighting a battle you do not know about. Give the benefit of the doubt wherever possible.” Leo

I’ll have to repeat this over and over today for when I venture out to my local Ralph’s grocery store and encounter the number of unmasked COVID-19 spreaders.

OK, it would have been cool years ago when I conducted my original research for this work-in-progress, my WorkFit manuscript. Maybe you can use it as a manual for you.

“5” Steve Harvey, 62: “You won’t get that push from the world today, so you’ll have to give it to yourself. Do so in the form of an intention. Setting an intention leads to actions you wouldn’t have taken otherwise.” Capricorn

Totally see how this TauBit applies — in a lockdown pandemic world intention comes a little easier for us introverts.

“4” Steve Jobs, (1955 – 2011): “You’ll thank the roadblock, as it helps you find your own path. You’ll thank the mistakes, as they are your best teachers. You’ll thank the enemy that keeps you so strong.” Pisces

So, two out of three is still pretty good, right?

What’s Going On …

Literally Bottled and Set Adrift from KnowWhere Atoll

- @knowlabs followers of one or more of my 35 digital magazines organically grew from 4397 to 4427.

Foresight

Quality-of-Life

Long-Form

- Saw the movie, didn’t realize that one of my favorite authors, Michael Connelly — his detective Hieronymus (Harry) Bosch book series and Amazon Prime series — also wrote, “The Lincoln Lawyer” which I just finished. Gotta tell you I can’t not see his lead character (Mickey Haller, Bosch’s half brother) as anyone else but Matthew McConaughey.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION

January 3, 2023

S2 E83 — Why Shouldn’t You Always Lean On Things That Worked Before?

We already know that a worse fit is found where higher degrees of affiliation, speed and new knowledge intersect in the “green box” of Emerging-Entrepreneurs.

“5” Steve Kerr, 54: “Don’t lean on things that worked before. The same thing that caused a triumph yesterday could be ineffective tomorrow. The importance of context cannot be underestimated. Stay awake and alert.” Libra

Hi and welcome to Thursday’s Episode 83 in Season 2 of “My Pandemic Year Natural Experiment” on this 23rd day of July in the summer of 2020.

“The Tau of Steves: What You Don’t Know Could Fill a Book”

Table of Contents

Season One and Two are a two-year examination of how bits of wisdom changed during the “normal” pre-pandemic and then in this unfolding pandemic year.

Previously in Season Two, the Pandemic Year

S2 E82 — How Do You Inject Innovation into a Century’s Old Company?; S2 E81 — 3rd of 4 Secrets to a Better WorkFit; S2 E80 — Unrealistic Expectations Hatched Green Box Lessons the Hard Way

Related from Season One, the Normal Year

S1 E83 —The Tau of Steves: What You Don’t Know Could Fill a Book; S1 E82 — Why Writers Aren’t the Only Endangered Species. Sigh.; S1 E81— Is This My Wake Up Call, Steve?; S1 E80 — I’ll Give You Adverse Conditions, Steve

Context

This is a continuation of “Volume Two Manuscript — WorkFit” a work-in-progress.

In recent episodes we broke out talent profiles for each of the 4 Organization Types starting with Paradoxy-Morons, Emerging-Entrepreneurs, Sustaining-Associates and now Systematic-Professionals.

Four Organization Types

Four Talent Profiles attracted to Sustaining-Associates:

- 109 SAICA Internal Change Agents
- 110 SAAS Analytical Specialists
- 111 SAAT Agile Tiger Teams
- 112 SALS Loyal Survivalists

Moving on to Systematic-Professionals

Counter clockwise from Sustaining-Associates we fill in last of 4 boxes, “above” the shared border with 109 SAICA Internal Change Agents and 110 SAAS Analytical Specialists and to the “right” of Paradoxy-Morons, sharing a bolder with 102 PMTL Thought Leaders and 104 R&D Experimenters.

Four Systematic-Professional Talent Profiles

If we follow the vertical border edge defined by high degrees of mastery anchored with 112 SALS Loyal Survivalists to 110 SAAS Analytical Specialists (high in affiliation) and into Systematic-Professional “territory” you encounter 116 SPIT (Systematic-Professionals) Institutional Traditionalists and finally 114 SPBE (Systematic-Professionals) Brand-as-Experts where highest degrees of embedded knowledge, independence and mastery intersect.

Worse Fit

We already know that a worse fit is found where higher degrees of affiliation, speed and new knowledge intersect in the “green box” of Emerging-Entrepreneurs.

Better Fit

Systematic-Professionals share a slower, higher degree of Mastery with Sustaining-Associates and a higher degree of independence with Paradoxy-Morons.

You’ll find a better fit if you value higher degrees of embedded knowledge too.

Within the “blue” Systematic-Professional “box” continue counter clockwise from 114 SPBE (Systematic-Professionals) Brand-as-Experts to the remaining two talent profiles who mirror their Paradoxy-Moron counterparts.

The 113 SPIC (Systematic-Professional) Idea Packagers crave higher degree of independence but medium degrees of mastery and embedded knowledge.

While the 115 SPPP (Systematic-Professional) Professional Practitioners are attracted to medium degrees of independence, mastery and embedded knowledge.

Up next I’ll share what it’s like working for Systematic-Professionals either as an employer or as a client.

Evidence

“4” Steve Zahn, 51: “You don’t need to control a situation to work it to your advantage. You need only be ready to take your turn and hop on the opportunities that open up.”Scorpio

Seems to be so Sun Tzu-like the way it unfolds. Originally titled “The Art of War” later versions named it “The Art of Strategy” for the executive business market.

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

“3” Steve McQueen (1930 – 1980): “You can thank today’s smooth ride to your own clean karma. Moral questions come up this evening, but nothing that needs to be solved immediately. Think it over.” Aries

Haha. Another one to look forward to like the TauBit of Wisdom below unfolding in the afternoon. Check back.

“3” Steve Winwood, 71; Stevie Wonder, 69; Stephen Colbert, 56: “Your fantasy of a relationship doesn’t quite match the reality of it, and this is causing some tension. It’s easy enough to resolve, if you’re willing to adjust your expectations.” Taurus

While important wisdom, Emma the Baroness and I adjusted our expectations of each other while dating, becoming an item as she says and then as parents when you undergo the a transformation no-one understands until the day after, and then for the rest of your life.

“4” Steve Smith, 30: “If you place too much significance and value in the wrong things, this is a human mistake. You’ll learn quickly. Experience is the only way to really understand what’s important and what’s not.” Gemini

Of course all the “book” learning goes out the window until you apply, learn and build your knowledge.

“5” Steve Carrell, 57; Steve Martin, 74; Steve Wozniak, 69: “You’re wanting a result, and you’ll get it, but the timeframe is the matter in question. It is very difficult to predict how long things will take. Be patient and willing to adjust.” Leo

Look, for someone wired like me this corundum is the hardest part of preparing a consulting proposal — estimating the realistic timeframe for meeting clients’ demands. At risk was either a nonstarter, because they expected to spend far less, or anticipating their budget I’d low ball my submission and end up with a lot less income.

“3” Steve Greene, 34; Steve Guttenberg, 61; Stephen King, 72: “You’ve been a leader, and you’ve been a follower. When you’re acting to the best of your ability, the roles are equally demanding. You’ll be at the top of your game this afternoon.” Virgo

Well, true but I’m not seeing this one playing out. But then it’s not afternoon yet. So, I may have to change my rating tonight.

What is it “they” say? An overused strength becomes a weakness. And as we’ll see in later episodes you could definitely describe the “gap” between stages of growth from Start Up to Maturity and from Decline to Reinvention in the same way.

“3” Steve Aoki, 41: “You don’t have to comment on every statement or have a judgment of everything going on around you. It’s enough to be a witness. Save your energy. You’ll need it later.” Sagittarius

Except as the evidence for relevance applied to my day, eh?

“3” Steve Harvey, 62: “People find you attractive, and they will want your attention and time. Both of these commodities are precious, and today they will be best given in the spirit of investment instead of charity.” Capricorn

The reverse doesn’t seem to be working for my Patreon supported episodes. Oh, well.

“4” Steve Nash, 45: “A sense of calm will alight on your decision-making process. There is no need to overanalyze — if you even need to analyze at all. You simply know what to do.” Aquarius

Ha ha, I’m sensing a theme about methodological problem-solving and decision-making approaches setting up this next one.

“4” Steve Jobs, (1955 – 2011): “You don’t have to anticipate every outcome. Get a general idea and then act. There is an opportunity that can only present itself when things aren’t exactly going as planned.” Pisces

So, even though I’m a card-carrying Systematic-Professional as a 113 SPIP Idea Packager, I only anticipate the broader horizon to set up If That, Then This actions, instead of sinking into analysis-paralysis.

What’s Going On …

Literally Bottled and Set Adrift from KnowWhere Atoll

- @knowlabs followers of one or more of my 35 digital magazines organically grew from 4397 to 4427.

Foresight

Quality-of-Life

Long-Form

- Saw the movie, didn’t realize that one of my favorite authors, Michael Connelly — his detective Hieronymus (Harry) Bosch book series and Amazon Prime series — also wrote, “The Lincoln Lawyer” which I just finished. Gotta tell you I can’t not see his lead character (Mickey Haller, Bosch’s half brother) as anyone else but Matthew McConaughey.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION

December 28, 2022

S2 E82 — How Do You Inject Innovation into a Century’s Old Company?

I left law school to fulfill my military obligation is a polite way of saying it. In the Army I learned two things I can talk about. One was how unprepared the service was after recruiting college graduates who had other better ideas of what their future would look like and who weren’t loyal like the lifers.

“5” Steve Winwood, 71; Stevie Wonder, 69; Stephen Colbert, 56: “Your knowledge of words and symbols will lead you to analyze a situation and comprehend it so well that you’ll be a point of reference for others. You’ll contribute significantly to team decisions.” Taurus

Hi and welcome to Sunday’s Episode 82 in Season 2 of “My Pandemic Year Natural Experiment” on this 19th day of July in the summer of 2020.

“The Tau of Steves: What You Don’t Know Could Fill a Book”

Table of Contents

Season One and Two are a two-year examination of how bits of wisdom changed during the “normal” pre-pandemic and then in this unfolding pandemic year.

Previously in Season Two, the Pandemic Year

S2 E81 — 3rd of 4 Secrets to a Better WorkFit; S2 E80 — Unrealistic Expectations Hatched Green Box Lessons the Hard Way; S2 E79 — Ain’t No Paradoxy-Moron? How About an Emerging-Entrepreneur?

Related from Season One, the Normal Year

S1 E82 — Why Writers Aren’t the Only Endangered Species. Sigh.; S1 E81— Is This My Wake Up Call, Steve?; S1 E80 — I’ll Give You Adverse Conditions, Steve; S1 E79 — Can I Keep It Up? For a Year?

Context

This is a continuation of “Volume Two Manuscript — WorkFit” a work-in-progress.

In a recent episodes we broke out talent profiles for each of the 4 Organization Types starting with Paradoxy-Morons, Emerging-Entrepreneurs and Sustaining-Associates.

Here are some examples from my list of best fit companies and clients to illustrate what it means to love Sustaining-Associates the “tan box” organization with it’s unique blend of talent profiles:

- 109 SAICA Internal Change Agents
- 110 SAAS Analytical Specialists
- 111 SAAT Agile Tiger Teams
- 112 SALA Loyal Survivalists

Oops, this first example turned out to be eye-opening, educational and potentially deadly. And, definitely not a better fit for me or my posse.

3. US Army — Worse Fit

I definitely was not loyal, having not much in common with lifers, but I got to know and work with all kinds of people from different backgrounds and I felt I needed to fulfill my obligation.

Luckily part of my time was spent in more challenging work in preventive medicine. But to tell you the truth I hated standard operating procedures, “There’s the right way, the wrong way and the Army way.”

Why?

I left law school to fulfill my military obligation is a polite way of saying it. In the Army I learned two things I can talk about.

One was how unprepared the service was after recruiting college graduates who had other better ideas of what their future would look like and weren’t loyal like the lifers.

We took on more skilled MOS specialties.

I graduated from medic to preventive medicine and eventually worked in an air-condition laboratory in Vietnam for processing water samples. And we palled around with the officers — many trained in medicine in my unit which caused frustration up and down the chain of command.

I learned I wasn’t cut out to blindly follow orders as standard operating procedures when it seemed like there were more efficient processes that could deliver the results in half the time.

You know what they say, “There’s the right way, the wrong way and the Army way.”

At Fort Dix, New Jersey for basic training as a freshly minted psychology college graduate the Army’s “game” revealed itself to me. Unfortunately for my drill sergeant my psychology training made me resistant to his methods and kept me anticipating what his next tactics would be. Like getting my platoon to sing along while marching to chants of “kill Charlie.” Sergeant Ski told us he came back from Nam and we’d better listen up, because all or most of us would be on our way there shortly after a brief stint in Advanced Training following Basic’s indoctrination of new recruits.

At Ft. Sam Houston in Texas and later in Long Binh, Vietnam my buddies — college graduates too — had much more in common with the officers. Our common interests created challenges up and down the chain of command. I wanted to solve problems and suggested new more efficient ways to improve procedures, but those fell on deaf ears. So, I learned to “go underground” with work arounds that made my job easier without calling attention to it.

As a Sustaining-Associates Organization Type, the military thrived with 111 SAAT Agile Tiger Teams and 112 SALS Loyal Survivalists primarily with 110 SAAS Analytical Specialists in administrative and headquarters functions.

I never came in contact with any 109 SAICA Internal Change Agents— if you discount us college-educated passive-aggressive, but two decades I later discovered their introduction of rapid sharing of best practices into a resistant culture in a video I’d shown to managers and product leaders in a high tech company stretching from emerging to rapid growth.

Based upon higher affiliation and medium pace and improvement dimensions I now categorize my manufacturing, gas station, Good Humor Ice Cream and even department store retail jobs. Yes, those were summer jobs, including becoming an insurance agent, but the business model was recruit them, orient them to represent the brand, and replace them when they don’t work out.

9. Consultant Life and Mutual Fund Company —Better Fit

This one worked out much better.

I scored a long-term retainer with a life insurance and mutual fund firm. It was the kind of mature organization that employed maintenance workers just to polish its brick entry way.

A few years earlier they had won company of the year honors like we did in my “It’s better to ask for forgiveness than to beg for permission” company.

Their challenge was — how can you inject innovation into a century’s old mature company?

I figured, why not try.

It was a complex, complicated maneuver with tons of new knowledge and new idea packaging.

My direct client, a 110 SAAS Analytical Specialist with help from a small team of 109 SAICA Internal Change Agents worked together to influence the company’s “immune system” through leadership classes.

The long-term retainer, a consultant’s dream, provided billable hours for three days a week collaborating on the advanced leadership curriculum. I picked up some other projects — one with Ford Aerospace when their division, Ford Aeronutronic’s Human Resources staff required coaching during the closing of the Newport Beach facility,

I taught reengineering and continuous improvement through the local university and collaborated with the Vice President of Human Resources at a headquarters of a medical laboratory to build out a Leadership Academy.

A few years later my long-term retainer client left to form his own consultancy, snagged a similar assignment with another 100-year-old plus company operating in the food industry.

He (110 SAAS Analytical Specialist) brought me in to create a similar leadership curriculum for his client who was a 109 SAICA Internal Change Agent to inject change into their Strategic Leadership. He worried that their organization had operated at the stage of growth for years for so long that the up and coming current managers (112 SALS Loyal Survivalists) hadn’t experienced any other way of operating . It was a prescription he felt for a disaster on their career watch.

Well, like at Fluor anytime you try to maneuver a mature organization away from what had worked so well for so long the entrenched management resists the opposite set of key success factors like your immune system repels diseases.

Summary

What makes Sustaining-Associates tick?

112 SALS Loyal Survivalists anchor the Sustaining-Associates culture. They manage people, technologies, processes, and organizational structures to sustain the innovation they’ve already mastered. Employees identify with the organization and have high affiliation needs that favor slower paced industries and cultures.

Brand Loyalty.

Sustained Improvement, Affiliation and Mastery

Building predictably upon past history and loyal customer retention.

Motto?

“If it win’t broke don’t fix it.”

What are their unique challenges?

- - - Missing competitive threats and responding too late.
    - Resting on their traditional successes.
    - Preparing the next generation of leaders for a different competitive environment.

What are the takeaways?

To mature and survive their brand needs to be accepted by the majority of the total available market.

A loyal affiliated talent culture needs constant retention so associates maintain the organization’s reputation.

Through their behaviors they develop a trust mark that keeps bringing long-term customers back again and again.

Next up — Systematic-Professionals.

Evidence

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

So, I’ll drink to that. After field testing my original research in the executive MBA program hopefully my manuscript I’m tentatively calling WorkFit serves as a point of reference for you and your decisions. I know it has at the university level so far.

“4” Steve Aoki, 41: “With so much going on, your mind will toggle between being engaged, distracted, engaged, etc. Finally, you’ll have a heavenly stretch of time to ponder what you are and what you might be.” Sagittarius

Since this is definitely not legitimately meant for me, wouldn’t it go without saying that my research may contribute to your heavily stretch of time to ponder …

“4” Steve Nash, 45: “A joyful life is a custom job. No one recipe will work for everyone. In fact, if you were to do someone else’s joy-program it would bore you at best. Create your own adventure.” Aquarius

Am I wrong to loosely interpret this TauBit of Wisdom as living at the heart of my original research into Organization Types and Talent Profiles?

“4” Steve Jobs, (1955 – 2011): “The thing that makes you call an activity ‘work’ is that it’s at least a little harder than doing nothing at all. However much effort it takes, it can also be exceedingly pleasant. That’s how it will go down today at least.” Pisces

And I’m guessing that’s how it will go down on each day going forward as I beat this content into submission to make it more palatable.

Holiday Forecast for the Week Ahead:

In the early days of biology, many scientists believed that all beings developed from miniature versions of themselves, and these ‘seed germs’ were the same in microscopic form as they were in forms full-grown.

The radical transformations of some creatures, and the ability of certain creatures to reproduce in various ways, including asexually, could not be explained with this theory, which eventually had to give way to ideas of generation more varied and plausible.

There are many ways in which we, as individuals, grow in spirit. Sometimes, we do stay about the same as we simply grow bigger until our soul and personality fill out the space in a way that feels more ‘full-sized.’ But more often than not, the spiritual aspects of our being thrive in more unusual, varied and transformative ways. Often we don’t grow so much as change.

What’s Going On …

Literally Bottled and Set Adrift from KnowWhere Atoll

- @knowlabs followers of one or more of my 35 digital magazines organically grew from 4397 to 4427.

Foresight

Quality-of-Life

Long-Form

- Saw the movie, didn’t realize that one of my favorite authors, Michael Connelly — his detective Hieronymus (Harry) Bosch book series and Amazon Prime series — also wrote, “The Lincoln Lawyer” which I just finished. Gotta tell you I can’t not see his lead character (Mickey Haller, Bosch’s half brother) as anyone else but Matthew McConaughey.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION

December 27, 2022

S2 E81 — 3rd of 4 Secrets to a Better WorkFit

Usually when people ask what do you do, you probably say something like I work for … (fill in the blank with the name of your employer) and say it with pride. It might be Nike or Pepsi or The Gap or O’Neal. The point is if you cut yourself, you’d bleed the colors of the organization.

“5” Steve Harvey, 62: “The better days that are coming will not come because you hope they will. They’ll come as a direct result of the actions you take today. You’re creating better days right now.” Capricorn

Hi and welcome to Saturday’s Episode 81 in Season 2 of “My Pandemic Year Natural Experiment” on this 18th day of July in the summer of 2020.

“The Tau of Steves: What You Don’t Know Could Fill a Book”

Table of Contents

Season One and Two are a two-year examination of how bits of wisdom changed during the “normal” pre-pandemic and then in this unfolding pandemic year.

Previously in Season Two, the Pandemic Year

S2 E80 — Unrealistic Expectations Hatched Green Box Lessons the Hard Way; S2 E79 — Ain’t No Paradoxy-Moron? How About an Emerging-Entrepreneur?; S2 E78 — What Do Paradoxy-Morons Want and Need?

Related from Season One, the Normal Year

S1 E81— Is This My Wake Up Call, Steve?; S1 E80 — I’ll Give You Adverse Conditions, Steve; S1 E79 — Can I Keep It Up? For a Year?; S1 E78 — Drag Me to Obsolescence, Clear the Way to the Future

Context

This is a continuation of “Volume Two Manuscript — WorkFit” a work-in-progress.

In a recent episode we broke out talent profiles for each of the 4 Organization Types starting with Paradoxy-Morons and Emerging-Entrepreneurs.

- 105 EEMA Marketing Athletes
- 106 EEOA Operational Accelerants
- 107 EERPT Resilient Product Teams
- 108 EECBG Core Business Groups

Moving in a counterclockwise direction we shift to Sustaining-Associates, the third Organization Type.

You’ll find a better fit working here if your identity is with the organization — expressed as falling along the scale of medium to high degrees of affiliation.

Now, if you’re a high affiliation kind of person, you’re probably struggling the most with forced quarantines and working from home. Zoom meeting may help, but it’s just not the same thing.

Worse Fit

We already know that a worse fit is found where higher degrees of disruption innovation, speed and independence define Paradoxy-Morons. In fact I should point out that at the opposite ends of fit, you couldn’t be more distant and farther apart than 101 PMBI (Paradoxy-Moron) Breakpoint Inventors and 112 SALS (Sustaining-Associate) Loyal Survivalists.

Better Fit

112 SALS Loyal Survivalists represent the talent profile where higher degrees of sustained improvement, mastery and affiliation meet.

Feeling no need to disruptively innovate, Sustaining-Associates place more value on sustained improvement instead.

Higher degrees of affiliation is what Sustaining-Associates share with Emerging-Entrepreneurs, but without a high degree of speed.

In fact, we can say “sharing a border” with Emerging-Entrepreneurs translates into “medium degrees of speed meet medium degrees of mastery.”

Emerging-Entrepreneurs, 106 EEOA Operational Accelerants and 108 EECBC Core Business Group share their border with 109 SAICA (Sustaining-Associates) Internal Change Agents and 111 SAAT (Sustaining-Associates) Agile Tiger Teams.

If we focus on high degrees of affiliation (the “row” stretching from Emerging-Entrepreneurs to Sustaining-Associates) you’ll notice a progression starting with 107 Resilient Product Team to 108 Core Business Group (team of teams) which jumps into Sustaining-Associates with similar 111 Agile Tiger Teams and finally 112 Loyal Survivalists.

Or speed and new knowledge transitions into mastery and sustained improvement.

As we’ll see later when we continue in our counter clockwise sequence, 110 SAAS (Sustaining-Associates) Analytical Specialists share higher degrees of improvement and mastery with 112 Loyal Survivalists and they share a border with Systematic-Professionals.

But, up next I’ll share what it’s like working for Sustaining-Associates either as an employer or as a consultant.

Evidence

“4” Steve Zahn, 51: “As a rule, you like to think about things before you act. So it will be interesting for you to witness the brilliance that comes from acting naturally, subconsciously and/or automatically today.” Scorpio

So true. Thinking, but maybe more to the point visualizing how events might play out. Even when I’m confronted with a problem, I run visualize different ways of solving it — probably entangling memories of solutions similar it.

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

Today’s Holiday Birthday:

You’ll pick up hard and soft skills this year and be well-paid in more ways than one. A new style of communication will improve your relationships across the board, including your relationship with yourself. You’ll be the star of someone’s life and revel in the role. Your talent for creating memorable experiences will be oft employed.

Wow, this is heady and humbling forecast for getting out of this damn pandemic. I wish today was my birthday, but you know it isn’t Hopefully, it is yours and will come true for you.

“3” Steve McQueen (1930 – 1980): “Willpower is a muscle that, like the other muscles you have, if worked too hard will become vulnerable to fatigue. Avoid using it until you really have to. Work on systems that will make the desired action a no-brainer.” Aries

Systems, eh? Sounds good. I do feel fatigued, but I’m not sure it is for the same reason. I guessing it’s just uncertainty, disease and partisan politics.

“4” Steve Howey, 42: “You’ll do purposeful work, unrelated to the job you do for money. You are creative and have a fresh take on this, unbound by rules you don’t know.” Cancer

I love this one, sure I’ll take it.

“4” Steve Kerr, 54: “You have an artistic eye and you care how things look, feel, how they are lit and the message they send. You care how things fill the senses and the emotion that is released as that happens.” Libra

Can I throw this in with Howey’s? I feel it describes what you do with a fresh take.

“3” Steve Aoki, 41: “Since you really don’t know what’s possible, it would be foolish to limit yourself your own ideas about that. What’s impossible? Maybe you should start there and work your way back.” Sagittarius

I don’t quite understand the message, but it seems positive. Maybe it fits with how to start brainstorming without eliminating

Well, all I can say is when this Pandemic Year’s Natural Experiment comes to a close that the content I’m drafting for this work-in-progress, “Volume Two Manuscript — WorkFit” helps you as you position yourself today for better days ahead.

“4” Steve Nash, 45: “What’s relaxing for one person is stressful for someone else. Be sure to do what works for you to create a neutral state of being from which you can recharge and thrive.” Aquarius

I chose this TauBit of Wisdom, because I need to remind myself to meditate or I won’t be able to recharge and find opportunity in all this chaos.

What’s Going On …

Literally Bottled and Set Adrift from KnowWhere Atoll

- @knowlabs followers of one or more of my 35 digital magazines organically grew from 4341 to 4397.

Foresight

Quality-of-Life

Long-Form

- Saw the movie, didn’t realize that one of my favorite authors, Michael Connelly — his detective Hieronymus (Harry) Bosch book series and Amazon Prime series — also wrote, “The Lincoln Lawyer” which I just finished. Gotta tell you I can’t not see his lead character (Mickey Haller, Bosch’s half brother) as anyone else but Matthew McConaughey.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION

December 26, 2022

S2 E80 — Unrealistic Expectations Hatched Green Box Lessons the Hard Way

Oops, this first example turned out to be my bad. I thought all technology companies were Paradoxy-Moron companies so even though this one turned out to be a worse fit, I chalked it up to not understanding differences in Organization Types yet. I simply held unrealistic expectations, but learned several valuable lessons.

“5” Steve Howey, 42: “Books have the power to change people, but only people who read them. You’ll love the way information is presented to you today, and the more you find out, the more you want to know.” Cancer

Hi and welcome to Friday’s Episode 80 in Season 2 of “My Pandemic Year Natural Experiment” on this 17th day of July in the summer of 2020.

“The Tau of Steves: What You Don’t Know Could Fill a Book”

Table of Contents

Season One and Two are a two-year examination of how bits of wisdom changed during the “normal” pre-pandemic and then in this unfolding pandemic year.

Previously in Season Two, the Pandemic Year

S2 E79 — Ain’t No Paradoxy-Moron? How About an Emerging-Entrepreneur?; S2 E78 — What Do Paradoxy-Morons Want and Need?; S2 E77 — 10 Years of Field Research for Better or Worse

Related from Season One, the Normal Year

S1 E80 — I’ll Give You Adverse Conditions, Steve; S1 E79 — Can I Keep It Up? For a Year?; S1 E78 — Drag Me to Obsolescence, Clear the Way to the Future; S1 E77 — Why This Caper Is Breaking My Mind

Context

This is a continuation of “Volume Two Manuscript — WorkFit” a work-in-progress.

In a recent episode we broke out talent profiles for each of the 4 Organization Types starting with Paradoxy-Morons and Emerging-Entrepreneurs.

Here are some examples from my list of best fit companies and clients for to illustrate what it means to love Emerging-Entrepreneurs the “green box” organization with it’s unique blend of talent profiles:

- 105 EEMA Marketing Athletes
- 106 EEOA Operational Accelerants
- 107 EERPT Resilient Product Teams
- 108 EECBG Core Business Groups

Oops, this first example turned out to be my bad. I thought all technology companies were Paradoxy-Moron companies so even though this one turned out to be a worse fit, I chalk it up to not understanding differences in Organization Types yet. I simply held unrealistic expectations, but learned several lessons.

12. Director Electronics Distribution Company —

Regional distribution company first tried to grow nationally and then internationally.

Sure they valued affiliation and speed, but they really weren’t creating new knowledge in the sense I craved. Their business model placed them in the middle of technology manufacturers which needed to extend their sales volume and technology companies which sourced components from manufacturers that first would work and could be trusted and then could be bought in volume to match expected market explosions.

As a middle player, they needed to “lock up” with exclusive franchise agreements the best known manufacturers and supplement their capabilities with second tier manufacturers which specialized in emerging new technologies.

It took resourceful 105 EEMA Marketing Athletes in technical sales capacities to meet with their customer technology companies (often Paradoxy-Morons) and offer technology support, feasibility assessments and establish sales distribution channels.

Working directly with their (potential) customer’s 103 PMCI Commercial Innovators with limited resources provide the missing marketing infrastructure as well. It was their job to intimately understand new disruptive innovations of their customers and propose how to take them to market in a way that leapfrogs established industry leaders. Or, they establish new markets.

The pinch points showed up between inside and outside sales efforts. In isolated sales offices throughout the region inside sales people fielded calls from customers, technical sales people from clients wanting to know prices, terms, discounts, availability for parts and components. The answers remained buried in manufacturers manuals. And, of course SKUs didn’t match and the technology conversion hadn’t made things better and easier. In fact inside sales people turned over at an alarming pace.

My initial success happened when my team streamlined what had been a two week training conference for all new hires. We cut the time in half, identified the regional gurus who made sense out of clunky technology, turned them into trainers and mentors, and switched face-to-face time from classroom to practice session.

They ran into complications with the technology required to translate currencies for product ordering. Instead the acquirer from Europe already had systems in place.

Less about innovating and more about sales.

Summary

What makes Emerging-Entrepreneurs tick?

They rapidly introduce new products into new rapidly moving niches while capturing emerging knowledge no-one else has and based on that experience introduce tweets to early business formulas.

Bias for Action.

New Knowledge, Affiliation and Speed

Knowledge creationists — teams introduce new products and apply emerging new knowledge for a competitive advantage.

Motto?

“There’s no time like the present”

What are their unique challenges?

- - - The 20% accomplish 80% of the results.
    - They learn rapidly by doing.
    - Figuring out what has to happen to boost performance with fewer and fewer trials and errors.

What are the takeaways?

Imagine a relay race with individual record holders. But, it takes flawless baton passing as a team to achieve world-class status.

Affiliation bonding is to the team. It’s up to the team to learn the fastest way to take a new idea and introduce it into the marketplace.

They need to guard their organization’s core capabilities and emerging proprietary processes while quickly managing increasing degrees of complexity as they grow.

Next up Sustaining-Associates.

Evidence

“5” Steve Zahn, 51: “You’ll reach the point in an endeavor in which you’ve done as much as you can do, or as much as you really need to do, and the best next move is to open your hands and let it go. Further work would be a waste.” Scorpio

Oh, no. Don’t tell me that.

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

Today’s Holiday Birthday:

You’re a light in the world, and you bring a lot of creativity to the role. You’ll keep people on their toes with your humor and the delight of your attention. You’ll make a financial move and be a leader. Don’t let up on improvements just because things get easy. There are six wins that will get you named your team’s most valuable player.

Yup, they do. And I gotta tell you as an idea packager books helped me find the latest and greatest for building mind-blowing seminars, workshops and training programs and made enough of a living to not have to work anymore so I can chase these passion projects.

“3” Steve Harvey, 62: “The origin of problems is a wonder, although not entirely worth spending a lot of time on. No matter where a problem came from, once you pick it up, it’s yours to love, solve, keep or give to someone else.” Capricorn

Shouldn’t you try to understand why? Maybe it’s a wonder, as in Stevie. You had me going there and I felt somewhat depressed until you told me I can give it to you.

“5” Steve Nash, 45: “You have the opportunity to improve your condition and this you will sweep up and make the most of. Then you’ll share all you’ve gained and learned so that others can do the same.” Aquarius

Well, isn’t this special!? Part one, check. Part two, work in progress.

What’s Going On …

Literally Bottled and Set Adrift from KnowWhere Atoll

- @knowlabs followers of one or more of my 35 digital magazines organically grew from 4341 to 4397.

Foresight

- Office reopening guidelines: How to return to work safely – Los Angeles Times
- Freelance consulting gigs offer high pay for niche expertise – Los Angeles Times

Quality-of-Life

- Lynn Steger’s Strong’s ‘Want,’ the bankrupt American Dream – Los Angeles Times
- This Jim Carrey book matches dystopian coronavirus times – Los Angeles Times

Long-Form

- Saw the movie, didn’t realize that one of my favorite authors, Michael Connelly — his detective Hieronymus (Harry) Bosch book series and Amazon Prime series — also wrote, “The Lincoln Lawyer” which I just finished. Gotta tell you I can’t not see his lead character (Mickey Haller, Bosch’s half brother) as anyone else but Matthew McConaughey.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION

August 31, 2022

S2 E44 — Celebrating Emma the Baroness Tribal Quarantine Style

I couldn’t bring myself to deleting her phone number from my contacts app. Nor could I turn off those pesky reminders to call her every Sunday. I just couldn’t … Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!

“The Tau of Steves: What You Don’t Know Could Fill a Book”

“5” Steve Greene, 34; Steve Guttenberg, 61; Stephen King, 72: “When you’re around easygoing people, their attitude rubs off on you. This is true even virtually. If your social media feeds are not filled with like minds, now is the time to change that.” Virgo

Hi and welcome to Sunday’s Episode 44 in Season 2 of “My Pandemic Year Experiment” on this tenth day of May in the spring of 2020.

Season 1 and 2 are a two-year examination of how bits of wisdom changed during the “normal” pre-pandemic and then in this unfolding pandemic year.

Previously in Season Two, the Pandemic Year

S2 E43 — See What You’ve Been Missing …; S2 E42 — It Was Short and Sweet, but Heart-Felt; S2 E41 — A Pandemic End to Real Estate and Consulting?

Related from Season One, the Normal Year

S1 E44 — Google Me Some Chopped Liver; S1 E43 — Desperation on Such a Summer’s Day; S1 E42 — Love on the Run; S1 E41 — The Dream Was Over, Long Live the Dream

Context

The current, local members of the tribe gathered in our back patio to celebrate Emma the Baroness’ Mother Day’s — self-quarantine style:

SLO Girl and Shaggy recounted how asparagus grows and how you keep cutting it back once the root ball develops and how that’s what you want to buy for planting.

They recalled part of their trip to Vista during the COVID-19 scare when Shaggy phoned Eric the Red and Lady M as part of his contact tracing false alarm.

I brought up working remotely and what will happen next. Jazzy and Delta Girl might consider moving to Idaho for closeness to snowboarding.

“Won’t you miss surfing?” Shaggy asked.

Jazzy smirked and said he fly back inferring in August sometime Delta Girl would return to Delta, but now she’s making more money on furlough.

I spun stories about the challenge one of my former clients and recruited mentor had us address when Prudential Real Estate and Relocation forced sales operations to work remotely having clawed their way to “Mahogany Row” with executive assistants shielding them from unwanted interruptions and cover for their indiscretions. They weren’t pleased.

The Sam Harris podcast came up. “Automattic is the parent of WordPress” Shaggy said. He read to us from his iPhone to prove it.

“Automattic Inc. is an American global distributed company which was founded in August 2005 and is most notable for WordPress.com, as well as its contributions to WordPress. The company’s name is a play on founder Matt Mullenweg’s first name.”

Next topic settled by Siri felt sad to me.

SLO Girl worked at the Ocean Institute educating kids about marine life, until they closed down to a skeleton crew, another victim of the pandemic.

In the Dana Point Harbor, moored to the institute’s wooden dock, the Pilgrim sank — a replica of Richard Henry Dana’s ship upon which he drew experiences included in his “Two Years Before the Mast.”

He described Shaggy and SLO Girl’s home, San Juan Capistrano, as “the only romantic spot on the coast”.

But the loss of the tall-ship made me wonder out loud. One that even SLO Girl had never heard.

“When Emma the Baroness and I were hopelessly in love co-workers, we took the clandestine way to our home in Corona del Mar, right dear?”

And on our way through Costa Mesa neighborhood streets we noticed this backyard vessel being built and wondered what was this guy doing and what was he going to do with it when he finished it.

“Oh, yeah I remember that.”

“I figured he’d never finish, because it took so long.”

“Yeah, me too.”

Over the years we’d pause as we drove by to check in on his progress. It seemed he was always replacing older sections of his hull with wood that might have been rotting in the open air of his tiny back yard.

“He even built a door into the hull so he could enter when he worked on the interior,” Emma the Baroness recalled.

“And this kept on until one day it vanished. Was he evicted I wondered? And, if so how in the hell did the landlord get rid of the tall ship?”

“What happened to it?” Shaggy asked.

It was one of those dead at night stories. To truck it to the ocean he was supposed to get permits. He needed both Costa Mesa and Newport Beach permissions to prop up power lines for clearance as he moved it slowly down Harbor Blvd into Newport Blvd and then to where he could launch it before anyone was any wiser.

“I guess he was willing to pay any fine they wanted to stick him with after all those years.”

But, he kept his fingers crossed hoping once it floated, the wooden planks would expand keeping it mostly above the harbor’s surface.

“Really? Wow, I didn’t know that.” SLO Girl said, But, she wasn’t convinced it was the Pilgrim.

Shaggy checked Siri and confirmed her suspicion. “ The Pilgrim was built in Europe with authentic wood for the time and sailed to San Francisco first.”

Emma the Baroness and I exchanged are-we-crazy looks.

Shaggy said, “Wait, there’s more. Another tall ship named The Spirit moored near by was build in Costa Mesa.”

We thought how ironic that the backyard built tall ship outlasted the exact replica, when I was so certain the Spirit wouldn’t even survive sailing it south from Newport Harbor to Dana Harbor.

The back patio bonding, though socially distant, felt normal, but the pandemic was still in the back of our minds.

Questions were also fresh in my mind — like these from a survey or newspaper article I read earlier in the morning, but just can’t source right now.

- - How do you think our economy and our daily lives, should look as the stay-at-home orders are lifted and we try to return to work?
  - We want to hear about your experiences, your hopes for the future and what you want to see changed.
  - What is the most important thing you want to see changed about life in California after the pandemic?
  - What is the most important issue you feel the pandemic highlighted that should be addressed immediately?
  - What would a more fair economy look like to you?
  - If you lost your job, lost hours, took a pay cut or have trouble paying your rent of your mortgage, please tell us about what.
  - What would a more robust healthcare system look like to you?
  - If you made use of the healthcare system for testing or treatment during the pandemic, please tell us about that. What worries you most as you think about returning to work or school?

Evidence

“5” Steve Zahn, 51: “There are those who can be trusted to spread the word quickly. Instead of thinking of them as gossips, consider them your broadcasters and give them the information you want everyone to know.” Scorpio

You know when I first discovered this scheme? Right after I transferred journal notes when I was between jobs into Hypercard Stacks — the Swiss Army knife of searchable, linkable, electronic “3X5 cards”.

I created contact cards for everyone in my network as I navigated from one to three of my requested referrals and then to three more from each of the three I interviewed.

Soon enough you sensed when synchronicity was at play and you could easily seed the network-as-an-audience to cultivate opportunities and offers that a decision-maker would want me to fill.

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

“3” Steve McQueen (1930 – 1980): “If you can make yourself do a thing, you can inspire others to do the same thing. Work on you first.” Aries

Not you usual parent admonition of do as I say, not as I do. Real leaders model the behavior and the talent culture they want to nurture. Even in a hybrid restructuring organically taking place now.

“4’’ Steve Smith, 30; Stevie Nicks, 72: “You live for things other than money and fun, which is why you still have a firm footing in life when those things aren’t in flowing supply.” Gemini

I always wanted to live by my wits. It didn’t always work out well with variable income, so I get what’s it’s like when money isn’t flowing — it’s not fun.

“5” Steve Carrell, 57; Steve Martin, 74; Steve Wozniak, 69: “Remind yourself about what’s within your influence these days. It’s a lot, but it’s maybe not what you’re focusing on.” Leo

Like everyone else I’d rather take the low road, point the finger and complain. Okay, now that’s off my chest, I should focus on the piddly amount of things still within my control.

Done!

What’s Going On …

Literally Bottled and Set Adrift from KnowWhere Atoll

- @knowlabs followers of one or more of my 35 digital magazines grew from 2,170 to 2300.

Foresight

Quality-of-Life

Long-Form

- Just picked up “Bob Dylan In America” by Sean Wilentz. Maybe because of the subliminal messaging like the times are a changing and the answer is blowing in the wind, but I kinda like Sean’s fanboy becomes music critic becomes historian surrounding Dylan’s life and times.
- Saw the movie, didn’t realize that one of my favorite authors, Michael Connelly — his detective Hieronymus (Harry) Bosch book series and Amazon Prime series — also wrote, “The Lincoln Lawyer” which I just finished. Gotta tell you I can’t not see his lead character (Mickey Haller, Bosch’s half brother) as anyone else but Matthew McConaughey.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION

August 30, 2022

S2 E43 — See What You’ve Been Missing …

Patreon’s limited editing capabilities suck. Their format choices totally changes how each of my publications originally appear in my WordPress blogs.

“The Tau of Steves: What You Don’t Know Could Fill a Book”

“5” Steve Jobs, (1955 – 2011): “There’s no easier way, no shortcut available, no hack or guide that will provide the answer. You just have to find it as you go along. Luckily, this hard way is also the fun way.” Pisces

Hi and welcome to Saturday’s Episode 43 in Season 2 of “My Pandemic Year Experiment” on this ninth day of May in the spring of 2020.

Season 1 and 2 are a two-year examination of how bits of wisdom changed during the “normal” pre-pandemic and then in this unfolding pandemic year.

Previously in Season Two, the Pandemic Year

S2 E42 — It Was Short and Sweet, but Heart-Felt; S2 E41 — A Pandemic End to Real Estate and Consulting?; S2 E40 — The Profound Impact of the Pandemic on Nouns

Related from Season One, the Normal Year

S1 E43 — Desperation on Such a Summer’s Day; S1 E42 — Love on the Run; S1 E41 — The Dream Was Over, Long Live the Dream; S1 E40 — Nothing to See Here, Keep Moving On

Context

My new end of the week publication habit works. Here’s what my early experimental attempt for Patreon became:

The Coming Millennial Migration — Will Remote Work Set You Free?

“More sunsets are caught than sunrises because a greater number of people are awake in the evening than are watching for the break of dawn. Get on an early tract. There’s something spectacular in it for you.”

Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.

Los Angeles Times, Catharine Hamm, Photo: Yang Lu

The Tau: Week Ending 5/9/20

New horizons. Grab some bucket list ideas to go — for deferred itineraries and remote-enabled resort towns. Curated from stories about local communities stretching along Pacific Coast Highway, in mountain resorts and on lakes, islands and in the great outdoors.

But, here on the Atoll, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. Instead we hope our articles inspire your future adventures!

See what you’ve been missing.

Check out this week’s headlines pulled from our daily “Top 30 Digest” delivered, “Fresh from the Labs. Literally bottled and set adrift from KnowWhere Atoll.”

Where … ?

PCH Regions

- - - - “San Diego mayor: Compliance with new beach rules bodes well for state business reopening”
      - ”Pismo Beach: Where To Eat, Stay, And Play”
      - ”Whale that washed ashore in Ventura County towed out to sea”
      - ”Wineries Sue Over Cannabis Operation”
      - ”The Malibu Beach Inn Is Offering a Unique Social Distance Dining Experience for Mother’s Day”
      - ”Video captures coyote going for a morning stroll by Levi’s Plaza in SF during shelter-in-place order”

Islands and Currents

- - - - “Hawaii’s Proposals To Safely Reopen Travel…”
      - “I Was Stranded in Hawaii by Coronavirus — and the Magical Islands Completely Stole My Heart”
      - ”Hawaii wants to ensure a sustainable relationship with tourism post-COVID19”
      - ”Hawaii arresting rogue tourists for violating mandatory quarantine”
      - ”30 Best Bucket List Trips For Your Lifetime: Sailing The Hidden Caribbean”
      - ”Here’s how Sandals plans to re-open its Caribbean resorts to guests”
      - ”I’m Quarantined on a Yacht in the Caribbean. It’s Not What You Think”
      - ”Squid are back in abundance along Central California coast”
      - ”On Catalina Island, Unemployment Is 90%. A Local Food Pantry is Making Sure No One Goes Hungry”

Mountains and Lakes

- - - - ”Why whitewater rafting could be the safest way to a family vacation this summer”
      - ”Prediction tool shows how forest thinning may increase Sierra Nevada snowpack”
      - “9 Things To Know About The North Lake Tahoe Ale Trail”
      - ”Cute Video: Mama bear rescues cubs, swimming them to safety one-by-one in South Lake Tahoe “
      - ”Introducing The Mountaineers Statement on Climate Change”

Pristine Treks

- - - - ”Outerbike cancels Deer Valley mountain bike demo event”
      - ”How To Spend A Weekend In Historic Truckee, California”
      - ”This Colorado Doggo Has Hit More Than 5,000 Summits“
      - ”California Snowpack Already Nearly Bare As Drought Worsens”

Deserts, Slopes and Ranges

- - - - “Western Slope Farmers Forge On Despite Losing 90 Percent of Peach Crop”
      - ”An Ace Hotel Gift Card Is a Win-Win Purchase“
      - ”Live out your Santorini dreams in this Palm Springs house asking $3M”
      - ”Take a Peek Inside Walt Disney’s Former Technicolor Dream House”

The Tau 12 Months Ago

“You’ve been happy with your choices, but now you’re starting to notice that there are new options on the horizon.”

Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.

Tags : COVID-19, climate, deserts, horizons, islands, lakes, migration, Millennials, mountains, Pacific Coast Highway, rafting, ranges, regions, rivers, remote, road trips, slopes, sunrises

Evidence

“4” Steve Zahn, 51: “Pain is a signal. It is possible to feel pain and not be hurt by it. For example, endurance sports enthusiasts may experience this as they push through a workout. Pain is part of the process. Hurt is a judgment.” Scorpio

I’m guessing that pain means frustration on my part. If so then, yes, it definitely part of the process. I get that. There are no short cuts, there is only doing.

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

“4” Steve Aoki, 41: “You know your limits and your triggers, which makes you more powerful, not less. But take into account that things like that change. You get stronger and braver. Test and push yourself today.” Sagittarius

I detect a theme. Quit bitching if you’re so powerful. Push through today. OK. Got it.

“4” Steve Winwood, 71; Stevie Wonder, 69: “Your confidence comes from a wellspring of integrity. You know what you’ve done, what you have and who you are. You don’t require constant reminders of your greatness or tons of reinforcement to feel good.” Taurus

Don’t be so sure for this career reincarnation. Some reminders of greatness would be nice. Or maybe just 500 pounds of reinforcement.

“5” Steve Nash, 45: “You think about things in a certain way that you may not even be aware of until you express what you’re thinking to a friend. The act of articulating yourself brings about new insights.” Aquarius

Not only for me, but I noticed this early on in my one-on-one advisory career with “C-Suite” executives. I put on a brave face before each engagement fearing my lack of answers for someone operating at the top tier of an organization. Until, that fateful day when I simply asked a VP what she had been doing already about the problem or challenge she faced. Then, my natural instincts and intuition kicked in. Get them to tell you and in the telling their answers reveal themselves.

Theory is one thing. Explanations and instructions are just that. Until you take all the teachings and advice and apply them is when the true knowledge is revealed. No hacks or shortcuts to building your own experience into wisdom.

What’s Going On …

Literally Bottled and Set Adrift from KnowWhere Atoll

- @knowlabs followers of one or more of my 35 digital magazines grew from 2,170 to 2300.

Foresight

Quality-of-Life

Long-Form

- Just picked up “Bob Dylan In America” by Sean Wilentz. Maybe because of the subliminal messaging like the times are a changing and the answer is blowing in the wind, but I kinda like Sean’s fanboy becomes music critic becomes historian surrounding Dylan’s life and times.
- Saw the movie, didn’t realize that one of my favorite authors, Michael Connelly — his detective Hieronymus (Harry) Bosch book series and Amazon Prime series — also wrote, “The Lincoln Lawyer” which I just finished. Gotta tell you I can’t not see his lead character (Mickey Haller, Bosch’s half brother) as anyone else but Matthew McConaughey.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION