“The Tau of Steves: What You Don’t Know Could Fill a Book”
Spring
March 2019
3/2/19: I’m starting to notice a pattern. I will include six or more TauBits when nothing really stands out by itself, especially for Zahn, Winkler, Emma and Me.
Case in point.
On a scale from 1 being low and 5 being high, this one receives a 2. Maybe it will energize you. Feel free to steal it for your good fortune.
“2” Steve Zahn, 51: “The saying, ‘Nothing ventured, nothing gained’ will ring true for you today.” Scorpio
Random ones that make me want change my sign.
Today I feel indebted to the Woz, Carell and Martin — some of my favorite Steves — for allowing me to steal their Holiday Tau.
“5” Steve Carell, 57; Steve Martin, 74; Steve Wozniak, 69: “The world has its tools for assessing one’s success, but they’re impersonal. You get to choose the metrics by which you judge yourself.” Leo
Why?
‘Cause this project, if truth be known, sprung out of someone else, maybe Joseph Chilton Pearce, who said you can live your life as an art form or a natural experiment.
I’m thinking the Holiday Tau may appeal to the artist in me — the writer — and the natural experiment part which leads through experience to knowledge, resonates with “another self” that experiments and conducts knowledge laboratories.
About 5 or 6 months ago I conducted a Knowledge Lab to figure out just where to go from here with the work-in-progress I’m calling self-publishing. It seems pretty straight forward until you do something squishy like this 1-year experiment.
Thank you guys for reminding me of the method to my madness. Choosing the metrics for me is only just now starting to crystalize.
The selection criteria by which I include The Holiday Tau of Steves is likewise squishy. I’ll read the printed version distributed on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Nothing is saved on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
Here’s a “3”. Winwood and Wonder’s Tau about trying something else for the fun of it is, well fun. I like it.
“3” Steve Winwood, 71; Stevie Wonder, 69: “Find an activity that you’ve always wanted to try, then do it. In time, It could become an expression of your spirit.” Taurus
Wait, here’s that guy again, Steve Aoki in his low to mid 40s who gets some of the better TauBits, at least over these beginning days of the experiment.
“4” Steve Aoki, 41: “Something you thought would be a setback or disruption will turn out to be just what was needed to invigorate you.” Sagittarius
His TauBit turns out to be a tough lesson to learn period. (Is that redundant?)
What about when a disruptive setback like losing your job suddenly throws you into a downward spiral? If you’ve been a procrastinator like me, when you lose a job you realize you are already 6 months behind.
And you should have been taking action so you could have hit the ground running instead of trying to figure out who you are, which jobs are available, how’s your LinkedIn profile, and on and on — tasks you could have already taken care of.
Why be blindsided?
The only good thing that comes with it is the weight loss triggered by fear, uncertainty and doubt. The amount of stress, which is natural, in situations where you’re shocked and angered in the beginning wakes you up at 3 am in the morning and can lead to health concerns.
A better approach is anticipation. I found it’s about the only career insurance policy you can find:
Give yourself and your loved ones more choices and options. In the process, avoid a prolonged downturn while prospering with a better quality of life anywhere in the world you want.
What I found in my life and in advising executives is to anticipate the growing shifts in life and business. Nobody wants to swim upstream if the current is moving everything in the opposite direction.
Maybe skip his one — not worth stealing, I give it a “2“. Love you Steve, and I hope if fits you better than me today.
“2“ Steve Harvey, 62: “You were going through emotions while you made your work, and now those emotions are embedded in the work. Sensitive souls will be able to feel it.” Capricorn
Steve Jobs’ Holiday Tau is interesting and ranks a “3+” but isn’t there a song whose lyrics go something like “People hear what they want to hear and disregard the rest”? Sung by Paul Simon? However comma…
“3” Steve Jobs, (1955 – 2011): ”You may regret certain things you say, but don’t worry too much about it. People really do hear what they want to hear. And once a person gets to know you, the listening goes a little softer, the margin for error wider.” Pisces
It didn’t see like Jobs much cared about regretting things he said at Apple during both chapters of his tenure. Maybe in his personal life? With that whole sorry daughter named Lisa relationship.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Inspired by Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate