January 2022 – Knowledge ATMs

January 31, 2022

S1 E130 — How Do You Go On When Sheer Panic Sets In?

Where’d all the grains of time disappear? I’m feeling sheer panic as my launch goal is 24 hours away. Here’s how wacked out I was.

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

Hi and welcome to Friday’s Episode 130 in the first season of “My 1-Year Natural Experiment” on this 6th day of December in winter of 2019

“5” Steve Aoki, 41: “Holding back takes either self-control or fear. Throwing everything in takes either courage or ignorance. Knowing what to give, when and how much takes either prudence or wisdom.” Sagittarius

Evidence

At the last minute today I roughed out a bulleted draft I’ll circulate to my friends and acquaintances, first, and then on to roughly 1800 others in my LinkedIn 1 degree network:

- - Started working a quasi memoir; too self-serving.
  - Remembered a film I saw years ago — “The Tao of Steve” — and a creative light bulb went off. The movie was about a philosophy for picking up women based on Dex’s synthesis he cobbled together based on Steve Austin, Steve McGarrett and Steve McQueen.
  - Totally fictional.
  - But it got me thinking.
  - What if there is something to how our name influences us subtly — more than our horoscope, I’m guessing — and a reason why our mothers chose it for us.
  - Each has a special meaning according to all those baby books and websites expectant fathers and mothers devour, right?
  - Have you ever given any more than just a passing thought about your name? The sound of it as a baby — probably on of the first bonding experiences in each of our lives, right?
  - I’m taking a 360 degree approach, collecting stories from Steves, but also from their children, spouses, sisters and brothers, wives and partners and parents.
  - Kind of a he-said-they-said approach.
  - What’s in a name?
  - My working title is, “The Tau of Steves: What You Don’t Know Could Fill a Book.”
  - So, I’m looking for advice and feedback.
  - If you were me, how would you identify and screen 100 Steves and 100 Friends-of-Steves (FOSs) willing to contribute stories?
  - (Add Patreon link as signature)

Clearly my fears of embarrassment and how others might react overtook me until I just blurted out on paper what summarized my intentions. Was it a shining moment, like working a room? Dunno. Think not.

“3” Steve Zahn, 51: “It’s easier to work a room when you think you’ll only have to do it once. You can shine in the moment without a thought about the past or future of a relationship.” Scorpio

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

Again, Aoki’s Holiday Tau feels in tune with my state of high anxiety and I’m holding on for wisdom to show up.

Great point G&G, if there’s something I notice in my roughed out draft it seems too complicated. Maybe I’ll try shorter versions out with my closer friends first to get their unvarnished feedback.

“5” Steve Greene, 34; Steve Guttenberg, 61: “You can fit into a lot of different descriptions yet you’re far too complex to fill out just one. Getting to know you takes time.” Virgo

Maybe the fictional Dex had it right when he chose McQueen as an inspiration. Clearly my bulleted rough draft required more digging and fine tuning. But not so much that it delays engaging with my audience.

“4” Steve McQueen (1930 – 1980): “Many leaders concede an effective message — true or not — to be one that drives people to a desired behavior. If you want the truth, you’ll have to dig for it.” Aries

At this moment in time, I’m not sure I’m feeling fresh. But I’m ready to concede something that’s been trapped inside of me for quite awhile. Is it out of step? Maybe.

“4” Steve Smith, 30: “You may think you’re having a fresh feeling when actually the feeling is just now emerging from a trap it’s been in for years. The intensity of emotion may seem out of step.” Gemini

Let’s summarize my emotional life by combining the Holiday Tau from two comedians, a company founder and an NBA coach:

“4” Steve Carell, 57; Steve Martin, 74; Steve Wozniak, 69: “Take time to give yourself props for the little things you do to keep this show going.” Leo

“4” Steve Kerr, 54: “Think life is good, and it will show you how good it is. Think life is hard; it will show you that. You’re not afraid to see more than one side of it.” Libra

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION

January 27, 2022

S3 E6 — What’s the Half Life of Wisdom?

Isn’t incredible that so many people do not to believe in the science and the data and facts about the COVID-19 vaccine. I’m returning full cycle to my graduate school days in psychology and my first career to seek an explanation — “What a fool believes, she sees … Doobie Brothers”.

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

Hi and welcome to Saturday’s Episode 6 in Season 3 of “My Paradoxically Normal Year” on this 6th day of March in the spring of 2021 — which is a three-year examination of how bits of wisdom changed during the “normal” pre-pandemic year and then in the pandemic year, and now months after.

Previously in Season Three, The Paradoxically Normal Year

S3 E5 — Another Year Another Baby, Could Have Been Stevie like Stevie Nicks, but Noooooo!; S3 E4 — What a Fool Believes She Sees; S3 E3 — A Pivot, a Miracle or Something Paradoxically Normal?; S3 E2 — Preview of the New Post Pandemic Season; S3 E1 — Preview Day One in Season Three of the New Abnormality

Related from Season Two, The Pandemic Year

S2 E6 — No We Don’t Share Your Precious Little Frickin’ Data; S2 E5 —Second Season Sneak Preview: My Pandemic Year’s Natural Experiment; S2 E4 — Sneak Preview: Day 4 of My Pandemic Year’s Natural Experiment; S2 E3 — Day 3 of My Pandemic Year Experiment; S2 E2 — New Season Preview: Rippling Effects, Implications and Consequences We Didn’t See Coming; S2 E1 — Sneak Preview Asking “How Toxic is Your Work Life?”

Related from Season One, The Normal Year

S1 E6 — Day 6 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E5 — Day 5 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E4 — Day 4 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E3 — Day 3 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E2 — Day 2 of My 1-Year Experiment ; S1 E1 – Day One of My 1-Year Experiment

“5” Steve Winwood, 71; Stevie Wonder, 69; Stephen Colbert, 56: “They want you to believe, but why? Who benefits from your adherence to the belief system? And if all were to comply, would the outcome be something you could get behind?” Taurus

Evidence

I like this essay for the Holiday Tau today:

1. 1. History is an art, not a science.
  2. History is typically told by the war-winners, the power-players, the dominant forces on the scene. Therefore, history is never the truth; it’s only a truth.
  3. History changes and evolves with humanity.
  4. If you don’t take charge of your own history, someone else will. If you care about your story enough to shape it and tell it your way, then it will have a chance of living on in that manner. If not, your story is vulnerable to the whims of whoever tells it.
  5. History must be told again and again. No one remembers a story told to them once. Enduring history is told until it forms grooves in our individual and collective consciousness.
  6. Some believe that a person dies twice: once when they stop being alive and then again when they stop being remembered.
  7. To take up the cause of telling the story of the conquered, overlooked, oppressed and little-known is a noble cause.
  8. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” — George Santayana, philosopher.

Sobering, eh? I’ve been having conversations kinda like those with my friend, Brook and with my self in an internal dialogue.

But, today Emma the Baroness arranged for a pontoon boat excursion around our lake with SLO Girl and Shaggy to celebrate Delta Girl and Jazzy’s engagement — but the threat of Shaggy’s and Jazzy’s recent snowboarding expedition to Big Sky near White Fish Lake, Montana canceled it.

With potential COVID contagion on airlines, in airports and ski lodges postponed the romantic event Jazzy and Shaggy advised against the risk.

Although Emma the Baroness’ love story literally jolted us with our electric shoulder bumps and has grown in different ways over the years, we definitely could have passed on Zahn’s Holiday Tau — it’s not all roses given and received, don’t you know.

“5” Steve Zahn, 51: “Don’t let the mythologies around love color your own ideas too literally. For example, ‘love at first sight’ is only one version. It is every bit as exciting to build a friendship into something more electrifying.” Scorpio

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

As internal consultants pushing a boulder uphill during an organizational transformation used to say, “Suspend your critical thinking” as a way to get past the it-will-never-work-because-we-already-tried-it status quo dismissals of new ideas. Now, should we be saying, “Suspend your belief about …”

“5” Steve McQueen (1930 – 1980): “You cannot make a point with someone who won’t, can’t or just isn’t listening. The growth of your influence depends on picking the right audience, something you have a talent for now.” Aries

Isn’t unbelievable that so many do people not to believe in the science and the data and facts about the COVID-19 vaccine. I’m returning full cycle to my graduate school days in psychology and first career to seek an explanation — “What a fool believes, she sees … Doobie Brothers”.

Insights. That’s what I’m all about. What is the half life of wisdom? For engineers the half life of their knowledge, I believe, is five years — that’s the measure of how far they have fallen behind in their profession if they haven’t taken classes, engaged in self-study or dedicated time each day, week and month to invest in themselves. Otherwise they loose their value in the employment marketplace. Given the pace of life how long is it until half of what passes for wisdom no longer works?

“5” Steve Nash, 45: “Insight into who you are and why you make certain choices is no small gain. It’s knowledge not usually acquired in school or imparted by experts. Insights into self are the gold of true seekers. You’re to be commended.” Aquarius

What’s Going On …

Literally Bottled and Set Adrift from KnowWhere Atoll

- @KnowLabs suite of 36 digital magazines jumps from 7280 to 7397 this week organically grown followers

Foresight

Quality-of-Life

Long-Form

- “Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire: A 500-Year History” by Kurt Andersen Both of us, Emma the Baroness and I, have been processing the acquittal of our ex-President — not really being surprised by the “Big Lie” promoting followers in the Senate, but more disappointed after seeing new video documentation of the insurrection and detailed evidence time lines. I return to Kurt Andersen’s book “Fantasyland” to help me through the process of filtering the unfolding events.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION

January 26, 2022

S2 E14 — Reading Tea Leaves Bottled and Set Adrift

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

Having been reading the tea leaves this week my sense is we’re entering career-risk and job threatening times, so I planted a seed by DM-ing with Jazzy and Shaggy.

Hi and welcome to Friday’s Episode 14 of the Second Season’s My Pandemic Year’s Natural Experiment, on March 20th in the spring of 2020 here in California.

Previously in Season Two, the Pandemic Year

S2 E13 — Slipping on a Bar of Dove Soap and other Ripple Effects; S2 E12 — Too Anxious to Meet and Eat; S2 E11 — Waiting for the 3rd Shoe to Drop

Related from Season One, the Normal Year

S1 E14 — Day 14 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E13 — Day 13 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E12 — Day 12 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E11 —Day 11 of My 1-Year Experiment;

“5” Steve Zahn, 51: “New ventures, new chaos. Excitement and disorder are linked. Maybe it’s not disorder but an ‘extra order’ we don’t understand yet.” Scorpio

Evidence

When I advised executives through their year long job searches and coached executive MBA students during the shocking 2008 and 2009 near depression job climate almost everyone underestimated how long their search would actually take.

So, I nudged Shaggy and Jazzy to activate a 90-day plan instead of waiting to organize their search and networking activities, in case this pandemic becomes a personal worst case for them — layoffs with their jobs at risk.

How susceptible had I become by the act of note taking from “The Introvert Advantage: How Quiet People Can Thrive in an Extrovert World” about left-brained dominant people?

They value written and verbal information … think in concrete ways, as if they are processing data … like to reduce information into logical sections … decision making … they are not so influenced by emotions. The can be witty or sarcastic … may appear somewhat controlled, cool, and detached.

Left-brained introverts are focused on a career or hobby. They may use denial or obsessive thinking as a way to protect themselves from anxiety.

Chaos, disorder and new ventures in a Holiday Tau from a Steve is one I’d anticipate from Steve Jobs, but let’s face it he’s a no show today and if he was, I’d have to steal it to use it, right?

“5” Steve Zahn, 51: “New ventures, new chaos. Excitement and disorder are linked. Maybe it’s not disorder but an ‘extra order’ we don’t understand yet.” Scorpio

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

I agree, Steve. In fact it takes about 2o minutes in my afternoon meditation to cleanse my mind, and then replay what had stressed me or had drained all my energy for new insights.

“5” Steve McQueen (1930 – 1980): “Doing nothing is one of the hardest things for your active sign. But 20 minutes of nothingness will set you up for hours of productivity.” Aries

One of the favorite reasons given when I asked an executive why he wanted to become a mentor in our program was, if I can just keep someone from making as many mistakes as I had I’d feel I was very successful in our mentoring relationship.

“4” Steve Winwood, 71; Stevie Wonder, 69: “You’ll learn what you want to know and also what you didn’t want to know. This is the knowledge you’ll need to delegate like a boss.” Taurus

OMG, G&G! Are you monitoring my Kindle activity? For “Volume Three — Wisdom and Legacy” manuscript, I’ve been highlighting phrases from authors like Michael Connelly as examples to help punch up my prose — in a non plagiarism way.

“5” Steve Greene, 34; Steve Guttenberg, 61: “Involving yourself in the world between book covers is one of the best things you could possibly do for your inner experience.” Virgo

What’s Going On …

Literally Bottled and Set Adrift from KnowWhere Atoll

- 1,374 Flipboard users follow one or more of my 35 digital magazines.

Foresight

- Trump weakens fuel economy standards, rolling back climate change fight – Los Angeles Times
- Coronavirus crisis: Closing Disneyland is a blow to American optimism – Los Angeles Times

Quality-of-Life

- Escaping the coronavirus: The Great American Migration of 2020 – The Washington Post
- Introverts Prefer Mountains: How Your Personality Affects Where You Should Live – PsyBlog

Long-Form

- “The Introvert Advantage: How Quiet People Can Thrive in an Extrovert World” by Marti Olsen Laney
- An Introvert’s Guide to Finding Success in Web Design

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION

January 25, 2022

S2 E13 — Slipping on a Bar of Dove Soap and other Ripple Effects

I’ve been stuffing “Ripple Effects” news into my knowledge bank on Pinboard. Mounting evidence of how coronavirus is impacting more and more my former mentors and proteges is pouring in from my group emails and makes me feel these times are eerily similar to the Great Recession.

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

Hi and welcome to Thursday’s Episode 13 of the Second Season’s My Pandemic Year’s Natural Experiment, on March 19th in the spring of 2020 here in California.

Previously in Season Two, the Pandemic Year

S2 E12 — Too Anxious to Meet and Eat; S2 E11 — Waiting for the 3rd Shoe to Drop; S2 E10 — Cats, Ladders and Shaking Salt …;

Related from Season One, the Normal Year

S1 E13 — Day 13 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E12 — Day 12 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E11 —Day 11 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E10 — Day 10 of My 1-Year Experiment;

“5” Steve Aoki, 41: “Don’t believe everything you tell yourself today. Just because a voice is coming from inside you doesn’t make that voice true. How is it your real opinion?” Sagittarius

Evidence

Sometimes you’re overtaken by events and this week I felt I became an OBE victim. At least that’s what Leo da V kept whispering.

You may recall how on Sunday he led the negotiations which culminating in two designated days of creativity and unbound associative thinking if the remaining five days accomplished Patreon execution tasks.

And, then like slipping on a bar of Dove soap in the shower accomplishing those tasks began slip sliding away.

I’ve been stuffing “Ripple Effects” news into my knowledge bank on Pinboard. Mounting evidence of how coronavirus is impacting more and more my the mentors and proteges in my group emails make me feel these times are eerily similar to the Great Recession.

Leo da V floated headlines like, “Will you be ready for the coming Great Reset?”

He reminded me about opening chapter in “On Your Own Terms: Pack More Meaning and Passion into Your Life” the first book in “The Knowledge Path Series” starts with the poem, “There’s a hole in my sidewalk” — which I could offer to all those patrons supporting me at the Tier Two $3 Cambria level of support — should move up in Patreon priority publishing order.

And then next in priority could be the tracking of rippling-effects during this pandemic as a way of introducing:

1. 1. The Know Laboratories website and blog
  2. Change, Disruption and Transformation articles
  3. One of the revised 2009 book chapters around scenarios,
  4. 5-year time frames throughout Volume One of the Knowledge Path.

However comma I’m feeling a really strong pull towards introverts as I research links and connections to my works-in-progress, “Volume Two — Work Manuscript” and “Volume Three – Wisdom and Legacy Manuscript”

I’m taking notes from “The Introvert Advantage: How Quiet People Can Thrive in an Extrovert World” about right-brained dominant people.

- Right-brained-dominant people respond better to metaphors and analogies than to commentary or narrative thought. … spontaneous, creative … as the unconscious mind … little language ability and cannot verbalize its thinking process. Its thinking is formed in a rapid, complex, and spatial … do several tasks at once … emotional and can be funny or playful.
- Right-brained introverts — many of them are difficult to translate into traditional job skills … creative and may seem eccentric or curious to others … starving artists many actors feel more emotions and see the big picture,
- Right-brained introverts, require large amounts of protected sifting and sorting time because they take in so much unconscious information. Without private time they end up feeling confused and fragmented.

Wait do you interpret your Holiday Tau like I do? Even though I’m overtaken by events by focusing on the long-term my batteries won’t be drained?

“5” Steve Zahn, 51: “You’ll allow yourself some of what you want but not all. It won’t drain your willpower because you’re focused on playing the long game.” Scorpio

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

Wait, love and travel fills my summer, if in fact I steal your birthday today. Shifting circumstances may dictate how June, July and August unfold.

Today’s Holiday Birthday:

“Nature is the story of this world, and you are nature, too. Your experiences in the biosphere will teach you profound lessons of being and will open pathways of spiritual levity. You’ll be responsible for the progress of a group because the care you give this endeavor. It all develops beautifully. Love and travel fill you summer.”

Sorry Steve, I’m just getting how your Holiday Tau resonates for me today.

“3” Steve McQueen (1930 – 1980): “You’re thinking about that thing you wanted and didn’t get. It’s a good thing your efforts led you to this place, with things that matter.” Aries

I’m guessing that left-brain dominant folks are the one’s who love a routing, like what I’m following to free up time for Leo da V to shine.

“3” Steve Winwood, 71; Stevie Wonder, 69: “The human brain loves a routine. You want a routine you’ve consciously constructed, so you’ll get intentional with the cause.” Taurus

Wow, Steve your Holiday Tau seems to twist and turn into what this 1-year experiment is all about. Thanks.

“5” Steve Smith, 30: “Try not to let schooling interfere with learning. To know only the steps and not the theory behind a thing is to be as educated as a robot.” Gemini

Is this a cautionary tale, or something? Or is this a restatement of John Lilly’s method to treat yourself as the subject of a natural experiment? Experience and test with critical thinking?

What’s Going On …

Literally Bottled and Set Adrift from KnowWhere Atoll

- 1,372 Flipboard users follow one or more of my 35 digital magazines.

Foresight

- Trump weakens fuel economy standards, rolling back climate change fight – Los Angeles Times

Quality-of-Life

- Escaping the coronavirus: The Great American Migration of 2020 – The Washington Post

Long-Form

- “The Introvert Advantage: How Quiet People Can Thrive in an Extrovert World” by Marti Olsen Laney
- An Introvert’s Guide to Finding Success in Web Design

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION

January 24, 2022

S1 E129 — An Elephant, A 500 lb. Gorilla and a Chicken Walk into the …

Tick, tick, tick — the remaining sands in the hour glass were so few I could almost count them individually.

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

Hi and welcome to Thursday’s Episode 129 in the first season of “My 1-Year Natural Experiment” on this 5th day of December in winter of 2019

“5” Steve Zahn, 51: “There are many comparisons that aren’t worth making, questions that waste the time it takes to ask them and roads that lead nowhere. Decide what you want and go exclusively for it.” Scorpio

Evidence

The theme for this end of the week is “Still Stuck on Tuesday”. For each day of the week, I broke down major tasks to be completed as I triumphantly marched to my goal, by 12/7 launch my Patreon platform through promotions.

- Maybe this scheme is more complicated than I thought.
- Patreon members who aren’t already part of your fanbase don’t support you, right?
- So if you don’t already have a fanbase how do you build one?

That’s the elephant in the room which no-one really talks about. Patreon pushes you to Facebook, the 500 lb. gorilla in the room. I fell into confusing circular discussion with myself like:

Maybe follow the sequence of Name-Thank You-Questions, but with different messaging specific to LinkedIn, Flipboard, Writers Cooperative, WordPress Meetup (really a series of 5 conversations) similar to my networking approaches in the past (and 100 monkeys). Suggest we connect on Facebook.

Show my Patreon badge in each message, but don’t bring it up directly.

Ask them, not to support me, but to like and refer me to someone else.

My goal should be to make it easy for me to update my progress in one “fan” group.

Then as I publish out of one place (Patreon) I reverse the sequence to make sure the article shows up in each of the feeding groups.

And, on and on.

- I spent 18 hours during the week on Patreon’s site chasing down tips and tricks until I was tricked out.
- And, then our Internet crashed and I sat and twiddled my thumbs until a Cox technician arrived.

Okay, see this is the “forest for the trees” or the “what comes first, the chicken or the egg” dilemma and Zahn’s Holiday Tau helps. You (I) don’t know which questions lead to dead ends.

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

Yeah, but I’m not sure what the two Ws Holiday Tau means for me today.

“2” Steve Winwood, 71; Stevie Wonder, 69: “While a thing certainly seems acceptable when more people are doing it, this in and of itself shouldn’t factor into moral or value-driven decisions. Is it right?” Taurus

Ditto, Steve. I’m not buying your Holiday Tau for today. Thanks, though.

“2” Steve Harvey, 62: “Love involves sacrifice, such as accepting who another person is and what they want without trying to influence or control that.” Capricorn

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION

January 20, 2022

S1 E 128 — Messy, Creative Leonardo-like Procrastinations

You’ll solve the problems and move forward with what matters to you. Though bright blasts of creativity will sometimes come out of nowhere, to be inventive on a more regular basis you need time, space and materials. Get them, and make sure to restock when any one of those categories falls low. Today’s Holiday Birthday

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

Hi and welcome to Sunday’s Episode 128 in the first season of “My 1-Year Natural Experiment” on this 1st day of December in winher of 2019

Evidence

I have a confession to make. Here’s what I’ve learned about myself. I’m good at getting things going, but not good at completing them.

I rationalize my procrastination in the way Leonardo da Vinci hardly ever completed a work of art for which he received patronage. Instead he’d follow the genius of his curiosity across what would much later become disciplines of science and nature.

He kept brilliant, detailed, and elaborate notes and sketches while he pursued other passions — and those notes rivaled his art and the art of his peers in the 15th century.

I work on several projects at once.

I treat them as components which must fit together at the right time. Each one requires a number of tasks to complete so everything works at the same time like all the gears of an old fashioned clock.

According to Tim Harford, the author, “Messy: The Power of Disorder to Transform our Lives” Brian Eno’s makes his messy work for him, because he’s got several creative projects in the works at various stages. If or when one doesn’t pan out, he simply switches to one of his others to bring it to fruition.

So, what’s that preamble got to do with today?

Not much, except to say I spent most of the day working on a creative brief describing 17 steps in a phased build out — an attempt to synchronize all of my messy passion projects.

Maybe I was slip sliding away, but my Patreon launch dominated my “working on the business.”

Goal: By 12/7 launch FOSs request via Writers Cooperative, Facebook and LinkedIn having completed the “Tau of Steves” description relying on Patreon’s help and recommendations to master the chain reaction of Awareness – Interest – Liking – Desire – Trial – Repurchase and Regular Use.

Make it easy for your fans to buy a piece of you, and then advocate on your behalf.

I hardly noticed that like the Soup Nazi in “Seinfield“, Zahn, Winkler, Emma the Baroness and I left the shop without any Holiday Tau for us.

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

But, thank you to whomever this birthday present was for. It certainly fit what my Sunday was shaping up to be.

Today’s Holiday Birthday:

Any thing else worth noting?

I guess, maybe. I dunno. I’m leaving Smith’s alone. Seems dramatic, though.

“3” Steve Smith, 30: “It would be an understatement to say a person is getting to know you. It’s more like this person is discovering you as an explorer would a mysterious, unknown world.” Gemini

Howey, what’s up. You usually have something worth stealing. But I guess the exception proves the rule, eh?

“2” Steve Howey, 42: “It will be as though some of your dialogue today locked and loaded itself without your knowing and was just waiting to be triggered.” Cancer

So sadly I turn to two comedians and an inventor. Really, this is the best you can do?

“2” Steve Carell, 57; Steve Martin, 74; Steve Wozniak, 69: “Certainty is a dangerous thing in relationships. It squeezes out the need to come to a consensus, to work together, to question and communicate a way to the truth. The healthiest and best relationships are riddled with doubt.” Leo

My last chance lies with the two G-men. I’m just this close to walking away with your Holiday Tau, but wouldn’t feel good about myself if I did.

“3” Steve Greene, 34; Steve Guttenberg, 61: “You’ll be amazed and touched by people’s stories, and they will help you understand your own a little better.” Virgo

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION

January 19, 2022

S1 E127 — Why Does My Horoscope Suck Compared to Yours?

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

As fall comes to a close and winter is upon us I’m feeling a touch of hibernation pulling me to more comfort food and couching it with blankets and still more football.

“5” Steve Smith, 30: “Your voracious curiosity must be satisfied. You’ll live by information.” Gemini

Hi and welcome to Saturday’s Episode 127 in the first season of “My 1-Year Natural Experiment” on this 30th day of November in the fall of 2019.

Evidence

Not entirely sure how to take advantage of Patreon’s platform for endangered writers like me, but I sketched out an introduction draft requiring more work

It goes something like this:

I guess it’s my turn for introductions. Hello everyone. Just like you, I’m a recovering Steve. I’m an introverted procrastinator who collects nouns, zip codes and steals horoscopes. For many years — for far too long — I tried to deny it.

But with your help and support I’m coming to embrace it. This passion project was going to become my memoir.

I’d been wrestling with just what my legacy would be.

However, I realized it could be so much more. I began wondering what had influenced me the most, my Myers Briggs temperament — INTP, my obsession with tying people, places, things, ideas and trends together in new and original ways?

Or was it my quest to build bucket lists of the highest quality-of-life towns throughout the western portion of America?

Or simply surrendering to the wisdom of my horoscope? Which I soon discovered sucked compared to yours over this past year.

So, what about today? How sucky is my Holiday Tau? Yes. I get the premise, but I’m waiting on the speed.

“3” Steve Zahn, 51: “You already know that you get more out of what you concentrate on. What’s remarkable about today is the speed with which it happens.” Scorpio

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

So turning to the less sucky Holiday Tau, let’s see what can be discovered. I’ve got the passion, but I’m not sure I can authentically claim a certain attitude. Yet.

“4” Steve McQueen (1930 – 1980): “The execution of your plan depends on an attitude of certainty. Double down on the route you’re taking.” Aries

Okay, this feels more like me so, Steve, I’m rating your TauBit highly relevant to me and my passion project today.

“5” Steve Smith, 30: “Your voracious curiosity must be satisfied. You’ll live by information.” Gemini

Don’t I know it! Add in my obsession to overcomplicate stuff and I end up with fits and starts and documents all over my desktop and in the cloud resisting any attempt to reassemble them into a coherent package I can communicate.

“5” Steve Howey, 42: “The truth seldom comes in a complete package. It comes in pieces, mixed into the moods and opinions of those who deliver it, and it requires a good amount of assembly.” Cancer

Are you sure? Why can’t I have the magic spinning wheel?

“3” Steve Carell, 57; Steve Martin, 74; Steve Wozniak, 69: “You don’t have to have a magic spinning wheel to turn straw into gold. You’ll weave the spell with your words instead.” Leo

So this is about tension and anxiety and what doesn’t kill you makes your stronger, eh? Maybe. Or, maybe what doesn’t kill you makes you weak and weaker until you give up.

“2” Steve Aoki, 41: “A deadline causes stress, a purpose causes motivation. Ideally you’ll have both. Without the deadline, things drag. Without the purpose, the drag is painful.” Sagittarius

Okay, sorry Steve, I don’t ever remember an episode when I wondered bigly or small stuff about my life.

“2” Steve Jobs, (1955 – 2011): “You wonder sometimes whether you are living a big life or a small life. But in an infinite universe, scale is somewhat irrelevant. If it matters to you, it matters.” Pisces

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION

January 18, 2022

S3 E5 — Another Year Another Baby, Could Have Been Stevie like Stevie Nicks, but Noooooo!

Wait, what? Our extended family actually grew with a new baby this past week. Does that count? She’s healthy as is her mom, but to my disappointment another child is brought into the world and not named Steve.

Today’s Holiday Birthday (actually 9 months ago on 6/7/20) … Results beyond your expectations will come at the start of the new year. Your family grows in March 2021.

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

Hi and welcome to Friday’s Episode 5 in Season 3 of “My Paradoxically Normal Year” on this 5th day of March in the spring of 2021 — which is a three-year examination of how bits of wisdom changed during the “normal” pre-pandemic year and then in the pandemic year, and now months after.

Previously in Season Three, The Paradoxically Normal Year

S3 E4 — What a Fool Believes She Sees; S3 E3 — A Pivot, a Miracle or Something Paradoxically Normal?; S3 E2 — Preview of the New Post Pandemic Season; S3 E1 — Preview Day One in Season Three of the New Abnormality

Related from Season Two, The Pandemic Year

S2 E5 —Second Season Sneak Preview: My Pandemic Year’s Natural Experiment; S2 E4 — Sneak Preview: Day 4 of My Pandemic Year’s Natural Experiment; S2 E3 — Day 3 of My Pandemic Year Experiment; S2 E2 — New Season Preview: Rippling Effects, Implications and Consequences We Didn’t See Coming; S2 E1 — Sneak Preview Asking “How Toxic is Your Work Life?”

Related from Season One, The Normal Year

S1 E5 — Day 5 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E4 — Day 4 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E3 — Day 3 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E2 — Day 2 of My 1-Year Experiment ; S1 E1 – Day One of My 1-Year Experiment

“5” Steve Smith, 30, Stevie Nicks, 72: “You have more stories than you think. The things you’ve done are so familiar to you that you cannot imagine how impressive they would be to another person, but if you share, you’ll find out.” Gemini

Evidence

She could have been named Stevie like Stevie Nicks, but noooooo!

Today’s Holiday Birthday (actually 9 months ago on 6/7/20):

“You’ll be called on to do something you haven’t done before. You’ll be both inspired and inspirational. A group will form around your leadership as you apply past experience to figure things out. Results beyond your expectations will come at the start of the new year. Your family grows in March 2021.”

Weirdly, as I scrolled through all the 109 news sources I track each day to fill 36 digital magazines I curate, the executive summary (which Brook asked for yesterday) popped into my mind.

It feels like it is all about me — which is one of the experiment’s goals to answer the question:

- - - Does my horoscopes apply to me each day? My null hypothesis follows as something like horoscopes don’t apply to my experiences throughout the day.
    - In the beginning I felt they might serve as fodder for fractured fairy tales or how greeting cards trigger my witty twists and the kind of humor I sprinkle into conversations. (Maybe the easiest TauBits to Twist are the ones I rated a “2” at the other end of the scale.)
    - And, for quite awhile I bracketed my Blog-to-LinkedIn posts with current and year old TauBits to make it easier for me to craft a headline.

Then, there’s the overarching goal from a life-story writer and an idea packager (me) about which “5” rated TauBits of Wisdom extend their wisdom beyond any specific Steves daily horoscope — wisdom-worthy for handing down as part of a legacy memoir no matter who or when I recorded them.

- - - And, then there’s-by-the-numbers — the comparison of horoscope categories that I felt fit me on any given day, but showed up for Steve Zahn and Steve McQueen and Steve Carell, Steve Martin, Steve Wozniak, and Steve Jobs.
    - Why I decided to do it for the sake of the 4 day sampling each week and they represented a sample of the rest of the 12.

I began color coding the Big 4 to make it easier for me to tally by category of TauBits after the 1-year experiment terminated officially.

- - - Those four categories morphed over time from what I loosely expected to find to what emerged as “Practical Project”, “Work and Career”, “Legacy Memoir” and “Love and Relationships”.
    - How many could be characterized broadly and by which sub-topic.

Enough about this passion project.

What about the Holiday Tau for Zahn, Winkler, Emma the Baroness and me?

One of us likes to form opinions by tuning into news shows, and talk shows. The other of us tries to filter out the noise and critically think about what is happening. Does that count?

“5” Steve Zahn, 51: “If you ask the others, they’ll tell you what they see and you won’t be able to help being influenced. To find that truly original take on the situation, wait before you ask. Look at it a long time by yourself first.” Scorpio

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

Today’s Holiday Birthday:

An inspiring relationship plays into the changes you make this year. That long list of things you didn’t have time for before gets a lot shorter as you check off many adventures. You’re not setting out to develop yourself; it just happens. Plans shift and expand. There are more people to care for and also put to work.

So, thank you Stevie and Steve. Yes, please I’ll swipe this one since Brook’s offer yesterday during our somewhat meandering conversation helped me realize you two are on to something today.

Right, Howey’s Holiday Tau, while brilliant and told from the opposite view where you look back to your younger self and give advice that would have made a difference is not quite right for me today.

“4” Steve Howey, 42: “The best and brightest version of future-you hinges on the ability of today-you to pay close attention. To stay engaged, figure out what’s in it for you, even when the scene seems to revolve completely around the other person.” Cancer

This seems like it would should come from Nash or Kerr instead of from two comedians and a founder. It definitely would have encapsulated Kobe Bryant’s approach to scoring.

“4” Steve Carell, 57; Steve Martin, 74; Steve Wozniak, 69: “Sometimes, you have faith and you act on it. Today, your faith isn’t as strong, but you still benefit from action. Keep shooting for the goal regardless of whether you think you can make it.” Leo

Not quite a 5, guys, but I will say this — too many people over run pristine locations and don’t think twice about leaving their trash behind on the trails and beaches as if it were somebody else’s job to clean up after.

“4” Steve Greene, 34; Steve Guttenberg, 61: “Messes occur. It’s not your job to clean them up, though you’ll probably do it anyway, or at least be involved, because leaving things better than you found them is in your creed.” Virgo

Wise, brilliant advice I’ll swipe from you Steve.

“5” Steve Aoki, 41: “Trying to accomplish everything on the list will be too stressful and counterproductive. Decide on what you’re not going to do today and, suddenly, everything lightens up. Plus, you move quicker.” Sagittarius

As if! I can’t claim it, but I’m working towards deploying my imagination for knocking out walls — kinda like a “Love It or List It” story telling project.

“4” Steve Jobs, (1955 – 2011): “No one knows how you do it, but somehow you’re able to draw vitality from lackluster scenes, badly illuminated in fluorescent light. Your imagination knocks out walls to install its own sun-streamed windows.” Pisces

What’s Going On …

Literally Bottled and Set Adrift from KnowWhere Atoll

- @KnowLabs suite of 36 digital magazines jumps from 7280 to 7397 this week organically grown followers

Foresight

Quality-of-Life

Long-Form

- “Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire: A 500-Year History” by Kurt Andersen Both of us, Emma the Baroness and I, have been processing the acquittal of our ex-President — not really being surprised by the “Big Lie” promoting followers in the Senate, but more disappointed after seeing new video documentation of the insurrection and detailed evidence time lines. I return to Kurt Andersen’s book “Fantasyland” to help me through the process of filtering the unfolding events.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION

January 17, 2022

S1 E126 — Who Wouldn’t Want to Choose Steve, Stephen or Stevie for Your Newborn Infant?

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

I woke up at 6 am with ideas pop corning in my head. Too much food and drink, too much football took its toll on me yesterday afternoon and into the night. But, this morning refreshed after a wonderful Thanksgiving thanks to Emma the Baroness.

“5” Steve Carell, 57; Steve Martin, 74; Steve Wozniak, 69: “While you shouldn’t lose sight of your own ideas, neither should you try to force them on anyone. Share in the commonly accepted version of reality.” Leo

Hi and welcome to Friday’s Episode 126 in the first season of “My 1-Year Natural Experiment” on this 29th day of November in the fall of 2019

Evidence

Yesterday I missed my opportunity to advocate Steve or Stephen as the best name in the world for a newborn — of course with these parents the name would have to be changed to Stevie.

Here’s why. From my quick and dirty search on the Internet:

You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success.

You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily. Position and social status is very important for you and you are always looking for way to improve your position in society.

You have power and ability to chose your own destiny and achieve anything you want in life. You can expand in any direction according to your will and the set of values.

You have passion for justice and belong to the position of authority. You have an inherent courage and endurance to accomplish “The Impossible Dream”.

With the power comes responsibility. You hold keys to the material world, but with this gift comes high spiritual responsibility to be fair and true to others.

You are philosophical and mature, determined and intense with a desire to endure, often religious.

So, c’mon who wouldn’t want to choose Steve, Stephen or Stevie for your newborn infant?

But, the Holiday Tau must be against us today.

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

Researcher’s Note: This is not meant for Zahn, Winkler, Emma the Baroness or me.

Today’s Holiday Birthday:

“A high level of savoir-faire requires great cleverness, which is easy for you, as there’s a universal genius at your disposal this solar year. Notable moments center around unconscious desires becoming conscious ideas becoming reality and your legacy being built with the help of a group of like talents.”

I mean I think I do, but now I’m not so sure.

“2” Steve McQueen (1930 – 1980): “Do you know the unspoken rules? It will not be a good idea to accept what’s being offered.” Aries

If that includes more football games and turkey sandwiches I’m right there with you.

“3” Steve Winwood, 71; Stevie Wonder, 69: “Desire and good judgment will pull in opposite directions. Instead of sticking around for the tug of war, go where it will be easy to do the right thing.” Taurus

Thanks, Emma the Baroness, I appreciate your thank you for helping you host the best ever Thanksgiving. And thank you for pulling off such a stylish, warm and loving time.

“4” Steve Smith, 30: “The people in your life appreciate you but don’t always tell you the way you need to hear it, which today will be verbally.” Gemini

Okay, Steve. Your Holiday Tau will have the highest impact on how successful I will be.

“5” Steve Howey, 42: “Be direct wherever you can. Leave no room for ambiguity, as it will waste time and energy.” Cancer

Wait, you guys. Isn’t the direct opposite of what Howey just offered? Was this all about the political arguments yesterday at the backyard bar about Trump? Just kidding. Was it, though?

So you’re saying there’s a good time to allow my mind to wander when someone else is talking? I’m listening … tell me more.

“4” Steve Aoki, 41: “Paying close attention sometimes means making sure your mind doesn’t wander, and sometimes it means making sure it does.” Sagittarius

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION

January 13, 2022

S1 E125 — No Names Again this Year but Pass the Gravy

How are you picking this one? They were not impressed. I struck out trying to steer the conversation. This was the year when we entertained expectant mothers and fathers sitting around our dining table. Up for grabs three possible names.

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

“5” Steve McQueen (1930 – 1980): “What people will remember about this day is how you made them feel.” Aries

Happy Thanksgiving on this Thursday’s Episode 125 in the first season of ” My 1-Year Natural Experiment” on this 28th day of November in the fall of 2019

Evidence

This was the year when we entertained expectant mothers and fathers sitting around our dining table.

Up for grabs three possible names. How are you picking this one?

We have the middle name, which turns out to be the name of his mother who died after fighting chemo and surgery after surgery.

Aww, the table nodded feeling the hidden, but deeply felt wave bringing tears to everyone’s eyes.

Well, let’s get feedback dad said, adding that it was basically his turn to choose this time around. Each of us pitched in as he pointed to us one by one for our response.

“Hmm.” I said. All three are interesting which everyone else took as those are the top three?

How did you come up with these?

Mom said it had to have the same number of syllables without rhyming too much with her older sister and had to flow well from the first beat, to the middle and last name.

I picked my moment and asked couple number two how they chose the name for their son.

How it sounded?

In my family my given name, Stephen, reached back to skip a generation to my grandfather. My mom and dad chose it as my first name taken from his middle name. I inherited my fathers middle name as my own. Then my first son received Stephen as his middle name.

They were not impressed. I struck out trying to steer the conversation.

How about our Holiday Tau?

Sorry, no Tau for us. Emma the Baroness delegated inside preparations for the holiday, so we were just too busy until the party got started at 3 pm.

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

Emma the Baroness and I subscribe to McQueen’s Holiday Tau!

“5” Steve McQueen (1930 – 1980): “What people will remember about this day is how you made them feel.” Aries

Well, the whole world? I can’t sign up for that. But maybe our extended families.

“4” Steve Carell, 57; Steve Martin, 74; Steve Wozniak, 69: “What happens in your home between two people is important to the workings of the entire world.” Leo

Look, Steve you know I don’t need to overcomplicate things — it’s in my nature. I’ll have to figure out the punchline to this premise before I can agree.

“3” Steve Howey, 42: “You could overcomplicate things by trying to give more and differently than what is necessary.” Cancer

So you’re calling me a snake? Shedding one idea skin for another? Or more like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly with a new identity? Or if I uncomplicated it, more like a pivot? I can do that.

“5” Steve Greene, 34; Steve Guttenberg, 61: “You’ll shed one idea of who you are to adopt a new one. You’ve already done this many times, always for the better.” Virgo

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION