Month: May 2022

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S3 E17 — Guess What? You’re on a Treadmill Just Now Picking Up Speed

Last night Emma the Baroness and I gladly welcomed Jazzy to our family room and dinner table for his take on the size of the wedding budget, how many guests will be invited and the big reveal of who and how many Jazzy and our combined lists totaled.

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

“5”  Steve Winwood, 71; Stevie Wonder, 69; Stephen Colbert, 56: “Don’t worry. You didn’t meet the right person at the wrong time because that’s not even a thing. There’s only meeting people when you do and making it mean something to you.”  Taurus

Hi and welcome to Friday’s Episode 17 in Season 3 of  “My Paradoxically Normal Year” on this 26th 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 from Season Three, the Paradoxically Normal Year

S3 E16 — Quid Pro Quo the Awesome Kind; S3 E15 — Wait, Did I Say That Out Loud?; S3 E14 — How!

Related from Season Two, The Pandemic Year

S2 E17 — Shutting Mountain Resorts Down, Closing Boutiques, Kicking Tourists Out; S2 E16 — Scroll to the Bottom for Foresight and Quality-of-Life, Right Leo?; S2 E15 — Behaving Badly, Why Big Sur made “Fodor’s Travel NO List”; S2 E14 — Reading Tea Leaves Bottled and Set Adrift  

Related from Season One, The Normal Year

S1 E17 — Day 17 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E16 — Day 16 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E15 — Day 15 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E14 — Day 14 of My 1-Year Experiment

Context

He and Delta Girl agreed to hold the line to a smaller, more affordable and intimate sized affair.  Even though he slightly recalled names we wanted to add he said he was drawing the line at people he saw frequently in his life, not necessarily even parents of those buddies.  

I airdropped our spreadsheet of combined names, ranked with “5” as must haves to his iPhone and asked who and how invitations would be addressed.  Like somehow sending contact cards with addresses or on the final cut spreadsheet?  

He answered that it’s almost a year away and didn’t get the urgency of questions we asked.  

Haha I told him, you’re on a treadmill that is just now speeding up.  Emma the Baroness said postponed plans will lead to a rush of weddings and sold out accommodations for out of town relatives.

In kind of a coincidence, this morning I spotted this comic in the LA Times print edition.   It was a two panel sight gag in Blondie by Dean Young & John Marshall. 

In the first scene, a close up at the catering counter separating Blondie from a young blonde woman.  She says, “We had to postpone our wedding fo a whole year! But now we’re ready.” “Oh, Shayna, how wonderful that after all that time you and dean still chose each other.” In the second scene a long shot with Dean lying on the floor but being dragged to the counter by Shayna holding onto his shirt collar, “Oh yeah … We’re both really excited!”

Evidence

Any Holiday Tau worth reporting for us Steves?

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

So, if there ever was a Holiday Tau meant for Emma the Baroness and me, this would be the one, but with a slight twist.  We did meet each other at the wrong time, which is the subject of our life long love affair in Volume Three.  

And, then there’s the total improbability of meeting at all.  She was born in Lillehammer, Norway and I in Plainfield, New Jersey.  

She had taken a temporary job at the same state hospital where I had agreed to work on my psychology internship as a way for making money while also working for Dr. Sig half-time at the Behavior Modification Institute in Newport Center, across Pacific Coast Highway and up the undeveloped field filled with the kind of owls that burrow from Corona del Mar.

“5”  Steve Winwood, 71; Stevie Wonder, 69; Stephen Colbert, 56: “Don’t worry. You didn’t meet the right person at the wrong time because that’s not even a thing. There’s only meeting people when you do and making it mean something to you.”  Taurus

Hi, Steve.  I’m guessing as our Patron Saint you must be looking down on our humble effort here and bless our passion project. 

“4”  Steve McQueen (1930 – 1980): “Different people inspire you to connect to different parts of your nature. Who has you seeking your better angels? Those are the folks to fill your mind, heart and time with now.” Aries

I have to agree in principle, Steve.  But my real clutter has shifted to text messages and social media more so than email.  I hardly ever read my emails anymore (5500), since like text messages and home phone answering machine telling me my car warranty is about to expire I’ve beaten them into mind share submission.  Now, how about all those SPAM comments on my blogs?

“5”  Steve Aoki, 41: “Even though digital clutter doesn’t really take up much of your living space, it can rent a disproportionate amount of space in your psyche and to deleterious effect. Good email organization will revitalize.” Sagittarius

What’s Going On …

Literally Bottled and Set Adrift from KnowWhere Atoll 

    • @KnowLabs suite of 36 digital magazines jumps from  7397 to 7455 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

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S2 E25 — Are You an Innie or Outie Thinker?

The dawn greets me with a surprise, I receive an email from one of the mentors I recruited and managed for guiding Executive MBA students in the program for our University’s School of Business.  

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

“5”  Steve Harvey, 62 :“It’s not like your intuition comes and goes. It’s part of you that is always there. The volume sometimes ducks under louder sounds in your brain caused by more intense thoughts and emotions.” Capricorn

Hi and welcome to Thursday’s Episode 25 of the Second Season’s  My Pandemic Year’s Natural Experiment, on April 9th in the spring of 2020 here in California.

Previously in Season Two, the Pandemic Year

S2 E24 — Working Remote from KnowWhere Atoll; S2 E23 — Gaping Loss No Amount of Mourning Will Heal; S2 E22 — Paranoid Rose Review and Traffic-Copped Check Out Lines

Related from Season One, the Normal Year

S1 E25 — Day 25 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E24 — Day 24 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E23 — Day 23 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E22 — Day 22 of My 1-Year Experiment;

Context

By the last week in March I fought through the technical iCloud restraints.  I sent group emails to 370 former proteges and mentors and began hearing back one by one.  

I’m responding a little late here but good to hear from you.  Hope all is well for you and your family in this current crazy environment.  So much uncertainty in the short term, long term we should be OK.

I have been with Endress+Hauser in Anaheim for almost 3 years now, a producer of liquid analytical instruments.  We remain open today as an essential supplier to many critical industries.  Trying to safely stay open and hoping our luck lasts…

My e-mail has not changed and you can find me on Linked in anytime.

His uncertainty ran through many of my “back and forths”.  A little luck wished for.  I kept a running summary of how each experienced  the unknown for my next update. 

By coincidence, one of my Proteges finally took the bait:

I’ve fortunately been steadily busy.  There’s a series on Netflix that I was Archival Producer on and I received 2 Emmy Nominations.  I also received an international nomination for the HBO documentary “The Defiant Ones.”  I recently did a CNN series on Late Night Television that’s going to be airing soon.  I also worked on the interstitial documentaries Behind the History running with the new Amazon series “Hunters” and I’m currently doing a Discovery documentary.  

Since I have to do budget cost reports and projections, I’m constantly using many of the things I learned in the program.  I’m also still in touch with many of my fellow classmates.

Finally, in my non-assertive way my initial email prompted her to ask!

What are you up to these days? 

Which, in a “Work-on-the-Business”, means the time has come to jump start weekly email newsletter updates, while balancing time for research into “Chasing the Dime,” “The 5th Risk” and “The Introvert Advantage” with writing my manuscript.

Over the past ten years I’ve field-tested the content I’m writing about in my “Volume Two — Work” manuscript in advisory sessions, seminars, workshops, panel discussions and in mentor meetings.  

Staring at a blank screen is not one of my favorite past times.  I have to make some basic choices.  Write about what you know, right?  Should I start with chapters about the “Inner Directed”?  A university is filled with them. And, so is the federal government and large, mature organizations of all types — Systematic-Professionals. 

“The Fifth Risk”  describes how the thinkers — scientists and researchers — in federal departments were targeted by Trump’s administration, while “Chasing the Dime” describes the inner workings of a (fictional) commercial research laboratory which fits the Paradoxy-Moron organization type.

I’m flip-flopping a little when I realize “thinkers” represent my common audience — but, they “come in” both extrovert and introvert temperaments listed below.

8 Myers–Briggs Thinking Types associated with my research (Talent Profile Code)

4 Inner-Directed 

ISTP (103 PMCI), 

INTJ (104 PMRDE), 

ISTJ (110 SAAS), 

INTP (113 SPIP)  

4 Outer-Directed

ESTP (105 EEMA) , 

ENTJ (106 EEOA), 

ESTJ (116 SPIT), 

ENTP (101 PMBI).

I’ve got a lot on my plate and not enough concentrated time to flesh out stories and case studies my students, proteges and mentors shared with me for the first draft of my “Volume Two — Work” manuscript.

Evidence

Is there any Holiday Tau  I can turn to today?  Zahnny, your TauBit of Wisdom seems to be the undercurrent theme I’m receiving in my emails.  And, it’s meant for me, even better.

“5”  Steve Zahn, 51: “Waste no time fretting about what could happen, especially if it’s negative. Lots of things can and will happen. Good lives are lived in the margins of hope and possibility.” Scorpio

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

Thank goodness Zahn, the Fonze, Emma the Baroness and I didn’t have to swipe yours, even though you are our Patron Saint.  Sorry, Steve I’m passing on this one. Strike that your honor. Forced to work from home turns out to be the major adjustment we face with personal space!

“5”  Steve McQueen (1930 – 1980): “The day’s conflict has to do with two people trying to occupy the same space. Neither one is more correct. When ego and pride are put aside, there is a way to take turns.” Aries

Smithy, we’ve shared very valuable Tau before, but this just isn’t relevant for me today. I’m such a buffoon, Steve your Holiday Tau clarifies how to take advantage of our Patron Saint’s. 

“5”  Steve Smith, 30: “There’s a way to make peace with every moment. Finding it requires you to drop knee-jerk reactions and decide to think something different. You’re willing because you love peace more than you love arguing.” Gemini

Howey, somehow we just aren’t connecting today with any of the Holiday Taus for Steves, except the only one I can legitimately claim all for myself. Sorry, I’m sticking with my first impression. 

“3”  Steve Howey, 42: “Loved ones have their own lives and adventures and when those journeys take them in different directions, you stay the course of your own knowing that the road of love always circles back.” Cancer

Yeah, I’m feeling your TauBit of Wisdom today G&G, but it just doesn’t win the day for me, you know.  You almost got me with the “inner life” tied to the 4 inner-directed thinkers, but not quite.

“4”  Steve Greene, 34; Steve Guttenberg, 61: “Hard work is fine with you today. Boring work is fine, too. Whatever the work, it is your attitude about it and the inner life you bring to it that makes it worthwhile.” Virgo

Hey Harv, how’s it going?  Now, your Holiday Tau feels right up there with Zahnny’s.  Yours starts with “intuition” and then it includes both “thoughts” and emotions, so yeah I’m all in. 

“5”  Steve Harvey, 62 :“It’s not like your intuition comes and goes. It’s part of you that is always there. The volume sometimes ducks under louder sounds in your brain caused by more intense thoughts and emotions.” Capricorn

What’s Going On …

Literally Bottled and Set Adrift from KnowWhere Atoll 

    • @knowlabs followers or one or more of my 35 digital magazines jumped from 1532  to 1581.

Foresight

Quality-of-Life

Long-Form

    • “Rhythms of Vision: The Changing Patterns of Belief” published in 1975 by Lawrence Blair, Ph.D. “Whereas our outer, rational memories show us only brief span on the surface of history behind us, our inner memories — through myth and symbol — detect currents of meaning beneath the future as well.”“The outer chaos and confusion of our time is but the disturbance which characterizes the metamorphosis of all great rhythms, or aeon’s, into a new one; but inwardly, the iron-filings of a special kind of related knowledge are already polarizing themselves around a new pattern of Meaning, revealing that a deeper knowledge of universal laws in contingent on a deeper knowledge of the self, and the schism between the two wolds of science and religion is beginning to heal and to merge into a single majestic river of vision.”
    • “The Fifth Risk,” by Michael Lewis  describes how the thinkers in federal departments were targeted by Trump’s administration, especially the scientists and researchers. “‘I was fucking nervous as shit, Bannon later told friends. I go, Holy fuck, this guy [Trump] doesn’t know anything. And he doesn’t give a shit.’ Even in normal times the people who take over the United States government can be surprisingly ignorant… The United States government might be the most complicated organization on the face of the earth. Its two million federal employees take orders from four thousand political appointees. How to stop a virus, how to take a census, how to determine if some foreign country is seeking to obtain a nuclear weapon or if North Korean missiles can reach Kansas City: these are enduring technical problems.”
    • “Chasing the Dime,” by Michael Connelly describes the inner workings of a (fictional) commercial research laboratory which fits the Paradoxy-Moron organization type. “(In the lab) is where you find time for more AE work. Analyze and evaluate. When the unknown or unexpected came up in the lab you stopped and went into AE mode. What do you see? What do you know? What does it mean? In the lab everything was clear … simple. Quantifiable. Scientific theory was tested and either proved or disproved. No gray areas. No shadows.”

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION

The Knowledge Path | Know Laboratories | Knowledge Banking | Knowledge ATMs | Western Skies and Island Currents | Best West Road Trip

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S1 E161— Secret Combinations only Life Hacking Marketeers Know

I’m under review.  It’s not like the FBI is watching or the IRS is auditing or anything like that.  But, I still feel in limbo.  

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

“5”  Steve Smith, 30: “One way to look at it is that they either want what you’re dishing or they don’t.  If they don’t you gain little by having them as a customer.” Gemini

Hi and welcome to Thursday’s Episode 161 in the first season of “My 1-Year Natural Experiment” on this 30th day of January in winter of 2020.

Context  

Yes, it’s true with one day left in the first month of what my horoscope said will be my best year yet I checked off all the Patreon boxes and submitted my page into the virtual unknown.

What would Leo da V do?  Imagine what a Patreon day-in-the-life would be.  

Why?  

I’m starting with zero fans and followers.  But, it’s a chicken and egg thing I already wrote about in Knowledge ATMs.  So, it is what it is.  I have promotional tasks to initiate and maintain on a weekly and monthly basis.

Why?  

Here’s my feeling about LinkedIn.  My absence has resulted in fewer followers.  Maybe under 1850 after I had tried while at UCI to top it off at 2000 which “they” say you need as a fan base to support your Lifestyle Business (LifeStyleBiz).  I conclude that those followers are more career or self-promoting themselves and won’t necessarily be interested in supporting me. All of a sudden my Flipboard followers jumped to 1010 now.  It’s not clear how to entice both “audience”  sets to visit my Patreon page.  And then move them through awareness, interest, liking, desire and buying. However, I’m not in a desperately, urgent financial situation and don’t have to depend on the income stream.  But I feel I need to meet a certain level of competence, especially for those who pay me $1, $3 and $5 dollars a month, right?

Why? 

I don’t know how to Patreon.  I don’t know how to promote via other LinkedIn tools.  I don’t know how to activate a Flipboard link to Patreon. I don’t know how to Facebook.  I don’t know how to Apple Books (Amazon). I don’t know how to WooCommerce and badge up on my websites.

Why? 

My strategy depended on a) enticing a % of 2000 curious acquaintances to become patrons; b) my patrons loving my first of 5-books enough to review, share and recommend them; c) writing what I wanted and picking up with vacations where I left off, but getting paid to blog; d) gaining experience of self-publishing to Apple Books in ebook form and publishing multi-touch reports, itineraries, and guides; e) activating book reviews as part of the Apple Affiliate program and adding the Patreon, my Apple Books links and descriptions and affiliate badges on my websites; f) following up with Amazon.

Why? 

My self-publishing pipeline would be build and tested with each book one at a time, then bundled in different configurations in the Volume One series.  It would become more efficient to me while concurrently I’d be writing Volume Two and Volume Three series books which is what I want to do.  

How? 

I’d continue to spend my mornings flipping and cascading, so the top 30 “Fresh from the Labs” digest would be updated with each flip and reflip cascaded; I compose a weekly and then a monthly Patreon post loosely following Taylor Pearson’s email topics highlighting the best stuff I’ve come across — articles, books, papers, podcasts, etc. before I publish to the public.  The public versions have Pearson’s and Sam Harris’ ways of supporting as a Call to Action and link to my Patreon; sprinkled with Patreon-only drafts of Volumes Two and Three and ways they can help — especially tied to bonus reasons to increase $ and — the Facebook launch of “The Tau of Steves”.

Evidence

But, a noun is a noun unless it’s not known then it’s what … none? I should say nouns come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, but I’m only interested in tying people, places, things, ideas and trends together in new and original ways. 

I collect nouns, zip codes and other people’s horoscopes — not really stealing their birthdays just appropriating predictions and sayings I want to believe in. 

Life-hacking marketeers and insiders know zip codes reveal the secret combinations to happiness for at least five lifestyles in neighborhoods and communities across this great country of ours.  

But, they are harder to steal with a straight face.

“5”  Steve Zahn, 51: “One person, place or thing is not inherently more important than another person, place or thing.” Scorpio

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

This is literally music to my ears — I know cheap shot.  But, hey your Holiday Tau for even on a Thursday is actually why I let my muse loose and asked “What would Leo da V do?” in the first place.

“5”  Steve Winwood, 71; Stevie Wonder, 69: “Usually, your to-do list is a mighty fine thing to keep track of, just not today; as you might get discouraged by the mountain that it is.”  Taurus

So you’re talking about my second “Why”, yes?  I like this attitude.  It’s so swipe-able.  Thanks.

“5”  Steve Smith, 30: “One way to look at it is that they either want what you’re dishing or they don’t.  If they don’t you gain little by having them as a customer.” Gemini

Why?

“4”  Steve Howey, 42: “That spinning, centrifugal ride at the fair might be fun at first, but if you stay on it too long, you’ll get sick.  It’s the same with circular thought processes.”  Cancer

Two thoughts, why and which is it?

“3”  Steve Carell, 57; Steve Martin, 74; Steve Wozniak, 69: “Some things seem like good ideas in the dark and terrible ideas in the light of day.  Artists try to look at things in lots of different lighting.” Leo

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION

The Knowledge Path | Know Laboratories | Knowledge Banking | Knowledge ATMs | Western Skies and Island Currents | Best West Road Trips

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S1 E160 — Mourning Kobe

But, totally unanticipated and more shocking was the death of Kobe Bryant, age 41 and his 13-year-old daughter in a mid-morning helicopter crash with other passengers on board while taking part in her basketball tournament.

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

“5”  Steve Kerr, 54: “Relationships have blissful turns, peaceful passages and rocky stretches.  The best motto when things get tense: ‘Fewer words, more time.’ Silence makes healers out of the hours.” Libra

Hi and welcome to Sunday’s Episode 160 in the first season of “My 1-Year Natural Experiment” on this 26th day of January in winter of 2020.

Context  

Is this the LA version of “Stuff Happens in a New York Moment”?

Kobe’s death feels like the devastation of JFK, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther Kings assassinations and more shocking than Magic’s AIDs announcement.  

The Gen Y-sters and Gen Z-sters now have this shock and mourning that older generations experienced too often in their lives.  

Kobe lived through the 3-act hero’s journey like Steve Jobs.

Sad.  Lost my mojo.  

Almost mustered enough energy to complete Patreon page. 

Instead I read Mickey Haller and a Bosch book by Michael Connelly, watched Australian Open to see if in post- or pre-game interviews with Nadal, Fedrer or Djovich they would pay tribute to Kobe.  

They did.

Tuned into Senate Impeachment, but with less interest now than Emma the Baroness.

Evidence

Maybe Zahn’s Holiday Tau speaks to Los Angeles, so devoted to Kobe who never played for another NBA team, but in retirement you could see how devoted he was to his daughters.  

It’ll be hard to let go.

“5”  Steve Zahn, 51: “Of all the things to be loyal to — and there is so much around that is worthy of your allegiance — one thing that can go without your devotion is your own suffering.  You’ve put in your time.  Let it go.” Scorpio

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

Life and death.  Makes me want to reflect and shift gears more to what I feel the Volume Three manuscript will become, given the swirl of events and making me pivot to what’s most important to me.

“5”  Steve McQueen (1930 – 1980): “Your mind does funny things, mostly habitual.  To think on purpose is to reject a lot of what your mind throws into the mix.  Just because you happen to think something doesn’t mean you should believe it.” Aries

Haha.  Unlike the shocking news about Kobe and his daughter, your Holiday Tau is one I’ve anticipated for since forever.  Thanks for the reminder though.

“5”  Steve Winwood, 71; Stevie Wonder, 69: “Make a note of the date and your ideas because you will be struck with notions that, if expressed, wouldn’t win a popularity contest right now.  But in about five years, everyone will know this thinking is spot on.” Taurus

And, what I didn’t learn in school intrigues me and makes me want to seize the chance to live life like an art form or a natural experiment.

“5”  Steve Smith, 30: “What you learned in school wasn’t gospel.  It was a group of opinions gathered together by people with varying degrees of expertise on the subject.  Seize the chance to go see for yourself.” Gemini

“Yup, thanks Howey.”  Like a time for stillness and letting emotions swell up and cry.  I’ve been weeping all day.

“5”  Steve Howey, 42: “You are being constantly cued to ask the next question, take the next step, buy the next thing.  It will be refreshing to interact with things that are so complete as they are that ‘next,’ if it exists, is irrelevant.” Cancer

Nice as a diversion.  Who here knows what a Hula Hoop was or is and why I never was good at it, unlike the divine Emma the Baroness? 

“4”  Steve Carell, 57; Steve Martin, 74; Steve Wozniak, 69: “Not all thoughts are built alike.  Some are straight as arrows; others are so loopy by nature they may as well be Hula-Hoops, and you’ll circulate accordingly.  Think twice before your pick that kind up.” Leo

Normally, true.  I’ve nurtured that insight while advising and consulting — you know stepping ahead to allow my client to discover for themselves what they want and need. It’s not so much fun today, though.

“5”  Steve Greene, 34; Steve Guttenberg, 61: “You’ve a gift for recognizing what people want.  Sometimes you see what they want even before they themselves realize it.  You can use this talent for fun and profit.” Virgo

Wow, I began to dismiss your Holiday Tau as I read the first few years, but felt its importance.  Ironically, you and Kobe played for Phil Jackson on different championship teams, so I’m especially turning in today.  Thanks.

“5”  Steve Kerr, 54: “Relationships have blissful turns, peaceful passages and rocky stretches.  The best motto when things get tense: ‘Fewer words, more time.’ Silence makes healers out of the hours.” Libra

I may be wrong, but it just feels like your Holiday Tau almost always perplexes me, Steve.  Sometimes like Kerr’s TauBit for today, I just have to sit in silence until your message crystalizes for me.  

“5”  Steve Aoki, 41: “Author Sylvia Boorstein said that anger wrinkles the mind. ‘If you want to think clearly, you can’t be mad at anything.’ Clarity will be essential to take advantage of the big things coming up for you.” Sagittarius

If I do will my mojo eventually return, Steve?

“3”  Steve Harvey, 62: “A person who is bathing isn’t necessarily aquatic.  A person who is eating a vegetable isn’t necessarily a vegan.  Who you are is not always who you’re being in the moment.  Loosen up on self-judgment.”  Capricorn

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION

The Knowledge Path | Know Laboratories | Knowledge Banking | Knowledge ATMs | Western Skies and Island Currents | Best West Road Trips

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S4 E8 — A Suicide and an Epic Trail of Destruction

Deutsche Bank like others changed their lending practices.  They became less likely to finance oligarchs or tobacco and gun companies or Malaysian billionaire playboys or genocidal governments. Add to this change of heart, Trump’s “… rich history of defaults and his increasingly polarizing politics were becoming a ‘reputational problem’” even though Ivanka Trump, thanked Deutsche for being so easy to do business with.

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

“5”  Steve McQueen (1930 – 1980): “Though your past has a lot to do with your present, it doesn’t have to impact your future. There are many reasons to interrupt a pattern. You’ve outgrown it; it doesn’t feel right; it’s boring… The list goes on.” Aries

Hi and welcome to Sunday’s 8th Episode in Season 4 of  “Our Disruptively Resilient Year” on this 13th day of March in the spring of 2022.

We concluded the three-year examination of how bits of wisdom changed — during the “normal” pre-pandemic year compared to the pandemic year, and more recently to the paradoxically normal year. 

Season Four continues now within domestic and global chaos.

Previously in Season Four, The Disruptively Resilient Year

S4 E7 — And What’s Up with the Justice Department?; S4 E6 —Hey Listen Up.  Is This What You Need to Succeed?; S4 E5 — New Season of Domestic and Global Chaos

Related from Season Three, the Paradoxically Normal Year

S3 E8 — Wait, You’re Saying I Should Read It Again?; S3 E7 — Who Can Resist Ricky Gervais Calls in this Paradoxically Normal Year?; S3 E6 — What’s the Half Life of Wisdom?; S3 E5 — Another Year Another Baby, Could Have Been Stevie like Stevie Nicks, but Noooooo!

Related from Season Two, the Pandemic Year

S2 E8 — How Does the Entangled Fish Hook Theory of Creativity Work?; S2 E7 — Smart Moves and Shifting Opportunities; S2 E6 — No We Don’t Share Your Precious Little Frickin’ Data; S2 E5 — Second Season Sneak Preview: My Pandemic Year’s Natural Experiment;

Related from Season One, the Normal Year

S1 E8 — Day 8 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E7 — Day 7 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E6 — Day 6 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E5 — Day 5 of My 1-Year Experiment;

Context

David Enrich begins his book with a suicide in “Deutsche Bank Dark Towers: Deutsche Bank, Donald Trump, and an Epic Trail of Destruction.”

Around the time of Broeksmit’s suicide, Hellenic Bank in Cyprus, grew suspicious.

“It took a lot to make a Cypriot banker queasy, but nearly $700 million had flooded into these particular Russian bank accounts.”

They forwarded their concerns on to Tim Wiswell in Moscow (the source was Deutsche Bank), but he knew all about these mirror trades.

In fact, Wis’ wife had offshore bank accounts too. 

Meanwhile back in the states Bob Roach’s Senate committee had been investigating how Deutsche had enabled giant hedge fund, Renaissance Technologies to avoid billions in taxes.

“… Senate’s report was unveiled with fanfare in July 2014, congressional hearings—just as co-head of Renaissance, Robert Mercer, was beginning to bankroll right-wing initiatives, such as Breitbart News, and Trump declared his candidacy to be the forty-fifth president.”

Trump had been spreading the lie about Barack Obama’s citizenship as a way to grab attention and to inflame passions,

“Trump had recognized that there was nothing stopping him from mining the potent seams of race and ethnicity for his political advantage.”

On the downside, even Deutsche Bank like other banks started evaluating reputational risks as an important factor. 

“…less likely to finance oligarchs or tobacco and gun companies or Malaysian billionaire playboys or genocidal governments”.

Add to this change of heart, Trump’s “… rich history of defaults and his increasingly polarizing politics were becoming a reputational problem,” even though Ivanka Trump, thanked Deutsche for being so easy to do business with.

“In 2014, the Buffalo Bills football team came up for sale for $1 billion, and Trump wasn’t about to pony up his own money, so would Deutsche be willing to front him some cash?”

It was supposed to be business as usual.  Use other people’s money (OPM) standard real estate transactional arrangements.  

But, Trump’s bid for the Bills was rejected.

Evidence

“3”  Steve Zahn, 51: “You can’t become mighty, clever or confident without fortifying your weaknesses. And you don’t know what your weaknesses are until you make mistakes. This is why it’s better to take on the harder challenges.” Scorpio

So this TauBit of Wisdom goes against what’s been taught in leadership classes forever.  Sure, take calculated risks, but focus on your strengths and delegate your weaknesses to talented people you’ve hired and groomed.

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

Today’s Holiday Birthday: 

Creativity is one of your love languages. You’ll be inventive and make things for people. These contributions mean so much more than anything that can be bought at a store. Often the thing you make is not a physical item, rather it’s an exchange or an experience, every bit as alive as something you can hold.

“5”  Steve McQueen (1930 – 1980): “Though your past has a lot to do with your present, it doesn’t have to impact your future. There are many reasons to interrupt a pattern. You’ve outgrown it; it doesn’t feel right; it’s boring… The list goes on.” Aries

This has been running through my mind over the last 30-days as I was overtaken by events — the anniversary of the launch dates for the past three seasons.  

“4”  Steve Carell, 57; Steve Martin, 74; Steve Wozniak, 69: “Just when you think you have it all figured out, experience will bring you something baffling and new. You won’t mind today’s pickle, especially since you’re in it with an interesting someone.” Leo

Can’t say Emma the Baroness would appreciate the last sentence, but over the course of this passion project just as a I finished “The Normal Year” the COVID pandemic hit and I just had to see what if any difference in the corresponding TauBits of Wisdom would show up for “The Pandemic Year.”  And then, who didn’t ask if the pandemic was over and we would return to the original normal or a new normal?  So, as we just finished the “Paradoxically Normal Year,” here we are with something baffling and new.

“4”  Steve Greene, 34; Steve Guttenberg, 61; Stephen King, 72: “You make friends easily, yet good friendships are still hard to come by. You’re about to encounter that magical blend of mutual interest, logistical convenience and the indescribable X-factor.” Virgo

Okay, yes I do.  Yes, they are, Yes, I look forward to that magical blend — maybe I will find it by serendipity or synchronicity or as my next stealth enterprise unfolds as Phase Two. 

What’s Going On …

Literally Bottled and Set Adrift from KnowWhere Atoll

    • @KnowLabs suite of 36 digital magazines according to my analytics, grew from 12148 this week to 12252 organically grown followers.
    • Orange County Beach Towns 236 viewers stopped by the week before.

Foresight

Quality-of-Life

Long-Form

    • “The Last Leonardo: The Secret Lives of the World’s Most Expensive Painting” by Ben Lewis. Review: “In 2017, Leonardo da Vinci’s small oil painting the Salvator Mundi was sold at auction. In the words of its discoverer, the image of Christ as savior of the world is “the rarest thing on the planet.” Its $450 million sale price also makes it the world’s most expensive painting. For two centuries, art dealers had searched in vain for the Holy Grail of art history: a portrait of Christ as the Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci. Many similar paintings of greatly varying quality had been executed by Leonardo’s assistants in the early sixteenth century. But where was the original by the master himself? In November 2017, Christie’s auction house announced they had it. But did they?”
    • “Here, Right Matters: An American Story” by Alexander Vindman. “We’d long been confused by the president’s policy of accommodation and appeasement of Russia, the United States’ most pressing major adversary. Russia’s president Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, seizing the Crimean Peninsula, attacking its industrial heartland, the Donbass, from the capital, Kyiv. By 2019, little had changed, Russian military and security forces and their proxy separatists continued to occupy the Donbass. The biggest change was to Ukraine’s importance as a bulwark against Russian aggression weeks earlier, the White House had abruptly put a hold on nearly four hundred million dollars.” 
    • David Enrich begins his book with a suicide in “Deutsche Bank Dark Towers: Deutsche Bank, Donald Trump, and an Epic Trail of Destruction” and then meticulously details the bank’s Russian money laundering operations. Deutsche’s Russian business surged after revenues had fallen 50% due to the 2008 financial crisis. Putin’s Russia, poured in to Deutsche from deals it did with VTB Bank, linked to the Kremlin’s intelligence apparatus. Deutsche positioned itself as a crucial cog in “The Laundromat” by doing what couldn’t be done — processing cross-border transactions for banks that were too small  and didn’t have offices outside their home countries.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION

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S3 E16 — Quid Pro Quo the Awesome Kind

Like those false killer whales, Jazzy’s stopping by during his commute south on the 5 Freeway from work to Dana Point at 6 pm tonight. He’ll get fed by Emma the Baroness and in a “quid pro quo kind of transaction” for negotiating who from our side of the family makes the final cut on the guest list.

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

“5”  Steve Zahn, 51: “Make your presentation smooth and glossy. Getting the extra shine will take about the same amount of time as it took to build the thing to the level of “pretty good,” but it will be worth it to attain that wow factor.” Scorpio

Hi and welcome to Thursday’s Episode 16 in Season 3 of  “My Paradoxically Normal Year” on this 25th 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 from Season Three, the Paradoxically Normal Year

S3 E15 — Wait, Did I Say That Out Loud?; S3 E14 — How!; S3 E13 —Why?; 

Related from Season Two, The Pandemic Year

S2 E16 — Scroll to the Bottom for Foresight and Quality-of-Life, Right Leo?; S2 E15 — Behaving Badly, Why Big Sur made “Fodor’s Travel NO List”; S2 E14 — Reading Tea Leaves Bottled and Set Adrift;  S2 E13 — Slipping on a Bar of Dove Soap and other Ripple Effects; 

Related from Season One, The Normal Year

S1 E16 — Day 16 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E15 — Day 15 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E14 — Day 14 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E13 — Day 13 of My 1-Year Experiment;

Context

Yesterday, Emma the Baroness and I arrived thirty minutes too early.  Shaggy and SLO Girl arrived 15 minutes early in his dark gray 4 Runner.  Jazzy and Delta Girl cruised up in this white extended cab TR4 Toyota Truck with a tricked out shell for storing skis, snowboards, surfboards and all the camping gear you could imagine you would need for Joshua Tree, just as it was time.  

For a party that big it will be a long wait the black haired obese Gen-Z host warned.  How late, like 9 pm I asked.  No, no he chuckled maybe half an hour.  

Perfect I thought, but that time passed plus another 45 minutes, mostly because it was Taco Tuesday and La Siesta on the western side of Camino del Rio was swarming in small groups for $2 Tacos and Margaritas — Skinny or House —passed through what once had been a window, but now was part of a large room being remodeled. 

It was Shaggy’s birthday and this was San Clemente. 

“So I heard you’re getting married,” I greeted Delta Girl. 

She filled me in.  It’s in Oceanside, on the anniversary of Jazzy’s ask and finger placement of the engagement ring at Hot Springs on their winter Mammoth weekend this last February.

Evidence

Let’s see who wins the competition for the strongest felt Tau today, shall we? First up is our legitimate Holiday Tau, the one for celebrity Steves like Zahn and the rest of us — Winkler, Emma the Baroness and me.

As I’m holding back with making the decision about which platform, one of my websites or on Patreon to publish the results of My 1-Year Experiment first and then massage the content into chapters for my “Tau of Steves Manuscript” I’m feeling you Zahn.

“5”  Steve Zahn, 51: “Make your presentation smooth and glossy. Getting the extra shine will take about the same amount of time as it took to build the thing to the level of “pretty good,” but it will be worth it to attain that wow factor.” Scorpio

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

Again, this ain’t my formal day, but I’ll consider swiping it anyway.  Who can turn down a golden ticket ride into a different dimension?

Today’s Holiday Birthday: 

You’re inventive and will solve a problem that vexes many. In this regard, you’ll carve out a niche for yourself and get a golden ticket to a new realm. It’s not a one-shot opportunity though, so don’t be too quick to make a deal or be exclusive. Family successes make you proud, too. You’ll have plenty to celebrate together!

How does the competition stack up among the remaining Steves who made the cut for today? The first two apply to rocks and knife-sharpening.  And then other tools and utensils leading to creativity.

Haha, maybe this kind of invaluable training can’t be bought, but can it be sold?

“4”  Steve Winwood, 71; Stevie Wonder, 69; Stephen Colbert, 56: “Your instincts, like knives, will be sharpened by scraping the hard, flinty surface of an interesting, immobile-seeming problem. This is the kind of invaluable training that can’t be bought.” Taurus

Hi Steve, your Tau resonates strongly with me, because it fits with itineraries and finding where “birds-of—feather” like you flock to quality-of-life communities across the West — the last three books in my 5-book series of Volume One, The Knowledge Path: Live. Love. Work. Play. Invest and Leave a Legacy.  

“5”  Steve Nash, 45: “Sometimes, the rocky road leads to a beautiful vantage, and sometimes it’s a hard road to nowhere. This is something to figure out before you embark. Consult the maps and the seasoned hikers.”  Aquarius

I’m not sure which of you influenced today’s Holiday Tau, but I’m finding that when I’m faced with writing long-form manuscripts the energy for the whole passion project can deflate unless I just begin with the first bite and chew what’s in front of me and then the second.  

“4”  Steve Smith, 30, Stevie Nicks, 72: “You don’t have a problem with biting off more than you can chew because you have the equivalent of utensils at your disposal. You have the tools to take a big chunk, and then cut it down the perfect manageable size.” Gemini

Okay guys, you’ve got the last shot!  Who else needs to need this?  That’s the whole money question.  But, I’m not divining the answer.

“4”  Steve Greene, 34; Steve Guttenberg, 61: “You’ve a creative way of explaining things, and people love to listen to the way you share what you know. Who else needs to know this? Your gift of teaching will augment your fortunes.” Virgo

What’s Going On …

Literally Bottled and Set Adrift from KnowWhere Atoll 

    • @KnowLabs suite of 36 digital magazines jumps from  7397 to 7455 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

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S2 E24 — Working Remote from KnowWhere Atoll

The moderator poked my right arm which served to transport me back to the moment.  She looked at me as if silently asking me if I was all right and did you hear the question?  I nodded a thank you and I’m all right. “Where does Art come from?” was an easy one to answer.

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

“5”  Steve Carell, 57; Steve Martin, 74; Steve Wozniak, 69: “You’re thoroughly original. It’s not that you reject the traditional approach or the way most others are doing it, it’s just that you clearly see a way to do it differently.” Leo

Hi and welcome to Sunday’s Episode 24 of the Second Season’s  My Pandemic Year’s Natural Experiment, on April 5th in the spring of 2020 here in California.

Previously in Season Two, the Pandemic Year

S2 E23 — Gaping Loss No Amount of Mourning Will Heal; S2 E22 — Paranoid Rose Review and Traffic-Copped Check Out Lines; S2 E21 — Cycles of History Rhyming with Endlessly Disruptive Rhythms?

Related from Season One, the Normal Year

S1 E24 — Day 24 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E23 — Day 23 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E22 — Day 22 of My 1-Year Experiment; S1 E21 — Day 21 of My 1-Year Experiment;

Context

Usually like Paul Simon I get all the news I need from my AccuWeather app, but today I’m drawn to the Comics page.

“You won’t be able to see the big picture today and that’s perfectly fine. … growth happens one cell at a time. Focus on what’s next. Your intuition will help you this. Ask a question about what to do, and then accept the answer. The big picture is made up of several small pictures.” Holiday Mathis

I’m almost never disappointed in the wisdom traded between Frazz, a school janitor  song writer, and Caulfield, a precocious student and smart ass beyond his years.

“… When you just ask for answers, and you get your answers, then you bypass the search for patterns.  And patterns are where you find the answers, and the search is where you do the learning.” From Frazz by Jef Mallett

Other than hanging out with Comics, how should I be spending my time?  

Carefully breathing life into more than a dozen unpublished drafts about Italy in the Western Skies and Island Current queue, write the origin story of South Orange County neighborhoods which illustrates two-way migration to and from hundreds of similar lifestyle profiled neighborhoods across regions of the US for my website, Knowledge Banking, and then crank up tentative drafts of Norway.

That’s the writing and editing fun stuff.  

But I need to keep all of these documented daily habits on track to crescendo into self-publishing five books, regardless of questionable results from my scheme to draw rave reviews from Patreon fans.  

Which is another way of saying I shouldn’t hang out so much with Comics, because I need to work on the business by protecting the pipeline, and the writing process without allowing distracting, slip-sliding-away procrastinations (frequently interjected by Leo da V) “this close” to gating the flow from inspiration to publication, promotion and beyond.

Speaking of Leo da V, he turned out to be useful.  

“Where does Art come from?” was an easy one to answer.  

Driving all the way over I was in my head, nervous and anxious about how I would do.  I almost missed the last turnoff.  The steering wheel stiffened. My keep-the-driver-in-the-middle-lane feature jarred me out my fear induced revery.  

Would I be late? Where is the building and parking lot? Did I wear the right clothes — not too casual, not too formal? Would they notice the zit in the middle of my forehead? What would they expect of me?  What if no one else showed up? 

The moderator poked my right arm which served to transport me back to the moment.  She looked at me as if silently asking me if I was all right and did you hear the question.  I nodded a thank you and I’m all right.  I picked up the Crystal Geyer water bottle in a silent nod to the eager student and gestured a just-a-moment, and with a smile first, took a small swig to lubricate the dryness in my mouth, pausing for effect and after twisting the cap back on replied, “I’ve always been told that Art comes from Tupelo or Tallahassee one of those ’T’ places.” 

A polite laugh from the attendees allowed him enough time to ask his follow up question, “Haha. No I mean where does your art come from?”  

To which I replied with a twinkle in my eye, “Oh, actually from KnowWere Atoll.” And, I meant it.

Evidence

One of the fun things about quality control and efficiency and laziness emerges from my process of finding the Holiday Tau online after checking each contender, on the section next to the Comics page,  so I can cut and paste.  I’m usually in a hurry which is my excuse for not noticing these gems until today:

Holiday Forecast for the week ahead:  

“… brings us into full awareness that we don’t know everything we want to or need to know to move forward. Many will be enticed to sign up for formal coaching or classes. Those who love a good plan will ready themselves, believing that a difficulty you expect is much easier to handle and master than one you don’t. But if the luxury of formal education isn’t within your reach, don’t worry. Learning on your feet might be frustrating but it makes you stronger than any other kind of learning. Life isn’t a controlled environment in which the tests and lessons have been laid out logically, leading to the mastery of one skill set. Life is more of a jungle free-for-all where the rules, if there are any, keep changing. The prizes change, too.”

This one, unlike the forecast is legitimately for Emma the Baroness and me.  About love.  We’re all about love even after all these years.  As a lover and a husband, what would happen if  I didn’t rank Zahnny with a power “5”? You (I) don’t want to find out.

“5”  Steve Zahn, 51: “Loving is easier than communicating love, which can be tricky, laden in expectation and the pressure to get things right. For today, stop trying to communicate and just focus on loving.” Scorpio

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

So you’re saying if I really buckle down and actually spend the time like I should, instead of listening to Leo da V, July and September will be golden — if only this was my birthday, which it is NOT!

Today’s Holiday Birthday: 

 “… and you’ll hang your star on ideas you hadn’t thought possible. Make vision boards, to-do lists, bucket lists and the like. Motivation and plan will come together with a satisfying click. You’ll have money to invest in July. September brings a sweet happening in your personal life.”

You know, like mom I always liked you best — all of you, but equally.  Two comedians and an inventor.  Just creative enough and inventive enough to recognize a kindred spirit, eh?

“5”  Steve Carell, 57; Steve Martin, 74; Steve Wozniak, 69: “You’re thoroughly original. It’s not that you reject the traditional approach or the way most others are doing it, it’s just that you clearly see a way to do it differently.” Leo

Yup.  Not only tribes I belong to, but improving the moving among tribes and the talent cultures the form in different organization and at each unique stage of growth.

“5”  Steve Aoki, 41: “You improve the world by doing as much as you can in the tribes you belong to. If you feel limited by the group, then you’ll join another. Your capacity for friendship and service is bigger than most.” Sagittarius

Following Leo da V’s musings is more fun, but what I’m getting from your Holiday Tau today, Steve, is track where he nudges me to spend my time, and slowly but surely reinforce myself for time in service of closing the gap accomplishing both doing the work and working on the business.

“4”  Steve McQueen (1930 – 1980): “When you follow your own leadership, reward, encourage and treat yourself. The more you reinforce a preferred behavior, the more likely you are to exhibit it.” Aries

Is this some kind of intervention?  Or are you two musicians in cahoots with our Patron Saint, McQueen?

“4”  Steve Winwood, 71; Stevie Wonder, 69: “You’ll ask yourself, ‘Is this who I want to be?’ and then make little adjustments from there to either reinforce your choice or turn it in a new direction.”  Taurus

What about you Smithy?  Are you ganging up on me, too?  Wait, your Holiday Tau says I don’t have to panic like everyone else did making a run on Costco toilet paper?  

“3”  Steve Smith, 30: “The sky is not falling. It makes some people feel better to join in a panic, and there’s always one going on somewhere. You can choose to participate in it or not. Do what’s right for you.” Gemini

What’s Going On …

Literally Bottled and Set Adrift from KnowWhere Atoll 

    • @knowlabs followers or one or more of my 35 digital magazines jumped from 1,481 to 1532.

Foresight

Quality-of-Life

Long-Form

    • “Rhythms of Vision: The Changing Patterns of Belief” published in 1975 by Lawrence Blair, Ph.D. “Whereas our outer, rational memories show us only brief span on the surface of history behind us, our inner memories — through myth and symbol — detect currents of meaning beneath the future as well.”“The outer chaos and confusion of our time is but the disturbance which characterizes the metamorphosis of all great rhythms, or aeon’s, into a new one; but inwardly, the iron-filings of a special kind of related knowledge are already polarizing themselves around a new pattern of Meaning, revealing that a deeper knowledge of universal laws in contingent on a deeper knowledge of the self, and the schism between the two wolds of science and religion is beginning to heal and to merge into a single majestic river of vision.”

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION

The Knowledge Path | Know Laboratories | Knowledge Banking | Knowledge ATMs | Western Skies and Island Currents | Best West Road Trip

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S1 E159 — 5 Wise Guy Rankings, Why?

When you get stuck one of the highest ranked TauBit of Wisdom advised you to ask yourself “Why” at least five times. That would be today.

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

“5”  Steve Aoki, 41: “You’re the prophet of your story, generating predictions and seeing many come true.  Wisdom comes of you being willing, even excited, to be proven wrong.” Sagittarius

Hi and welcome to Saturday’s Episode 159 in the first season of “My 1-Year Natural Experiment” on this 25th day of January in winter of 2020.

Context  

 I’m stuck. I feel a little disappointed and at a standstill.

Why?

Slip sliding away?  Probably.  I’m at a familiar point, not having activated my Patreon page from which a lot of activity will require my attention.  Much like editing and polishing the selected posts to be published on the designated website blogs.  And where I stopped just on the brink of self-publishing my “test” book on Apple Books.  I’ve forgotten my game plan and missed goals. Tuned into Senate Impeachment presentation by the House and watched some Australian Open Tennis.

Why?

Slightly began my scheme to reconnect with Mentors and Proteges and Friends via email.  It’s not going as I planned.  I have to remind myself to get them to Facebook and then to Patreon.  Remember they’re either on my list for my future Volume Two manuscript or Tau of Steves manuscript.

Why?  

I lost my momentum.  The character Harry (Hieronymus) Bosch, in the popular Amazon Prime series based on my new favorite author’s books, Michael Connelly, keeps figuring out the next play and keeps going.  It takes so long to reconstruct and regain what excitement you once had.

Why?  

Fear that I won’t attract many Patrons.  That what I write under the shield of Patron won’t keep those who do pledge monthly amounts.  Or, if I’ve organically grown my contributors, I’ll come to an end of stuff I could write and do and they’ll keep funding without getting the value they expect.

Why?  

I feel like a used car salesman promoting my intentions.  But, “My Wish” with the Best West Road Trip photo over 3 weeks ago at the beginning of the New Year attracted 466 views, 1 comment (Del), now with a drop to 1841 followers and 26 who viewed my LinkedIn profile. My Flipboard followers have been averaging about 5 or 6 new ones each day.  I went from under a 1000 just before Christmas a month ago to 1098 today.

Why?  

Bosch regains his momentum when he viscerally feels adrenalin kicking in.  I don’t feel it enough to propel me into creative action.  However comma I feel a surge when I trip over something that fits and moves me along.  Like when I rediscovered updated versions of chapters, the latest — “13 Ways to Stay Off the Endangered Species List” which fits The Knowledge Path, Volume Two manuscript.

So what?  My adrenalin finally kicked in when I realized for Patreon benefits I can offer the following five chapters free from the book I co-authored:

      • “13 Ways to Stay Off the Endangered Species List”
      • “Only The Names Have Been Changed. And Some of It’s True” 
      • “How to Thrive in an Age of Accelerating Uncertainty” 
      • “Create Your Dream Job, Save the Planet” 
      • “Leap but Don’t Trade Your Dream for a Nightmare”

Evidence

So at the end of the day, you might say the 5 Whys Holiday Tau was well worth it.  How about for today?

Again nada, zip, nothing for Steve Zahn, Henry Winkler, Emma the Baroness and me.

Moving on, then. Any wise guys among you remaining Steves?

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

Why? Haha. Your Holiday Tau is interesting, but not so valuable to me for today.  No hard feelings, right?

“4”  Steve Winwood, 71; Stevie Wonder, 69: “Each person travels in a cloud of their convictions.  You’ll know right away which personal atmospheres will be intolerable (In which case don’t argue, just leave.)” Taurus

I am grateful for my complexity.  Why? My mind remains engaged and stimulates me to create unique solutions.

“4”  Steve Smith, 30: “You’re grateful for your complex problems.  It’s a sign that your basics are solid.” Gemini

Not a goal? Why? You don’t climb a ladder to reach for it?  Or what?  Enlightenment just is?  Why?

“4”  Steve Greene, 34; Steve Guttenberg, 61: “Enlightenment is a terrible goal, as it can’t be achieved or discovered.  Your peace will come in the moments you inhabit.  No striving.” Virgo

So, we come to you once more Mr. Aoki.  Wisdom comes from willingness to be proven wrong?  Why?  Is it a terrible goal? Why? It’s just not as prophet-able? Haha.  Ok, I like this one.  Thanks Steve, I’m swiping it.

“5”  Steve Aoki, 41: “You’re the prophet of your story, generating predictions and seeing many come true.  Wisdom comes of you being willing, even excited, to be proven wrong.” Sagittarius

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION

The Knowledge Path | Know Laboratories | Knowledge Banking | Knowledge ATMs | Western Skies and Island Currents | Best West Road Trips

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S1 E158 — Car-Crash Addiction or Integrated Self?

Weekend, yay! So there’s that, but I feel I’m being pulled into different directions.  I monitor email newsletters like one from Taylor Peterson that he calls “Interesting Times Monthly.”  

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

“5”  Steve Winwood, 71; Stevie Wonder, 69: “Psychologists refer to the ‘integrated self’ as if it’s possible for an infinitely complex creature to be united in thought, emotion and action.  We do our best.”  Taurus

Hi and welcome to Friday’s Episode 158 in the first season of “My 1-Year Natural Experiment” on this 24th day of January in winter of 2020. 

Context 

Peterson structures it into three paragraphs with some quotations and a section on books he’d been reading. His articles include three calls to action. So, that’s one direction.  

I’m pulled to Sam Harris’ podcast for two reasons, the first for conversations with his guests, like today’s with Richard Lang promoting the “Headless Way” which bring forward my understanding of neuroscience and philosophy and meditation from where I left off in my first, psychology career — and, second how he markets himself.

The third direction pulling me is the car-crash addiction to the case against Trump and speculation about how it will play out in the United States Senate.  Interesting aside, Sam Harris coined the phrase, “Welcome to Trumpistan.”

Evidence

Let me turn to Steves Holiday Tau and find nothing worth noting for Zahn, Winkler, Emma the Baroness and me.  Oh well …

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

Hi Steve, what’s your TauBit for today?  Wait, is this true or is this just so much wishful thinking I’d gladly give up my car-crash television addiction? I’ll take it!

“5”  Steve McQueen (1930 – 1980): “Just as you toil to present your best self and build a relationship, the other person toils to receive your ideas and meet your expectations.”  Aries

Now we’re talking.  Two musician icons pay it forward for someone like me.  Thanks for the TauBit of Wisdom W&W.

“5”  Steve Winwood, 71; Stevie Wonder, 69: “Psychologists refer to the ‘integrated self’ as if it’s possible for an infinitely complex creature to be united in thought, emotion and action.  We do our best.”  Taurus

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND INNOVATION

The Knowledge Path | Know Laboratories | Knowledge Banking | Knowledge ATMs | Western Skies and Island Currents | Best West Road Trips

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S1 E157 — Schemes, Plots and Plans

You guys are my last hope for the day.  Do you have anything relevant I can use? Yes, it’s true.  But … That’s it?  WTF?   

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

“5”  Steve Greene, 34; Steve Guttenberg, 61: “You like the way it feels to scheme,  plot and plan, but it’s nothing like the elation that comes from getting into action and seeing what works and what doesn’t.” Virgo

Hi and welcome to Thursday’s Episode 157 in the first season of “My 1-Year Natural Experiment” on this 20th day of January in winter of 2020.

Context  

Earlier in the week I pulled together email addresses of executives I had recruited to the Executive to Executive Mentoring Program I’d been managing for roughly the last decade, and for the hundreds of proteges I advised and matched with those mentors.

Here’s the early stages of my personalized, yet mass broadcast.

It seems like it’s been forever since our paths crossed.  Did you graduate in 2011 or 2012, sometime around there, right?

I kind of keep people sorted in my memory by buildings and I picture you in classrooms in MPAA and at lunch in the Executive Commons.

Didn’t you work for Printronix when you started the program?

You seemed to be on a bleeding edge start up / entrepreneurial track from what I can remember.

What kinds of projects are your involved in now?

Are you’re in Orange County still?  

Hopefully, you found your niche and found what you were looking for.

Have a great new year.

I intended to work through several iterations and build an audience organically.

Evidence

Hey Steves, got any Holiday Tau to inspire me with TauBits of Wisdom?

That’s it?  WTF?

“2”  Steve Zahn, 51: “If you don’t have one, then this is the day to establish one (and only one) spots for your keys, wallet and phone.” Scorpio

Random ones that make me want change my sign.

That was a total bust.  Oh, too bad G&G’s Holiday Tau wasn’t Zahn’s.  Doesn’t matter that much though.  I can still take it to heart. Schemes-R-Us.  Yup, plotting and planning are great, but managing something in action are even better.  Thanks!

“5”  Steve Greene, 34; Steve Guttenberg, 61: “You like the way it feels to scheme,  plot and plan, but it’s nothing like the elation that comes from getting into action and seeing what works and what doesn’t.” Virgo

What say you, Steves?

Nope, not today.

“2”  Steve McQueen (1930 – 1980): “Your capacity for self-directedness is strong and getting stronger every time you do what you tell yourself to do.”   Aries

True, but not what I need today.

“2”  Steve Winwood, 71; Stevie Wonder, 69: “Good people don’t need other people to say they’re good.  It’s self-given, self-upheld and self-defined.”  Taurus

Yeah, sure you betcha, but not today.

“2”  Steve Smith, 30: “There are many ways to capture in your heart the life inside of life — reading a book, dancing, driving to nowhere in particular, etc.” Gemini

Fine, I get it, but I’ll skip your Holiday Tau today.

“2”  Steve Howey, 42 : “You’re a fountain of solutions, for yourself, your loved ones and the world.  Focus on the solutions that are for you.” Cancer

You guys are my last hope for the day.  Do you have anything relevant I can use? Yes, it’s true.  But …

“4”  Steve Carell, 57; Steve Martin, 74; Steve Wozniak, 69: “The habit of collecting your thoughts isn’t just for moments of anger of passion.  You’re at your best after you’ve checked in with your thoughts, so do it often.” Leo

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Inspired by: Holiday Mathis – Creators Syndicate

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