Memo to Self

Persistence is paramount.

Patterns of History

You see things in your job, in life and in the world that seem similar. Situations matching in context to similar events, years or decades before. These dejavu type events may be readily apparent or need a scrutiny and a pattern recognition to surface the similarity. But they hold a fundamental parallel between them, the dissimilarities are limited to cosmetic or participant identity, but are formulated in similar manner and likely reach similar results.

History does have a way of repeating itself. Recognizing these patterns helps in identifying higher level trends, applying similar solutions or adjustments, or even identification of tether points need to break the cycle and institute change.

Understanding history is important for these reasons. Current lessons and successes are equally important, as they may be needed again in the future for yourself or others.

Mother of all the Success Skills

When I think of of the skills needed to be successful, one stands longer than the others. It is persistence. We could all use a little more persistence. It keeps us bounding over the hurdles placed in our way. Whether they be self-imposed or placed there by others. It places the achievement in the context of effort over time, not only as a duration of work, but truly as a accomplishment over the hurdle of time passing.

Individually do you need more persistence in starting something or finishing? That idea you have been kicking around for a few months or years, but just haven't taken that leap. That half finished project in the garage that is waiting for that elusive 'round-tu-it'. Or maybe it is all a matter of persistence to finish - i.e. you have to start to be able to finish.

I am going to take the first of every month to remind myself to be more persistent.

Traffic volume 1

The Automobile Traffic Jam, I could do a whole blog on this subject alone. Has anyone done a study on how much time is wasted in traffic jams? I would bet the opportunity cost, lost productivity, increased stress and aggression, pollution and expended natural resources would total out astronomically. I'm not talking about accident related jams - except gaper delays. It's the ones that are correctable or avoidable. Slow or inappropriate drivers, bad light sequencing, insufficient road capacity, and others causing transit inefficiency.

There's a need I could fill, analysis and remediation recommendation for traffic congestion. Maybe I'd have time to work on that if I got back that hour a day I'm stuck in traffic.

Cliche...The art of the real

I had heard today was cliche day. Maybe its true, or its a voicing only to me, signify that I rely too much on the cliche. I could rattle on and drop cliche after cliche phrase, which is a problem while trying to excel at this craft. I like cliches, I use them to relate and associate. They provide a shared abbreviation of more complex abstractions. But as writing dictums go, cliches represent one as a 'lazy writer' [so many have said]. There is truth in that statement, and lazy I am not - and will not be.

Striking the reliance and use of cliches from my writing efforts is high on my list of goals. If anything it will help with the expansion of written explanations and should help both the clarity and length. I will use my creativity to annotate.

Public declarations of goals are a great way to commit to their fulfillment. Plus I'll be sure to add this one to my new year's resolutions. So its up to me to Seize the Day....(D'oh!)

Accomplishment by Association

Associate
Simulate
Model
Assimilate
Improve

As humans our learning is not limited to genetics. We have the capability to learn through communication - whether verbal, visual, or written. These all permit passage of information beyond generations or geography, with technology currently available to us. We evolve by taking what others have learned and building on it. This how scientific breakthroughs are achieved and medical advancement. We can apply this to any level of craft or work, ignoring all the information committed or available from others that have traveled the same path only delays you in creating your own path.