Many preparations made. Many to go.

Here’s to plans going as expected, and to making Merry and Bright!

Leveraging Joy is a thought provoking post by my friend Paulio. It dovetails with thoughts I have been having about my own influence in the lives of people I am connected to.

My mom always used to sing “Over the River and Through the Woods” when we drove to her mother’s home in Wisconsin. Now it’s my turn as I drive my daughter to my mother’s home.

Via Nicolas Bate

• He starts with a VERY BIG PLAN for the year.
• But-having studied Covey-he begins with the end in mind (H2).
• He builds a team about as diverse as you can get.
• He never loses sight of his clear and present mission despite the sacks of mail arriving on the hour, every hour.
• He knows age is just a number.
• He invests in the best, the very best, thermal underwear. And always wears a hat.
• He never lets it bother him that many people don’t believe in him.

Hmm…

Parallels Acquired by Corel

I’ve been recommending Parallels for about 10 years by now. Change is interesting.

Rebel Yell remixed by Crystal Method

I’m casting my lot with Things at the moment.

I’ve been lost for a long time after I moved away from Palm Pilots. I never really got traction in Outlook or PlanPlus on the software side. I have flirted with Things, OmniFocus, Microsoft ToDo, Wonderlist, Informant, ToodleDo, Evernote, Tasks and Notes.

On the paper side I’ve tried Franklin-Covey methodology, I’ve carried Midori travel notebooks and I have tried Bullet Journaling.

I love paper. I love pencils. I love fountain pens. I found a roller ball pen that I like using that won’t explode or break in my pockets.

I found out I like grid-lined notebooks but I love dot-grid even more. I found out I don’t love the shape of Midori paper, I prefer A4 and A5 sized notepads and notebooks. Leuchtterm and Scribbles that Matter make notebooks that are wonderful companions. Skip the decorative layouts from YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram. Stick to The System.

I’m good at capture on paper but really bad at follow-through and prioritizing. And especially bad at keeping important things from previous days in front of me. This is my biggest opportunity.

So, wow, tools have really become much better. I understand what I want to accomplish better. And and ideas from Bullet Journaling really translate to software in ways I wouldn’t have understood without taking my second Oddyssey through journaling on paper. This makes me happy.

I still have to do the work, but I’m excited.

The next quest is for software I can keep in my phone to help with habit-tracking, tracking meals, tracking moods and other health characteristics. I have a lot of changes to make.

I’m open to suggestions on places to look and methods to explore.

I’ve been thinking a lot about supporting technology. In my career, my tendency to experiment and to follow my curiousity has been rewarded. Experimenting has enabled me to understand where there are real limits and risks, and has helped me to understand steps I can take to protect myself and steps I can take to recover. Going through these kinds of exercises repeatedly has removed fear and uncertainty and increased confidence.

Even though we all click on things and type, experimentation with technology is not a part of most professions. Some only deal with technology in a strict, procedure-driven sense. Failure to follow procedure leads to negative consequences.

Until recently, it didn’t occur to me that one reason that people will not reach out for assistance with technology is the fear of being perceived either as ignorant or incompetent to perform their jobs. These are people who otherwise have great amounts of experience, expertise, and wisdom in their vocation, but who feel thwarted by tools that seem impenetrable or incomprehensible, yet are presented as critical.

As technologists, we are just not trained to understand there are very human and emotional reasons that technology might not work. Emotions and culture affect all of our interactions, from simple break-fix support to the largest enterprise projects.

I’m interested in changing what I do, and how I do it, to increase the benefit. I’m interested in starting with that awareness, instead of compensating with re-work later, or wondering why a project failed if the technology was seemingly rational or the right thing to implement.

Playing with the #tintypeapp

Mmm. Fruit juice and fruit snacks!

#bloodselfie

I should have watched The Voice

Found a bunch of review-later web links that clearly pre-date my use of Evernote and Instapaper. Several pointed to URLs and domains that no longer exist. Ugh.

I have carried multiple communication devices several times in my career, including for the past 5 years at my current employer. My rationalization initially was to separate support calls from my personal life. A second benefit was to use a second carrier on different spectrum to ensure strong signal.

Logistically, that’s two devices on my person. Two Apple IDs. Two places for notifications to acknowledge. Two calendars. Two devices to update and to charge every day. More stuff to pack when I travel.

I’m not two people. I understand now that the extra effort is a distraction from more importal goals and work. I’m not Work Hjalmer and Home Hjalmer. I’m Hjalmer.

So I’m simplifying to a single device: Transitioning this weekend, then cutting service for the second number this week.

For folks in my personal life, I’m keeping the number I’ve had since about 2002. For my work colleagues, stay tuned for updates through official channels.

201812041943

Tonight, I am grateful for xFinity Wi-Fi, which helped me in a pinch. I am grateful for Seafoam, and for electric starters on snowblowers. And tonight, most importantly,as i rest my head against my new headboard, I’m so grateful for tiny little electric screwdrivers that hold an amazing charge and have lots of torque.

And acetaminophen.

That feeling when you checked the ingredients of everything you ate for gluten, but your body tells you that you’ve missed something

I’m a new fan of the Headspace playlist on Apple Music

First time listening to vinyl in these many long years. Bought the turntable a long time ago. Finally have the right space for it.

Food Coma in three… two… one…

Just got the majority of my Thanksgiving provisions purchased. Be kind, everyone. Be patient and gentle with each other. It’s crowded but we are all in this together.

“But sometimes what the suicidal person needs is for the therapist to join them in the darkness and show them a way out.”

The Best Way To Save People From Suicide

In my professional life, problem-solving with technology, I almost always start with a set of assumptions and base my initial actions on those. If I’m lucky, I’m right. A rote solution works.

If I’m not lucky, I still win. I learn a new method, or a new perspective, or new patience. My knowledge in some respect will deepen. I have the relative luxury of rebuilding my model of the problem and restarting steps to resolution.

I have finally understood that this same approach in personal relationships is so wrong and so ineffective. It’s best to start with no assumptions. No reactions. And no talking until I get it.

And I suppose here, too, I’ve had the luxury of people tolerant of my quirks.

I thought I knew how to listen, but I see I can do better.

And then I need to ask, is there more I should know?