On eating alone
When the French philosopher Jean Baudrillard made his first visit to New York, he was shocked by a sight that seemed to epitomize all that was wrong with this capital of the postmodern world - "a certain solitude like no other," the spectre of adults eating meals all by themselves.
"It is the saddest sight in the world," he remarked. "Sadder than destitution, sadder than the beggar is the man who eats alone in public.
"Nothing more contradicts the laws of man or beast, for animals always do each other the honour of sharing or disputing each other's food. He who eats alone is dead."
If Ernest Hemingway, James Mitchener, Neil Simon, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Pablo Picasso could not get it right the first time, what makes you think that you will?
One thing at a time. Most important thing first. Start now.
the slow movement
At Oxford University, sometime in the 19th century, the roof of New College’s dining hall needed repair. When the dons approached the school forester about securing wood for new beams, he informed them that when New College had been built centuries earlier, a stand of oak had been planted in anticipation of just this moment. Five hundred years later, the roof was failing, and the trees were ready
Though apocryphal in most of its details, this tale perfectly encapsulates what has come to be known as the slow movement. At its simplest, slow stands for a focus on quality, authenticity, and longevity rather than a mindless adherence to the faster and cheaper ethos.This issue is about planning not only for tomorrow, but for the next year, and the next generation. Because if progress isn't permanent, can it even be called progress at all?
-- Good magazine, the slow movement issue
De La Lastra's Law
After the last of 16 mounting screws has been removed from an access cover, it will be discovered that the wrong access cover has been removed.
Writing down your goals
Something special happens the moment the paper meets the pen and we write down our goals. Our brain chemistry changes, neurons fire, hormones are deployed, and we start thinking about how we can achieve those goals
On leadership
Effective leadership is putting first thing first. Effective Management is discipline carrying it out. – Stephen Covey
Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; Leadership is defined by results not attributes – Peter F. Drucker
The great thing about human beings is that they can change. If you can get up every day, stay optimistic, and believe that the future is best than the past, those few things get you through a lot – Jeff Immelt, CEO, GE
If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea