Skimmers, Browsers and Scanners: Oh My!

For those playing along at work or home, today's title is an updated takeoff from Dorothy's famous line: "Lions, Tigers and Bears - Oh My" from my favorite hip-to-be-square movie, The Wizard of Oz.  And no, we're not in Kansas anymore, Toto.

So what's with the retro remix, you ask? Well, I just read an interesting interview with Nicholas Carr, author of "What the Internet is Doing to our Brains." (That title makes me think about one of my favorite Monty Python skits, where the Gumby characters gum, "My brain hurts!" Love that skit!).  Now, no surprise here (as if the title of his book doesn't give it away already) - but Mr. Carr thinks that the Internet is making us lazy when it comes to how we find, read and process information. He thinks we're getting to be a bunch of superficial "skimmers, browsers and scanners."

Whoa, pretty heavy stuff.  My brain hurts just thinking about it. 

However, all those in agreement with Mr. Carr, say "ayyy": AYYYYY!!! You bet. He is absolutely, positively, make-no-doubt-aboutitly correct. Moreover, we need to heed his warning, and take care not to let our slothiness get the better of us.

So the question is - nay, the challenge: what can we do about it?

Well, at a minimum, keep it in check. Especially when it comes to making important decision at work, and life. If it passes the "hmm, better do the homework on this one" test - then don't just skim, browse or scan. Really read. Really think. Really digest. Then maybe even repeat, wash, rinse and do it again. After all, serious business and/or life decisions require serious attention.

Think about it: would you want your pilot to merely skim, browse and scan when it comes to flying your plane? Well then, isn't "flying" your career, and your life (especially if it impacts others) - worthy of the same careful attention and mindfulness? Sure it is.

Thoroughness Is Good.

Understand To Be Understood

As we approach election day - the rhetoric, mud slinging, chastising, name-calling, embarrassingly ugly pathetic behavior (and frankly, that's an understatement) is sad.  Oh. So. Sad.

With all this American-on-American verbal venom, I'm reminded of the famous Rodney King refrain, which he pleaded after getting beat up during the LA riots: "Can't we all just get along!?" And while this character bashing is not physically violent as the LA riots, the words are nonetheless bruising, painful and unnerving. 

So, what can we learn from all this political craziness, as it pertains to our own lives? Well, for one (and by the way, there's a boatload of lessons to be learned) is the importance that to be understood, we need to understand.  Likewise, to understand, we need to be understood.  And we need to do both with genuine sincerity; can't dial this one in.     

As simple as it sounds, it's apparently not that easy to do.

But try we must. More than just try, do we must. After all, how can we hope to do what needs to be done (and how best to do it) - if we don't at first pay sincere attention to what's actually going on, and what other people want done.  But all too often, most of us walk right into a situation - be that friendship, jobs, marriage, politics, whatever - with misunderstood assumptions, and make uninformed judgments/decision.  Not good.

Here's an idea: when we're in doubt, or when we're clouded by assumptions, let's simply ask the other person:  "What do you think?"  And then listen - genuinely and effectively - so that we can incorporate our new understanding, as part of making ourselves understood. Sure, that's way simpler said, than done (just look around, right?).  But it's doable, nonetheless.           

Understand To Be Understood Is Good.

Dollars and Sense

Sometimes, we find ourselves having to choose between what we hope makes the most sense, with what's best (or better), for the proverbial "bottom line."  Sure, we've all been there/done that: at work, and life.   

We've also seen how the results of these choices, can tend to favor one, over the other. It's as if sometimes the options are diametrically opposed. And why? Why do we have to have conflict - either perceived, or real - when it comes to choosing dollars over sense?

Maybe it's a DNA thing. 

While we might not be able to fix the root cause (genetics are hard to rewire), what if we agree on a proactive remedy. And what's that, you ask? Well, simple: don't let it get there in the first place. 

In other words, when it comes to making decisions that will be judged based on dollars over sense, or sense over dollars - just insist that the decision be accordingly aligned, taking both into equal consideration through balanced judgement, and healthy compromise.  Think and/with ... not either/or. 

If we start with the end goal in mind, we can get the balance and harmony we're looking for.
 
Dollars And Sense Are Good.

Book Smarts or Street Smarts (Why Not Both!?)

If I had a nickle for every time I've heard someone rationalize that their keen sense of knowing and intelligence comes from being "street smart" (versus book smart, I assume) - well, I'd have me enough money to buy a triple grande, no whip, mocha chip cappuccino (although, I don't think my choice of morning beverage does much for my street creed).

In other words, if you correlate my fufu/fiffy drink to the expense-side math, there's lots of folks who have boasted to me about their S over B factor. And why? Is one really better than the other? Or cooler? Or edgier? Or whateverer? And why does one have to be over the other? Like it's superior? Or better? Or whateverer.  That's why I call BS, to the SB.

The reality is: both are good. In unison. Partnership. Matrimony. BUT, if you actually have to put one ahead of the other, well then, it's simple: books smarts trump street smarts. After all, books are an incredibly cost-effective, safe and efficient way to learn, and learn lots. And they don't come with all the concerns that come from the street. 

So, for all those hipsters that thinks it's hipper to be street than books - think again. Because at the end of the day, our goal is wisdom. And wisdom comes from paying attention to all sources. Especially books. So if asked, tell 'em you're book smart AND street smart. Better yet, don't tell them anything; be book smart and street smart without the fanfare, and let your wisdom from both, show through in how you work, live and achieve.  To play off/on the pedestrian cliche: walk the talk; don't talk the walk. 

Smarts Are Good (Wherever They Come From)

Work In The Name of Love

We've all heard the wishful sentiment uttered by well-intentioned thinkers: "Do what you love, and love what you do." While that's a great suggestion, and for sure would be nice - the reality is, that's probably going to be a stretch, for the most of us.

For the most of us, it's more like "Do what you can, and accept what you do." Because after all, a job and its pay checks are more often than not, the biggest priority. More to the point, it's hard to love anything, let alone live - if we don't make money. 

Now, before we think work's gotta be all dreary and sad and oh-woe-is-me even if the job isn't what we love, let alone ideal ... think again. It can be. Especially if we have the right perspective, attitude and gratitude. Sure, it can be hard to whistle while we work.  And no doubt, some jobs just aren't fun.  But throughout it all, remember that from our work, we get paid.  And with our pay, we are able to provide for ourselves and our family. And family, is where love calls home.

So maybe the saying does work, if you think about: We can love what we do, and do what we love - assuming love "in the name of" is the reason - and the by product - of what we do.  Get it? 

Working In The Name Of Love Is Good.

Trust But Verify

In the workplace, there's often uncertainty and even anxiety, with regard to how someone should ask someone else about an assignment they are working on.  Or more specifically, when that assignment will be completed (assuming they haven't been told).

The thing is, most people are extremely sensitive to seeming rude or worse yet - mistrustful - if they ask their colleague, let alone a boss, about the status of their work. Even if it impacts their own work. After all, they don't want to imply that that person isn't working, or won't get it done. They just want to know what's going on, and when things will get done. Sounds fair enough, right? But it causes anxiety, on both sides of the equation.

So what's the remedy. Well, embrace a simple yet powerful agreement/philosophy: Trust But Verify.

If everyone in the office works under the Trust But Verify mantra, than everyone is covered: The person doing the work in question knows they are trusted from the get-go, but that they also need to let those that matter, and those that might ask, know when the assignment will get done. And the ones doing the asking get absolved from seeming mistrustful, because the policy clearly states that trust is the foundation to the relationship. So if they have to ask, for whatever reason - don't take it personally.

To be clear though, this Trust But Verify mantra only works if both sides live up to their end of the deal.

Not only does it work, it's the foundation for great teamwork. Try it.

Trust But Verify Is Good.

I Don't Know (But I'm Ready To Learn)

The other day, I was in a meeting with a bunch of know-it-alls.  They we're talking over each other about a bunch of stuff.  Everyone had something to say (and then some).  Not surprisingly, everyone also seemed to have an answer; let alone the right answer.  I'm pretty sure I never heard the words "I don't know." 

And that's a shame.  

You see - it's okay to not always have the answers.  After all, we don't know what we don't know.  While it might seem uncomfortable at times, it's actually commendable to admit that we don't have the knowledge or understanding that others have.  It doesn't mean we're stupid; it just means we're not there - yet.  

By admitting our inquisitive uncertainty, we're being honest and humble - which are admirable traits, especially when hanging out with know-it-alls.   By announcing "I don't know" - we actually get a more intelligent conversation going, which can lead to a more intelligent outcome.  From confusion, comes clarity.  But we can't get to the clarity, before admitting the unknown.

Sure, it can be unsettling - let alone scary or embarrassing - to admit that we don't know something (especially if we, or others, think we should).  But as a friend of mine once said when rationalizing the upside versus downside of the IDK mantra: "I'd rather put up with a momentary perception of stupidity, than being a fool for life, just because I didn't want to admit that I didn't know something, and take the time to learn."  Great advise.

I Don't Know (But I'm Ready To Learn) is Good