Hard

We often employ a tough, outer shell, especially in moments of debate or negotiation. It gives us a feeling of … More

Shaving

Sometimes, we need to remove the excess to make it more usable. For instance, using too many words to get … More

Order

Order is useful for retrieval. It’s also helpful when desiring a prescribed outcome, i.e., meeting spec. But, when does order … More

Stacking

Stacking only works if the pieces are meant to fit together. Each is designed to receive another. Is the team … More

Raw

…isn’t often as useful as refined, developed or crafted. A skill isn’t raw. It’s made, through practice and over time. … More

Arrangement

Successful outcomes depend upon order, placement, specific conditions and timing. Trial and error precedes assertion. Inexperience comes before wisdom. Bad … More

Wooden Spoon

Of course we can use metal or plastic. But, the wood signals our purpose and posture. We’re serious about this … More

Original

Someone goes first…which sometimes is different than claiming to be first. Our culture places a high value on first…for a … More

Processed

Quantity or quality. Rarely can we do both. We need to choose, especially as we scale. The good news is … More

Blemish

There’s the natural kind. The kind which makes something undeniably unique. And then, there’s a fake kind. The kind we … More

Hog Tied

Sometimes we feel helpless, stymied by everything around us. The constraints are real. But, instead of looking beyond them, perhaps … More

Sticky

An idea, thought, wisdom or insight isn’t likely to travel well unless it’s sticky. Just like the song we can’t … More

Sieve

Separating the wanted from the unwanted requires holding something or someone back. We build systems, processes, examinations and entire cultures … More

Peeling

Most of our ideas, viewpoint and beliefs are layered and compounded over time. They start in one form and end … More

Golden Brown

…light, crispy and baked. Perhaps we can see the true colors despite their absence if we have enough clues. If … More

Raw

Raw implies unfinished, as in raw talent. Virtually everything begins as raw. We need raw to make usable and better … More

Symbols

The earliest birthday cakes were used to celebrate the young or the old (50 ish back then). Now, it’s become … More

Tempting

Momentary joy or gain is our vice. If only we could apply temptation to hardship, to the things which deserve … More

Pieces

Breaking something apart into smaller pieces can make it more useful. The same applies to ideas, problems and projects. We … More

Tail End

Chris Anderson’s Long Tail asserts we should focus on small audiences over longer periods of time. And, that the big … More