Agreeableness and amiability
Social agreeableness – being able to get along with other people, being “low friction” – is a sort-of-virtue. It’s a helpful enabler of community and… Read More »Agreeableness and amiability
Aristotle’s cardinal virtues
Cardinal, from the Latin cardo, meaning “hinge”, because these are (according to Aristotle and others) the virtues (arete or “excellences”) on which a good life… Read More »Aristotle’s cardinal virtues
Alfred North Whitehead on abstraction and civilisation
It is a profoundly erroneous truism, repeated by all copy-books and by eminent people when they are making speeches, that we should cultivate the habit… Read More »Alfred North Whitehead on abstraction and civilisation
Delay? Repay
On a GreaterAnglia train service delayed by lightning damage to signalling equipment, the following announcement: “Because this service has been delayed by longer than fifteen… Read More »Delay? Repay
Fire medicine: Gunpowder and the elixir of life
Expect the unexpected… Gunpowder was invented in China sometime during the first millennium AD. The earliest possible reference to gunpowder appeared in 142 AD during… Read More »Fire medicine: Gunpowder and the elixir of life
Deadlines and timelines
There’s no point in having a deadline unless you intend to keep it. You don’t really intend to keep it unless you have a clear… Read More »Deadlines and timelines
Part Way
It took at least 11 expeditions to climb Everest. Eleven voyages, eleven treks, eleven base camps and who knows how many reconnaissance climbs, trial runs… Read More »Part Way
Seth Godin on the entrepreneur, the CFO and the COO, and how to let go of your organisation (2 of 2)
My experience is this: number one, a CFO is different than a COO. A CFO is not a glorified bookkeeper. A CFO is in charge… Read More »Seth Godin on the entrepreneur, the CFO and the COO, and how to let go of your organisation (2 of 2)
The opportunity cost of being tired
You’re probably familiar with the old saw about sharpening the saw. Or Frog. Or Razor. Or the importance of unstringing the bow. I’ve always understood… Read More »The opportunity cost of being tired
Lady luck…
… won’t get out of bed until you do.