Category Archives: Helpful Hints

Creative Thinkering

One of the nice things about writing the daily screed is that sometimes I get asked to read new books and offer my thoughts about them. I received a copy of a book called “Creative Thinkering” by Michael Michalko, who has written another book – Thinkertoys – which has been listed as one of the “100 Best Business Books” of all times and which I enjoyed.
Since looking at business from a different perspective is one of the things we often discuss here, I thought you might find what he has to say of interest.  Here are a few points he makes in the book for your consideration: Continue reading

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Filed under Helpful Hints, Thinking Aloud

Doing Well While Doing Good

We hear an awful lot about privacy these days, mostly about how there isn’t any. When it comes to us as individuals, that’s not a particularly good thing but today’s rant isn’t about you and me. It’s about corporations and how they don’t enjoy quite as much privacy either, which in many consumers‘ minds is a very good – and actionable – thing. You see, if a business is misbehaving, it’s hard to keep a secret and people are demanding higher levels of responsibility from those firms with which they choose to do business. This isn’t me speculating: I have proof! Continue reading

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Filed under Helpful Hints, Reality checks

Stasis

I have an Android phone and I have quite a few apps on it.  If you use apps on a smart phone, inevitably you get prompted that there are updates available.  Sometimes, these updates provide real functionality changes or fix a bug.  A lot of the time, I’m finding that the changes are very minor – a color change, the screen layout – and the update is more annoying than necessary.  It reminded me of a post I wrote way back in 2008 on the subject of leaving well enough alone and I want to touch on that again.  Given some of what’s been going on in the tech world of late, I think it bears repeating. Continue reading

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Filed under Helpful Hints, Thinking Aloud