“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.”
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The visibility ethics
Early in the pandemic, shortly after Congress approved trillions of dollars in aid for individuals and businesses suffering from job losses and decreased revenue, companies such as Shake Shack and Ruth’s Chris Steak House received millions under the Paycheck Protection Program. Of course, they were instantly lambasted, given the size of their organizations.
However, the purpose of any corporation is to increase value to stakeholders. Under that very broad understanding of the purpose – to make money – it would be counterintuitive to not apply for that additional revenue.
This is an issue that is seen, again and again, currently playing out on Facebook, in Disneyland, and likely the nation.
Facebook has the choice of whether to do more to curb hate speech or to keep a more hands-off approach in the hopes of driving more revenue. Now that advertisers such as Starbucks are pulling out of Facebook (and other social media), the loss-of-revenue could become a very real driver for organizational change.
Similarly, Disney is pushing to reopen its parks here in the US. Now, we are arguably facing more of a health crisis now with spiking numbers than when we initially started shutting down back in March. Because, now, there’s little to no talk about shutting down again.
The company is dedicated to increasing revenue. If everyone else is open, why would a company self-censure itself? That could mean losses of revenue. Yet employees in Disneyland are striking against the reopening over health concerns.
While there are businesses out there who will do the right thing at the cost of losing business, there are others who will do the accepted thing in the hopes of earning revenue. Sometimes, it’s expensive to do the right thing.
Back again, a year ago
One year ago, I was just back in the lower 48. Now I’m back again from Alaska, only several weeks removed.
Last year, after my visit, I knew that I wanted to return. I’m glad that I was able to. Now being back this time, it’s like the world fundamentally shifted.
I think it feels like that for most people right now. I, like many, are left wondering: when will it be back to normal?
The philosophy of art
“Philosophy of art, the study of the nature of art, including concepts such as interpretation, representation and expression, and form. It is closely related to aesthetics, the philosophical study of beauty and taste.”
Most of what we experience in the world is the after-effect of creation. It’s interpretation, it’s criticism, and it’s opinion. True creation is born of nothing but the imagination, and it fuels the next iteration of philosophical study.
Whether art can be defined as one thing or another is a question not agreed upon in philosophical studies. What we do know is that art has the ability to change lives, often for the better. It is thought-provoking and quite often innovative.
The world is better for art, and art shines a light on the world that lets us see, even in the dark.
Recent items 8
- Meditation at home, for relaxation, resetting, and releasing.
- Computer-driven policing can lead to false positives…
- Neural mapping by researchers at MIT leading to innovations in computer chip technology.
- Moment’s streaming Film Festival on Sunday, June 28.
- New podcast to listen to: Land of the Giants, from Recode by Vox. Some inconsistent delivery over the past year, but I can completely understand that. Good for learning about the five tech giants.
Gauging success
The metrics for success can sometimes leave us bogged down, rather than letting us focus on the important points.
I know one thing I often consider is that success is gained in the completion of a project. The important thing for me, then, is to make sure that I’m following through on actionable items and seeing the end result.
Others measure success differently, so it’s important to be honest with yourself when determining how you want to view the success or failure of something you’re working on.
Constantly seeking
There’s harm in perfectionism. Fear from feeling it’s not good enough. Procrastination because it has to start the right way to be what you envision.
Discouragement from falling short of your goals.
Perfectionism is the enemy. Seeking the perfect end, however, if approached by trial-and-error, is a good way to find success. Even if perfection is never achieved.
Coding
There’s something that I keep hearing: coding is not only a good skill to have, but it could be one of the preeminent skills that will be needed over the coming decades. This has been repeated by the likes of Cal Newport, Seth Godin, and Tim Ferriss.
But what are we looking at in the future of coding? What can we come up with? Another app for the smartphone?
My recent interests have been looking at machine learning and quantum computing. Quantum computers “promise to power exciting advances in various fields, from materials science to pharmaceuticals research.”
While the computer remains vital in everyday activity, the quantum computer promises a leap forward into something we may not even be able to imagine yet.
The man in the arena
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
―
Failure is an option
In creative endeavors, mistakes are made – and usually accepted. In some cases, such as Google, who says, “reward failure”, mistakes are celebrated. Yet often, when it comes to mistakes, we shame them.
Failure is not a shameful experience. It is exceedingly important to fail when trying to create anything worthwhile. There is room for failure. It’s okay to screw up in pursuit of something important.
Michael's Musings 