Category: Commentary

Living in these times is great. There are so many high-tech things to make life easier.

Fast, interconnected computers with terabytes of memory. (Those of us of a certain age remember DOS, floppy disks and dial-up modems.) Powerful mobile devices that contain more firepower than the Apollo 11 lunar module. (Those of us of a certain age remember large car phones with big handsets and docking units.) HDTVs that are thisclose to being there in person. (Those of us of a certain age remember the first color TV in our childhood homes, a single snowy UHF station, and sign-off test patterns.)

Of course, one of the challenges of living in a super high-tech world is things don’t always work as planned. Whether it’s the Internet going down, streaming locking up, or our website and blog not working – which is what’s happening for the past 45 minutes as I write this while on the phone with a techie – there’s ‘always something’ that creates frustration unknown to my parents’ generation.

The tradeoff is worth it, especially when we’re watching ‘Leverage: Redemption’ and I say, ‘That actor sure looks familiar,’ and the answer to everything we’ve ever seen them in is an IMDB search away.

Of course, my father would be appalled at our monthly technology spend. He was fine with three network TV stations and the local independent. He never even paid for cable.

Each morning, I read several business newsletters, then a couple more in the afternoon. I listen to podcasts throughout the week. I participate in a couple of CEU sessions every month. Thus… I can’t remember where, during the past month, I read/heard the approach described below, so I’ll just say ‘Thank you’ to the forgotten creator.

Take a blank sheet of paper. Divide it into three columns. List under each one situations in your home and work life. Here are some of the ones on mine, along with the total number of items:

Control (14) – Health & Exercise, Strategy, Social media/TV time

Influence (7) – Referral sources, Diversification, Scheduling

No Control (10) – Our adult children’s safety, Politics/Religion, Reactions of others

I keep this list on my desk. During the past month, I’ve reviewed it at least once per week. It seems to be helping me stay focused on what I can control or influence and let go of what I can’t.

Perhaps it would help you, too.

A technique used by meeting facilitators is to conduct a ‘check-in’ at the start of the day. Participants share a comment – ‘I’m energized…’ – then state – ‘…and I’m in.’ Of course, depending on what they’re feeling, the first part might be: “I’m frustrated’ or ‘I’m angry’ or ‘I’m distracted.’ Utilizing this approach signals to everyone the individual mood elevators within the room.

‘I’m in’ is a common phrase. It could be an email to your buddy in the office: “If you do Chinese takeout for lunch, I’m in.” It might be a reply to a friend who asked, ‘We’re heading to the lake for the Fourth, want to join us?” It could be a high school senior opening a big envelope from their preferred college choice, looking up with a smile and saying to parents, “I’m in.”

When my brother and his former Wall Street investment peers started discussing Bitcoin and the blockchain in the fall of 2017, I read their email exchanges without responding. When the price soared toward $18,000 that December, I finally commented.

“I’ve read a lot about this,” I wrote. “The blockchain is a game-changer. The question is: will Bitcoin be the one people adopt or will another crypto overtake it? Remember Commodore 64? Bitcoin is being hyped by a generation much younger than us. I’m out.”

When Bitcoin fell to $3,000, I felt brilliant. When it soared to $60,000 earlier this year, I felt like an idiot. When it dropped to near $30,000 a couple of weeks ago? Well, I’ve read a lot more, so I said, “I’m in” – buying a little Bitcoin and a little more Ethereum.

So why now?

FOMO? YOLO? ICYMI?

IMHO putting a tiny bit of our investment portfolio toward something that could end up being the real thing – now that crypto is mainstream – seems wise. After all, younger folks are doing life different than us older ones, so why not join in?

Is it the right decision? IDK. Gonna leave it to our three kids to decide after we transition to the big ethernet in the sky.

HBU?

TTYL

‘Frozen February’ meant when spring arrived many of the plants around Houston failed to awaken from their winter slumber. Morning strolls around our neighborhood included a lot of head-shaking at so much unseasonally brown color.

Hawthorns and Lantana didn’t survive the unexpected dip into single digits. So I turned to the company that mows our yard ($25 per week!) to take them out and do other work.

Everything went great the first day as they removed the plants, dug out roots and mulched our flowerbeds. Then another crew returned a week later to replace some dead St. Augustine grass in our backyard and clean the gutters, which were filled with pine needles. When they arrived, I was on a walk.

I got back and specifically told a worker to not touch the vines that snaked throughout an eight-foot latticework and provided a beautiful view outside Kathy’s kitchen window. Then I went inside to take a shower. When I got out, all of it – dead and living – was gone. The crew leader told me everything would grow back in two weeks. It’s now five and counting. There are a few dozen green leaves as summer nears.

Three times I texted the company owner – who I’ve known for years – asking what he thinks I should tell Kathy. He is yet to respond.

People make mistakes. Maybe they didn’t realize the type of vines. Maybe one person didn’t tell the other. Maybe there was a language barrier. All of those are understandable. Things happen. Not accepting responsibility? Once the grass stops growing in the fall, it may mean the end of a long-term relationship.