I’ve learned that I can never assume that I know what someone wants.

I can’t assume that they know, either.

Interestingly, they might already have that which they say they are looking for, or at least the means to acquire it. However, they’ve been on their quest for so long, they don’t even notice this. Their eyes are fixed firmly forward, unable to see what’s around them.

Read More

Working with middle schoolers has taught me a lot about the process of learning and growth.

I’ve observed that some students struggle more than others to get their work done independently. The desire, knowledge, and skill necessary to complete an assignment may be present, but the student is missing a key ingredient: stamina.

Without stamina, the work is a grueling uphill climb. Everything is harder than it needs to be. There’s no ease, no coasting, no respite from the intensity. Accordingly, the student burns out quickly and is unmotivated to return to the work after a rest.

Read More

When I taught piano lessons, I worked with a little girl named Catherine. Honestly, I’ve worked with so many Catherines over the years that I’m not even going to bother to change her name for this story.

Catherine took to the piano easily. She was talented in the most basic and obvious way: on day one, it was as though she already a few months of experience based on her knowledge and execution. Not only could she play whatever I asked her to play, she did it with grace and ease.

Read More

A year ago, my parents and I went with my brother and his family to Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral to see a Space X rocket take off and explore the visitor complex.

The rocket launch was a dazzling display, and seeing the space shuttle Atlantis was really cool. However, it’s the Saturn V rocket that has stuck with me the most. I simply couldn’t believe how big it was. I could visualize it in my mind, but seeing it was something else. I was truly in awe. We humans designed and built these enormous rockets, more than fifty years ago, to send people to the moon? How audacious. How improbable.

Read More

I’m building a new business, and I’m finding it hard to shake the feeling that I need to be moving faster.

In the past, when I’ve created a new offering, it was often accompanied by the desire for a quick return on investment. I wanted to launch a thing because I needed some money coming in.

But now, despite COVID, things are more stable. I’m creating something new because I want to, not because I’m desperate and digging myself out of a hole. And that means I can take my time. However, I still feel that underlying sense of urgency. And this urgency carries a cost.

Read More