limited problem solving
When the only tool you have is a hammer you tend to see every problem as a nail.
~ Abraham Maslow
Two Paths
This morning for some reason it donned on me that realistically there are at least two approaches that I use in this process:
- chronological
- area focused
Chronological
Simply put I will pick a period of time, normally a month at a time, and mentally go through what all happened during that month. During the year, I try to keep a calendar of what is coming up, as most people do, but I also attempt to add back in some of the major things that happened. In addition to that calendar I have keep a calendar that outlines what I have done in general each hour or two that I am awake in a day, at least what I have done in specific areas of my life. This is not a habit of mine quite yet; I might get back to it at some point, but looking at those periods of time really helps me remember what was going on and what the *wins* were.
Area Focused
As opposed to an open “What was going on in March of 2008?” approach to reflection, in this one I start with a specific area, like my physical, and either look at records or just think about where I was and where I am and write down what the major milestones were.
The best Approach
Either way is good as long as you don’t ignore some area of your life. Some areas you will find easier or more natural. There will be a strong draw to those areas. Those natural areas are probably either one of two extremes:
- area you are naturally drawn to – thus needing the least amount of work and intention in
- area you struggle with – your wins jump out at you because they are so unique or special
The best approach really depends on you. I tend to use both, one at a time, or a combination. Part of this process really is just to make you look at your life from a different set of eyes, perspective, or paradigm at least for a short period of time.
Why Divide the Pie?
For some reason I believe some questions must be addressed here or it will be nagging for a portion of people.
1. Why divide your life into areas?
Simply put people are complex; life is complex. Attempting to look at the past year as just a chunk of time will cause you to overlook some things and focus on others simply because that is how you are made or have developed.
A friend of mine once asked me why I was not a rocket scientist after he began to realize how natural math & logic came to me and my level of understanding related fields. At that time I did not have a good answer for him, today I do, it was inspired in some book.
Sending a rocket to the moon is relatively simple. You know where the moon is today, you know where the moon will be at any point in time. You know where you are today. We know about trajectories, gravity, and other forces and elements involved in that system. You can calculate how much rocket fuel will be needed, and barring anything like a rock putting a hole in your fuel tank … you will be correct 100% of the time. People are much more complex.
People are illogical. They have emotions, desires, wants, and limited knowledge.
To understand and predict what a group of people, or an individual person will do is much more complex than sending a rocket to the moon, now add a person into that rocket and you add a lot of complexity, but still because of the controlled environment the variables and options out there that need to be taken into account are limited.
To review your life without some layout, or structure, you will either just skim the surface, or get overwhelmed.
Thus years ago I picked up on this system from Dan Miller, modified it a little, and used it as a base.
2. Why this division?
I don’t know of anything better and everything I have considered fits somewhere. Could there be a better system? Yes, and if you have one please email me, I would love to improve.
The question of why each area is important will be covered in the individual areas, but realistically all aspects are important for the best life you can. Not to say you should be equal and spend 1/7th of your time on each, but more important is to not ignore one area for too long, because each area affects the others.
Government Problem Solving
When the only tool you have is a hammer you tend to see every problem as a nail.
~ Abraham Maslow
This morning I found this quotation from one of my sources that sends them out either in email or RSS feeds. It struck me because it really explains the issue with the US Government attempting to solve every problem, we as a government simply do not have enough tools.
Now I carefully wrote that sentence, and some would believe I used the wrong word, but I did not.
I do not hold any official public office at this time, nor do I really aspire to serve in any capacity other than citizen and potentially adviser to people I believe in and agree with, so how can I really use the word “we”?
“We” stems from the idea that the US system of Government is not a top down, king, emperor, or other traditional form of government; instead the highest decisions … the ultimate power is in the hands of the citizens. If not the citizens, I am willing to go as far as the hands of the legal voters, and realistically that might be a more accurate description, since a portion of people have disqualified themselves from governance through not following the rules or laws. That could be through breaking the law, or as simple as not bringing ID to the voting place if that is the rule or law. What makes the US great is not the Government — the Government is a symptom; it comes out of the greatness that is the USA, the people. We get together and decide. For example, instead of all of us building or maintaining our own roads, the HOA , City, State, or Federal Government will be given the power to do this. Instead of us all going and fighting invaders as individuals or small groups who bind together to protect our neighborhood (or this side of the street), we pay good people with the skill set to lead a military to do just that … it is more economical and efficient.
With all that we have officially said “This is a role of the Government to do” and all that the government has recently said “I give me the power to do this” the failing and major reason that the government cannot and should not solve every problem boils down to the fact that the toolset of any government is limited to just a few tools.
Some people put it this way:
What the US Government or politicians want more of they subsidize, what they want to stop or prevent they tax.
That shows their two fundamental tools:
- taxing – taking money from
- spending – giving money to encourage
There is a third, the rule of might, or force. They do have the police, FBI, CIA, Military to impose their will, but this falls into those two categories of tools and is still limited.
The alternative
There is another group, the group that is bigger and possesses both more brain power and more tools, that attempts to solve problems every day. That is referred to as the private sector.
Free markets, or free-er markets (since by some definitions there are no truly free markets in the US since the US Government has inhibited every market in some way) simply have more people, money, brain power, options, freedom, and simply put — tools for solving problems.
Now here is where it could get interesting, you might be saying or thinking … “Then why has the private sector not fixed all the problems?”
Because the private sector works under this equation:
what is desired = desire filled per customer served X Customers
- What is desired – can be money, an individual or group helped, or even to stop or prevent something from happening
- Customers – simply the iterations or times this action, good, or service is provided
- desire filled per customer served – if profits is the desire, this would be the amount the business/individual gets to keep
Now, based on that, for a problem to be solved by the private sector, or a politician through the government, there has to be a desire and the ability to gain the desire through fixing a problem. For a politician, the desire might be more political capital, or more voter support both for their bigger goals of getting reelected or a building named after them.
In the private sector it is normally translated into money at some point, but the use of that money is the real motivation.
How does the US Government often use the tools? By affecting the ability of people to get what they want. Creating loopholes causes more of the desire to be filled if specific actions are made. Taxes cause less of the desire to be filled for the same amount of action.
The private sector looks at the rules of the game that the US Government passes. Most people call them regulations or tax policy, and then decide “If I, or we, do this, do we expect to get *enough* of what is desired?”
Then the private sector either goes out and uses all the many tools that it possesses, or it does not; the direction, action or inaction, depends on if the expected result is the plant having *enough* profits, the mission helping *enough* people, the river cleanup effort getting *enough* people involved to justify it, or the politician receiving *enough* credit or campaign contributions.
Closing
Since the US Federal Government only has a few tools at their disposal, they look at every issue as either “We need more tools”, more power to the Federal Government, or “We need to go hit some nails.”
This is why every solution out of the US Federal Government is about the same – tax, spend, or shoot.
The only exception is when you have someone who sees the fact that the Government is limited and they either try to increase the number of tools, or let someone better equipped (has more tools) deal with problems, and get what they desire out of it.
Now keep in mind one of the initial points – if you are a registered US voter -> you are a part of the US Government and have a duty and obligation as such.
cheap is not valued
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value
~ Thomas Paine
real skill
Anybody can cut prices, but it takes brains to produce a better article.
~ Philip D. Armour
one step
Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.
~ Peter F. Drucker
Zune Excitement
Zune 4, Zune 8 & Zune 16
Within the last couple months I decided I wanted a new MP3 player to replace the main two that I currently use – my cell phone & an iPod shuffle.
What I was looking for is a small flashbased system that has a screen so I can visually see what the volume is, for when I am in my one car I need the volume to be really loud to play through the car speakers and then when I walk into the gym, store, etc I need it pretty quiet to keep from damaging either my headphones or my ears (both has happened with the shuffle).
After a while I settled on a Microsoft Zune. I like the form factor, the controls seem easier then an iPod, and it has wifi, an FM receiver & more.
Within the last couple days a few other great pieces of news came out:
- Zune Price Cut
- Speculation about receiving Netflix
- New policy for Zune Pass
Zune Price Cut
I have been looking for a good price and my definition for good price has dropped. After reading an article about the price cut, Amazon came out with a sale that is even lower
. I still have not pulled the trigger, but I am also debating which one I want, a 4gb, 8gb, or 16gb version.
Speculation about receiving Netflix
This one is not *news* because it is not official, basically if you have a Netflix account and an Xbox 360, you can now stream some discs *instantly*, as opposed to receiving the disc in the mail in a day or two.
New policy for Zune Pass: keep ten tracks per month forever and ever
What if for $15 per month, you could listen to all the music you like.
Yeah, I did not jump at that either.
What if for $15 per month, you could listen to all the music you like & keep 10 tracks forever?
That interests me. That interests me a lot. In some since I would be paying $5 per month for unlimited legal music & for $10 per month I get 10 tracks. If for some reason I dip back into the “picking up old tracks” I might drop Zune pass. New CD for someone I generally like comes out … I might pick up a month of Zune Pass where I can try the new CD out before I purchase, and pick up new tracks.
If you love music, and want to explore music in a legal way, try out a Zune.
communication goals
Write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow
~ Lawrence Clark Powell
Physical
The tangible parts of you, your body, muscles, and bones. The part of your that registers pain, the power-plant that provides you energy, and one of three parts that cultivates and produces your emotions and desires. You only have one, and though science and tech has got to the point that parts of it can be replaces, it is better to take care of the one you currently have.
Neglecting or abusing your physical self can easily effect your mental, spiritual, family, social, community and productivity initially and eventually an indirect effect on your personal finances. The biggest thing is your ability to function, focus, and move or take action.
Not only do I think of this as working out, but also what you put into your body: food, drugs, medication, and the registration of human contact (physical touch). You need all of that, in the proper proportions and at the correct times.
Improvement & Measurement
Simple goals include:
- be able to run a half marathon, or within a set amount of time
- being able to do a number of sets & reps at a specific weight by a specific date
- reach a target body weight – be careful on this one that you understand how this works; my top physical condition also was a period where I almost weighed the most, I weigh a little more today, yet in many regards I am the strongest physically then I have ever been.
- reduce your cloistral, or other lab value
- reduce or eliminate a type of food, drug, or addition that you consume or consumed
One thing that has helped me is actually spending money on education or memberships. Education for some is a cure all, or a natural thing, but learning a different way if often a key. In the medical industry it is widely known that preventive measures are much less expensive then curing or fixing a condition or situation. Joining a gym, school, club, or YMCA helped me a lot, before I would go out running every once and a while, however when we were paying each month for a membership, I wanted to get my moneys worth, and put forth extra effort to work out on a regular basis.
That concept of putting down money plays a part in many areas of our lives.
One technique that I have heard doctors use is to ask on a scale of 1 to 10 how painful your issue is when you come to them with an issue. Well, that is something you can do on a regular basis for energy level. This could be done one of two ways:
- at the end of a time period (say a day) you write down a number on a calendar or spreadsheet with the rating for your day
- when you have a high energy moment, you write it down, or send a txt to your email
Then after a while you take the data you have collected and can see how often you had high points, or good days. This can be good or bad, since having good days can turn into the focus of your life and you forget other areas.
