Big Picture versus Just You

There is much to be said for the person who looks at the greater good instead of a personal preference or even self-interest. There are times, however, when such conduct can mislead us, especially if the opinions expressed are based on what the person thinks others want and that turns out to be untrue.

For example, let's say you are surveying a group of people about which types of management training are needed. It can make a huge difference if the answers are based on what the individual needs versus what the individual thinks might be of interest to other members of the group. In the latter case, it is conceivable that the entire survey group could list "time management" as being a desirable topic when, in reality, not a single person would enroll if the class were offered. Why? Because they are basing their answers on an assumption about the group's need instead of their own.

The opposite, of course, is the person who views what the group wants through his or her own criteria and concludes that "If I don't like it, then it shouldn't be offered."

I mention this because conversations can be quickly derailed if these slants are not identified and taken into account. It is important to know if the person is giving an unvarnished personal reaction or one that has been treated with other considerations. Either way, it can turn Yes into No or No into Yes.

Quote of the Day

Nurture your minds with great thoughts. To believe in the heroic makes heroes.

- Benjamin Disraeli

Miniature Golf, On the Other Hand...

FutureLawyer has a photograph that shows why so many of us cannot meet the dress code for golf.

The Final Ten Pages

I'm writing the last ten pages of a book. I thought they were already written because the darned thing has gone through many drafts but a gnawing mouse in the back of my mind finally convinced me to follow a basic rule:

Simplify.

So I'm simplifying. And do you know how hard that is? But it is the right thing to do. I'll have it done no later than tomorrow.

Authoritarian Update

Cultural Offering has the chart on types of authoritarians. On some, I didn't know whether or laugh or grimace.

Briefcases

I love briefcases.

I can get excited looking over the selections at Levenger and other shops, even if I'm not ready to move into some of the price brackets.

One reason for my reluctance is my tendency to use briefcases as project boxes. I have one briefcase for one on-going area of my work and several others for similar specialties. The "training briefcase" is especially-designed with nifty compartments for odds-and-ends. It is kept rigidly apart from the others.

Although leather briefcases are hard to beat when the standard is appearance and flair, one of the best cases I have is a Swiss Army black canvas case that has wheels and can carry a laptop computer, a sizable number of files, and three small men. I also have one of those aluminum cases, several leather ones, and a sturdy Land's End canvas one that looks as if it has gone through the wars.

My question: Is there a particular type of briefcase that you'd recommend?

Breaking The Socratic Barrier

Professor Bainbridge does not teach law via the Socratic Method (sometimes referred to as the Sarcastic Method) and is darned proud of it.

As well he might be. Few professors can do it well. Those who can't only succeed in generating confusion.

Quote of the Day

I was a modest, good-humored boy. It is Oxford that has made me insufferable.

- Max Beerbohm

Old Spice: Behind the Towel

Fast Company gets the story on those highly successful commercials for Old Spice. An excerpt:

Why does the real time nature of this have such power?

Real time is what drives the Internet. New news is what everyone wants to get a hold of. Everyone is a publisher in their own way. Everyone wants to be tweeting or blogging about something that they are first to be in on. What we've done here is blur the lines between things that people don't expect to be able to be done in real time. So that's the surprise, that "Hang on, you're producing these things kind of in real time? How on earth are you doing that?" Every time one comes out and nails it again, it's seen as almost a new piece of news.

The Difference of Glasses

And people wonder why I wear glasses.