Yap 3.0

Whenever I'm writing anything - from my dissertation to speeches to journal articles - my mind interconnects other streams of ideas as I'm developing the writing task at hand. From ideas for another article to business and learning models and games to realizations and cohesions of sometimes totally disparate apercus. Through constant Zierganik effect this requires me to put synapses on paper; thus this blog. Muse with pleonasm in your comments... entre nous!

Kidder and Oppenheim's Intellectual Devotional book was given to me by my best friend Jeffrey recently. In discussing this with my mom (a multi-degree nerd like me; a definite role model), she immediately weaves in a structured priority grid that we've talked about when I was in law school in our conversation indicating that priorities in our constantly moving target daily lives mean constant reprioritizations. This can be stressful, she said; I am quite aware. So we discuss the value of what we've formulated to be a model of constant reprioritization years back.

This is what our discussion would have sounded like 20 years ago. We start with a list of the day's tasks - for example: research for an article I'm writing, grocery, laundry, write an article for Mensa, reshelf books I've read that continues to occupy where my German Sheperd would be napping IF I had time to get one, do my schoolwork [now it would be - do my taxes], and need to spend some time at the gym. So Mom and I would have charted the day's schedule and then indicated to spend 2-3 minutes every hour to recheck if there are additional tasks coming my way that needed priority and I would quickly reprioritize my work. Throughout my first clearly calendared day she would check in to see how I'm doing and how my day is coming along [of course this would translate into micromanaging if this was a workplace but I was a young lad so I welcomed mom's input]. Other potential priorities did come in - a new homework from a stern tort law professor, a car dent from my neighbour's 16 yr old, a relative visiting from LA for an unplanned stayover. Tasks continue to be completed but new tasks needed to be accomodated.

Such training became ingrained in how I've balanced my doctorate program and a full time job. This has translated into how I've assisted my clients, proteges/mentees, and friends as well, especially those trying to become scholar-practitioners themselves and having difficulty with work-life-school balance. It's not easy to be looking at one's schedule at all times and I've had acquaintances indicate that spontaneity would benefit me but spontaneity would be scheduled as well [one day of no computers, no calendars, no nothing but pure fun - then the next day? back to schedule]. In time though, it becomes a natural occurrence and it becomes easier. At this point, I'm on autopilot but my Outlook calendar is not far from my fingertips because now its not about ensuring I know how to prioritze but ensuring I remember what I've actually scheduled. Must be aging.... or just new distractions.... like this book that I've mentioned above; quite fascinating - good thing I only need to read one page a day.

I'm heading to Vancouver next month along with my best friend, Jeffrey. I love this moose design by Darren and just have meet him personally when we get there.... check out the Northern Voice website... its not too late to register, yknow!.

Then we can chat live..

So what did you do this weekend? How was your evening? How was your date? How are the kids? Oh my, when are you due?.. and the all encapsulating How are you? We hear 'em and say 'em all, don't we? Every morning (Mondays it seems; where it is more prevalent), every time we bump into each other; we say it at every opportunity to ask how one's life is coming along.

In studying organisational behaviour, pleasantries play a significant part in humans' quest for bliss, reminds me of the first jhana of Samantha Meditation, or in this case, quest for a pleasant if not fully positive working environment.

This is also one of the factors of being social beings. We build communities, we create governments, we form our associations, societies, and any excuse to be 'together.' Technology assists us into social networking globally and every form of blogotonomy (ok I made that word up). The fact that we are social, we feed on the need to have someone say "how are you?" to open a door for potential further communication.

In as much as sometimes, we just want to be on our way and not be bothered by anyone (because we're oh so busy), maybe it try once and have a chat. I find that if I am in that crazy mode, my stopping for 2 minutes (and nothing past that), I feel better a bit. Barring circumstances like being verbally strangled by the office chatter or a crazy person, a little chat should be ok. This seems to be the reason why water cooler discussions bring lots of giggles. I personally like to discuss work while near the water cooler, fridge, vending machines, ... well food in general because not only does it provide me with an excuse to eat and work in parallel, it provides a relaxed environment with my team.

Kubicek* indicated that 45.4% of organisations admit that the lack of training is impairing their people's ability to deal effectively with bullying or negative positioning of coworkers. Maybe with a little bit more pleasantries, this can lessen; does this mean its an excuse to have a bit of training?

* Kubicek, M. (Nov 2005) On your best behaviour. 6

Can one ever have TMI (too much information)? Immediately I'd say I think not. Then again, that's a contextual question, isn't it? In the instance that it is about knowledge creation or pattern variance and not about water cooler chats on what your boss Victoria screamed at you on the phone this morning, then there isn't TMI. A new book by Joseph Dispenza explores how one's brain learns and processes info. I like the discussions on when the brain isn't stimulated enough by new experiences it can become addicted to comfortable, familiar patterns - which can be a good thing for some but not for the adventurous, Type-A personality, red color, or any other personality type ENTJ people in our lives... which includes me btw.
So check out Evolve your Brain, you might find yourself learning how to needlepoint and karate in the same week some day.

Want to have a chat with me after my talk at the CSTD Toronto Chapter event on March 1? Register, participate, enjoy and you get to have freebie consulting with me afterwards. Maybe I can even talk you into discussing about your certification programmes and how my firm, Phronetic International, can assist in enabling you to have consistently high performing stellar employees. What will I be talking about? The implementation of next generation organisational certification programmes. It'll be interactive, you have to stand up, move around, participate. No sitting by the corner.
Hope to see you there.

Jeffrey and I, along with a colleague, Dr. Brent Muirhead, published a “viability business blog model” called R.U.B.R.I.C., a year and a half ago. Since we all know how the blogging world moves faster than lightspeed, ensuring that blog related models continue to be current is very important for evidence-based research practitioners like myself. What better way to make sure that this model is still effective but to ask the blogging experts themselves - you! And what better way to do this qualitative research study than at the Northern Voice conference; thus this application for the travel bursary as I'm coming from Toronto and self-financed research studies can be taxing to one's ailing budget.

So why would you care to participate in this study? The literature on blogging continues to be expansive but unfortunately the peer-reviewed academic journals, let alone Canadian research studies on this topic, are not as limitless. What ends up happening is that some researchers study a mesh of pop culture, media driven material, and input from various sources that may not always work with an IRB approved methodology. The PhD's and academics may end up with incomplete material or have to redo the study again. This is where your valuable input come in - its your voice that is being studied, so why not take part in it. It will be you who will validate this model and tell us if it works in your professional and personal blogs. You are continually shaping the blogosphere everyday, how about ensuring that the models that we portray about this landscape is true-to-form so that future bloggers and professors of e-sociology, internet psychology, and virtual organisational management will have a clear understanding of what truly makes up a great blog.

We would be very happy if you could participate in this study and would be most grateful for Northern Voice bursary if they could provide some funding for this Canadian research project whose findings will be very useful for the conference participants and our global blogging family.

Results will be posted on this blog and all participants (over 19 yo or with guardian consent) will remain anonymous unless they indicate otherwise.

Thank you and see you at the conference.