johnmaconline

Resources are anything that can be used to achieve a goal.

Natural resources. Personal resources. Financial resources. Educational resources.

Each genre’s set of resources constrains what can be done.

In the computer world, the set of resources that constrain designs are power, MIPS (a computer’s raw speed), and time. They work together or against each much like a balloon. Access to more power means more speed, which means less time, which is great. But most of the time, we’re trying to do more in less time with less power.

Which is the whole point of design and engineering. Lots of complexity, effort, and creativity goes into making computers go faster and do more with less power.

If resources were unlimited, creativity wouldn’t matter. The best designs, the biggest breakthroughs, and the smartest strategies come from working within constraints.

The real challenge isn’t finding what you can do with unlimited resources. It’s finding the resource sweet spot.

More conversations lead to…

More opportunities.
More points of view.
More knowledge.
More understanding.
More trust.
More innovation.
More empathy.
More friendships.
More solutions.
More creativity.
More clarity.
More influence.
More connection.

Have more conversations.

There’s perception, and there’s reality.

I’m an engineer. I care about reality and shun perception. The bridge stands or falls on reality, not perception.

But also, not all problems are bridges.

The engineer in me is really trying to connect with the human in me because with humans, many times, perception is reality.

Problem-solving requires a varied skill set.

Maybe that’s why some problems never get solved. They require a skill we refuse to develop.

What if the real problem is us?

We celebrate people who stick to their guns. The one’s who are sure. The one’s who think the same today as they did 5, 10, 20 years ago. Same answer. Different day. Different year.

But confidence does not equal competence. Neither does consistency. Sunk costs aren’t necessarily well spent.

From one perspective, changing your mind is about science. New data, new methods of measurement, new capabilities, or new ancillary findings that inform our hypothesis.

“We used to think the earth is flat, but we’ve learned new information that now leads us to think its round.”

But we’re also human enough to understand that often, what we think or believe isn’t about science at all. It’s about feeling, and sometimes our feelings change.

“I was an atheist, but I married a Christian. Now I’m not so sure.”

Changing your mind is a very natural thing. A very human thing. We act like changing our minds is weakness. That certainty is a virtue.

Unless, of course, you change your mind and agree with me. Then we call it growth.

But certainty is heavy. It locks you in. Makes it hard to move.

Letting go and changing your mind isn’t weakness. It’s how you move forward.

Chaos and confusion can be tools.

They’re agents of change. They work against the system. Chaos and confusion create fear that creates unknown responses.

But you better know what the heck you’re doing when intentionally creating chaos and confusion. You better have an actual plan. “Let’s blow it up and see what happens” isn’t a plan.

Because if your competitor, enemy, frenemy, or opportunist sees chaos and confusion, they lick their lips. This is their time to act.

The problem with using chaos and confusion as your instrument of change is that you can’t actually predict, or possibly even influence, the outcome.

Chaos doesn’t obey.

You’re following an invisible script. So am I.

The rules aren’t written down anywhere, but they guide our decisions, whether we realize it or not. They come from deeply ingrained beliefs we inherit from family, community, and The World. They tell us what’s normal, what’s expected, and what’s possible.

And most of the time, we don’t question them.

“Go to college and get a job.”
“Buy a house with the white picket fence.”
“Never quit.”
“Money does/doesn’t matter.”
“The smart people think like this.”
“That’s too risky.”
“You can’t be a if you think _“

These scripts operate in the background, shaping our choices without our permission.

Who told you that? Is it actually true? What if the opposite were true?

Maybe it’s time we rewrote some of our scripts.

If you’re familiar with Bob Ross then you’re familiar with happy accidents.

“We don’t make mistakes. We just have happy accidents.” 

Delivered in his trademark calm, soothing, eternally optimistic demeanor. 

He viewed any “mistaken” brushstroke or color combination as an opportunity to add character and uniqueness to a painting — even if unplanned. Each accident could lead to beautiful and unexpected results, making each piece more interesting and personal.

He’d turn an unintended dark splotch into a bush or a light splotch into a reflection on a lake. He’d turn an errant brush stroke into a bird or a cloud.

He made you feel like you could do it. You, a beginner without ever having picked up a brush, could create something artistically satisfying and beautiful. Even experienced pros make mistakes and encounter unexpected moments. It’s all about how you deal with them. He helped you frame a perspective of experimenting without fear. 

During its original run from 1983 to 1994, Ross’s The Joy of Painting attracted over 80 million global viewers. I was one of them. I started to view titanium white and dark sienna as characters in the show. He struck a chord. 

Try stuff. Embrace the unexpected. See accidents as opportinities. You can do it.

We don’t make mistakes. We just have happy accidents.

It used to be the exclusive domain of luxury goods, but now everyone cares.

Packaging matters.

YouTube is stocked full of unboxing videos and package rating videos.

Packaging is what you see first. What you hold first. What you feel first. Packaging signals that what’s inside is special, satisfying, and important. What do you want your packaging to say about what’s inside?

What’s inside matters. Of course, it does. Ultimately, it’s what’s inside that matters the most.

However, just like your messaging, your packaging matters. No matter what you’re packaging.