AKA, commentary on the current world.

The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of merit or sense.
Source: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his side.
Source: Aristotle

As democracy is perfected, the office of the President represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people.  On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.
Source: H. L. Mencken

It’s the exact same story of too many people with too much money. That breeds arrogance, bad behavior, and jealousy, and society just loves to take it down.
Source: anonymous investor (the Other Tech Bubble, Wired 12/16/17)

Image credit: Omar Bariffi

We live in a time of peril.

Not from the outside, but from within.

Politicians pander to our fears.

Trolls threaten, bully and abuse freely and anonymously.

Speech is free only if you are one of “us” and not one of “them.”

Hate and bigotry thrive.

Fear runs rampant.

What should/can you do?

Live the words of a true thought leader.

Image credit: Quotation Box

A Friday series exploring Startups and the people who make them go. Read all If the Shoe Fits posts here

Aristotle produced a good bit of wisdom in the course of his life, much of which can be tweaked to apply to subjects other than those originally intended. For instance,

“A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his side.”

All you have to do to this one is singularize and capitalize ‘gods’ and it’s just as applicable today as it was when he said it.

Tweak the words differently and you have a profile that fits more founders than you might think.

A founder must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to startup gurus. Employees are less apprehensive of invalid treatment from a leader whom they consider guru-savvy and humble. On the other hand, they do less easily walk, believing that he has the gurus on his side.

Well? What do you think?

Does the shoe fit?

Image credit: HikingArtist

Excellence. People talk about it all the time; kids are told to strive for excellence; companies claim excellence for their people, culture, work environment and, of course, their products. But what is excellence really?

John W. Gardner says, “Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.” As opposed to half-assed, which seems to be more the norm these days.

While Rick Pitino believes, “Excellence is the unlimited ability to improve the quality of what you have to offer.” Too bad more companies don’t take this to heart.

Excellence isn’t an accident and it rarely makes its appearance early in any process. As Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

Is there a way to claim excellence through other than our own actions? According to Voltaire there is, “By appreciation, we make excellence in others our own property.”

Thomas Boswell tells us, “There is no substitute for excellence – not even success” Obviously Wall Street wouldn’t agree!

Finally, here’s an anonymous bit that explains excellence in a most excellent fashion.

“Excellence can be obtained if you:
…care more than others think is wise;
…risk more than others think is safe;
…dream more than others think is practical;
…expect more than others think is possible.”

Flickr image credit: Micah Taylor

The other day I was looking for something that I thought was from Aristotle. I’ve quoted Aristotle before on various subjects, but some of what I came across could just as easily be specific commentary on today’s technology and workplace instead of thoughts from more than 2000 years ago.

On hiring: “Personal beauty is a greater recommendation than any letter of introduction”

On managing: “No one loves the man whom he fears.”

On entrepreneurism: “First, have a definite, clear practical ideal; a goal, an objective. Second, have the necessary means to achieve your ends; wisdom, money, materials, and methods. Third, adjust all your means to that end.”

On Facebook: “He who hath many friends hath none.” and “A friend to all is a friend to none.”

On Social in general: “Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow-ripening fruit.”

On unwiring vs. 24/7 connectedness: “He is his own best friend, and takes delight in privacy whereas the man of no virtue or ability is his own worst enemy and is afraid of solitude.”

So, what do you think? Am I nuts?

Flickr image credit: Tilemahos

Three or so decades ago friends called me a “health food nut” because I took supplements (still do). These days they call me a “privacy freak” because although I’m on LinkedIn I refuse to join Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or whatever comes next; I don’t carry a cell, find many GPS apps creepy and love my solitude.

As Aristotle said, “He is his own best friend, and takes delight in privacy whereas the man of no virtue or ability is his own worst enemy and is afraid of solitude.”

Ayn Rand said, “Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage’s whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of his tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men.” If that’s true, the world is headed straight back to barbarism.

Edward P. Morgan’s words ring truer today than at any time in history, “A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. It is one of the few havens remaining where a man’s mind can get both provocation and privacy.”

I wonder if David Brin was channeling Mark Zukerberg when he said, “When it comes to privacy and accountability, people always demand the former for themselves and the latter for everyone else.”

As stated, I’m not a Facebook fan for many reasons and Jaron Lanier states a major one, “Facebook says, ‘Privacy is theft,’ because they’re selling your lack of privacy to the advertisers who might show up one day.” Maybe that’s why Zukerberg doesn’t have a Facebook presence—ya think?

Danah Boyd, a senior researcher at Microsoft Research, “Defaults around how we interact have changed. A conversation in the hallway is private by default, public by effort. Online, our interactions become public by default, private by effort.”

But it is John Perry Barlow who sounds a warning that US citizens would do well to heed, “Relying on the government to protect your privacy is like asking a peeping tom to install your window blinds.”

Image credit: opensource.com

Of course today is about mom, but most of the quotes are so saccharine I couldn’t make myself use them, so I decided to focus is on the thing without which there would be no moms—kids.

Right away I want to say that “mom” is a concept, not the female half of a marriage or, as Oprah Winfrey said, “Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.”

An anonymous quote makes clear something else about mothers that is frequently ignored, “All mothers are working mothers.”

Aristotle’s words not only predate DNA testing, but the attitude of many modern males, “Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain they are their own.”

Peter De Vries makes a nice point that is equally true for urban and rural moms as it is for those who live in suburbia, “A suburban mother’s role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car forever after.”

I heard Sam Levenson’s comment many years ago and find it just as amusing (and true) now as then if not more so, “Insanity is hereditary; you get it from your children.”

John J. Plomp noticed something that every parent, especially new ones, is very cognizant of, “The one thing children wear out faster than shoes is parents.”

And while we’re on that subject, we’ll let Lionel Kauffman have the final word today, “Children are a great comfort in your old age – and they help you reach it faster, too.”

Image credit: Elvert Barnes

Image credit: Wikipedia

In our health-conscious world we’re constantly told “you are what you eat,” although judging by the constant stories in the media it hasn’t sunk in for many of us.

The sentiment applies to other things, too, as Aristotle pointed out more than 2000 years ago.

Just think, he had all those brilliant ideas without benefit computer, i-Pod, TV, etc. Not to mention mastering the art of the sound bite perfectly.

“You are what you repeatedly do.

Excellence is not an event—it is a habit.”