Masters Degree in One Semester?

Status Update: Orientation and class 1 are complete. Class 2 is complete, assuming no major edits. Class 3 is in progress. I plan to start class 4 and 5 tomorrow. There are a total of 13 classes, meaning that I’ll likely be done with my first round of classes (3) by end of week 3.Continue reading “Masters Degree in One Semester?”

SohoForum Retrospective: Why I think David Leonhardt is Half-Right on America’s Trend-Line and Why It Matters

On Monday, I saw a debate between John Early and David Leonhardt. I personally think from the discussion that Leonhardt had the upper hand, and would have liked to explore deeper ramifications of each side’s perspective. From my understanding, Leonhardt argued that a wide variety of sources show that economic growth for lower class AmericansContinue reading “SohoForum Retrospective: Why I think David Leonhardt is Half-Right on America’s Trend-Line and Why It Matters”

Blogging and Situational Awareness

A couple of challenges. I’ve noticed that when I blog, I like the relative anonymity. I can discuss what I really think about things- that’s generally desirable. However, there’s a paradox because if I am too blunt, A. It’s entertainment value rises and B. It becomes more indicting. He thinks that?!? Leaving low-hanging fruit outContinue reading “Blogging and Situational Awareness”

Solve Problems Often

Unless you have an unimpeachable reputation at the top of your field forever and always, you’ll need to do things other people want you to do. So, when you take on a position, try and figure out what’s bothering the person who’s employing you. Sometimes it’s not what you’re hired to do, but if youContinue reading “Solve Problems Often”

What Can Project Managers Learn From Consultants?

Consultants charge hefty premiums for their services, and must use strong communication skills to justify their high salaries. They hop between projects lasting about 3 months, and their corporate culture teaches them a set of tactics allowing them to identify areas for improvement. Since they specialize in generic cost-cutting, increasing sales, and supply line numbersContinue reading “What Can Project Managers Learn From Consultants?”

What even is the problem anyway?

When doing project management, you don’t want to be the tail chasing the dog. You’re not trying to be a solution searching for a problem, and if you don’t recognize the relevant stakeholders, you’re unlikely to be successful in bringing value to your stakeholders. The first thing to do when getting into problem solving modeContinue reading “What even is the problem anyway?”

RACI-ng to success on your next project

In almost every situation under the sun, having clearly defined and delineated roles allows people to thrive. In the same way that private property allowed people the ability to focus on their tiny slice of the world and build unparalleled riches, having clearly defined responsibilities and obligations make clear what the keys to success are,Continue reading “RACI-ng to success on your next project”

Self-Efficacy & Fixing Your Car’s Battery

My car has been out of commission for the last week or so. Instead of being able to do much of anything, I’ve been stuck at my place, looking for something fun to do. I called my friend who does a fair amount of auto-repair and he convinced me that I could change my ownContinue reading “Self-Efficacy & Fixing Your Car’s Battery”

Rise & Grind: Why There’s Some Truth Behind Why The Rich Seem Unpleasant

In any world, there will be more and less successful people. It’s probably not going to be the case that the modal person is going to be successful, given that institutions are skewed towards average, with a focus on lower average. As a result, listening to large institutions and going about your life is notContinue reading “Rise & Grind: Why There’s Some Truth Behind Why The Rich Seem Unpleasant”

Cognitive Empathy and Overcoming Barriers to Action

Many times, when you’re aiming to sell something, there’s a reason why the person isn’t buying it. After all, if this is something that the purchaser is searching for, they want to go in, verify it’s what they’re looking for, and go out. That is, unless they have reasons to doubt the specific course ofContinue reading “Cognitive Empathy and Overcoming Barriers to Action”