Today is the first day in about a month where I feel like I might be turning a corner with my health. I’m really desperate to feel better and actually have some energy. 🙏
The moment you go down the path of gratitude grievances, you’ll see ungrateful ghosts everywhere.
Currently reading: By What Authority? by Mark Shea 📚
Not a great day today. I’ve been in bed all day feeling terribly sick. Unfortunately I got “glutened” while out for dinner last night which is not a good thing for someone with Celiac Disease like myself.
Since I just finished reading Between Two Kingdoms 📚, I’m now watching American Symphony 📺. Both feature Suleika Jaouad and Jon Batiste.
Clear, Concise, and Succinct: Lessons from Churchill and Ogilvy
A couple of years ago, I received feedback from senior leadership that I could improve by being more concise in my presentations and communication with senior executives. Since then, this has been a focus in my personal and professional development.
Over the past week, I came across two distinct pieces of writing—one by Winston Churchill on the value of brevity in communication, and the other by David Ogilvy offering practical tips on writing effectively. Despite being written for different contexts, both emphasize the power of clear, concise communication.
Churchill and Ogilvy reinforce the idea that effective writing is not just about what is said, but how efficiently and clearly it is communicated. Brevity is a strategic tool, especially for leaders, where time is scarce and clarity drives decisions and actions.
Brevity and being succinct are skills I’m still working on, and like any skill, they only improve with ongoing practice and thoughtful feedback. That’s also one of the reasons I’m slowly establishing a more regular habit of writing and blogging—to sharpen my communication and continue improving over time.
I watched just a snippet of an interview Kate Bowler did with Fr. Greg Boyle and he said something that I’ve found myself chewing on a bit this morning.
“I believe God protects me from nothing but sustains me in everything.”
It’s ironic—every time I share what I think is fatherly wisdom with one of my kids, I soon stumble upon a quote from someone far more accomplished that echoes the same thought. I end up sharing their words—not to validate my own, but because sometimes another voice resonates more than a parent’s.
📚 Currently reading: Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad
Over the past week, I’ve heard of several companies that have decided to eliminate the Scrum Master role, and one also cut the Product Owner role. They reassigned all SM and PO responsibilities to their Product Development Managers. Is this becoming a common trend in SAFe/Agile organizations?
Weeknotes: September 30 - October 5, 2024
Earlier this year, I started creating weeknotes and posting them in my private Day One journal using a template I put together. While I’m not quite ready to share the full notes publicly, I thought I’d start posting a few highlights here—nothing too personal, just a snapshot of the media I consumed over the past week and a quote I’ve been reflecting on. The other sections of my weeknotes dive into work and personal life, and I’m still figuring out how to share those parts in a way that feels both “safe” and compelling.
I’ve been under the weather lately, so this week involved a bit more TV than usual. The quote comes from a book that’s been sitting on my shelf for almost five years since I first got it as a gift. But hey, better late than never, right? So, here’s a sneak peek into my weeknotes.
##What I’m Reading/Watching/Listening To
- 📚 The Second Mountain by David Brooks
- 📺 Shogun - Finished the first season this week!
- 📺 Slow Horses, S4, E5
- 📺 Mr. McMahon
- 🍿 Lost in Translation
- 📰 The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books
- 📰 The End Of The SaaS Era: Rethinking Software’s Role In Business
- 🎙 Return to Office: Real Issue or Handy Distraction?
##Quote of the Week
“For many, the big choices in life often aren’t really choices; they are quicksand. You just sink into the place you happen to be standing.” - The Second Mountain by David Brooks
All the more reason to be careful (and intentional) about where you stand.
I was reading the chapter on community building in The Second Mountain by David Brooks and then the following quote shows up in my Readwise daily review. It’s not intuitive to correlate these books but the idea of collective wisdom and the value of community over individualism is highlighted here.
📺 Watching Slow Horses S4, E5
🍿 I’ve never been one for horror movies, but I’m feeling the pull to venture into the unknown this month 👻🎃🐈⬛. If anyone has some recommendations on where I should take my first step into the haunted house of horror, I’m open to your suggestions!
Our neighborhood schools have been on high alert and forced to endure indoor recess this week due to sightings of bears and coyotes roaming the neighborhood. They’ve always lived in this area, but recent (and ongoing) construction is forcing them out of their habitat and into the community. ☹️
I have not felt well for weeks. I’ve had a couple weekends stolen from me where all I could do was lay in bed but other than that, it hasn’t been too extreme. But, I just can’t seem to get on top of it and have struggled with a persistent malaise. Hard to focus on anything when you don’t feel well.😩
I’m all caught up on my other shows so I’m finally starting to watch Shōgun. 📺
A friend is having ankle surgery tomorrow, and besides texting, I mailed him a handwritten note. I hope this analog greeting in his mailbox post-surgery lifts his spirits. Does anyone else prefer receiving snail mail over (or, in addition to) digital greetings for things like this?