Saturday, September 30, 2006

To compare or not to compare that's the question

Making comparisons is something that's necessary for people to make decisions. Whether it's about choosing a dish when eating out, choosing a car to buy or a stereo, some place to go to on the weekends, people would compare various alternatives to eventually decide on a course of action.

Lately I've been hearing the argument to not make comparisons anymore. Any activity should be judged based on its own merits.

Now here's the question I pose to you... how can I discern the benefits of an option, if I don't know otherwise?

Thursday, September 28, 2006

The Confessional

I'll admit another bad habit of mine.

About three out of five times I will do less than what is actually needed. This objective may relate to work, to love, to friendships, to eat... anything in life actually. The problem is, the other two times I will consistently do far more than is necessary, often even to my own detriment.

So apparently I can't match effort to objectives, I am inefficient and ineffective.

Could be worse.

Monday, September 25, 2006

General admission

Now pay attention, because this doesn't tend to happen a lot... but I'll admit something bad about myself today.

My biggest character failing is that I expect everyone whom I deal with to play according to the (i.e. my) rules. And for whatever reason, be it insight, perspective, opinion, belief, intelligence etc., that is not realistic to expect. Most of my time is spent on convincing people to see my way.

Actually I don't want to spend that time at all, and just assume people to go along with me as-is. The nastiest thing is that I act/am insulted when people act irrationally... according to my logic. Realistically, I can't ever expect anyone to be just as rational as me from the get-go.

So despite this, why do I keep holding these expectations? Why is it so important that people see things my way, without me having to convince them? How can I be so sure of myself that my way is the best way, and my way should be self-evident for everyone?

The English language has words for this:
  • arrogant
  • stubborn
  • short-sighted
  • fundamentalist

Sunday, September 24, 2006

Everything I know I learned from the Lion King

Today we got two special letters in the mail. One announced the birth of my old school mate's daughter. It's his third baby girl, and he's not planning for more I think. You need only imagine what happens when the girls are (about to reach the proper age for) dating.

Congratulations BTW.

Another letter announced the passing of a great-uncle of my parents. Already advanced in age, and a widower, the announcement was still a shocking development. The guy was by all accounts still quite sharp. For sure a damn pity.

My condoleances.

The Lion King's theme - if I remember correctly - was The Circle Of Life. People live, people die, and people live again. No better was this theme symbolized than in today's mail.

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Primary and secondary pay

When you're a paid employee, the biggest part of your wages consists of money, moolah, dineros. And yet you only notice the absence if it. People always complain about not getting paid enough, having to spend so much on living and so on.

A relatively small part of your wages consists of secondary benefits, like a pension plan, a lease car, an expense account, fancy dinners, concerts, vacation days. It is the presence of these benefits that you would notice. (Coincidentally, they're a great source for tall stories)

This means that you end up working mostly for something that you only notice when it's not there anymore, instead of for something beneficial or rewarding. That's kind of strange isn't it?

Sunday, September 17, 2006

No purpose

Another scary thing: there's this relatively straight-minded, older man. He went to proper schools, received higher education, worked for decades at the highest level possible.

He has to give a speech to millions of viewers, in which he will make controversial statements to say the very least. And indeed more than half the world is furious with him.

I'm pretty sure this guy expected the negative outbursts directed towards him. If he didn't, he's either very naive or painfully stubborn. So that means he had an agenda with his statements, and for the life of me, I can't figure out what that agenda could be. Is he trying to show macho behaviour? Is he trying to defend his cause? Draw a line in the sand? Mirror the opposition?

All I can say is, I fail to see the purpose of his statements. All I see is Vince McMahon challenging Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 22, and then getting his ass kicked from a 15 foot ladder.

Thursday, September 14, 2006

All messes are children of assumptions

Whatever you read or hear, you will always understand it to your best advantage. And that is dangerous, because your best advantage may not be what is actually meant. This can have disastrous results.
  • bills don't get paid
  • goals get scored on you
  • trash doesn't get picked up

Monday, September 11, 2006

More excuses

In last post, I stated that we need valid, acceptable excuses to initiate any kind of relationship among ourselves. Following this, I pose now that the toughest excuses one makes are those made to oneself.

Everything you see, feel, hear around you triggers the question, why? Or maybe how? People by nature are curious and always need to know the answer to these questions. That's why we've got things like religion, laws and regulations, expert opinions, televised talk shows and so on.

Thing is, it is delusional to say that the answer to these questions is the unequivocal truth. It is more like an excuse, an acceptable explanation that placates your wonder and amazement. It is a deal you make with yourself to satisfy your mood.

How acceptable such an excuse is, is really a matter of circumstance. Whether or not you make a career change, totally depends on how you justify it for yourself. You can essentially explain it both ways. Whether or not you believe in the WTC conspiracies, depends on which way you are inclined to see the situation. If you make enough excuses, you can basically justify everything there is to know.

And herein lies our biggest battle. In our search for the answers, we strive to reach the truth totally and utterly. The only way we know how to reach the answers is to agree on theories, concepts, ideas, rumours, opinions, moods, fitness, or laws. Each excuse draws us further from the truth. The very means of getting us forward, pulls us backwards instead.

Saturday, September 09, 2006

Necessary Excuse

Excuses drive relationships more than you can imagine. For nearly all instances in life, you're going to need an excuse just to get together. It might be a birthday, a wedding, a funeral, an anniversary. You now need an excuse just to talk to someone, be it in a store (you want to buy goods), in a bar (you want to pick someone up), or in sports (you want to win).

It can't just be any excuse either. For one you need to get away with it. Car salesmen generally don't sell cars to shabbily dressed people, no matter how much money they prove to have on their bank accounts. The excuse also has to be socially acceptable and match the desired outcome of the relationship. You can tell your boss you need a vacation, just before the holiday season. You cannot tell him you need time off, just to play a video game at home or do grocery shopping.

In all this the excuse does not necessarily have to be true. It just has to be acceptable enough to get things running along. (Although I must say, for most people the truth is a lot easier to keep up with than a lie)

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Not there yet

Basically, it's like this: I can get in, I can get out, there's a chair, a table and if you don't mind sleeping on concrete you can sleep there as well...

But if it's all the same to you, I'll wait 'till I furnish the place proper.

Monday, September 04, 2006

Passion of the Xrist

Interviews with successful people in popular and professional media tend to look alike. Everyone wants to know how they got to be so successful, rich, powerful and whatnot. Hopefully the answers will inspire more people to do the same.

Most of these people describe their key motivation as being passionate about their jobs. They don't mind putting in the time, the extra energy and effort. They push through when they're faced with adversity. All in the name of passion.

Now for me this just isn't useful. I agree that you need dedication to reach success, and having a passion for something/someone is a very strong form of dedication. I think you do need this, because otherwise everyone would be able to reach their goals simply by putting in the time. That would be too easy.

However a passion is something that you can't tell anyone to have. You either have it or you don't. Steve Irwin has so much of it, he got killed for it. I'm pretty sure everyone has a passion for something, and some of us are even able to make a living out of it, but there are plenty of people who don't have strong feelings about their livelihood. They just get their wages, and move on to their hobbies. Or worse: they may have so many extra-curricular activities (second job, in debt, children, at war, in fear, sick etc.) on their minds, they don't get to live out their passions at all.

Seriously, telling everyone you've got a passion for your job and that being the main reason for your success, is like a kick in the nuts. It's like waving and eating a fresh turkey sandwich in front of a hungry homeless person.