I recently ran into a good idea. My tea is usually too hot to drink when I make it and when it’s ready for drinking, I’ve already forgotten I made it in the first place. So, to the witty inventor: make me a cup that makes sure your tea is quickly drinkable after making, but then stays hot long enough to be able to forget it.
Without fear (or how to be right)
Mar 28, ’12
10:38 AM
TL;DR It’s right to be right and wrong to be wrong. Learning from previous mistakes will only prevent you from doing it again, while repeating right decisions enables you to be successful once more.
In the past year I’ve heard a lot of opinions about whether to be right or wrong. The most common approach to “being right or wrong” is to say it is okay to make mistakes.
A well-known anecdote about an inventor I very much admire, Thomas Edison, is that he made 99 wrong lightbulbs before making the very right one. However, all it took was one right lightbulb, so the 99 wrong lightbulbs do not matter in the end. People tend to emphasize the rightness of being wrong, by stating that even if Edison made 99 million wrong lightbulbs, that one right lightbulb would be enough. Maximizing the anecdote to the absurd, states that it is just fine to be wrong. It simply takes a lot of mistakes to do something right.
I simply disagree. It is wrong to be wrong, and right to be right – not the other way around. Subsequent to being wrong is the fear of being wrong, that’s why everybody wants to be right. By stating that it is okay to be wrong, you do not acknowledge the fear of being wrong and therefore you do not solve anything when simply saying that it’s okay to be wrong.
It is natural that we fear to be wrong. We hate the feeling that says that we messed up, we feel ashamed and find it hard to admit a mistake. This is natural behaviour. Human beings have a terrific intelligence and combining that with our natural need to survive makes us very logical beings. Making a right step takes us further, so making a wrong step takes us back. Yet again, this is natural and logical behaviour.
So why do we say it is right to be wrong? To make it up when we’ll eventually be right that one time? So how many lightbulbs did you invent so far? From my personal experience, I’ve been far more wrong in my life than right. And unfortunately, I haven’t been right in the end.
99 wrongs don’t make a right. One right makes a right.
Subsequent to the fear of being wrong is one’s self-esteem and self-worth. People who tend to be right more develop higher self-esteem and believe in themselves more. Fear of being wrong, and actually being wrong, reduces that. The only solution to make wrong decisions less destructive is to make more right decisions.
So how do you make right decisions?
From my own personal experience, I try to make decisions based on previous wrong decisions. This is partially effective. Simply learning that you shouldn’t touch a hot plate from the oven prevents you from doing it again. But does that actually teach you something? Yes, it teaches you not to repeat mistakes.
Okay. Strategy for being right: do not repeat old mistakes. The next step: generalize the mistake. It’s probably not good to touch anything that’s hot.
The next strategy is my personal favorite: as not repeating is to wrong, repeating is to right. It’s not that hard! Repeat previous right decisions. The same way you can generalize and elaborate on previous wrong decisions, so can you about the right ones. How can you adapt a right decision to make it more effective in different situations?
I know. This is not helping one bit. What you’re reading right now doesn’t give you strategies for right-decision making. And it sounds too simple to just repeat right decisions. You can learn much more from mistakes.
Wrong. You can learn as much from successes as from mistakes. And where a wrong decision doesn’t hold the solution to improve, repeating a right decision simply does hold that next step. If you’re wrong, you don’t know how to make a right decision. If you’re right, you do know how to make a right decision.
I hope this changed your perspective of being wrong. Stop fearing wrong decisions by making right ones, and improve yourself by repeating and elaborating on those right decisions.
If you can make one right decision, it only takes one more to be succesful once more. 99 wrongs don’t make a right. One right, makes a right.
For 2012
Dec 31, ’11
3:14 PM
Although I find it hypocrite, meaning that the other 364 days in a year are just as important as 31 december, here are my goals for 2012.
Please, keep me to it.
- Worrying less about worrying. It’ll be fine, even if I don’t worry. If things won’t be fine, it probably isn’t that bad and if it is, I’ll manage. Things will be great and I’ll get my chances.
- Grow further, develop myself further.
- Expand my venture, Sporous, to an annual volume of 50 grand.
- Visit New York (again) and Tokio.
- Stay happy.
All the best for 2012. It’ll be great.
(I forgot: graduate!)
Be a smart follower
Nov 29, ’11
3:56 PM
Because I signed up for a mailing about “working smarter”, I received an e-mail from a sponsor with 7 tips about being a more effective leader. I normally don’t take action on these mailings, but this one seemed interesting. The including page is right here: Turbocursus Slim Leiderschap, door Jeroen Busscher. It’s in Dutch, but I’ll share it anyway.
7 key aspects of leadership
Busscher emphasizes the following. In order to be a smart and effective leader: make others responsible (don’t instruct), facilitate their needs (don’t motivate), ask questions (don’t give answers), show interest (don’t be an example), trust (don’t coach), inspire (don’t think) and be lazy (don’t work too hard).
What if you’re not a leader
Not to worry. You’re the leader-type but not always in the position to lead. So what do you do? Depend on others to be the leader? No, of course not. Take leadership by being a follower.
Be a smart follower
- Take responsibility, don’t follow instructions. You’re here to think yourself, don’t let others think for you.
- Find your needs. What do you need to perform better? Ask for it. Not granted? Ask again.
- Question. Do not ask questions, just question everything. Don’t follow the path that others laid out – question what others find normal.
- Be interesting. Love what you do. If you don’t, stop and go looking for something else. Be in pursuit of your interests, surprise yourself.
- Trust yourself. You’re the one who’s capable of doing this, not somebody else. Don’t worry, you’ll be fine.
- Be inspired. Did the greater things come to you when you’ve asked for it? Brilliance is just around the corner.
- Don’t be productive. Be effective. Working 60 hours a week will get you somewhere, but doing the same in 30 gets you further.
Now, be a dear and kick ass.
#drawmyfollowers by Greg Burney
Nov 27, ’11
8:35 PM
A few months ago I stumbled upon the profile of @gregburney on Twitter, who apparently would draw those who’d follow him. Today I got a reply from him, keeping his word, with the following astonishing result.
Thanks Greg!
Getting things done #2
Nov 8, ’11
10:13 AM
Okay, I’m on a spree here. Just deleted the Facebook and Twitter app from my phone. For several reasons:
- Facebook/Twitter is a medium and not a goal in itself. Seeing how friends are doing for the sake of seeing how friends are doing, doesn’t make sense.
- Both Facebook and Twitter are mass media, which means that the information on it is high quantity but low quality. Even during work breaks, I prefer high quality information, such as HN.
- Twitter should be used with a purpose, such as finding a contact or building a network. I figured nobody reads my “Do a barrel roll.” and “I’m on a boat!” tweets anyway.
- I usually grab my phone when there is alone-time at hand, or just nothing, killing time by staring at pointless “I’m going to sleep and my day was nice” status update by a friend I haven’t spoken to in a long time. Most stupidest and attention-consuming thing I’ve been doing so far.
- Noted in this wonderful animation by Amitay Tweeto: you won’t die when not checking Facebook.
- Adding to #5: I might die checking Facebook. The probability of such a single occurrence is very small, but if you accumulate all the time I spent wandering around on Facebook and Twitter, how much of me died there when I really go?
Also, I deleted the bookmark bar of Chome. You know, the thingy that makes your e-mail, Facebook, Twitter and Google Analytics stats one click away. Don’t do it.
Be disciplined, save time, achieve more.
Attending TEDx Rotterdam was inspiring
Oct 13, ’11
8:08 PM
My mind is still buzzing. This was inspiring.
Today I attended TEDx Rotterdam, an independently organized TED event featuring talks of several remarkable individuals, leading in their fields. The main theme of the day was “Future Leadership”, embodied by hundreds of attending near-graduate students. As many of the speakers said, these students will lead the future using information, mobile, technology, imagination, ideas and so on – perhaps even on a global scale.
The last speaker, Sander Veeneman (right here), concluded his talk with the following: “I know a person, right now in the audience, who can be and will be a future leader. And you know what the most funny thing is? That very person – is you.” In my opinion, the most inspiring talk.
Kees Moeliker (talk) managed to make me laugh my butt off. As a winner of the “Ig Nobel” prize, he researched homosexual necrofilia by ducks. As a surplus, he’s recently researched the reason for public lice to become an endangered species: shaving (and he has managed to show a landingstrip on screen). Didn’t know all this, really had a laugh.
Mikko Hypponen performed a very solid talk about cybercrime and security. I complimented him via Twitter on his strong appearance, and actually got a response back (very surprising, he even retweeted to 20k followers).
Joost Conijn amazed everyone with his self-made airplane, which he flew over the Sahara desert. Marijn Berk inspired (me, personally) with his vision on wireless power and communication. And several top performing artists energized the audience with their dances, music and creations.
It has been a blast to attend TEDx Rotterdam, and I’m pretty sure several of these talks will make it to the TED Worldwide event. For me, TEDx has been about inspiration. I’ve found it inspiring to see the ambition, passion, expertise and willpower of all these people, creating vision and change on a global scale.
I’m not sure what my world will look like, ten years from now. During the day it became clear to me: this is who I want to be. I don’t know how, or why, or what exactly – all I know, is that I want to embrace change and opportunity. Being a leader in my own life, exploring my own vision, in time creating sustained value and benefit – I’m inspired to be a “future leader”.
(PS. We got a goodiebag. I like goodiebags.)
More books
Sep 7, ’11
2:11 PM
I learn a lot from reading books. Whether it is skill, insight or actual knowledge – books are solid. Perhaps this is a new series: more books! Please read which books I bought (and why), read and how I feel about them.
Don’t waste your time reading snack-like short “informational” stories on the interwebs; read a good book.
Don’t Make Me Think, Steve Krug
I read a certain chapter of this book a few years ago, about usability testing. A very hands-on approach, which basically led me through the steps of testing a website with real persons. A must-have for any interaction designer. Don’t ask why I bought this just now – I know I had to buy it rightaway.
The Investor’s Manifesto, William J. Bernstein
Got this from Derek Siver’s list of favourite books. I asked him on Twitter which one I should buy, he responded: “Pick the one that resonates.” Quite cryptic answer, but I figured to buy the one that was still in my mind after I closed the page. I’m not into investing or stock trading yet, but I will be. I perceived the book (the image of the front) as being authoritative, also coming from Sivers, and therefore decided to buy it with the expectation of a solid insight in modern investing.
Long Tail, Chris Anderson
I made numerous “Load more tweets” request on Twitter until I found the reply of a friend, who recommended this book. This is a real random thing, I have no idea what to expect. Sometimes, it’s cool to put a random prime number in a learning algorithm – also for humans.
The Personal MBA, Josh Kaufman
Also recommended by Sivers (scored 10/10). I’ve been looking for a good book on business education and development, and I thought this might be it. Very curious for this one in particular.
Anything You Want, Derek Sivers
I’m mentioned in this book, for proofreading it. Already read it twice and gave Derek Sivers feedback on a few issues. But hey, gotta have it.
Business Model Generation, Alexander Ostenwalder
Recommended by my graduation project business coach. It’s how he works and he expects me to make a business model canvas. Borrowing it from the library sucks, so I bought it rightaway. Curious for this one too, the canvas thing looks promising.
If it’s worth my while, reviews are coming up when I’ve finished reading.
I seriously love affiliate programs, but not on my personal site. Therefore, not even links to the books. You’re not stupid, just Google the titles and authors.
On “How To Live Before You Die”
Feb 8, ’11
4:07 PM
I found this video very inspiring. Finding the things I love and doing those things is perhaps the single most important thing I want to do in my life.
I once made a list of things I wanted to do in the coming years. On top of the list was the most important thing: pursue happiness. Ever since I’ve tried so and this video encourages me to continue to do what I am doing to day. Because if you’re truly doing what you love, I believe you’ve truly found happiness.
The video is courtesy of Stanford University. The talk is by Steve Jobs, delivered on June 12, 2005. The text is right here.
Why I do what I do
Jan 1, ’11
1:01 AM
I am an inventor, because I always wanted to be.
Quite a few years back, my parents and siblings and I went to Luxembourg during our summer holiday. On a daytrip we visited a hydroelectric station, a huge installment that is used to generate electricity from a water current. Back at the campsite (we had a big tent) I rebuilt the installation the way I thought it would work, using straws, cord, a table and a few dinner plates.
This is the most vivid memory I have from my past. I’m not sure how old I was exactly, but nevertheless it appears stunning to me that I understood the concept of getting electricity from a current: water from a high place flows down to a lower place, rotating generators on the way.
I remember I liked pushing buttons. I once switched off a cash register (my parents were at the checkout), probably because I wanted to know what happened when you pushed that certain button. Also, I used to deconstruct things. I had no idea what I was doing, but seeing what’s inside a broken radio is so much fun.
Back there it started. All the neighbour kids wanted to be policemen or firemen, I wanted to be an inventor.
There’s no course or college or research minor that teaches you how to become an inventor. In inventing, there are no grades, no marks, no assessments. Being an inventor is not a line of work, not a profession, not a job. Not even a lifestyle.
It’s a purpose, a calling. A way I see the world. It’s like those fancy glasses that clean themself with tiny sweepers: every time they come by they wipe clean your view, so you can look at the world again with a fresh view.
Being an inventor is about wondering, and then creating. That’s what I am, what I do, and this is why I do it. I’m an inventor.
