Friends of Dave #103: It's Getting Old
Nothing like teens and birthdays to welcome you to the Jungle.
I have a birthday coming up this week, and I have to admit for the first time in my life, Friends, I am starting to feel old.
Thankfully, I feel fine physically and I am generally in good health. And I have also not yet landed on the AARP mailing list. But it's just the little things that are beginning to remind me that our time is short.
Like over the past year, my ability to read smaller print has gotten notably worse. I've always had horrible eye sight when it comes to seeing distances, but now I cannot look at my smartphone without straining to make out words. I was out recently and almost had to ask someone what the bill said because I was having difficulty reading the print out. Putting pharmacy "readers" on my Christmas list this year stung just a little bit.
I am also having a much harder time hearing these days. Hard to tell if it is as a result of partaking in too many loud mosh pits over time or just age creeping up on me, but put me in a setting with any background noise, and I cannot hear a damn thing being said. A few weeks back I attended a trivia night in a crowded bar (which, now that I think about it, should have been a telltale sign by itself) with longtime Friend of Dave Michael J. Coyne and at one point I just answered every question with "Daniel Day Lewis" because I couldn't hear anything.,..fine actor, odd that he was my go to answer, but depressing nonetheless.
And if that wasn't enough, with two kids in our family now old enough to vote, I am reminded about my increasing age just about every day. Dad, you are too old to "floss", don't do it....Dad, I told you I was going to be out past midnight on Friday earlier this week, did you forget? (ME: no, you ungrateful jerk....I just couldn't read your text or hear you when you told me while I was watching Jeopardy)...Dad (eyes rolling), no one says "fo' shizzle" any more and, ew, please don't say that trivia night was "lit AF"....The other day I actually had to ask my high school aged son to translate something I saw on social media because it referred to a "dank meme" and I had no clue what that meant.
I know this all makes my parents smile -- payback is most definitely a bitch. And while I absolutely subscribe to the notion that you are really only as old as you feel, there is no question that the world has been, and always will be, geared toward the young. Whether it is at work, spending time with your not-quite-adult children, or at a bar for trivia night, it can be a tough pill to swallow when you begin to realize (and accept) that "the young" does not necessarily include you any more -- even when your head makes you think otherwise. As Axl Rose once said "Welcome to the Jungle baby....you're gonna die" -- who would have guessed it would turn into an anthem for facing a midlife crisis?
And...scene....Two more issues left in the year and I will promise to keep those merry and bright for you. Have a great weekend and enjoy the selections below. If you can resist clicking on "The Last Word" you have much more will power than I did.
XOXO
Dave
Three to Get You Started...
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The Internet’s Problems Can’t Be Solved with an Algorithm Despite the ambitious goals of its origins, the internet has become a virtual wasteland of miscommunication and misinformation. Updated algorithms won’t fix that.
If You Want to Get Better at Something, Ask Yourself These Two Questions
Learning anything new is, by its nature, uncomfortable. You will need to act in ways that are unfamiliar. Take risks that are new. Try things that, in many cases, will be initially frustrating because they won’t work the first time. You are guaranteed to feel awkward.
Learning anything new can be uncomfortable. The sooner you make up your mind as to whether or not you want to learn and if you are willing to feeling unsettled while doing it, then you can get to it.
Three For Your Day Job...
Crowdsource Win Stories Before Your Kickoff
A proven way to fast start your year and to make your kickoff more engaging is to crowdsource win stories before your sales kickoff. Some insightful links here to help you get the most out it.
George Orwell's Advice on How to Tweet Effectively The author of '1984' created a set of writing guidelines that are more valuable today than when he created them.
Leveraging Human Capabilities in a Future of Expanding Automation
As companies automate their routine tasks and processes by introducing increasingly sophisticated technologies, they should be thoughtful about how to redefine work for their employees.  If they just look to reduce headcount, they will likely be vulnerable to competitors who view technology and automation as a way to create more value.Â
Your Weekly Dose of Randomness...
Vermont man gives his town the middle finger — and officials can't do anything about it — www.usatoday.com
Believe it or not, this is not the first time someone erected a middle finger statue on their property....and as a bonus the articles has links to other stories about angry people and their middle finger statues.
Before Envelopes, People Protected Messages With Letterlocking For centuries, senders used folds, slits, and wax seals to guard correspondence from prying eyes.
How Photo Booths Became a Thriving Business Savvy entrepreneurs have revived the century-old nostalgia machine and made it a party staple
And The Last Word....
Yes -- resistance is futile...you are saying you are SOOO over Tetris....you've got stuff to do....yet 90s you totally wants you click on the original time suck before we had Facebook....you can thank the folks at Quartz for sending this to my inbox, and now consider it my holiday gift to you....