Friends of Dave #246: speaking in whistles
The Long Weekend
Friends, thank you for the many emails and texts I received after last week's intro. Always happy to entertain you with my little rants and odd observations.
In honor of Labor Day weekend, I'm taking a bit of a break this week from the preamble, so if you are only here for the intros, I highly recommend you use the long weekend to go back and check it out.
But first...one last rant that did not make it last week:
Now that August is over, can we talk about the ridiculousness that was the latest viral social media sensation this year: the Milk Crate Challenge?
Haven't heard about it? Don't have a teenager on TikTok? Perhaps google "Milk Crate Challenge Fails" or just watch a short video of them >>HERE<<
And anyone like me wonder where they got all of the milk crates in the first place? I mean, someone had to ask another human a question like "can you tell me where I can get at least 20 milk crates....and do you have at least one red one?"
How does one answer a question like that with a straight face?
I'll leave you with that to think about this weekend along with some articles to check out below. Good reads if you have the time.
Enjoy the long weekend everyone. Pumpkin spice season is officially upon us.
XOXO
Dave
Think on This...
The power of no: how to build strong, healthy boundaries
When we find it difficult to say ‘no’ at work or at home, our responsibilities can quickly become overwhelming. For good health, focusing on our own needs and capabilities is crucial.
For Your Day Job...
Harvard Just Discovered That PowerPoint Is Worse Than Useless — www.inc.com
You'll communicate better and free up oodles of time if you simply stop doing PowerPoint slides completely and instead, if necessary, write a summary or outline to hand out
How Storytelling Fuels Reporting Your Clients Can Get Excited About A "just the facts" approach to reporting data can damage client relationships. Learn how & why to optimize reporting with storytelling.
Your Weekly Dose of Randomness...
Is your name ruining your life?
In related news....years ago I had a client whose name (absolutely true story) was "Ginger Kock." Yes, that's her nodding over there while reading this headline......
For French Wine Makers, American Vines Still Mean Sour Grapes
American grapes have long played a central role in the tumultuous, and emotional, history of wine between France and the United States — alternately threatening French production, and reviving it.
More Than 80 Cultures Still Speak in Whistles
Whistled speech can be understood up to 10 times as far away as ordinary shouting can.
So basically whistling is like the only way to get through to a teenager locked in their rooms making TikTok videos.
Just a Post With Some Completely Random Facts....
FACT: The cotton candy machine was invented in 1897 by a dentist.
And The Last Word....
The Science Of Luck — www.popsci.com
Is the phenomenon real? Can it be harnessed? Studies have found that what a person might perceive as “luck” has more to do with psychology than probability; “luck” is actually just her own positive attitude that keeps her open to new opportunities or perceiving patterns in random acts of chance.
Hey! Did you learn something this week? Did you laugh? If you are enjoying this newsletter, help me spread the word!
Please forward it, share bits on social media, and encourage others to join the growing community of Friends of Dave!