Friends of Dave #65: Omelette Love Rule
It's settled. In my next life, I am thinking I want to own a food truck...
Here is a little fact most Friends of Dave might not know (unless you have been one of the few to visit my seldom viewed about.me page): I make killer omelettes. And over the last year, I've also added frittatas to my egg repertoire. I know, I know -- the things you learn about people while reading a weekly email newsletter, right?
I don't know where this interest or skill came from, but in those moments where I get stressed about things or feel as though I am on the verge of a midlife crisis, I allow myself to go to one of my happy places: I envision myself just ditching everything and pursuing a dream of delivering my own brand of breakfast bliss to the masses by running a food truck. More specifically, an omelette and frittata food truck.
Those of you who like to cook might understand. Maybe it's the feeling I get knowing that I have created a meal that someone consumes to get their day started right. Watching their faces as they savor each bite. Maybe it's the creative challenge of figuring out how to re-invigorate whatever is left over in the fridge by pouring Egg Beaters over them and adding spices in a skillet in order to create culinary magic. Or maybe I am simply remembering that time I watched the Jon Favreau movie Chef on a transcontinental flight because I had nothing else to do.
The thing is, we all have a side gig that has nothing to do with our day-to-day grind but makes us feel good about ourselves when we do it (and if you don't, you should). And while we sometimes allow ourselves to daydream that this hobby could actually be more than that and possibly our true calling, we know deep inside it usually isn't. Sometimes it's just best to let hobbies remain as hobbies, right?
So, for now, there will be no FoD breakfast food truck. But that won't stop me from channeling the feeling and enjoyment I get when making breakfast for guests and loved ones along the way as I go about the daily grind. Because with any killer omelette, as in life, while you need eggs to bind everything together, it's the thought and creativity that you choose to put into selecting the right ingredients that really add flavor to the dish. And, as in life, it's the unique flavors you are able to put together that ultimately make for a fantastic, memorable and satisfying, meal.
Alas, there may be no omelette waiting for you at the end of this preamble, but there was equal thought and creativity put into the selections for this week's edition. And if you now find yourself having an interest in learning more about food trucks, check out the interactive site providing a ton of info in the "Last Word" section. Pretty interesting stuff.
Have a great weekend.
XOXO
Dave
4 To Get You Thinking...
What Self-Awareness Really Is (and How to Cultivate It) — hbr.org
It’s not just about introspection. Leaders who seek honest feedback from loving critics and who ask what instead of why can learn to see themselves more clearly — and reap the many rewards that increased self-knowledge delivers.
The best ideas come from misfits — work.qz.com They don’t quite fit into a specific team. They’re always challenging why the company does what it does. They’re rebellious. And they're extremely valuable.
The Importance of Getting Distracted — medium.com
Want to reach a goal? Then laser focus is a must. But want to innovate, broaden your horizons or transform your business? Allowing yourself to distracted is key.
The Day the Algorithm Died — shift.newco.co
No matter how well we code, no matter how convincingly we simulate and augment reality, our brains and bodies still know that what we experience on a screen is, in an important but ambiguous way, not real. The people aren’t really there, so we hate them. The approval isn’t real, so it is never truly satisfying. And if we manage to make a friend online, we can’t help but fantasize about how different it might be to meet IRL. (Yes, there’s an acronym for In Real Life.)
3 For The Day Job...
The $1 Trillion Battle Over Oil Company Data — www.bloomberg.com
“There’s no doubt to me, we are producing two resources: the oil and gas, and the data, The oil and gas is very clear: it belongs to the operator. But who owns the data?”
I keep telling you: every business is a data business, folks. EVERY business. Read this.
How the use of business cards among neurosurgeons impacts patient satisfaction — www.sciencedirect.com
This is a little wonky, but worth reading the highlights -- in an age where an investment in customer experience is becoming paramount to overall satisfaction, here is another data point for you to consider.
Unpacking the Tesla Marketing Strategy — scienceofrevenue.com
A current obsession of mine: understanding how to change customer behavior in a slow moving, established industry. For anyone sharing this obsession, how Tesla (and Elon Musk) has inspired people to buy their vision and their cars is a great case study.
Your Weekly Dose of Randomness...
Like It or Not, Snowmaking Is The Future of Skiing — www.powder.com
C'mon, you honestly didn't think we would have Nor'easters every week until Memorial Day did you?
Some Delightful Alternatives to the Post-Sneeze ‘Bless You’ — www.atlasobscura.com To sneeze is human, to respond "Go away, kitten" is divine.
'I'm Too Sexy': Oral History of Right Said Fred's Hit Song — www.rollingstone.com
Why you ask? Because it is time.
And The Last Word....
Exploring Food Truck Nation — www.foodtrucknation.us
Interesting, fun, in-depth study on the whole food truck phenomenon and what goes into operating them. Click around on the interactive map or check out the infographic infused report.