I’m just sitting here contemplating The next steps worth takin’ You see, I can only feel this way so long Before I feel like I don’t belong – – – On the other side of this world is a new life An adventure without any strife It’s like you keep on feeling a certain way [...]
“Designing a product is keeping five thousand things in your brain and fitting them all together in new and different ways to get what you want. And every day you discover something new that is a new problem or a new opportunity to fit these things together a little different. And it’s that process that [...]
“All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once you grow up.” – Pablo Picasso “To find is the thing.” – Pablo Picasso “The journey is the reward.” – Unknown “Somewhere someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a seed long ago.” – Warren Buffett
Why can’t we just do it for personal pleasure? Why can’t we just do something because it feels good, regardless of the result, or if people will applaud us for it? Why can’t we just move along the journey that is life without thinking about status? Why does so much of what we do depend [...]
“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. [...]
What if people stopped buying stuff they don’t need or want? What if people are starting to tune out once-effective marketing campaigns? The economy is fragile right now. What if consumers are buying less, not just because they have less income, or no job, but because they realize they don’t need or want most of [...]
“I didn’t fail a thousand times, the light bulb was an invention with a thousand steps.” -Thomas Edison
There’s a lot going on in the world these days. USA coming oh-so-close to winning the 2011 Women’s World Cup. News of the World phone hacking scandal. The death of Osama bin Laden. The economy. The release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. Combine that with what people are doing and thinking [...]
Today, I took a hike in the woods We crossed paths I ran, you walked You ran, I walked We exchanged glances You looked back at me I looked back at you It wasn’t just the grace with which she moved It was the way she spoke It was the way she listened I’m not [...]
I believe people are starting to think that experience matters most when it comes to non-technical domains. Education is very important. But I get the sense that people (especially current students and recent graduates) are starting to think that going to school for a non-technical field isn’t necessarily as productive of a path as it [...]
I believe that if you find what you love to do you’ll never work a day in your life. But as someone once said, finding it isn’t the only thing that matters. Someone has to pay you to make it a reality. So who should you work for? Well, what do you love to do? [...]
The best thing ever created was people. It’ll probably always be that way.
Behind the Hunt for Bin Laden (nytimes.com) For years, the agonizing search for Osama bin Laden kept coming up empty. Then last July, Pakistanis working for the Central Intelligence Agency drove up behind a white Suzuki navigating the bustling streets near Peshawar, Pakistan, and wrote down the car’s license plate. Osama bin Laden Killed (boston.com/bigpicture)
“When you’re forced to be simple, you’re forced to face the real problem. When you can’t deliver ornament, you have to deliver substance.” -Paul Graham
The gift/curse of the visionary is that they can see the future as clearly as they can see the present. -Scott Dunlap
The elephant in the room is that people love people. People love doing things with people. They like being around them almost all of the time. But just being in the presence of others isn’t enough. To really get what you want — love & happiness — you have to do things with those people [...]
The rich get richer. The productive will get more productive. Productivity will be different than it is today. Work will converge. It will be simpler. If people work longer hours, it will be because they want to. It will be because they’re immersed in what they’re doing. Gone will be the times when you’re just [...]
Status updates. News feeds. Tweets. Text messages. Email. Knowledge worker. On the surface, our world is increasingly becoming our minds. I was at the grocery store not too long ago, browsing the bakery section. Of course, I ended up at the fresh baked goods — muffins, donuts, etc. I sat there thinking about what I [...]
1. Exactly what problem will this solve? (value proposition) 2. For whom do we solve that problem? (target market) 3. How big is the opportunity? (market size) 4. What alternatives are out there? (competitive landscape) 5. Why are we best suited to pursue this? (our differentiator) 6. Why now? (market window) 7. How will we [...]
Design should be the top priority for every company, organization, product, or service. Why? Because good design trumps all. Good design wins.
I think stimulation is changing. People worry about the (negative) affects of television, video games, etc. on our lives. That watching or doing these types of activities are an unproductive use of one’s time. But I think things are changing. What’s been interesting to me about this whole “social” movement has been the discovery that [...]
Empirical studies have repeatedly shown that the single most powerful predictor of eminence within any creative domain is the sheer number of influential products an individual has given the world. -Dean Keith Simonton
Dear Yellow Tail, Please create and distribute a cork that’s much easier to re-insert into your fine wine once it’s been opened. Thanks, A Pleased, But Not Satisfied Customer
Determine what people want. Give it to them. And keep it very simple (as few layers as possible). Ship something people will actually care about. “It’s not what you decide to do that matters most, it’s what you decide not to do.”
If you want to get somewhere you need to come up with great ideas, or something that is significantly better than the competition and execute on that. -Markus Frind
As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters. -Seneca
Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be. -Abraham Lincoln
The problem with work these days is that all of the joyful feelings are gone. That is, if they were even there to begin with. Same goes with life. When life ceases to exist, it’s because all of the joyful feelings are gone. But unlike work, I’m pretty sure many people’s lives once had them. [...]
For the past several months (perhaps even longer than that), there’s been an idea in my mind that I’ve been thinking about. But up until now, I haven’t been able to get to the essence of it. What’s interesting to me is that most of the time I’m able to get at the essence of [...]
“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” -Mahatma Gandhi
Why do we do the things we do? I run, move, and enjoy being active and outside because it feels good.
“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.” -Eleanor Roosevelt
The best things in life aren’t genius. They’re the most experiential, sensory, and intimate.
That could be interpreted as a statement or a question. I could be saying: what matters is so and so… Or, I could be asking: what matters? For now, I’ll just leave it at: what matters
Paul Buchheit on serendipity: Ego-Fear “Fear that often keeps people from public speaking, talking to strangers, interviewing for jobs, etc. is typically driven by fear of embarrassment, humiliation, rejection, criticism, etc — that’s ego-fear. It’s tempting to try and think your way out of ego-fear, but I suspect that only makes the problem worse by [...]
Some of the best things about kids are their insatiable curiosity, imagination, energy, and desire to be c0nstantly active and doing things. Incidentally, these are some of the things that make life pleasurable to many others as well. Curiosity, imagination, energy, and being active are things you should be very careful about giving up or [...]
When I’m driving in my car, I constantly switch radio stations trying to find something I like. It didn’t occur to me until today that what I like finding is a nice surprise.
Today, the world is going to get a chance to see something special. Many publications have written about the story in the past. But I think it’s one of those stories that never gets old. It resonates with so many people, so deeply. Tim Lincecum is scheduled to take the mound today for the San [...]
I tend to think that everything in life converges on trust. What’s weird to me is that it doesn’t seem like the word “trust” is used very often. Instead, words like quality, loyal(ty), great, love, and others are used more often.
If you focus and work hard (intelligently), that’s the best you can do on any given day. The key is consistency. Focus, work hard, and repeat. Focus, work hard, and repeat. Focus, work hard, and repeat. More often than not, I’ve found that everything else takes care of itself. Like winning.
Breadth versus depth. Which do you choose? I’ll choose depth almost every time. Focusing on depth provides you with the fastest and surest path toward greatness, toward love. You may think that breadth is what matters most. At first, it seems this may be the case. If you have nothing, everything — breadth — looks [...]
I just compiled a list of my favorite JR posts thus far (it’s a “page” on the right sidebar). I’ll be updating it periodically. You can find it here.
When faced with such a situation, I’d rather be loved by few than liked by many.
Everybody lies. That’s what we’re told at least. I had a conversation with my cousin (and roommate) the other night about lying. I said that there’s got to be some couples out there that don’t lie to each other at all for a year. Not even little-white-lies. He said no way. He said: “Everybody lies!” [...]
One of the things that I’ve been most surprised about as I’ve gotten older is the pace of things. How long it takes to do things, and the level of energy in people.
1. Jordan’s Moment [1998] (newyorker.com) “The desolate neighborhood on the West Side of Chicago where the Bulls play their home games is very quiet these days. Their gleaming new arena, the United Center, is set down there as if on a moonscape. All twelve pre-Christmas home games have been cancelled, because of the labor dispute [...]
1. The Empathy Deficit (boston.com) “Young Americans today live in a world of endless connections and up-to-the-minute information on one another, constantly updating friends, loved ones, and total strangers — “Quiz tomorrow…gotta study!” — about the minutiae of their young, wired lives. And there are signs that Generation Wi-Fi is also interested in connecting with [...]
“One of the hallmarks of the team [Apple's design team] I think is this sense of looking to be wrong. It’s the inquisitiveness, the sense of exploration. It’s about being excited to be wrong because then you’ve discovered something new.” -Jonathan Ive
“A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” -Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Many people watch sports. All different kinds of sports. Popular sports, like football, baseball, basketball, and soccer. As well as less popular sports, like cycling, volleyball, and skateboarding. Sports resonate with a lot of people because many have played them at one time or another in their lives. It brings back both good and bad [...]
I have this theory that men are becoming more emotional. At times, their emotions may seem different or even nonexistent. I’m not sure why I think this, but I do. I’m not saying that men are becoming as emotional as women. But I do think, in general, that men are becoming more emotional. Sometimes it [...]
I don’t fault people for obsessing over product design. In some respect, I admire beautifully designed products. They are a pleasure to view, use, and deconstruct. But I think peoples’ obsession with products is misguided.
1. John Sculley On Steve Jobs (cultofmac.com) “Let me give you a framework. The time that I first met Jobs, which was over 25 years ago, he was putting together the same first principles that I call the Steve Jobs methodology of how to build great products.”
1. Shooting For The Sun (theatlantic.com) “In March 2003, the independent inventor Lonnie Johnson faced a roomful of high-level military scientists at the Office of Naval Research in Arlington, Virginia. Johnson had traveled there from his home in Atlanta, seeking research funding for an advanced heat engine he calls the Johnson Thermoelectric Energy Converter, or [...]
If you’ve ever grown out your hair, you’ve probably encountered the dreaded middle stages. My hair is currently coming out of the middle stages and it’s a relief. Though, I really don’t think much of it anyway. Because when it comes to hair, it’s just fashion, which to me, doesn’t really have much value. But [...]
I long for the hunt. I live for those moments in life when you realize you’ve discovered something truly great.
1. How Tiny Tim Became A Pitching Giant [2008](sportsillustrated.com) “As if peering around a corner, the Freak tilts his head slightly to the left as he begins his explosive, homemade pitching delivery. What lurks around that corner is either greatness or danger, which makes tiny Tim Lincecum, all 172 pounds of him, the most fascinating [...]
1. It Happens (espn.com) “After racing nearly 140 miles, first through the ocean, then across the blackened lava fields of Kona, Hawaii, Julie Moss crested the final hill of the 1982 Ironman Triathlon alone in front, hovering near delirium. She was also about 45 seconds from becoming, as she remembers it, ‘the ultimate, giant, chocolate [...]
If I ever write a book, which I’m thinking about doing, it will be about “people”, “experience design”, the “creative process”, or some combination thereof.
It’s interesting to me that as people get older they seem to do less. They seem to move less. They seem to play less. They seem to have less fun. Gone are the days where all your friends live near by. Where a simple phone call to them, or a knock on their door, almost [...]
October 2nd, 2010 marked the 1 year anniversary of Joon Report! It’s been a fun year. You can read the first post here. I’m not sure what the next year has in store, but thanks for reading!
I’ve found that I can only really work/focus on three things at once. Just three things. So, what are those three things? For me, it’s people, earning a living doing something that’s meaningful, and sports/activity.
Perhaps it’s what we don’t do that is the seed to making what we decide to do, great. Celebrate what you don’t do. It’s feedback. It’s a step toward understanding what you must do.
1. The Plot Escapes Me (nytimes.com) “Those were glorious days, the ones I spent reading ‘Perjury: The Hiss-Chambers Case,’ by Allen Weinstein. It is a book that I, having long had an interest in domestic Communist intrigues, had been meaning to read for years — decades — and I vividly remember that moment a couple [...]
I admire what Paul Graham and company have accomplished already with Y Combinator (more info. here). It launched just five years ago in 2005. I just came across an interesting piece that Paul wrote, titled “What Happens At Y Combinator”. In essence, it details “the life inside YC”. I found it to be quite insightful. [...]
1. Small Change [Malcolm Gladwell] (newyorker.com) “At four-thirty in the afternoon on Monday, February 1, 1960, four college students sat down at the lunch counter at the Woolworth’s in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina. They were freshmen at North Carolina A. & T., a black college a mile or so away.”
Lately, I’ve been writing about action, doing, and technology being or becoming harmful to society. After reading some of my pieces, you may be saying to yourself: “there’s a lot he can be doing, away from technology.” I agree, to an extent. There are probably many organizations that are doing good things for society. And [...]
I envision a world where the development of real-life, action-oriented networks and causes take precedence over online ones. Recently, I was delighted to see such things when I watched By The People: The Election Of Barack Obama and Fight Club. I was fascinated by the depth of the experiences in both films. While I don’t [...]
I’m a firm believer in doing. I’ve recently written about that here and here. But at times, I’m not sure what to work on, what to do. Like right now. I get the feeling that I’m searching for something in particular. Lately, I just can’t put my finger on it.
Everyday, old and new things are built and distributed to us with the hopes of grabbing our attention. News is meant to be informative. Even though it usually doesn’t end up this way anymore — it seems to be more for entertainment purposes — I think the best news is “news you can use”. Like [...]
I can only speak about my personal experiences, but some of my fondest memories of being a kid were the frequency, and intensity, of the things I did — of my experiences. Growing up, I was constantly doing stuff. Sports, hanging out, walking or riding my bike to 7-Eleven, organizing events / activities for my [...]
Perhaps you don’t know who you are. Perhaps you think about this non-stop. What am I going to do with my life? What am I good at? What do I love to do? Who am I?
1. So You Wanna Be A Chef (ruhlman.com) “I am frequently asked by aspiring chefs, dreamers young and old, attracted by the lure of slowly melting shallots and caramelizing pork belly, or delusions of Food Network stardom, if they should go to culinary school. I usually give a long, thoughtful, and qualified answer.”
I just came across an old (Feb. ’01) PBS Frontline program about the business of “cool”, in regards to youth culture. “They spend their days sifting through reams of market research data. They conduct endless surveys and focus groups. They comb the streets, the schools, and the malls, hot on the trail of the “next [...]
1. Washington, We Have A Problem (vantiyfair.com) “How broken is Washington? Beyond repair? A day in the life of the president reveals that Barack Obama’s job would be almost unrecognizable to most of his predecessors—thanks to the enormous bureaucracy, congressional paralysis, systemic corruption (with lobbyists spending $3.5 billion last year), and disintegrating media.”
1. Are You Being Served? (newyorker.com) “American workers are mad as hell, and they’re not going to take it anymore. That’s the clear message of flight attendant Steven Slater’s emergence as a “working-class hero,” after he threw his job away with a tirade against passengers and a slide down an exit chute. Slater’s fifteen minutes [...]
“Every one of us has talent; the great challenge in life is finding an outlet to express it.” -Ed Witten
1. Regrets Of The Dying (inspirationandchai.com) “For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.”
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.” -Aristotle
Like many words these days, “indie” has become a buzzword. But to me, “indie” carries a lot of meaning. To me, pure “indie” culture is socially easy-going and friendly. But don’t mistake that for laziness, because indies are passionate people at heart. They get really excited by something — the unrestricted exploration process, discovery, and [...]
Selected parts (I’ve taken what I think is most important) from Paul Graham’s “Taste For Makers”: Good design is simple. When you’re forced to be simple, you’re forced to face the real problem. When you can’t deliver ornament, you have to deliver substance. Good design is timeless. Aiming at timelessness is also a way to [...]
I’ve never been much interested in the past (which I think is different than “history”). Regardless of whether your past was good or bad, if you live in it, you’ll most certainly become unhappy. Either unhappy because it was terrible, or unhappy because it was so great, and presumably, your life now doesn’t live up [...]
My body lives joyously in the present, while my mind is immersed in discovering the future, the unknown, the next thing.
1. Don’t Send In The Clones (nytimes.com) “For a time in college, I shared a dorm suite with three other girls.”
It’s actually more like the elephant in our universities career centers. Prospective graduates don’t want to work a “desk job”. Sure, some pay nicely, and some may have to choose this route in order make ends meet. But in the long run, being rich isn’t what matters most to people. Rather, loving your work is [...]
We spend too much of our time in front of computer screens these days. While more online community probably exists because of this, I think there’s much less offline community. Afterall, there’s always a tradeoff. I’m aware that “online” is probably here to stay. But I just think the greatest benefit that technology can provide [...]
Like many, I dream of global peace. But by peace, I don’t just mean freedom from disturbance. To me, global peace also consists of shared happiness, community, and love.
1. The Illustrated Guide To A Ph.D. (might.net) “Every fall, I explain to a fresh batch of Ph.D. students what a Ph.D. is. It’s hard to describe it in words. So, I use pictures.”
In life, I believe we need action as much as we need oxygen. But my experiences and observations suggest that as one ages, one’s experience with action changes. As one ages, one’s experience with action becomes more disconnected. In order to resolve that, we have to reconnect one’s experience with action as one gets older. [...]
1. But Will It Make You Happy? (nytimes.com) “Inspired by books and blog entries about living simply, Ms. Strobel and her husband, Logan Smith, both 31, began donating some of their belongings to charity. As the months passed, out went stacks of sweaters, shoes, books, pots and pans, even the television after a trial separation [...]
1. Epic Confusion: The Narrative Of The Superathlete (nytimes.com) “A great many of the highest moments in sports these days come with an aftertaste of ambiguity, a feeling of: Really glad that I witnessed that, but what am I to make of it? The notion of looking up to the sports hero was always dubious. [...]
I’m beginning to think that true happiness comes from an environment that naturally encourages everyone to share and experience three things (in both one’s personal and professional lives). Freedom. Curiosity. Love. Perhaps I’ll elaborate someday.
1. Letting Go (newyorker.com) “Sara Thomas Monopoli was pregnant with her first child when her doctors learned that she was going to die. It started with a cough and a pain in her back. Then a chest X-ray showed that her left lung had collapsed, and her chest was filled with fluid. A sample of [...]
1. Depression-Era Color Photos (denverpost.com) “These images, by photographers of the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information, are some of the only color photographs taken of the effects of the Depression on America’s rural and small town populations. The photographs are the property of the Library of Congress and were included in a 2006 exhibit [...]
From The Giving Pledge’s About section: “The Giving Pledge is an effort to invite the wealthiest individuals and families in America to commit to giving the majority of their wealth to the philanthropic causes and charitable organizations of their choice either during their lifetime or after their death. Each person who chooses to pledge will [...]
1. Peter Norvig On Being Wrong (slate.com) “Peter Norvig, the director of research at Google, has been involved in this project since its toddlerhood. Norvig joined the company in 2001 and, from 2002 to 2005, served as its director of search quality — a position that put him in charge of the company’s core Web [...]
My most pleasurable days consist of me being active, where I’m engaged in focused and intriguing (and often times kinetic) activities. On the other hand, I’m always up for exploring when something piques my interest. During these times, following a vision isn’t as important because my curiosity directs me.
It seems to me that’s what we all want. Even independent people. Even the none empathic. Perhaps especially independent and none empathic people. Love. We want to love, and be loved, in both our personal and professional lives. (I think we also hope for good health.) Life may be that simple. But how does one [...]
1. Afghanistan, July, 2010 (boston.com/bigpicture) “This past month, much of the attention focused on Afghanistan centered on the release of thousands of classified documents from the war effort by WikiLeaks. While the consensus appears to be that nothing significantly new was revealed by the release, the picture painted by the documents remains rather bleak. NATO [...]
“The good Lord gave you a body that can stand most anything. It’s your mind you have to convince.” -Vince Lombardi
Online social networking. Online social gaming. Online search. Online video. Online advertising. Online applications. Online books. Online magazines. Online reading. Online mobile. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Farmville (Zynga). Google. Google. Google and most of Web 2.0 (and beyond?). Many old and new publishers. All media companies. Almost everybody. Apple. I realize and accept the fact [...]
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift.” -Steve Prefontaine
I was talking with someone a few days ago about whom we confide in. I realized that I confide in very few people. That may not be surprise a to many — perhaps your lists are very short as well — but I was actually surprised to realize that I don’t confide in many of [...]
I’m not sure if I’m able to emphasize how important prioritization has been in my life. While saying “No” or “Not now” may seem harsh to some people, I think it’s important that you do. I think much of life is about finding and experiencing great things. And in order to do that, I think [...]
I’m convinced that many people love experiencing things, especially new and deep things. Not everyone, but I believe many do. And I believe the number of people who do is only going to increase with time. I also think peoples’ love for experience will deepen with time as well. I’m also convinced that people are [...]
1. 2010 Tour De France — Part II (boston.com/bigpicture) “The 2010 Tour de France cycling race is now over, with Spain’s Alberto Contador claiming his third win in Paris yesterday. Andy Schleck of Luxembourg finished 39 seconds back, and seven-time tour winner Lance Armstrong finished 23rd in his final Tour de France. This 97th running [...]
Creating something that you, and others love, is such beauty. It’s such a difficult thing to do, that when it happens, it’s just beautiful. There are a lot of things in the world that people create — which they love — but others just like. To be loved by another, for a creation of your [...]
1. What I Did When I Couldn’t Find A Job (chronicle.com) “It was a bit of a shock, losing all expectations. For years—all my life, really—parents, teachers, and guidance counselors had told me that if I went to a good college and did well, I would be able to find a job after graduation that [...]
(Originally written March 17, 2009) On Sunday, my cousin John (who is visiting from Utah) and I drove into Seattle for the afternoon (actually, early evening). When we parked, I asked John if he had heard of EMP (Experience Music Project). He hadn’t. When I heard this, I knew it was something we should go [...]
In terms of deciding what to create, that’s what Paul Graham of Y Combinator suggests is most important to think about. Make something people want. To me, that seems more like the destination. Google, Facebook, Pandora, et al all made something people wanted. And perhaps it’s most important to keep your eye on the prize. [...]
I think you need both. Many people usually include “hard-work” in their definition of success. I think hard-work can be broken down into two things – repetition and innovation. Practice and innovate. And once you innovate, practice. I think one can achieve great things by applying a lot of process — a lot of practice [...]
It’s so much easier to create things when you feel good. Life is so much better when you feel good. Feel. Just feel. Good.
I keep running, I keep moving To the sound of the wind, to the smell of the sea I keep running, I keep moving Through the fields, and into the park I keep running, I keep moving To the beat of music, to the sight of green lights I keep running, I keep moving To [...]
A few weeks go, I wrote about Experience’s Beauty. If you haven’t read it, you may want to start there. And if you have read it, you may want to read it again. While experiences (especially new ones with great people) are quite blissful for me, I do think there’s a catch.
Greatness is rare. And I think in order to become great, you have to let go of good things. You have to say “No” to good things, at some point.
If you’ve ever organized an activity or event, you’ve undoubetedbly had someone (perhaps many) ask you: “Who’s all going?” This question can be frustrating and annoying to the organizer.
The pleasure in resting is more a feeling of relief rather than excitement. After a long trip, lots of physical activity, or just a full day running errands, sitting or laying down may sound quite nice. But it’s just part of the process toward recovery. It’s just a matter of re-energizing. To move again. Lately, [...]
1. Recent Scenes From Iraq (boston.com/bigpicture) “Just over seven years since the start of the Iraq War, the scheduled withdrawal of American forces is now becoming more evident. Last year, Americans pulled out of Iraqi cities and are working toward the formal end of combat operations by September 1st, when the number of soldiers in [...]
1. 2010 Tour De France — Part I (boston.com/bigpicture) “The first half of the 20-stage 2010 Tour de France cycling race is over, with the current overall leader being Andy Schleck of Luxembourg riding for Denmark’s Team Saxo Bank. This 97th running of the iconic race started in Rotterdam with 198 riders in 22 teams [...]
1. The Men Who Stare At Screens (nytimes.com) “In 1982, researchers affiliated with the Cooper Institute in Dallas surveyed a large group of well-educated, affluent men. The researchers were interested in the men’s exercise habits, but they also asked, almost incidentally, about their indolence. Specifically, they inquired about how many hours each day the men [...]
1. 2010 World Cup Comes To A Close (boston.com/bigpicture) “After a month of matches, the 2010 FIFA World Cup Tournament is over, with Spain claiming its first ever trophy, the Netherlands placing second, and Germany taking third place. 32 teams came to South Africa last month, and the eyes of the world were upon them [...]
Televisions, PCs, mobile phones, and tablets have shaped our culture. Generation Y (and those following) have grown up with many of these technologies readily available to them. For many Gen Yers, it wasn’t a matter of if you’d get a mobile phone, it was a matter of when. And for many of the college bound [...]
1. The Creativity Crisis (newsweek.com) “Back in 1958, Ted Schwarzrock was an 8-year-old third grader when he became one of the “Torrance kids,” a group of nearly 400 Minneapolis children who completed a series of creativity tasks newly designed by professor E. Paul Torrance. Schwarzrock still vividly remembers the moment when a psychologist handed him [...]
1. Is It Futile To Pursue Happiness? (biopsychiatry.com) “If Daniel Gilbert is right, then you are wrong. That is to say, if Daniel Gilbert is right, then you are wrong to believe that a new car will make you as happy as you imagine. You are wrong to believe that a new kitchen will make [...]
I often ask myself that question. And it can be time-consuming to find the answer(s) if I’m open to different destinations. But I recently found a tool on Kayak.com’s site that provides a global view of prices for flights. Though it’s not perfect, you can try it out here.
1. Summer Is Here (boston.com/bigpicture) “With the summer solstice now two weeks gone, the northern hemisphere is heating up. High temperatures in some places have made working difficult and have taxed power grids as usage of electricity neared record levels in the U.S. This past weekend, the United States celebrated its 234th birthday on July [...]
Lately, I’ve seen many guys walking around wearing a suit, with a Bluetooth in their ear. Every once in awhile they actually seem to be having a conversation. But more often times than not it seems like they’re wearing them to try to look cool. You know, you may have a lot of money. A [...]
If you turned on the news over the last couple of days, you couldn’t not hear about LeBron James’ big decision. Some news outlets, publications, and journalists have criticized the handling of the situation — airing a special, nationally televised program on ESPN this evening. Others have just gone-with-the-flow and have taken it for what [...]
The other day, Patricia Sellers (of Fortune) wrote a piece that suggests Gen Yers lack a career oriented mind. She says: “While we Baby Boomers typically place high value on pay, benefits, stability and prestige, Gen Y cares most about fun, innovation, social responsibility, and time off.”
A little over two months ago, Paul Buchheit said, “Making it easier to have lightweight conversations is the future of communications on the web” But I think conversation isn’t what really matters in the world (or on the Web). I think making it easier to take lightweight action on things that people are interested in [...]
The keys are in our hands to make the world a better place. Use them.
Where having deep experiences are as common and accessible as clicking on a weblink, opening a webpage, going to a mall, movie theater, or sporting event. I dream of a world where the majority of commerce doesn’t involve the consumption of clothes, shoes, and technology devices, but rather fulfilling, real-life experiences. I dream of a [...]
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the value of close relationships. I’m realizing how important, precious, and irreplaceable they are. By themselves, new adventures and experiences are good and exciting. But close relationships are special. The great ones are worth the wait and effort.
I need to be a part of something that’s intense, interesting, and meaningful.
1. The Sting Of Poverty (boston.com) “Imagine getting a bee sting; then imagine getting six more. You are now in a position to think about what it means to be poor, according to Charles Karelis, a philosopher and former president of Colgate University.”
Screwing up is an essential part of making something good. The key is to screw up as fast as possible.
To me, experiences are incredibly special. It can be a simple trip to the grocery store to pick up dinner, a walk on the beach, running in preparation for an upcoming race, or even just sharing stories with a friend over ice cream.
Where are the crazies? The ones who do things their own way. Who resist conventional norms. The ones who aren’t fond of rules. The misfits. The rebels. The crazies who also get stuff done. Where are you? Because I’d like to hang with you…
1. The Best Vacation Ever (boston.com) “Monday summer officially begins, and freed from the hunker-inducing cold, New Englanders’ imaginations have already turned to vacation: to idle afternoons and road trips, to the beach and the Berkshires. School is out, and the warm weekends stretch before us, waiting to be filled.”
It’s a bit late, but I wanted to write a short follow-up to my 30 days experiment. In general, I did most of those things — I bought physical goods (books and clothes) and I went out. But I also produced during that time as well. So that was a positive takeaway from the experience. [...]
1. Curiosity (dilbert.com) “Curiosity is one of the most underrated phenomena in the world. It’s ironic that people aren’t more curious about curiosity. It’s a powerful thing.”
1. The Velluvial Matrix (newyorker.com) “Atul Gawande gave the commencement speech at Stanford’s School of Medicine last week. Here is what he told the graduating class.”
1. “All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” -Pablo Picasso 2. “Make things as simple as possible, but no simpler.” -Albert Einstein
1. Opening Weekend — 2010 World Cup (boston.com/bigpicture) “The 2010 FIFA World Cup opened last Friday in South Africa, after years of preparation, with an Opening Ceremony at Soccer City Stadium – the first matches taking place over the weekend. Thousands attended the opening concerts and matches in person, while tens of millions watched events [...]
1. Ideas Having Sex (reason.com) “How prosperity and innovation exceeded the expectations of John Stuart Mill and Adam Smith.”
1. The Perils Of Positive Thinking (unlimitedmagazine.com) “It seems almost incomprehensible to me now, like waking up with the vague recollection of an unsettling dream, but I was actually looking forward to my thirtieth birthday. I approached the milestone with what I thought at the time was a commendably mature perspective, at peace with both [...]
1. How Did Sport Get So Big? (moreintelligentlife.com) “On a long July afternoon in 1966, in north-west London, England’s footballers won the World Cup. By the time they beat West Germany, after extra time, with the help of a dubious goal, it was too late for the early editions of the Sunday papers. Only on [...]
1. Playing For The World (vanityfair.com) “Why football — please don’t call it soccer — is the most important sport in history: a lingua franca for 204 countries, an expression of national identity, and a powerful link between multi-millionaire athletes and the man on the street.”
1. The End Of Men (theatlantic.com) “For years, women’s progress has been cast as a struggle for equality. But what if equality isn’t the end point? What if modern, postindustrial society is simply better suited to women?”
1. Attached To Technology And Paying A Price (nytimes.com) “Scientists say juggling e-mail, phone calls and other incoming information can change how people think and behave. They say our ability to focus is being undermined by bursts of information.”
1. Caught In The Oil (boston.com/bigpicture) “A short entry – AP Photographer Charlie Riedel just filed the following images of seabirds caught in the oil slick on a beach on Louisiana’s East Grand Terre Island. As BP engineers continue their efforts to cap the underwater flow of oil, landfall is becoming more frequent, and the [...]
1. The Value Of Ideas (dilbert.com) “My Google Alert recently picked up a lot of chatter on the Internet about a rumored Dilbert movie in the works. The rumor is ahead of the reality, as the project hasn’t been funded, and there isn’t yet a director, writer, or actor signed on. But I was fascinated [...]
1. The Pleasures Of Imagination (chronicle.com) “How do Americans spend their leisure time? The answer might surprise you. The most common voluntary activity is not eating, drinking alcohol, or taking drugs. It is not socializing with friends, participating in sports, or relaxing with the family. While people sometimes describe sex as their most pleasurable act, [...]
Paul Buchheit wrote a piece the other day entitled, “What to do with your millions.” After answering: “First, don’t lose the money!”, he goes onto explore a second question — in my opinion, the more significant (and much harder) one — “What do I do with my life?” He writes: “First, it’s important to understand [...]
1. Methods Tried To Stop Leaking Oil — June 4, 2010 (nytimes.com) “Since a fire engulfed the Deepwater horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, engineers have attempted a number of techniques to slow or stop the torrent of oil leaking from the wellhead 5,000 feet below the surface.” 2. Top Kill [...]
Steve Jobs on “Creativity” (5th paragraph) “Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That’s because they were able to connect experiences they’ve had and synthesize [...]
1. Why Humans Triumphed (wsj.com) “Human evolution presents a puzzle. Nothing seems to explain the sudden takeoff of the last 45,000 years—the conversion of just another rare predatory ape into a planet dominator with rapidly progressing technologies. Once “progress” started to produce new tools, different ways of life and burgeoning populations, it accelerated all over [...]
1. The Value Of Attention (dilbert.com) “Most people enjoy getting attention. It’s one of our basic needs. Little kids go through a “Look at me!” stage that lasts years. I believe we never grow out of that. All we do is learn how to be more subtle in saying, “Look at me! There are lots [...]
1. Maker’s Schedule, Manager’s Schedule (paulgraham.com) “One reason programmers dislike meetings so much is that they’re on a different type of schedule from other people. Meetings cost them more. There are two types of schedule, which I’ll call the manager’s schedule and the maker’s schedule. The manager’s schedule is for bosses. It’s embodied in the [...]
1. 1,000 True Fans (kk.org) “The long tail is famously good news for two classes of people; a few lucky aggregators, such as Amazon and Netflix, and 6 billion consumers. Of those two, I think consumers earn the greater reward from the wealth hidden in infinite niches.”
1. The No-Stats All-Star (nytimes.com) “He had more or less admitted to me that this part of his job left him cold. ‘It’s the same thing every day,’ he said, as he struggled to explain how a man on the receiving end of the raging love of 18,557 people in a darkened arena could feel [...]
1. How To Save The News (theatlantic.com) “Everyone knows that Google is killing the news business. Few people know how hard Google is trying to bring it back to life, or why the company now considers journalism’s survival crucial to its own prospects. Of course this overstates Google’s power to destroy, or create. The company’s [...]
1. The Crisis Comes Ashore by Al Gore (tnr.com) “The continuing undersea gusher of oil 50 miles off the shores of Louisiana is not the only source of dangerous uncontrolled pollution spewing into the environment. Worldwide, the amount of man-made CO2 being spilled every three seconds into the thin shell of atmosphere surrounding the planet [...]
1. The Whole Earth Catalog (wikipedia.org) “The Whole Earth Catalog was an American counterculture catalog published by Stewart Brand between 1968 and 1972, and occasionally thereafter, until 1998. Although the WECs listed all sorts of products for sale (clothing, books, tools, machines, seeds — anything for a self-sustainable “hippie” lifestyle) the Whole Earth Catalogs themselves [...]
1. How (And When) To Motivate Yourself (hbr.org) “I woke up this morning to pouring rain and temperatures in the low 40s. I had planned on going for an early bike ride in Central Park but now I wasn’t so sure. I like to get some exercise every day and given my commitments for the [...]
One area of study that really interests me is Attention. A simple Google search for “Attention” will populate many results, but I usually favor Wikipedia’s content for a good overview of something. And this held true for this particular subject. Wikipedia: “Attention is the cognitive process of selectively concentrating on one aspect of the environment [...]
Kanye West “For most people it’s easier to just agree. For me the hardest thing is to ‘just’ agree and that is what sparks creativity, the feeling that something can be better, the feeling that something’s missing. The feeling that something’s needed.”
1. What Should I Do With My Life? [2002] (fastcompany.com) “It’s time to define the new era. Our faith has been shaken. We’ve lost confidence in our leaders and in our institutions. Our beliefs have been tested. We’ve discredited the notion that the Internet would change everything (and the stock market would buy us an [...]
1. Why Americans Are So Lonely (alternet.org) “Community may suffer from overuse more sorely than any word in the dictionary. Politicians left and right sprinkle it through their remarks the way a bad Chinese restaurant uses MSG, to mask the lack of wholesome ingredients. But we need to rescue it; we need to make sure [...]
1. The Next Empire (theatlantic.com) “All across Africa, new tracks are being laid, highways built,ports deepened, commercial contracts signed—all on an unprecedented scale, and led by China, whose appetite for commodities seems insatiable. Do China’s grand designs promise the transformation,at last, of a star-crossed continent? Or merely its exploitation? The author travels deep into the [...]
I just noticed my last four posts have been about Apple, or Apple related material. For the record, I do admire Apple for several reasons. Apple is passionate and focused, yet creative and progressive as well. These are qualities that interest me most. But this isn’t an Apple blog (for that, I recommend Daring Fireball). [...]
People often talk about people’s shorter attention spans these days. With unlimited choice in almost everything, I can understand why, on the surface, it seems like this may be true. But I think it’s just an illusion. I think what seems like shorter attention spans is actually just people filtering through more stuff. I think [...]
I’m not sure what it is, but it seems to me that high quality stuff is unfriendly. It’s almost as if you have to be isolated to create it because you’re really creating it for one person. In order to do that, you have to block out other influences and distractions. I went running this [...]
Admittedly, I’m bad at staying in touch with people. Often times, I neglect my mobile, and by extension, the people who attempt to contact me through it. I do feel bad about this and I’m working to improve it. Though, the best way to get in touch with me is to come over. If you [...]
I just wrote this entire piece out (part 1 can be found here); it was about 1500 words. And when I went to publish it, there was a glitch and it was deleted. It took me about two hours to write. It was one of my most personally fulfilling posts to date. I was really [...]
Every now and then, I’ll slowly type “joon report” (letter-by-letter) into the search bar of my web browser to see if it comes up in the suggested search results. I’ll also do the same thing over at Google.com. It’s never come up in either suggested searches before. Until this morning!
I don’t normally name my posts before I write them, mainly because I want my imagination to be unrestricted. But I started with the title for this post. My friend and fellow contributor at JR, Everett, wrote a thought provoking post yesterday. As I read it for the first time, I found it to be [...]
I’ve had this idea brewing in my head for quite some time now. I’m not exactly sure what it is yet, but what I’d like to do is write some stories about people’s lives. About their experiences. I know, novel, huh? Ha. But it would be different. Because I’d like to write them in a [...]
Since I’ve moved into my new place, I haven’t had a TV to watch. I scheduled to have only Internet installed about a week after I moved in to see if I would want cable by then — I knew I could always add it on. But not watching television has freed up a significant [...]
Over the next 30 days, I’m not going to buy any “physical” goods — like books, clothes, technology gadgets, home furnishings, golf equipment, etc. I’ll be consuming food and fluids as I normally do, but I will be cutting down on my consumption of services as well, such as “dining and nightlife activities”. You may [...]
What other publications do the readers of JR read online — which blogs, websites, newspapers, etc.?
I visited a local Apple retail store yesterday to check out the iPad. I’ll be writing my thoughts on the device soon. But until then, I just wanted to show you what Joon Report looks like on the iPad:
I just moved into a new place and I have not gotten my Internet setup yet, so my posts this week will probably be short because I’ll be writing them from my iPhone. In essence, it’ll be a “tweet week” for me, ha. Thanks for continuing to read JR.
Tomorrow, the much anticipated (and hyped) iPad becomes available. Pre-orders started a few weeks ago, but you’ll be able to buy it in stores starting tomorrow — provided Apple and Best Buy have it in-stock. First, I’d just like to say I’m a proud owner of Apple products. I own Macs, iPods, and an iPhone. [...]
It’s with both “sadness” and joy that I write this post. Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been in discussions with News Corp. about a potential acquisition. And after giving it careful thought, I’ve decided to accept a formal acquisition offer from News Corp., effective today. What does this mean? Well, the most significant [...]
According to a blog post I just read, “about half of the population has hemorrhoids by age 50.” The author doesn’t cite a source, so I’m a bit skeptical. Nonetheless, I thought it was an insightful piece. “Nobody wants to talk about the hemorrhoids because it’s embarrassing, but it will be a lot more embarrassing [...]
Peter Yanev, who has over 30 years of experience in earthquake and structural engineering and risk management, and serves as chairman to Risk Solutions International, wrote a piece for The New York Times yesterday and said, flatly: “It is only a matter of time before a quake like the one in 1700 happens again in [...]
Yahoo! Green recently published a piece about the turritopsis nutricula species of jellyfish, which may be the only immortal animal. “Since it is capable of cycling from a mature adult stage to an immature polyp stage and back again, there may be no natural limit to its life span. Scientists say the hydrozoan jellyfish is [...]
I enjoy reading Malcolm Gladwell’s work. Here are three of his pieces from The New Yorker archive that you may find interesting:
The Pacific Northwest magazine published an interesting article in its Sunday edition this weekend, entitled “The Digital Disconnect: In Relentless Pursuit Of ‘Connecting,’ We Miss Out On Each Other.” “While communication and gaming gadgets have convenienced and connected us in ways never before possible, they may also be profoundly hurting our ability to be social, [...]
Here are three reads you may find interesting: 1. Elementary Worldly Wisdom by Charles Munger [1994] (ycombinator.com) “I’m going to play a minor trick on you today because the subject of my talk is the art of stock picking as a subdivision of the art of worldly wisdom. That enables me to start talking about [...]
Last night I went out with a friend to a local bar. It’s known for its pool. I wouldn’t consider myself a great pool player, but I’m not terrible, either. The place actually offered a few other things as well. There was a restaurant/bar area where you could sit down and have a conversation or [...]
Tonight, I went to a coffee shop to get away from my apartment. I wanted to work on some things, but I really just wanted to try out a different environment. I haven’t been to one in awhile, but I was pleasantly surprised. This particular one was rather active. There were many people.
Here are three reads you may find interesting: 1. Awesome By Proxy (pixelpoppers.com) 2. Achievement Porn (petermichaud.com) 3. Laptop Battery Myths (marco.org)
In the words of Steve Jobs: “Stay hungry, stay foolish.”
Whenever possible, I drive at night when there’s the least amount of traffic. I love driving at a constant pace — be it 25, 35, 65, or 85. I loathe traffic, especially start and stop traffic. It’s inconsistent. Maybe it’s a control issue. I don’t know.
cul·ture |ˈkəl-chər –noun 1. the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc. 2. development or improvement of the mind by education or training. 3. the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group: the [...]
Here are three reads you may find interesting: 1. Original Sin On Wall Street (theatlantic.com) 2. Roger Federer As Religious Experience (nytimes.com) 3. The Essential Man (esquire.com)
More Buffett: “Forecasts usually tell us more about the forecaster than about the future.” “I’ve never swung at a ball while it’s still in the pitcher’s glove.”
As I awake, I can only think of one thing A moment, this moment In preparation up to this point I’ve learned I’ve failed I’ve tried again
I first heard this phrase during my junior year of college from a professor. To me, simplicity is such a beautiful thing.
A while back, I came across a fascinating story about Albert Einstein. I forgot to bookmark it back then so I was pleased to come across it again today. (Thanks to Akshar Smriti for re-posting the story in 2007.) The story seems to have been originally published in Reader’s Digest’s November 1955 issue by Jerome [...]
Both are gliding through space now They cross paths Brush off each other Smiling Looking into each other’s eyes Both not for too long, a few seconds at most They talk, meet, and dance Order a drink and keep moving Over the course of the night They’ll be away from each other Sometimes long periods [...]
In college, two of my favorite professors were often critical of students’ writing. They’d say, perhaps demand: “Get to the point. Explain why. Don’t drift.” At the time, I thought this was great advice. I still do.
A user over at Reddit.com, who goes by Privatepyle82, submitted a question to Reddit’s “AskReddit” section. Privatepyle82′s Question: “Is it possible to be happy?”
I have too much stuff. I probably have a lot less than most. But to me, it’s still too much. I have a couple of electronic devices. And what comes with an electronic device? A manual.
Here are three reads you may find interesting: 1. When No News Is Bad News (Theatlantic.com) 2. Microsoft’s Creative Destruction (Nytimes.com) 3.The Inner Besos [ca. 1999] (Wired.com)
Paul Buchheit, the creator of Google’s mantra “Don’t be evil”, its email service Gmail, and FriendFeed, wrote a blog post the other day entitled “If your product is Great, it doesn’t need to be Good.” His post is about product design.
Today’s Super Bowl Sunday. The Big Game. The Grand Finale. While kickoff isn’t scheduled to occur until 6:25 PM ET tonight, the Wire has been heavy with Super Bowl coverage and analysis over the last couple of weeks. From score predictions, to player, team, and coach analysis, to Super Bowl recipes.
Pursuing prestige is dangerous. I used to want to be famous so bad. I’d watch all the award shows in awe. I’d watch the Golden Globes and Oscars and get it in my head that I should move to Hollywood to become an actor. And not next week, month, or year, but the next day. [...]
I just came across some beautiful images. They’re actually 9 Twitpic images from space via Japanese aeronautical engineer and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Soichi Noguchi. You can view the images here.
The other day I wrote this post about the essence of real-world experience as oppose to formal education. Well, I just stumbled across someone who jumped right into the real-world and has had great success. His name is Johnny Earle and he started a t-shirt company in 2001 — Johnny Cupcakes (or JC for short).
The MinnPost.com published a piece today that talks about Gen Y (which it defines as college-educated, 30 and younger) feeling left out of the job market. I agree with most of the article’s contents. The article’s author, Brad Allen, says that Simon Foster, a Minnesota based executive recruiter, worries that: “Younger people are not getting [...]
I admire Apple for its imagination, design, passion, and determination. But the thing is, I’m attracted to anything that possesses those qualities.
Just came across Sergey Brin’s (Google co-founder) webpage. You can see it here. Update: And now Larry Page’s (other Google co-founder; pictured below) webpage has surfaced here. Update 2: Just came across Sergey Brin in drag!
I just came across an “old” (1997) article by Mary Schmich who writes for the Chicago Tribune. It’s kind of like a “What would you tell your younger self? piece. You can read it here.
“Quality always wins.” -Anonymous “I can hardly understand the importance given to the word research. In my opinion, to search means nothing in painting. To find is the thing. The several manners I have used in my art must not be considered as an evolution or as steps toward an unknown ideal of painting … [...]
Nasa.gov released a photo which shows what the east coast blizzard looks like from space. The photo is below, but you can read more about it here.
Joon Report may not be updated with content this weekend, starting tonight. I will be traveling internationally and I’m not sure if I’ll be able to post. But everything should be back to normal by Monday morning. Thanks for continuing to read Joon Report.
I’ve come across some interesting videos which display the vast intelligence of octopuses. Here they are (note: they include commentary): Octopuses Carry Coconuts As Instant Shelters Octopus Escaping Through One Inch Hole Disappearing Octopus Octopus Opening A Jar To Get Dinner Shark vs Octopus And a bonus video: The Indonesian Mimic Octopus
Update 1: The Seattle Times is reporting that the Dreamliner left the runway at 10:27 AM PST. I’m not sure if the live webcast (linked below) was up and running during the first flight. The day is here, hopefully. After many delays, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is scheduled to take its first flight today. I [...]
I haven’t come across anything especially interesting over the Web today. Though, a few stories caught my attention a bit, “Microsoft Rips Off Plurk” , “Why James Chartrand Wears Women’s Underpants” , “Creating Startup Office On Bootstrap Budget.” Did you come across anything interesting today? If so, please share. You can send an email with [...]
The other day I went out to breakfast with some people. We talked about many things since I hadn’t seen them in at least 4 years. But one conversation really interested me at the time and still does, which is why I’m writing now. I was talking to Julie (an alias) and she was asking [...]
Every now and then I’ll be listing some quotes I come across and like. Here are a couple to start off: “Do, or do not. There’s no try.” -Jedi Master Yoda “If you think, you might. If you do, you are.” -Anonymous
Society often encourages its members to pursue education. In fact, it encourages more of a continuous pursuit over one’s lifetime. And I’m all for education. Sure, my views on education may differ from others’, but I still strongly believe in education. Reading, writing, math, science, the arts — they’re all important. But why, then, is [...]
The contents of Rupert Murdoch ‘s (chairman and CEO of News Corp., which owns Dow Jones & Company, which owns The Wall Street Journal and WSJ.com) Dec. 1st remarks before the Federal Trade Commission’s workshop on journalism and the Internet has been made available via WSJ.com. You can read them here.
I’m thankful for good health and great people. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
These three words (among others, such as, desire and determination) are often debated in terms of their relevance to success. Here are some readings that I found particularly interesting (I plan on adding to the list periodically) on the subject of “success”: -Fortune article: Why Talent is Overrated -Boston.com article: The Truth About Grit -Marc [...]