Improvisation is more than an ability. It is a skill. It demands a willingness to experiment, a proclivity for creativity, and a deep understanding of principles. Today I improvised in painting my bedroom. I was not happy with a color I purchased for the background walls. Commercially known by Sherwin-Williams as “Ice Blue,” the tone…

In the office lingo of American English, there is an expression for the act of protecting your reputation from bad actors or circumstances: to “cover your ass.” There is a missing equivalent for protecting who you are as a person, your ethical commitments, and your vibe. I hence-ford propose a new expression: to “cover your…

Sometimes the secret to get out of trouble and carry out the mission, one must play the dumb card. In certain cases, to be perceived as sharp makes people go up in arms. To speak your mind only hurts feelings. To play dumb prevents confrontations, judgements, and friction. It protects the boss’ ego when a…

Mea culpa. Today I indulged in gossip. I talked about other people. It felt good. I felt a stronger connection with the people I was gossiping with. I tried my best to limit to praise gossip (which apparently reflects a self-improvement mindset) but also indulged in some negative gossip (which apparently boosts one’s sense of…

Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people. Eleanor Roosevelt It is hard to live up to Eleanor Roosevelt’s dictum (Sidenote: has anybody noted that Eleanor was discussing people?). To talk about people is human nature. It serves an evolutionary purpose. It helps modulate the reputation of individuals, especially those who…

The problem with engaging with gossipies is that one catches their mental habits, very much like catching a cold. How does one deal with gossip in the workplace? You simply listen, and do not actively participate. The thing about gossip is that once you talk behind someone’s back, you are advertising to your “friends” that…

Today I spent about half an hour talking to a close relative over the phone. It was the best part of the day. And what a day! Today I witnessed the sunrise behind the Arizona mountains and stood up to my principles at work. No matter how busy life may get, always make time for…

Leadership is one of those overused words that, like “freedom” and “neoliberalism”, has lost its meaning. The moment any of these words are uttered in the room, all the intellectual oxygen is consumed. And let’s not even discuss its darker German translation, Führing and Führer. Perhaps we need to come up with new words that…

Yesterday I did a daytrip to New York City to join a dear friend’s birthday party. I managed to squeeze into my schedule a pilgrimage to The Strand. Any trip to New York without going to the Strand, the Rose Reading Room at the New York Public Library, or The Met is a wasted trip.…

This is another aphorism attributed to Benjamin Franklin engraved on one of the many stone slabs you find around Penn’s walkways. This one caught my attention this morning. It is true. I would argue, though, that haste has its place within the careful, deliberate, well-thought processes. Of course one needs to plan things ahead, slow…