Polychronicity, I just read in the June issue of Psychologies magazine, is the preference some people have for doing several things at once. Such as reading email, talking on the phone and listening to music.
Monochronic people, on the other hand, prefer to do just one thing at a time. They will ignore the ping of email and screen calls while completing a single task.
Workplaces have both types of people. And while neither is superior, the styles are different enough that it can lead to misunderstandings.
Something to be aware with when your colleague waves you away to better concentrate--or invites you in for a chat, then proceeds to open mail.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Retail Therapy.
I've been doing my part to stimulate the economy.
And that's in spite of a recession and the feeling of dread that shopping all too often inspires.
So I want reward the retailers who give great personalized customer service. It's increasingly rare and much appreciated.
Among my perennial five-star favorites are:
* GoDaddy.com
* REI
* SOMA
* Trader Joe's
* Zappos.com
And that's in spite of a recession and the feeling of dread that shopping all too often inspires.
So I want reward the retailers who give great personalized customer service. It's increasingly rare and much appreciated.
Among my perennial five-star favorites are:
* GoDaddy.com
* REI
* SOMA
* Trader Joe's
* Zappos.com
The Art Instinct.
How does natural selection inform our understanding of natural and artistic beauty?
"Human beings are born image-makers and image-enjoyers," writes author Denis Dutton in The Art Instinct: Beauty, Pleasure, and Human Evolution.
Dutton links Darwinian theory with the universality of art and artistic appreciation, arguing it is innate in all of us.
In an early chapter dubbed Landscape and Longing, he points out that Kenyans are attracted to the Hudson River school of art with its hilly undulations and visual complexity.
The savanna, in turn, has greatly inspired modern golf course design.
In the chapter titled What is Art? he offers a list of 12 cluster criteria found cross-culturally, including direct pleasure, emotional saturation and intellectual challenge present in all works of art, regardless of form.
The book's a beaut, successfully proving that while forms of art may vary across countries and continents, the appreciation of art is a constant.
"Human beings are born image-makers and image-enjoyers," writes author Denis Dutton in The Art Instinct: Beauty, Pleasure, and Human Evolution.
Dutton links Darwinian theory with the universality of art and artistic appreciation, arguing it is innate in all of us.
In an early chapter dubbed Landscape and Longing, he points out that Kenyans are attracted to the Hudson River school of art with its hilly undulations and visual complexity.
The savanna, in turn, has greatly inspired modern golf course design.
In the chapter titled What is Art? he offers a list of 12 cluster criteria found cross-culturally, including direct pleasure, emotional saturation and intellectual challenge present in all works of art, regardless of form.
The book's a beaut, successfully proving that while forms of art may vary across countries and continents, the appreciation of art is a constant.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Why He Hates Dogs.
Time has published a pithy essay by Joel Stein that ponders something I have wondered for years: why do people willingly pick up a dog's poop?
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,990664,00.html
More vicious in their musings are the bloggers of http://doghaters.tribe.net/.
You might say their fury has been unleashed.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,990664,00.html
More vicious in their musings are the bloggers of http://doghaters.tribe.net/.
You might say their fury has been unleashed.
Rethinking Overhead in a Nonprofit.
Check ou this very interesting article in July's Fast Company that argues that the old adage about low overhead in a nonprofit=success is outdated.
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/137/do-something-good-vs-evil.html
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/137/do-something-good-vs-evil.html
Monday, June 22, 2009
Reason No. 42 I Hate Reality TV.
Besides Reason No. 1 (it's waaay too easy to get sucked into the vortex) and Reason No. 11 (it seemingly celebrates the stupidest among us), the grammar--or lack thereof--of many "stars" is appalling.
Am I the only one yelling at the TV for her to use the correct pronoun?
On tonight's The Bachelorette, Jillian used "him and I" at least a half dozen times to describe herself and one of the guys.
Admittedly, I've indicted myself for watching.
But my thoughts lie with my 5th grade English teacher Mr. Michelob. And English teachers everywhere.
Am I the only one yelling at the TV for her to use the correct pronoun?
On tonight's The Bachelorette, Jillian used "him and I" at least a half dozen times to describe herself and one of the guys.
Admittedly, I've indicted myself for watching.
But my thoughts lie with my 5th grade English teacher Mr. Michelob. And English teachers everywhere.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
We All Scream for Ice Cream.
The thermometer has been doggedly north of 90 degrees in HOTlanta this week.
My coping mechanism? Keeping cool in the air-conditioned great indoors and eating lots of ice cream.
And reading the packaging, as it happens. Haagen-Dazs, to be specific.
Yes, they have great flavors: pomegranate chip in the Reserve line and passionfruit in the Five line. And lately, the Fleur de Sel Caramel bar.
But they also have clever copywriting.
The "flavor notes," for example, for the latter, which also comes as a premium ice cream: "Fleur de Sel caramels covered in a chocolaty coating blended into caramel ice cream with caramel ribbons and French sea salt accents. Crisp, salty nuances harmonize with rich, creamy caramel for the ultimate combination of sweet and salty."
Irresistable. Packaging copy as tasty as the product.
My coping mechanism? Keeping cool in the air-conditioned great indoors and eating lots of ice cream.
And reading the packaging, as it happens. Haagen-Dazs, to be specific.
Yes, they have great flavors: pomegranate chip in the Reserve line and passionfruit in the Five line. And lately, the Fleur de Sel Caramel bar.
But they also have clever copywriting.
The "flavor notes," for example, for the latter, which also comes as a premium ice cream: "Fleur de Sel caramels covered in a chocolaty coating blended into caramel ice cream with caramel ribbons and French sea salt accents. Crisp, salty nuances harmonize with rich, creamy caramel for the ultimate combination of sweet and salty."
Irresistable. Packaging copy as tasty as the product.
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