Category: Kaizen

Change for better – This encompasses all areas of my life.
It is both a motto and a result of my activity

Schedules: Too little or too much

This is an examination of conscience (of sorts). I have rejected the idea that people can be busy (much as it is a badge of honor to claim as much), but more of stressed/surprised/over-scheduled/etc. I question if there is a linear limit to an individual’s output and if there are ways that this can be increased. I touch on strategies that can virtually make this limitless and even reduce the human toll.

Revisiting my website hosting architecture

In this recording is a review of my current web hosting architecture as I see it after several months of active use. Specifically, I cover the shortcomings of the current setup, ways around each one and advantages of each alternative. This post mainly sets the stage for future updates or posts…

  • What are the core needs?
  • Review of my current setup and available alternatives
  • Discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each option
  • Next steps

Contrasting social Internet from social media

Membership in any one of the social media platforms has its benefits; that are seldom longterm. By definition, these platforms come and go. In the next 17 minutes of audio, I will cover the following points as I set context for my decision to leave social media (not that I was that invested). I am instead focusing on establishing and maintaining a robust internet presence.

NB: The audio-levels are much higher/better in this post.

  • Briefly explain the Internet of past and the built-in autonomy of publishing
  • Contrast with the walled-garden idea that characterizes: BBS, AOL, FB, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc using the controlled model
  • Tying your fate to that of the walled-garden that you live in VS
  • Leaving an alias that enables others to find you regardless of what garden or personal island you move to
  • Walled safety AND house-rules that stifle unique authenticity (sandboxes have rules/censorship)

Dependable dishwashing

I like having machines (and any system) that has a predictable input and output. Dishwashers are the machines that have thus far not given me dependable results. I know that a laundry machine will not scrub collars; and it lives to that performance standard every time. I am working researching how to get consistent value from my dishwasher – this is a review of the process.

Please note that the audio level is lower – I am working on a way to standardize it going forward.

  1. Effectiveness as defined by the ISO-9000 (extent to which planed activities/results are achieved to the planned level)
  2. Baseline of a dishwasher as an energy inefficient rinsing machine
  3. Inconsistent washing of dishes based on positioning and level of soaking
  4. Inability to keep dishes stacked for the whole day

Target
– Consistent quality and results that presents MVP value to justify the wait and cost
– Disruption caused by fluctuations and unplanned cost of corrections to meet minimum expectations
– Establishment/standardization of pre-work that can get the inputs to a level that can assure the desired outputs and justify the costs (delay, value-add, time savings)

The Iron: Optimizing a mundane function

In this post, I talk about my review and optimization of the ironing process (or chore). The connotation of the word chore says it all: it is an oft unlikable process that is done just because it has to be, not out of pleasure. Similar to many other processes, I enjoy ironing if the process is efficient and optimized.

  1. Core requirements for the task of ironing (why do we even need to iron – clarify that)
  2. Previous experience
  3. Requirements for the new iron
  4. Current experience
  5. Generalizing the principle of process improvement

Solitude vs loneliness: Why you need it

This time I start of with a contrast of solitude and loneliness. I then proceed to examine the necessity of solitude and why we need a healthy dose of it for sanity.

  1. What is the conventional wisdom and perspective on solitude and loneliness
  2. The down-side of not having solitude
  3. Benefits of solitude
  4. What does this look like on the ground for me
  5. Looking forward

Building my ideal standing desk

These posts are getting longer and more interesting for me to work on –
In this post, I am reviewing the experience, thought-process, implementation steps, and discoveries that I experienced as I sought and continue to seek the ideal and adaptable workspace design. This is the first of many posts; in future posts, there will be details about related setups (cable management, accessory ports, video & audio capture, etc).

  1. Context: working from home for 12+ months
  2. Necessity of a better desk and working environment
  3. The constraints and other core considerations for the MVP design
  4. Exploited opportunities for improvement
  5. Looking forward

Deleting my LinkedIn account …

… it is not something that you said, it is just me.
I am a ruthless defender of my sanity and time, and therefore questioning that justification of even commonplace things.

Maintaining a profile on the professional social network is what any professional with upward potential does – to network with peers and potential employers

What if I am:
– Committed to my current assignment
– Confident in my skills and experience
– Sanguine that I will be able to find another job without actively cultivating fall-back plans

Further Reading:
https://youtu.be/G4Ee_yaNfmQ?t=240
http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2018/dopamine-smartphones-battle-time/
https://www.calnewport.com/blog/2020/06/19/on-social-media-and-character/
https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/digital-minimalism-cal-newport/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/idonny/

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