As a boss, one of the biggest challenges is to build morale and the confidence of your team. It’s not easy. But it is important.
“It is lack of confidence, more than anything else, that kills a civilisation. We can destroy ourselves by cynicism and disillusion, just as effectively as by bombs,” said Kenneth Clark at the end of his classic TV series Civilisation. Continue reading “How to improve morale and confidence”
I have finally found the explanation for irrational overconfidence and, perhaps, much of the hype and bombast on the internet: the Dunning-Kruger effect. Continue reading “Why I’m awesome: The Dunning-Kruger effect”
We live in world of miscalculated risk. This article gives some examples of that and some actual data to help people and businesses make more accurate assessments. Continue reading “How to quantify risk”
So what’s the big idea? It’s a clearly-articulated concept that compels, unifies, differentiates, explains, inspires or motivates. I like Chris Wirthwein’s definition, in particular the elements of simplicity, originality and surprise. But like the judge’s definition of obscenity, ‘it’s hard to define but you’ll know it when you see it’. Whatever your ‘big idea’ might be, this article will help you find it. Continue reading “How to have a big idea: 21 inspirational tips”
When I was at school, I had the time but not the enthusiasm to learn new things. Now I have enthusiasm but no time so I’m trying to refactor how I learn things. Continue reading “How to learn things”
In an interesting piece on Egypt and the US intelligence community over the weekend on NPR news, General Michael Hayden tries to explain why the US intelligence community did not predict the instability. He talks about the difference between secrets and mysteries. Continue reading “The difference between secrets and mysteries”
There are two kinds of people in the world: Disney people and Looney Tunes people, according to historian Charles Carney. Which are you? Continue reading “Are you a Looney Tunes person or a Disney person?”
In 1996, my old company Intelligent Games released a game called Azrael’s Tear. There was much to love about the game: the story, the visuals, the richly-imagined world, wonderful music and voice characterisation. Although the game died in the market, people are still playing and enjoying the game today. Continue reading “Azrael’s Tear”
NASA is undergoing some big changes and some some soul-searching right now. But it is an organisation that has achieved some of humanity’s most sublime and challenging goals. Therefore, any lessons we can learn at their expense are well worth reading. Continue reading “Mission control: 100 rules for NASA project managers”
Squee! What I want for Christmas is a giant LEGO aircraft carrier, like the one that Malle Hawking built (see pictures). If this isn’t available, I’ll settle for a 7,500 piece LEGO Millennium Falcon. But both look like they’re impossibly unavailable.
