November 2016 - Carl Setzer

A Modern Dilemma

November 30, 2016 Carl Setzer1 Comment

Flurry never stops

I can’t read all the email

So much deletion

Reflecting on Om Malik’s article “Silicon Valley Has An Empthy Problem”

November 29, 2016November 29, 2016 Carl Setzer

It’s very hard to break free of our focus bubble, seeing the impacts of our technological creations. Whether Uber, Amazon, Bitcoin , or any of a huge number of disruptive changes. People’s lives, and livelihoods are hugely impacted. We lose sight of that at our peril.

i agree quite heartily with Om here. Tech needs to add empathy into its DNA. A simple elementary possibility: add empathically oriented checks in the project mapping. Ask “who’s hurt by this product”?

It’s a start. An important one. Or, perhaps, a critical one.

Please give this a “like”, share and subscribe.

Thoughts on Casey Neistat’s Vietnam Notebook

November 28, 2016November 28, 2016 Carl Setzer

I’ve been enjoying Casey’s work for sometime now. It’s really a 2016 discovery; one I’m happy I made. I get ideas of things to film, someday, that mythical someday when I have plenty of free time.

Moleskine junky that I am, I really love what he did with his notebook. Cutting out/adding in tickets, maps, key details, blah blah. Things I wish I’d done with my trip to Yellowstone Grand Tetons this summer.

I think it’d be fun to craft some videos like this, too. My son is going deep into videography. He really wants to collaborate, and I really want to embrace that.

Lastly, Casey makes note about nothing drives home how fast time passes than watching kids grow up. And I’m really feeling that this fall. We’re preparing for highschool, talking college, cars,and well, being grown-up. I’m so damn glad I made the time to be here, to be part of his childhood. So many men I know regret missing this, and feel pain as they try to connect with their grown children. Trying to find a place in these lives that were filled in their absence.

There’s nothing I’m more proud of than my simple integration with my son’s life. He’s a great kid, and an amazing young man. I’m very happy.

Calmness in the Darkness

November 28, 2016 Carl Setzer

Lights flicker at night

There’s calmness in the darkness

Unexpected peace

Quote of the Day

November 28, 2016November 28, 2016 Carl Setzer

Was just emailed this one: “Failure is the price of Legendary” ~ Robin Sharma

I was thinking about these sorts of things over the long weekend. A key moment was while watching “A Chef’s Life” on PBS. Vivian (show’s main focus) was struggling with anxiety around her life. With her book deal, as well as a next managing chef, her life has changed dramatically. She’s in unfamiliar ground, and not sure where she stands with things.

It makes perfect sense to feel this way: she’s never done anything like “this”. This is part of the lot for innovators. Doing the new and unique means you’re in uncharted territory, often without anyone doing anything even close. Living a life without roadmaps ensures “failure” lurks.

In order to really innovate, to achieve something Legendary, you have to stretch well past the comfort zone. Well into the potential to fail. So, in the end, the only road to success is through failure. With each failure, stand up, brush off, learn the lessons and move forward. That’s the only way to Legendary.