Category: Personal Reflections

Lessons learned about life; pearls of wisdom I’ve gleaned through pain, failure and honest reflection

Utilizing Social Media

Carl Setzer

I’ve seen a large array of “build your business with social media” ideas. All based on the great canard of getting rich quick and easy. They’re all lies. 

Business can be grown and developed with social media. Not, however, by hopping from one bright shiny to the next. It’s continuous engagement, consistent updating and regular use that makes the long-term win. 

Always A Killer

Carl Setzer

Just read another article about how some new device will be a “device x” killer. Over the years, the tech press has lauded PC killers, Office killers, Windows, and the ever present iPhone killers. Seems the underlying premise is that success requires the existing giant to fail. Seems that there’s never considered the ability to coexist, to develop a new space. Zero sum games, not adding value or creating something new. 

Annoying Video Ads

Carl Setzer
The first thing I do when one of those obnoxious, over-loud video ads launches on a website I just opened starts playing is to close the whole page. I have to be pretty committed to reading the article for me to stick around through that, or to try and locate the “off” or “mute” button for the bloody thing. 
So, for those of you promoting advertising on your website, you now have something to consider. Of course, I should look at running Ad-Blocker or something like that and move this nuisance into historical reference. 

The All Powerful Snooze Button

Carl Setzer

Laying here listening to my wife’s alarm go off, I’m struck by a significant societal shift which took place during my lifetime: the snooze bar. 

I remember a world where these things didn’t exist. That your alarm clock rang once a day. Heck, you needed to remember to arm the thing before you went to sleep. I suppose some folks rewound the clock and moved the alarm hand forward a few minutes. But most didn’t. Ring, then up; no other methodology existed. 
Now, we tend to gradually awaken. With smartphones and such, you can choose pleasant tones to gently rouse you from slumber. Speaking for myself, my alarm starts earlier, with a more gradual waking process. 

I’m not sure what, if any, deeper effects have been brought about by this. Something to explore. It’s hard to imagine that a significant shift in a culture’s circadian rhythm won’t have some larger impact.  

Following Your Gut

Carl Setzer
I remember reading an article, years ago, about how one should never trust their gut. They cited the presence of serial killers like Ted Bundy and how smoothly they talked and acted. This made me laugh. Bundy, et al, had no logical reason not to trust them. Even if we had today’s tools, we wouldn’t find anything terribly remiss in their background. Those people who weren’t taken in were following their gut. 
Perhaps there’s some confusion about gut following. This isn’t just mindlessness; deliberately slowing down and thinking. It’s deeper, though, than simply analyzing facts. But it’s more than airy fairy mindless trust. 
Learning to listen to that inner guide takes time and deliberate training. Often, that voice gets drowned out by the din of modern life. Much to our detriment. 

Father’s Day 2013

Carl Setzer

Yesterday, my family spent our day celebrating Fatherhood with KEXP. The Eighth Annual Father’s Day Kid’s Dance Party was heck-of-a-lotta fun. Big plus ones to EMP for hosting, Pagliacci Pizza for providing dough for pizza tossing, and to the Vicious Puppies Crew for bringing their b-boy chops to the event.

VPC was the main draw for us. I love watching talented artists of all disciplines using their passions. My son struggled the rest of the day to control his dance steps (a bit of a problem in the restaurant for lunch…), so inspiration was partaken.

Soon there will be photos uploaded to the KEXP Flickr Stream. Until then, I have a few shots up on my Flickr page.

Here’s the most popular VPC video on YouTube. Enjoy!

The Nature Of Work

Carl Setzer

For years I’ve pondered the nature of work in our society. The way our sense of self is intrinsically tied, how one of the first things we ask new acquaintances is “what do you?” Work provides us social status, links within our communities and, of course, critical economic resources: survival.

Additionally, I’ve seen so misery surrounding work. Hatred for their work, disdain for certain crafts and, thus, isolation. Dignity and social acceptance play out in this space. And, let’s not forget the pain surrounding job losses.

I’m committed to exploring this deeper, so there will be more soon.

May you all find peace on this journey through the cosmos.