Category: Personal Reflections

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

Early morning thoughts

Carl Setzer

I’m wondering at what my path forward looks like. I love technology, in all it’s variety, and blended in insanity. Yet I adore people, too. Helping guide folks, especially in terms of projects. Helping organize people into effective teams, to see the value each of us offer, and to feel the wonderful sensation of meeting goals. That’s delightful to me.

I’ve been told many times over the years that I’d be great as a manager. I wonder, though, as my values don’t align with the current “presentation” of the successful manager. I stand against the idea of people/teams simply being consumables to extract the most value from before they’re discarded.

So, I sit and ponder when I should be sleeping. It is the Way, I guess.

Some thoughts on community

Carl Setzer2 Comments
Ubuntu

I’ve been thinking a lot about the importance of community lately during this time where we celebrate avarice and cruelty. Years ago, I discovered Steven Covey’s “7 Habits”, and one of his cornerstone principles is “interdependence”. This idea that we need each other, that our ideal state is working together, the over-used idea of “synergy”. That the whole collective is greater than the sum of the parts. It deeply resonated with me and it’s a concept I hold tightly to.

A related notion: Ubuntu. No, not the Linux variant, but the African concept of the criticalness of community. It roughly translates to “I am because you are”. This feels a lot like the notion of “Namaste”, or “I see you”.

Anyway, a friend of mine wrote a post where she explores Ubuntu. I thought she did such a fine job that I thought I’d share with you: “Big thoughts ep. 13: Ubuntu“. Enjoy!