This video really hit me, which I noticed via Kottke. I really try to take time out to be bored but there was no real drive or meaning behind it. For instance I only work 4 days of the week, because I need time to unwind but also need time to process and order everything I’ve encountered.

Arthur Brooks really brings his point across with some good examples but also has some excellent suggestions on how to get and stay bored!

Yesterday I read this blog post from Lukas Mathis. It kept resonating with me as I recognised some of the scenarios and could even come up with some more. As an avid Apple user and forced to work on a Windows based platform I regularly need to google for instructions on how to perform certain tasks. I want to make a special mention to the Microsoft Office suite where the menu structure is unintuitive with an inconsistent toolbar where I also end up using the Help function a lot to find the right option.

This could mean a big change in UI design moving away from WIMP, touch interfacing and could be the precursor to voice interaction with the desktop. This is already possible especially on a Mac with Accessibility options enabled. But for that to happen in a common setting we first need to enable sub vocal interaction. It is socially awkward to talk to your mobile or computer in a public space and can you visualise an office space with everybody talking to their computer, very noisy. I recently saw this post which means that it won’t take long before we see a practical solution to this.

Looking forward to this…

It’s been ten years, and I still can’t help but wonder at what Steve would do. Even with my own work I consider what he would think of it. Is it simple enough?

I found this a good read, it set the focus on your career instead of your current job. (DRI meaning the Direct Responsible Individual.) It also talks about the all important work/life balance and the focus on growth. I like the idea that your current job is not the end goal but a stepping stone into your career. Look at what your current job can bring in value to you and your career, if the balance ends up to be negative then find the next job.

At DuckDuckGo, there’s an expression: “You are the DRI of your career” (DRI: Directly Responsible Individual). I like this, both as an individual who has always felt like the DRI of my own career, and I like it as a manager because I think it makes the boundaries of what you can and can’t do for people clear.

It reminded me of the time I was a manager and scared one of my team members by suggesting that if he wasn’t happy I would happily help him to find an opportunity elsewhere.