Step back and see the world like a child - ask why and seek to understand fully.Everything is related, and everything has a function.Try to understand the big idea.“The mind of the beginner is empty, free of the habits of the expert. Such a mind is open to all possibilities and can see things as they are.In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the experts there are few.” - Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner’s MindAdopt the beginner’s mindset and tap into your childlike curiosity.See yourself as an exploring mapping new lands and experiencing new ideas all the while asking, “what’s this?”

At any time, those closest to you could vanish from this existence. You too. In fact, that could be said for everything in front of us - this computer, your connection to the internet, this blog, your desk, your phone - everything.With everything’s state being subject to fate, how might you deeply enjoy yourself in the present without being anxious?Anxiousness is the friction that comes from your brain living in the future but your body lives in the present; like some 4th dimensional space-time shift that science fiction storytellers share with us.Being present is where your mind and your body are in the same temporal space - now.If all that is true, then the way to enjoy our subject-to-fate existence is to the be present - to deeply appreciate and enjoy now.How to enjoy the present?Paradoxically, acknowledge that the present could be taken from you at any time.When I tell myself that I could die at any moment, I become more focused and I become more calm. I focus hard on doing my best work.When I tell myself that the person in front of me could leave this universe at any second, I become more focused on that person. I want to be with them. I want to listen to them, seek to understand them, and share that I love them before I leave.When I sleep, I remind myself that I lived and did the best I could, and if I should wake up tomorrow I’ll do better. I find that gives me a sense of calm and relaxation before going to bed, and I wake up deeply thankful to do it again.Morbid?Realistic.Confronting our humanity and mortality is a human and realistic thing to do. When we realize that we (and our friends) are not immortal, we start to appreciate ourselves (and them) that much more.“Whatever can happen today can happen at any time.” - Seneca

Schedule 30 minutes during the day this week to do something other than work.Consider this…Humans are outside creatures.Play (read: not working or sleeping) is an important part what we get to do as humans.The most beautiful parts of our waking hours are during the day.So why not invest time during the workday to be a human? To play.What you get:Better health. Who doesn’t want better health?More productivity. Taking time to do something other than work actually allows your mind time to think! Who doesn’t want to be more productive?Total control of your world. The only thing you truly own is the present - right now. Who doesn’t want total control? (the recovering lawyers who read this blog will jump at this opportunity.)Give yourself time.

Onboarding is the process of introducing, inviting, and exposing you to something new - culture.“Hey, it’s nice to meet you, I want to invite you to find out more about how people like us do the work we do here.““Hey, we’re so glad you chose to do business with us. I want you to know how people like you order your food at places like this.““I am so glad you chose to spend time with us tonight. During this time, you get to listen to stories, enjoy music, and share the experience with the people next to you - that’s what people like us do at shows like this.“To understand culture is to understand how a group of people do and value things. For that process to happen, the new person must be exciting and committed to learning more - being curious. For that kind of curiosity to be present, there must be a guide.If you’re that guide, you have a generous responsibility.

Do you hate networking? Or do you love it?The quick and transactional “hey, how are you, who are you, what can you do for me… here’s what I can do for you… should we keep talking? Oh! Our time is up, nice to meet you.“What if there was a better way to network?What if networking was “hey, I’m Trevor, here are the questions I love to explore… are any of these questions you’re trying to answer? What questions are you thinking about?“Networking focused on “here’s what I can do for you” forces us to decide whether or not the other person can do something for us now. “I have a need now, you have what I need, let’s talk.“Versus..Networking focused on questions moves us away from transaction and into partnership. “ooh, that person is answering a question similar to the one I am trying to answer, let’s explore that together and help one another.““Oooh, I’ve answered that question before… or knew someone that had… here’s what they learned on their journey. Can I connect you?“I’m starting to think networking events could be more… they could be events where fellow travelers come together, share what journeys they’re on, and recruit fellowship for road - like Lord of the Rings, but without wizards and goblins.

I spent a few minutes today looking at games I used to play when I was younger.

As I looked at the games I played, I developed a great appreciation for my parents.

I didn’t have many “shooter” style games. Many of the games I played involved building and growing a civilization of people.

While I might not be designing cities of the future or playing the role of Caesar, I have found myself in the position of building and growing teams.

As best you can, try to understand something from someone else’s perspective.Want to understand what’s happening in Russia and Ukraine? Have you considered a realist perspective in addition to your own?Want to better understand coffee? Have you explored the importance of processing and how it impacts flavor of specialty coffee?Want to understand how to get a raise? Consider developing more awareness about power and how it moves.Beyond everything we see, there’s always something more - another perspective, a philosophy, a first principles.Seek to understand the first principles of things.I’m doing that now. I’m finding that I see the world in a much calmer way - history repeats, humans (for the most part) are relatively simple, and there’s much more to things than meet the eye.

What’s the difference between “How do I…” and “What are the next steps to…"?What questions ask us to identify the actual steps required as if we know the process.How questions ask us to think about the process.Perhaps thinking first about the process helps us determine what the relevant and effective next steps could be.As a musician, I often think: “what if I tried something like this?” and then,I’ll translate that into “how might I use that idea in…?“I’ll know the work was right or wrong based on the reaction of the other musicians, how well the idea compliments the song, and… actually thinking like an artist… is the idea in the realm of good taste? Does the idea accomplish what the idea was for?Start with “how” and then go to “what” and validate your work against your “why”.

A system is a way of doing things - like algebra, A+B = C.The inputs can change, but the formula stays the same.When you don’t know what what you don’t know, you need a system to help you figure out what to do next.In his book, A More Beautiful Question, Warren Berger offers us a system for bring “some semblance of order to a process that is by nature, chaotic and unpredictable.“Why + What If + How = Solution.Here’s an example from the book:Person encounters a situation that is less than ideal: asks Why.Person begins to come up with ideas for possible improvement/solutions - with such ideas usually surfacing in the form of What If possibilities.Person takes one of those possibilities and tries to implement it or make it real; this mostly involves figuring out How.Try the system out. Test the results. Tweak the inputs. Try again.Also…Unrelated but just as interesting and pleasing… W(hole)+W(hole)+H(alf) is also the combination of intervals required to reach a major third above any tonic… it’s a pleasing interval.