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.

If you’re staying in a job that’s not bringing you joy, why not move?Perhaps you stay because the job is what you know… what if you can’t be as effective in your next job?Perhaps you stay because it’s a job and that job provides security… what if you can’t find another job? How will you take care of yourself or others?Perhaps you stay because it’s easier to stay and put up with it… what if you could be happier being more of what you could be somewhere else?Find work that matters.Find work that invites you to stretch and grow, to serve more people in a way that resonates with you, and allows you to be more of who you know yourself to be.If that possibility existed for you, and it does, why not move towards it?

Give yourself time and space to solve problems.

Your brain needs time to disconnect, to reflect on the past, to contemplate the future, and to combine all of your various influences so that possible solutions percolate to the top.

Don’t think you have time?

Missing someone is not missing their presence. It is missing the feeling you get being around that person. It is remember what that person brought to you. To be missed is to have made an impact on someone so great that they enjoy retelling themselves what it meant to be with you.The goal is not to be missed. The goal is to serve who and what you can now. Being missed is just the result.