** Staying Connected No. 8

“I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” ― Albert Einstein

I have found myself oscillating between two rabbit holes: one digital and the other, analog. I have been trying to wrap my head around NFT’s and how a GIF can sell for 69 million dollars. Simultaneously, I have been trying to 'get more analog'. I realized that I can no longer work with my hands, I don't build anything or fix anything in the real world. So far, I have only gotten to the point where I am watching videos of people who are building things, but I am hoping to remedy that this April :)

** For this month, here are some ideas, hacks, and mental models to think about:

  • Forget Deming, There is Something About Mary.
  • Run Your Own Value Stream Mapping Workshop Online.
  • Four Causes of Zoom Fatigue and How to Fix Them.
  • Scrum on a Post-It Note.
  • Teaching My Son the Basics of Systems Thinking.
  • My Favorite New Podcast and Podcast Episode.
  • The Best Video I Watched All Month.

** Forget Deming, There is Something About Mary

"Just about everything written today about leadership and organizations comes from Mary Parker Follett's writings and lectures." - Warren Bennis

Many of us lionize management thinkers such as Deming, Ohno, and Drucker. As I was researching an idea, I happened upon Mary Follet and was surprised that she was the originator of many management ideas. Among many others ideas, she even coined the term “Win-Win”. (Link (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Parker_Follett) )

** Run Your Own Value Stream Mapping Workshop Online

I have been running online Value Stream Mapping workshops with some of my clients. They have been quite productive at uncovering waste. Here is the Miro board I created to run the workshop, hope you find it useful and run your own! (Link (https://miro.com/app/board/o9J_lLgOD8Q=/) )

** Four Causes of Zoom Fatigue and How to Fix Them

I have been saying for months now to say 'No to Zoom', or at the very least, only attend meetings 50 percent or less of your time. Many of my friends and colleagues have told me that it's impossible. A Stanford professor has isolated four causes of Zoom fatigue and provides solutions. So if you're set on having all-day Zoom calls, these tips will help you. Here are two:

  1. A Zoom call puts you face-to-face with a person which can create a heightened state of tension. It is as if you are standing directly face to face with someone. So, avoid full-screen mode when talking to someone.
  2. Imagine having a mirror in front of you during the day, all day, as you are working. It is distracting. So turn off your self-view during Zoom calls. (Link (https://news.stanford.edu/2021/02/23/four-causes-zoom-fatigue-solutions/) )

** Scrum on a Post-it note from Alistair Cockburn

Scrum, which has dominated the framework wars in the past decade, was designed to be comparatively lightweight. However, like Thor after losing to Thanos, it has become bloated and overloaded to the point where it's unrecognizable. Alistair Cockburn, one of the original manifesto signatories summarizes the heart of Scrum:

  1. Deliver (or demo) every Sprint
  2. Assemble a competent, cross-functional team and let them run their own work
  3. Inspect and adapt after each Sprint
  4. The ScrumMaster is the Chief Impediment Remover
  5. The business/customer side speaks through one voice through the “product owner’

** Teaching My Son the Basics of System's Thinking

A true test of whether or not one understands a subject is if they can explain it to their children. I attempt to explain the abstract concept of Systems Thinking to my son. (Link (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-16-learning-about-systems-thinking/id1546700342?i=1000515107579) )

** My Favorite New Podcast and Podcast Episode

I have spent most of my career working in or with financial institutions. This industry is experiencing so much change that it can be dizzying: Cryptocurrencies, NFT’s, Distributed Finance, Robo-advisers to name a few. For those who want to keep an eye on the rapidly approaching horizon, this is the podcast for you: (Link (https://www.mofi.net) )

“If code scripts machines, media scripts human beings.” - Balaji Srinivasan

A fascinating and wide-ranging discussion between Tim Ferriss and Balaji Srinivasan has given me a lot of food for thought: (Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eim8REOYLzA) )

** The Best Video I Watched This Month

We live in interesting times. This video by a Spirited Man introduced me to a concept I had not heard of before: The fourth turning. It puts what humanity is currently going through into perspective. (Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeVyfiP0cLk) )

Wishing you a brilliant April! Until next month, Ahmad