“The one who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The one who walks alone is likely to find themselves in places no one has ever been before.” – Albert Einstein

This talk “presents a new lens to understand our contemporary world” and “a set of tools that honor and leverage emergence in order to have agency and impact.” It’s not about technology. But if I didn’t tell you that, you’d probably think it was.

Go to YouTube to Watch

Let’s face it, software systems are messy … that’s what makes them work.

Why turning off Messages before you begin your focus session is important. Your friends are interesting or they wouldn’t be your friends.

Andrew Harmel-Law is writing Facilitating Software Architecture while I am writing Learning Systems Thinking. Today we started a 30 day challenge using Writing Analytics. I’m not usually motivated by data tracking but this tool has improved my focus significantly. app.writinganalytics.co

Well, that’s a thing. 2023 was quite a year.

Early in my career as a systems architect, I felt alone with the challenges I faced. Now, I am surrounded by people who understand. The key to our success is learning from each other and sharing insights. We are all in this together.

www.meetup.com/ddd-socal…

Part 3 of Learning Systems Thinking has been added to the early release. It’s delightful to be this close to finishing the book. I look forward to your feedback! www.oreilly.com/library/v…

The Joy of Solitude

I resist bringing my full attention back to focused work, like a toddler who doesn’t want her face washed. Even though, focus is joy.

Personhood

This week, my intention was to be more mindful when attending online work meetings. As I did, I noticed something: I’ve constructed a Me Who Goes to Meetings.

Rest and Renew

I’ve learned essential lessons about rest and renewal over the last decade. For example, renewing my energy is the most trustworthy bellwether of career satisfaction and success. Which surprised me. Pushing less hard is counterintuitive.

Wisdom crafters

Wisdom crafters are seekers of a philosophic sunrise. They work hard, often in the shadows, to discover insights that change our view of things. Sometimes gently. Sometimes like a bolt of lighting.

And then it got hard

It has been three weeks since I posted. In part because some difficult work consumed my writing energy. But mostly, because I ran smack into something I didn’t want to say out loud.

Stop hoarding todos and breathe

What I do is balanced and supported by all I don’t do. I’ve never been great at balance. Or taking deep breaths. Seems I’m learning both now.

Asking for help

When I hoard todos and refuse to ask for help, I stifle the Enough Economy. A lesson I recently learned for the bazillionth time.

The enough retrospective

When I look back on the last ten years, I can see where I’ve experienced enough. Where I haven’t. And how I can change so the next ten years are more than enough. Wanna try?

Blurring the edges

Seeking work life balance suggests we don’t work during the life part. We work all the time. Here is how I am blurring the edges.

Resistance is our strengthener

My inner resistance to this practice is solidifying, concretizing. Simultanously, I am developing muscles I’ve never had and always needed.

Doing enough: the first of many

In which I demonstrate my unrealistic relationship with TODO lists and wonder if, maybe, that relationship will change this year. Maybe.