by Dwayne Phillips One of the better things to do in a thinking meeting is to find things you don’t want to do. “That’s not it!” is one of the better things you can hear at a thinking meeting. For example, a few years or decades ago—I lose track—I was standing at the white board […]
That’s Not It!
September 28th, 2020 · No Comments
Tags: Ideas · Meetings · Success · Thinking · Visibility
A Good Story
August 16th, 2020 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips Most of us profess to like a good story, but do we? Stories are important. They inform others of our path to where we are today. We love stories. Or do we love the word “story?” If we love stories, we would tell them often. We would type the words to the […]
Tags: Communication · Ideas · Stories · Writing
This Project vs. the BIG IDEA
August 13th, 2020 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips What interests me today? The project that I am working today? Perhaps not. I know I am working on this project today, but it is just another project. Sure, I want it to succeed, but really, it’s just another one. What really interests me is finding the BIG IDEA. That thing that […]
Tags: Ideas · Management · Work
Cause Change
June 8th, 2020 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips Angst rules America this week. We have to do something. What can I change and how? Here is a set of questions to guide me. I write this in early June 2020. We have demonstrations and protests calling for justice and change. Perhaps I am too rational or practical, but I feel […]
Tags: Alternatives · America · Change · Government · Ideas · Patience · Questions
Let’s Take a Walk Around the White Boards
April 23rd, 2020 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips This is a basic thing to do when working as a group to create and refine ideas. This procedure works with just about any task where a group of persons is working together to create and refine ideas. One example is gathering requirements and creating preliminary designs. Another is outlining or formulating […]
Tags: Alternatives · Communication · Group · Ideas · Uncategorized
Looking for Something to Write? A Starter?
April 13th, 2020 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips Inspiration for something to writer or a “starter” is everywhere. Here is a simple method of finding it. Looking for something to write? Looking for a starter for the next piece to write? Go to any book shelf. Grab any book. Open to any page. Point to any line. Copy that line. […]
What’dya Say?
February 6th, 2020 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips A fundamental question of each of us is, “Do I want someone else to understand?” If yes, great effort may be required. If no, keep moving. I work with other persons. Nothing unique there, but I am fortunate in that most of these others are really smart and are working on the […]
Tags: Communication · Expectations · Ideas
Of Course There is a Lot of Grumbling (in America)
March 21st, 2019 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips A reminder of some basics about life in America. We have freedom of speech in America. Anyone can publish a newspaper or a blog or a … well, how long is the list? This is a free country. Want peace and quiet and tranquility? Want unanimous public opinion without fake news and […]
Tags: America · Censorship · Ideas
Weinberg Golf and Bundy Fishing
March 7th, 2019 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips Perhaps we can find enjoyment anywhere at any time. It is worth the attempt. Several years ago I had several conversations with the late Jerry Weinberg, one of the best computing consultants we ever had. Jerry told me about how he played golf. Jerry started playing the game most familiar to everyone. […]
Tags: Authentic · Clarity · Conversation · Fun · Ideas
Look at a Person and Say It Aloud
January 28th, 2019 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips Great ideas have a different and necessary perspective when I look at another person and say the words aloud. The man with 30 years experience and accolades as an expert in his field sat across the table from me. He looked me in the eye and, before he opened his mouth, had […]
Tags: Communication · Ideas