Casual Outfit and Business Update

Hi!

 

 Top: by me, Jeans: Banana Republic, Shoes: Corello (Brazil)

These past days have revolved around Excel. I am trying to build a database, so I can experiment with my business idea.

While I have played around with macros in the past, it was never my strong suit, so I am trying my best to look beyond the boredom that it is working on these macros and think about the end goal, which is to have good data to do what I want.

There were a few days though, when I just wanted to throw my @#%$@%@ computer out the window with a maniacal laugh. But alas, I haven't and, as I write, one of the macros is happily running in the background. Yay!

As for work schedule, I had at some point tried to go to a coffee shop to work. It did present a few problems, though.

1. I am too easily distracted by Ms. L-Sat who talks to herself as she works through her questions
2. I am even more distracted by Ms. L-Sat's comings and goings, as she leaves her stuff unattended at a table, while she goes to a table outside to read (thus taking up 2 tables)
3. Since I am not like Ms. L-Sat, I won't leave stuff unattended if I have to go get food (which I don't want to pay for anyway) or take breaks, which means I end up showing up after lunch and leaving starved and tired around 4:30
4. The countless hipster mustaches!

So, for the past couple of weeks, I have been getting up, working out, showering, getting dressed, taking pictures, then sitting down in front of the computer at home. Here, I have the flexibility to get up and grab a snack, tea, water, or a book when the macros run.

What is your trick to stay focused?

Love,

Sam

PS: Dear Ms. L-Sat,  I wish you the best of luck taking your exam in November. I am sure you will be fine!

Finding inspiration

Hi,

I was hoping to write a post every week, but unfortunately, my latest projects were not working as I expected, I was very unhappy with the pictures I was taking, nothing seemed worthy of a post. I was feeling completely uninspired and a little upset.

Then like magic I stumbled upon a marvelous book and I feel like inspiration is starting to come back. The book is called "In Pursuit of Elegance" - by Matthew E. May. It talks about what makes certain designs so elegant and desirable. The author brings in aspects from film, painting (from Da Vinci to Pollock), fractals, and even some interesting concepts in business and urban planning. Amazing!

Maybe what I thought was really striking, breaking a paradigm of mine, was the concept of "less is more" as it applies to rules. I was always a sucker for structure and clear rules, clear expectations, planning, tracking... So much so, it stops me in my tracks sometimes.

As May says: "The counterintuitive dynamic at work is this: the more we try to control and regulate our risk, the more exposed and at risk we are, because the more protected from hazards we think we are, the less conscious of potential dangers we become. We actually disengage our brains and disconnect from what’s happening around us. That can be disastrous." May, Matthew E. (2009-05-09). In Pursuit of Elegance: Why the Best Ideas Have Something Missing (p. 67). Random House, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

As I was reading that and thinking about all the (unachievable) expectations we set for ourselves, the to-do lists, the calendars, the protocols. With that, it seems we are just stopping life from flowing freely. It brought me back to Dr. McDaniel's classes, in which he asked us: "how do we get people to do what they know how to do?" Managers are always putting so many rules, controls, and metrics in place that the employee is more concerned in following than actually doing what they know how to do.

Coincidently enough, I chose a very clean and simple outfit for work today.

Shirt and pants: Banana Republic
Shoes: Aerosoles
Broche: unknown (Thanks, Mom!)

 I added the bright lipstick for a little bit of fun...

I hope you like it!

Love,

Sam