We just got home from our 2018 Christmas adventure. It started with a night in Fairfax, VA where Gracie was starring as a snowflake in the Moscow Ballet’s Nutcracker. From there we […]
Christmas Vacation and 2018 Recap
Demma’s Notes: Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future
“There’s a starman waiting in the sky, he’d like to come and meet us, but he thinks he’d blow our minds.” – Bowie Elon Musk has been grabbing more headlines than usual […]
Well-Being Check: Dexa Scan, Nutrition, Sleep, and Meditation
I decided to take stock of my well-being and health routines now that we’re on the other side of a chaotic summer. I got my annual physical with blood work, got my […]
Quitting Twitter
I joined Twitter on April 1, 2008, which puts me in the 84th percentile for my Twitter age, an early adopter. I loved the platform for many years, but recently Twitter and I reached a point of no return in our relationship. It’s over. I think.
4 Ways to Win Back Time From Your Phone
“You’re already a cyborg.” Elon Musk In 2012 I noticed how addicted I was becoming to screens, mostly my phone. I wrote this article about it. To clarify, I was then, and […]
How to Get Rich Quick in Real Estate (kidding, it’s just another love story)
A switch flipped inside of me after college. I became obsessed with being successful and getting rich. I devoured self-help books like popcorn shrimp. How to Win Friends, 7 Habits, Think and […]
Sad News, New Territory, 2 Great Books: 3 short posts in 1
What follows is a somewhat disjointed collection of updates from the past month. I probably should have made this three separate posts, but I’m short on time and I wanted to memorialize […]
Demma Family Update
Hello Everyone, I have some personal updates for all of our friends and colleagues out there. First, Kelly and I are excited to announce that we have welcomed our fourth baby into […]
Demma’s Notes: Orwell’s 1984 for Managers
1984 is a book about power, life, government, freedom (or lack thereof) of speech, human nature, love, strength, and weakness. It’s gripping, suspenseful, horrific, and at times, maddening. This post contains a summary of the book, some of my favorite (or most terrifying) quotes, and some applications for business people.
What is Leadership? Defining Leadership and What Leaders Do
The primary job of a manager is to provide leadership for their team. To be a leader. But what is leadership? This post is about my definition of leadership.
Management Skills: First, Do No Harm
Has it ever occurred to you that not only are you not doing a good job at work, but maybe you are actually making things worse? I think it’s a really good question to ask yourself, especially if you’re a manager. The answer might not be so obvious.
Thinking About What It Means to Create a Masterpiece
What does it mean to create a masterpiece? I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately. Here’s what I’m thinking.
The Great Seattle Gold Rush
Seattle is the fastest growing major city in the US, with hard census data showing 1,100 people moving into the area every week, and more recent estimates claiming over 2,000 people moving to King County weekly.
Interviewing, Leadership, Family Values, and an Anti-Nihilism Warning to Millennials
I have some “controversial” thoughts on family I’d like to share, a caution to people in their 20s and 30s who are “waiting to have a family”.
Maps of Meaning: Jordan Peterson’s genius guide to a meaningful life
Jordan B. Peterson’s Maps of Meaning is like the legend that unlocks maps of our lives. What follows is my summary of Peterson’s work.