Jack is going through the sacrament of First Penance and Reconciliation next week. This is the Catholic ceremony of the first confession in which a child examines their conscience, asks for forgiveness […]
Forgiveness
Christmas Vacation and 2018 Recap
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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’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.
My Predictions on the Rest of Game of Thrones, Based on Jordan Peterson’s Maps of Meaning
I think I know how the rest of Game of Thrones will play out. No spoilers, just guesses. Guesses based on Jordan B Peterson’s “Maps of Meaning”.
Jack Demma, Warrior Kid (Demma’s Notes on Jocko Willink’s Way of the Warrior Kid)
There are difficult lessons for kids to learn and for parents to teach. One amazing resource for parents and kids is Jocko Willink’s “Way of the Warrior Kid”.
New Job, Mistakes, Travel, Family, and Discovering My “Why”
I have made some mistakes during my on-boarding, mostly centered around my ambition to start contributing quickly and my obsession with getting things done.