Author: Carl Setzer

Growing

Carl Setzer

The quest: take my natural talents and use them to make the world a better place. I want to be a positive influence on the world, inspire and grow people to the greatest heights of their talents and passions.

I want to continuously grow and learn, to be more useful and inspiring. I want to nurture people, help them grow and become better.  I’ve organized, coordinated and lead teams with this in mind. Yet I feel there’s more I can do, more that I offer. I’m still stretching to wrap my head around this.

Thought on the day

Carl Setzer

Thought of the day: It’s preferable to learn from the mistakes of others than to make them yourself. The whole purpose of an event like Family Reunion, and education as a whole, is to pre-learn the mistakes great minds have made, and avoid the pain and costs they incurred. Really, someone taking the time to explain anything they’ve learned is a gloriously generous gift. I’ve long known that, but have really deepened my appreciation for those that generosity. 

Thoughts from the road

Carl Setzer

Is been quite some time since I’ve had a day full of air travel. This was a remarkably easy trip. We actually made it to Orlando about 1/2 hour early. Life in the future is grand. I loved having charges in the seat. Hit the ground with everything charged and ready to go.

Geek moment: I won the bomb material swipe lottery. Watching the samples getting analyzed, seeing the spectrometer on the screen, just made me giddy. Ah, I heart the sciencey goodness.

I love the sensation of takeoff. Rather like a reverse rollercoaster. A young boy in front of me had his arms raised as we ascended. It was perfect. Well, nobody whooped. That would’ve been perfect.

Now I’m sitting in a hotel room, fighting off sleep for a bit longer. I don’t want to adapt to eastern time well. A week from now I’ll be back home. I’d rather not be too messed up by that.

And the journey continues…

Zero Inbox or Damnation

Carl Setzer

The mania of my life lately has provided a convenient excuse for putting off zeroing my inbox. After spending a bit of my weekend scrambling because I missed crucial emails, I’m raising it’s priority again. “Later’s” glorious promise, and inevitable bite.

In Stephen Covey parlance, I’ve spent too much time in Quadrant 1, urgent/important and Quadrant 3, urgent/unimportant. Neglecting the important/non-urgent work of Quadrant 2 has always provided pain points for me.

KNOWING what’s outstanding, what my commitments are: critical knowledge that I musn’t allow to slip. And, hence, I”m all back in with my favorite project management tool: IQTell. Additionally, making sure my work, my actions track with my goals, priorities and values is the ultimate in live-giving. Focus, focus, focus!

I’m not second guessing this evening

Carl Setzer

Oh, my poor Seahawks! Second guessing that last play; so terribly easy, especially facing bitter disappointment. Yet, I question it’s value. I wasn’t part of the discussion nor choice. And, most importantly, no amount of hand-wringing or recrimination will undo the final score. 

I admire bold choices in the face of risk. That’s a hallmark of greatness. More importantly, I adore the people who are Seattle’s Seahawks. Just a few thoughts: Russell Wilson’s amazing giving heart, Marshawn Lynch’s playful tweaking of the press, Pete Carroll’s deep dignity; all of these, and more, give me great pride. They played well, didn’t give up, fighting with tenacity to the last second. I also love hearing Mr. Wilson and Mr. Carroll each take responsibility for that last call. And, I’m willing to bet each member of this team would do so as well. For they are a team, through and through. Class and spirit, what’s not to love? 
Ultimately, I’m proud of these guys, of their hearts and spirits, and wouldn’t trade them for any other team, not even bearing the Lombardi trophy. There’s my focus tonight, tomorrow and into next season. And the next. 

Living La Vida Browser

Carl Setzer

This morning I popped onto my computer to get some work done. After a bit of work (some email, updating social media, zap out a few blog posts) I’m struck the fact that nothing on my computer is open safe Chrome. I also have my task manager open, and a document for my son (for school). My browser has really become the center piece of my computing.

I’ve noticed this coming for some time. Yet, today, it gives me deeper pause: how will this affect us going forward? One obvious piece: tablets & phones. The more tools available via browsers (at least those optimized for HTML 5), the more effective and powerful these devices become. More and more of my work gets done on my tablet. I expect this will drive us more into the world of such tools as Chromebooks as well. Hard-drive space will become less critical for the average user. I expect the demand for laptops will whither, much like desktops have. Don’t get me wrong: there will always be demand for laptops and desktops, but the average home user won’t need the power features. Email, documents, Facebook simply don’t demand the power of your average laptop.

I know, also, that there are affects coming that I can’t predict right now. That’s the thing that excites me. Some right, perhaps right this second, is thinking of a new way to do X with this new reality. And it will change the way we live. This might define a key part of “me”, this excitement. I see change and feel the possibility. Hence, I gaze towards the future and see possibility, delight, wonder. Happiness, then, consumes me. I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Twentyfirst Century Smokers

Carl Setzer

Today, walking by my house, I see a young woman (twenty-something) standing on her back patio, cigarette in hand. I’ve noticed more and more young folks smoking, and it disturbs me. Watching my mother die of cancer plays a piece, and that deep inner desire for no one to ever self-inflict that horror. But there’s another piece at play.

Entirely anecdoteal observations on my part show a great up-tick in smokers. Now, my generation saw great deceases in the rate of smokers. The next seems to be growing. What’s at play here?

Our knowledge of health-risks has only increased, no it’s not any kind of decrease in awareness of them. Actually, my wife presented me with an idea that makes sense: they’re rebelling against us. We grew up with socially acceptable smoking parents. Perhaps part of our turning away from cigarettes was our own rebellion.

Anyway, there is a communications piece at play: the social message against smoking has waned. To our detriment, as a society I’m sure. Gives me pause to consider how we make smoking decrease to zero. No, I don’t think prohibition will work. Shame is only so effective, and encourages an element of rebellion. So, I’m at a loss. Which makes me deeply sad.

Wisdom

Carl Setzer

“Enjoy present pleasures in such a way as not to injure future ones.” — Seneca

This tidbit is perhaps more relevant than ever. As we come up against our planet’s ability to support, this rings louder than ever.

What does a sustainable society look like? Where each person has enough, greed is eliminated. Without greed, we remove exploitation. A society built upon mutual respect and love. Where we each feel inspired to give our very best for each other. Love. We develop a healthy relationship with our food. Love.

How do we get to a world with no poverty?

Dreaming in daylight. 
Seeking suffering’s ending. 
Our primary force: love.

Leadership

Carl Setzer

Stare into their souls
Nurture to magnificence
Grasping their true being.

I seek to grow those I love, helping them move into their fullest potential. Real inspiration, not the fluffy, empty bull that passes for motivation. My goal: take the time to know them deeply, grasp their deepest passions, their richest talents, and connect them with opportunities for pursuit.

Even if I only reach a few, this is amazing work for which I’ll count myself blessed.