It is said that one should keep one's allies within view, and one's enemies within reach.A valid statement. One must be able to read an ally's strengths, so as to determine how to best use them. One must similarly be able to read his enemy's weaknesses, so as to determine how to best defeat him.

But what of friends?There is no accepted answer, perhaps true friendship is so exceedingly rare. But I had formulated my own.A friend need not be kept within sight or within reach. A friend must be allowed the freedom to find and follow his own path. If one is fortunate, those paths will for a time join. But if paths separate, it is comforting to know that a friend still graces the universe with his skills, and his viewpoint, and his present. For if one is remembered by a friend, one is never truly gone.

A quote from the book "Thrawn" by Timothy Zahn that really hit me in the feels, or I guess I should say the force

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

strategy

Strategy

loveandrelationships

Love & Relationships

The Art of Friendship 

David, here it is, my philosophy is basically this, and this is something that I live by, and I always have, and I always will:

In the episode of The Office "The Duel", Dunder Mifflin's CFO David Wallace meets with Michael Scott to discuss the Scranton branch's success in the midst of economic decline. David is trying to find what Michael is "doing right".Michael, assuming he was in trouble, is completely unprepared for such a question. But Michael being Michael tries his best

What's His Secret?

Don't ever, for any reason, do anything to anyone for any reason ever, no matter what, no matter where, or who, or who you are with, or where you are going, or where you've been... ever, for any reason whatsoever...

While Michael's response appears to be a random collection of phrases and he himself admits he didn't know where he was going with his train of thought, there is some wisdom to be found in his long-winded and repetitive philosophy, especially when put into the context of the rest of the show.

Nonsense Or Genius

Perhaps it could have been phrased a bit more eloquently, but if we boil it down and study Michael Scott during the day to day at Dunder Mifflin Scranton, we begin to notice a style: simplicity and minimalism."Don't ever, for any reason, do anything to anyone for any reason ever...."While some may disagree, I've noticed that Michael seems to essentially leave his employees alone, trusting them to do their jobs.

Minimalist Management

Obviously this isn't entirely true, as we do see Michael conduct meetings, call employees to his office, make conference calls, etc., but generally we don't see Michael "micromanaging", he has actually stated he doesn't like to be micromanaged.

Sometimes your laziness borders on incompetence.

Of course, doing nothing and not caring at all doesn't work when it comes to leadership.Michael's management style isn't perfect and obviously doesn't work for everyone. He has been called out (many many times) for his nonsensical and distracting theatrics.But if we know Michael Scott at all, we know he is not uncaring, and when it comes down to the wire he pulls through (did I stutter?

Apathy Vs. Minimalism

As with everything in life, there is a balance to management.One of my previous employers bordered on extreme micromanagement. She scheduled everything. Literally everything. There is definitely such a thing as over-involvement in your employees work.Another of my managers leaned more to the other extreme, whose lack of involvement allowed drama and incompetence to grow.The sweet spot is somewhere in between: structure is necessary in the workplace, but so is freedom. A manager must be available to their employees, not too involved and not too distant.

Finding The Balance

Pobody's nerfect.Experience in management and sales helped Michael Scott find the balance between minimalist and micromanagement, even if he didn't know how to express his own philosophy.He trusted his team to do the work. He thrived under lack of supervision, and his branch did too.A little humor helps too!

World's Best Boss

These are just some observations I've made during my (many) rewatches of The Office. Transferring departments at work recently has let me see different management styles and the office gives me a comedic lens to compare them.

movies

Movies & Shows

entertainment

Entertainment

leadershipandmanagement

Leadership & Management

artsandculture

Society, Arts & Culture

Somehow, I Manage: Examining the management style of Michael G. Scott

"So wake me up when it's all over, when I'm wiser and I'm older, all this time I was finding myself and I, didn't know I was lost."Wake Me Up

Tim Bergling, "Avicii" 1989-2018. He was just ten years older than me. People shouldn't die this young.

"Hey brother, there's an endless road to rediscover."Hey Brother

Avicii was an inspiration. I wouldn't be listening to EDM if it weren't for him.

"It's not too late, it's not too late, I see the hope in your heart."Broken Arrows

I wish I could've gone to one of your shows. Meeting you would've been awesome. You may be gone, but your music lasts forever, and I'll never stop listening to it.

"Oh, sometimes, I get a good feeling."Levels

Avicii's music makes me feel better. It gives me a good feeling.

"I'm gonna tear this city down without you, I'm going Bonnie & Clyde without you."Without You

The world has to go on without you, and so do I. It was such an honor to remix one of your songs. And I've got a feeling your songs will be making appearances in my mash-ups for years to come.

"...Thursday waiting for love, waiting for love. Thank the stars it's Friday..."Waiting For Love

Last night, 4/19, I randomly got the song "Waiting for Love" in my head. Then today, 4/20, I find out the creator of that song has died at age 28. Life is crazy.

Avicii's songs easily number among my favorites of all time. There's something about his music that's just joyful, whether you listen to EDM or not. We lost a titan of the music world today, and I will always remember you.

"One day you'll leave this world behind, so live a life you will remember."The Nights

Yesterday marked the 4-year anniversary of the death of Tim Bergling, more widely known as Avicii, a producer, songwriter and DJ and a pioneer in the Electronic Dance Music industry. These are some of my thoughts I posted on Instagram that day back in 2018, four years ago.

mentalhealth

Mental Health

music

Music

AVICII FOREVER: In Memoriam

"There comes a time when we all must grow up. When that time comes, it's important not to forget the lessons of our childhood. Because our childhood is the greatest training ground one will ever have."

Ninjago is one of my favorite TV shows and LEGO themes, and Sensei Wu in particular has some incredible quotes.

Queue the epic music

Running is pointless if you walk slower afterward.

When I sprint, more often then not I burn myself out and end up walking slower than I was before I started running or I have to stop to catch my breath.

It's Not A Sprint

This same thought can be applied to habits and productivity, like when we get really excited about a new diet or routine or resolution, but after a couple weeks it's not as exciting and we slow down and let life keep going or worse: we regress.

Gaining Momentum

A great journey begins with a single step

Our life isn't a sprint, and neither are our lifestyle choices and habits. It's a marathon, and we have to be in it for the long run, one step at a time. By applying principles like "1% better every day" we can make major lifestyle changes that don't feel like major lifestyle changes, it just feels natural. One step at a time.

Life's A Marathon

I came up with that first quote a while back but I had trouble putting the concept behind it into words until now.

productivity

Productivity

habits

Habits

Keeping momentum

The population of the world of BIONICLE lives by Three Virtues: Unity, Duty, and Destiny. These virtues can be applied to the workplace, relationships and life in general.

Unity, Duty, Destiny

BIONICLE is a LEGO theme that means a lot to me. I will dive deeper into these virtues in the future.

The vast BIONICLE Universe comes together in this guidebook from creator Greg Farshtey! Featuring the only map of the BIONICLE Universe ever publish, exclusive information, and the inside story from Makuta Teridax himself, "Makua's Guide to the Universe" is a great addition to any BIONICLE fan's collection. As the BIONICLE saga prepares to begin a new chapter, followers of the series can take a look back at the stories that have thrilled millions!

books

Books

The vast BIONICLE Universe comes together in this guidebook from creator Greg Farshtey! Featuring the only map of the BIONICLE Universe ever publish, exclusive information, and the inside story from Makuta Teridax himself, "Makua's Guide to the Universe" is a great addition to any BIONICLE fan's collection. As the BIONICLE saga prepares to begin a new chapter, followers of the series can take a look back at the stories that have thrilled millions!

Greg Farshtey

Bionicle: Makuta's Guide to the Universe

Do not put off until tomorrow, that which can be done today.

Procrastination

You only live once? False. You live everyday. You only die once.

You need to play to win. But you also need to win to play.

Before I do anything, I ask myself ‘would an idiot do that?’ and if the answer is yes, I do not do that thing.

‘You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.’ – Wayne Gretsky

“I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days, before you’ve actually left them.”

There are always a million reasons not to do something.

These quotes, especially the last one, really resonate with me. The Office is a comedy, but it has a lot of serious moments and many touching lines.

From The Office for Life

If you've played with toys in the last 40 years chances are you've interacted with at least one LEGO brick, probably more like hundreds. Behind these seemingly simple building blocks lies a powerful brand with a System of Play painstakingly perfected over nearly a century, with lessons to be learned about both personal and corporate productivity and the true meaning of perfection.

A Simple Little Brick

When Ole Kirk Christiansen founded his toy company in the 1930s, he coined its name by combining the Danish words "leg godt" meaning "play well". And thus "LEGO" was born. The very name signals a higher level of quality, and The LEGO Group's products have lived up to that name.

More Than A Name

The LEGO Group's motto in Danish is "Det bedste er ikke for godt". This has two similar but slightly different English translations, one more figurative and one more literal. Below will be each translation and my exploration as to how it can relate to productivity and perfection.

More Than A Motto

...is the more well-known "loose" translation of The LEGO Group's motto. This phrase can be very motivating when striving for excellence. It causes one to ask such questions as:• Is my (product, pitch, manuscript) the best that it can be?• What can I do to make it the best?• Am I performing at my best, and if not what do I need to change?

"Only The Best Is Good Enough"

While "Only the best is good enough" can push us further, the picture of stark perfectionism it paints is daunting, especially when we can't find the time, resources or motivation to reach the level of perfection we desire. We are human after all, and none of us are perfect.

Two Sides To Perfection

...is the more literal word-for-word translation of "Det bedste er ikke for godt". Working with the mindset that "the best" or perfection are accessible goals without ruthlessly racing toward them can lift a tremendous amount of pressure off a workload. Rather than asking "Is this perfect?" one can ask questions like:• Is this the best I can do with what I have?• Does this need to be absolutely perfect?• Is my standard for perfection unreasonably high?Questions like these can open the door for more honest evaluations of our own abilities and perceptions.

"The Best Is Not Too Good"

Realizing that we cannot be totally perfect is important, but we must also be wary that we don't lower our expectations too far and fall into mediocrity. There is a balance to be struck between the pursuit of perfection and burnout prevention.

Avoiding Apathy

"The best is not too good" can also work like a "You can do it!" to remind us that even if we aren't perfect, we should still give it the best we can.

Quality and heart go hand-in-hand. Consumers are smart. They can usually spot a quality product, and they know if it's made with love or just thrown together. LEGO is a family company, but it's also one of the biggest brands in the world. You don't get there by being mediocre (Only best is good enough) but you also can't get there by blindly rushing towards what may seem perfect at the time or is simply mainstream (The best is not too good).

Det bedste er ikke for godt.

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

The LEGO Brick, Perfectionism and Productivity

"People make mistakes in life through believing too much, but they have a damned dull time if they believe too little."-Rutherford, from the book "Lost Horizon" by James Hilton, 1933

Believe In Something

Flying out of India, a light aircraft is hi-jacked and flown into the high Tibetan Himalayas. The few passengers on board anxiously await their fate, among them Conway, a talented British consul. But on landing they are unexpectedly conducted to a remote valley, a legendary paradise of peace and beauty, known as Shangri-La. Have they been kidnapped? Can they escape? And do they even want to? From the author of Goodbye Mr Chips, this is the epic adventure story of literature's most entrancing utopia and one of our most enduring literary mysteries.

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

Flying out of India, a light aircraft is hi-jacked and flown into the high Tibetan Himalayas. The few passengers on board anxiously await their fate, among them Conway, a talented British consul. But on landing they are unexpectedly conducted to a remote valley, a legendary paradise of peace and beauty, known as Shangri-La. Have they been kidnapped? Can they escape? And do they even want to? From the author of Goodbye Mr Chips, this is the epic adventure story of literature's most entrancing utopia and one of our most enduring literary mysteries.

The Art of Friendship

Somehow, I Manage: Examining the management style of Michael G. Scott

AVICII FOREVER: In Memoriam

Queue the epic music

Keeping momentum

William Long