Codes

As I prepared for SVP Cincinnati's decision on a new focus area, I stumbled on NCCS (National Center for Charitable Statistics) and the  NTEE-CC codes (developed in the '80s - these codes divides the universe of non profits into 26 major groups in 10 broad categories).  It was a statistician's dream - Giving with a code :)

Codes are our attempt to take large numbers of seemingly unique items and group them into something more understandable.  The allows us sort add together, compare and contrast - analysis/paralysis.

The 2010 census is now upon us - and each of us will be "codified".  Somehow we must fit inside the codes they have provided -  "none of the above" is not an option.  Susan has started her personal revolution around the code for "Race".  Personally I like her view - but as a statistician I'm conflicted - since I'm obsessed with codes.

Her preferred code for Race ---   HUMAN.

Should've , Could've, Would've

I should've, could've and would've done it if only .....   Words to be deleted from your vocabulary.  With the word "have"  they are all past tense expressing conditionality, contingency or personal opinion.  Either you are in angst over a bad decision or making an excuse for current circumstances.

The only positive thing in the use of the words is the possibility you are using them to improve your decisions and actions in the future. 
 
Putting the word "YOU" in front of  -- "should, could and would" is extremely dangerous.  Whether it is advice, or an order - it is never really received well or desired by the recipient. 

So get out the past -  I shall, can and will.

False Negative

False Negative is Type II error (also known as the error of excessive skepticism).  It is also known as the oversight error - believing the premise (based on observations) when in fact it is false.  Or in lawyer's terms ruling the defendant innocent when in fact he is guilty.

Last night I told the Trustees that "I was paid to be a skeptic on conversion dates".  Excessive skepticism is viewed as counter productive, anti progress, and pessimistic attitude.  There is a reason they use the term "Devils Advocate". 

There is no right answer on which is worse - False Positives or False Negatives (the cynic or the gullible). Both can be solved with infinite sample sizes in statistics.

It's like politics - you need emphasis on both "False" errors - Republicans and Democrats :)

Or maybe you are experiencing TYPE III error -  using the wrong null hypothesis (asking the wrong question).

Same

I have gone to the  --  SAME  -- Barber for 33 years -  Fausto Ferrari the Barber of Garfield Place.  In that 33 years we have spoken no more than 100 sentences.  Fausto a first generation Italian has a heavy accent but the picture of George Washington on the wall facing the chair shows his proud American citizenship and his business demonstrates the entrepreneurial DNA of the USA.
I enter the door - he says how are you (at least that's what I think he said).   I nod.  He says, SAME?  I say, SAME.  The rest is pure meditation.  I  close my eyes and listen to the sounds of the city.  Or during the winter, Fausto turns on the 1950's radio station and Frank Sinatra sings a tune. 
Walking in his shop is like walking into a barber shop of the 1940's. He started there July 7, 1957 and I think there is stiill a National Geographic on the magazine stand with that date.
The comfort  of  "SAME"  (I think the building has had a barbershop there for over 100 years) is a wonderful feeling.

1024ferrarri

Cincinnati Enquirer  10/24/2004  
The Barber of Garfield Place

Fountain of Youth

This weekend (a beautiful set of Spring days) was consumed with renewing the fountain that is an integral part of our front courtyard.  My experiment with shutting down the the filter/pump over the winter, resulted in a very ugly environment of algae and slime (with fish casualties).  The lessons of experience.

Three plants survived and now the fish (with additions) will roam a crystal clear aqueous home. The fountain now in it's fourth year of operation has been a fun hobby for me and source of great pleasure -  maybe even FLOW :)

So the fountain yields happiness;  happiness can extend your life -  yes indeed a fountain of youth.

Falling on your Sword

When the arrogant leader falls on his sword the crowd roars and the arguments wage on -  we expect our leaders to be without sin. So when hypocrisy is discovered - we crucify vs forgive.   One side starts the justifying arguments,  the other "we told you so".  The the fact remains - everyone regardless of arrogance or humility will someday fall on their sword.  How you respond to your neighbor's wound is what will differentiate you.
It's a slippery slope to rank the fall or how big the sword is.  Some justify using the past saying - "At least it's not as bad as when ....."
Actually most falls on a sword are fatal --  that is a fall without forgiveness.  The tough thing is forgiving someone who offers no others forgiveness (a form of ultimate arrogance). 
Today marks the week of ultimate forgiveness - the Armor of Grace.

Socratic Listening

Listening - is it an art, skill, inherit talent or something else?  Engaged listening is even deeper and harder to do.  Because the human voice is slow, the listeners mind wanders - anticipates the next word, thought or prepares a volley in the tennis match of communication.

What happens when two "listeners" confront?   Sounds of Silence (by the way what is the sound of silence? - a song?)
The only way to get another listener to talk is with an interesting question - one that mandates something other than a yes or no.

At Accenture, we were trained heavily in the use of open ended questions in the interview queries with clients.  Add to that my favorite training from a East Coast firm (Communispond I think) called Socratic Selling. I was given all the tools to train myself in better more engaged listening - maybe even Socratic Listening.

The question is ...........   Tell me more about this term Socratic listening.