Sic transit

It's easy to think that things are too hard.

But that doesn't mean that they are not worth working on. Far from it.

Plan. Execute. Learn. Repeat.

Plan to fail

"Fail to plan, plan to fail"

Keep a to-do list. Update it. Review it. Put on a couple of easy wins.

But be honest with yourself.

If you haven't done one of the items on your list, then ask yourself why not.

And then ask yourself what you are going to do about it.

Are you going to drop that item because it is no longer relevant, because it is too hard (yet), or because you have an obstacle to overcome first?

Use your plan to plan, and then see that plan through.

Focus and lack of focus

Sometimes it is important to focus on what we are doing, particularly if we have bought into the idea of "mindfulness".

Yes, this is important and useful.

But equally it can be important NOT to focus, but to allow a flow, a stream of consciousness.

And that will prompt a focus.

Ethical considerations

I've been thinking a lot recently about the use of AI for behavioural psychology... Like "nudge units".

Particularly in the public sector, where is the ethical oversight?

The argument may be put forward that this is for the "greater good", but when you are - especially as a state monopoly - manipulating your citizens in any way (organisations may be different, I've not thought that through yet), how does that stack against freedom, and against authoritarianism and dictatorship?