Life Is Rich

In the business world, rules are for the lowest common denominator. They are meant to establish a baseline of behavior. In dangerous jobs or generally low-performance or low-paid areas, these rules may be required. Not to denigrate customer support or call-centers, but I imagine this high-turnover position probably requires a hefty set of rules. Doctors and nuclear power plant operators, who have our lives in their hands, must follow an extensive set of well-researched and proven operating procedures.

Unfortunately, in most highly skilled positions (like software engineers), the only people who usually need said rules are the lowest performers anyway – those who should probably be fired. The high performers don’t need to be reminded of the lowest common denominator expectations. Insultingly low-bar rules would likely just stifle creativity and lower morale. So if you just fired the poor performers, why do you need the rules at all?

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On the technology historical timeline reflected upon a couple decades hence, I’m curious how the iPhone will be represented. I’ve talked about the iPhone before; it’s an amazing device – possibly even revolutionary. For someone with a laptop superglued to my fingers, the thought that I could almost survive with just an iPhone for a day must be a sign of the apocalypse at least.

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It has been hot as hell here the last couple weeks. On the way back from lunch one day this week, I came across 6 older businessmen in suits on a street corner. In the midday sun, the temperature was near 100 degrees with the high humidity of a Nashville summer. They were sweating like stuffed pigs and I could only imagine the level of discomfort they were experiencing.

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