Posted in Behavior, General, Human Resources, Insurance, Listen, Psychology, See What Isn't There, Stories, Traffic, Transportation
I know a few people who don't wear seat belts. Normally, as someone with libertarian leanings, I wouldn't have a problem with this. (This would almost certainly be the case if society weren't also required to pay for their treatment after they have been in an accident) My problem stems from those individuals who cite, as…
Posted in Behavior, Change, Games, Human Resources, Parenting, Stories, Unlearn Strategy, Wisdom
I have two children — ages 9 and 11. I love them dearly but they have been known to not play so nicely with one another on occasion. What I find really fascinating is how they can be at each other's throat one minute and then playing peacefully together the next minute. They have mastered…
In 2004, I wrote the book Into the Unknown: Leadership Lessons from Lewis & Clark’s Daring Westward Expedition. One of my favorite stories—because it has so much relevance for today’s business leaders —occurred in early June 1805. On June 2, 1805, Lewis and Clark approached a fork in the Missouri River. During their consultations with…
"The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence." –Carl Sagan I love the above quote. It may take a little time to process its meaning but if you can–and, more important, if you can really takes it message to heart–you will have taken a big step down the path of unlearning. To better understand,…
I have just finished reading Norton Juster’s The Phantom Tollbooth with my eight-year-old son and have decided that along with Shel Silverstein’s poem “Smart,” it should be required reading for any young person interested in unlearning. Below are a few of my favorite passages: At one point Alec hands Milo a special telescope as a…
Posted in Agriculture, Automobile, Books, Business, Creativity, Education, Energy, Government, History, Paradigm, Science, Stories, Unlearn Strategy
Big problems such as health care, feeding the world and addressing climate change don't necessarily require big solutions. In the 19th century, Ignaz Semmelweis helped save the lives of hundreds of thousands of women by getting doctors to wash their hands prior to assisting in the delivery of a new-born child. (Unfortunately, however, it still required the medical community…
Posted in Education, Energy, Future, Genomics, Innovation, Jump the Curve, Nanotechnology, Neuroscience, Stories
Marshall McCluhan once famously said, “First, we shape our tools and then our tools shape us.” As a professional futurist, I have been trying to explain how some of our tools are getting exponentially more powerful. In turn, these tools are accelerating the advances that will soon shape our future and, by virtue of their…
Posted in Business, Culture, Games, General, Psychology, Quiz, Sports, Stories, Unlearn Strategy
In an early key college football matchup, the 8th ranked Ohio State Buckeyes lost to the 3rd ranked USC Trojan's last evening by a score of 18-15. A number of reasons will be given for the defeat and many will be valid. One key decision likely to be overlooked by most observers was Ohio State Coach…
Posted in Books, Business, Culture, Education, Future, General, Health Care, Insurance, Philosophy, Psychology, Quiz, Stories, Unlearn Strategy
Read the following sentence: A woman without her man is nothing. My guess is that if you're a woman it pissed you off because you read it in the following way: "A woman, without her man, is nothing". If, however, you made just a small change in punctuation it could be read this way: "A…
Ben Harper has a new song on this latest album that touches on the theme of unlearning. The song is entitled "Fly One Time." Below are the lyrics. A video of the song being performed live can be found below. (It's a good tune.) I have an abilityIt’s pounding at my door.Screaming for more. In…
