Day: October 6, 2011

Know what to give a sh*t about

★ Universe Dented, Grass Underfoot:

One of Jobs’s many gifts was that he knew what to give a shit about. He knew how to focus and prioritize his time and attention.

[And is one of the most critical skills any of us can develop. Not just the ability to prioritize, or the often mistaken-as-a-skill being able to blow stuff off. But the true, “focusing on the important things”. Thoughtfully deciding that something is worth the limited amount of time and attention and focus we have, and choosing that this, right now, is the thing. Because not doing that is a waste of what limited time we have. Even the longest life is short measured in time. Lisa wondered how long after Steve’s passing I would say something to her about the fact that he was only 9 years older than I am now. I did tonight. If today was my last day was it well spent? And not in the overly dramatic way that sounds at first read. I often must be careful with my capability to be maniacally intense, and I work on the balance needed to focus that kind of energy. I’ve often been asked “be more like this person or that person”. I don’t always fit comfortably into other people’s worlds. In my personal life that’s not a problem, but it is something that affects my work life. It’s time to ensure that I don’t live in that situation for any length of time any more. It’s draining and uncomfortable, and it wastes what precious time I have. Today I got a chance to have some heartfelt conversations, crack a bottle of wine with some friends, and care for Noah. Now, I’m going to snuggle with my wife, and put this day in the “attaboy” column. With Yom Kippur arriving tomorrow eve, may everyone be signed and sealed for a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year. May anyone mourning the passing of loved one this past year find comfort and grace and joy in the new one.]
Source: Daring Fireball

Black Turtleneck Cocktail

Black Turtleneck Cocktail:

  • 1 oz. sweet vermouth (Dolin)
  • 1 oz. Applejack
  • 1 oz. rye whiskey (Rittenhouse Bonded)
  • ½ tsp. amber or dark organic agave nectar
  • 1 dash Fee’s Old Fashioned Bitters

Stir with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a Luxardo maraschino cherry or an organic cocktail cherry. Turn to face Cupertino and raise your glass.

(Yes, it’s a variant on a Manhattan. Yes, I’m having one right now. Yes, this is sincere. We mourn in our own ways.)

[Heh.]
Source: Coyote Tracks

The journey was the reward

The journey was the reward:

I was in the midst of late edits on The Intention Economy this afternoon, wondering if I should refer to Steve Jobs in the past tense. I didn’t want to, but I knew he’d be gone by the time the book comes out next April, if he wasn’t gone already. So I decided to make the changes, and stopped cold before the first one. I just couldn’t go there.

Then the bad news came a few minutes ago, through an AP notification on my iPhone. Tonight we all have to go there.

[(I found out the same way…)]

Turns out Steve’s muse was the best in the history of business. No one-hit wonders. We’re talking about world-changing stuff. Again and again and again.

[Sigh. Go read the rest of Doc’s piece and his email from so long ago. Amazing.]
Source: Doc Searls Weblog