We are all familiar with the scene, Uncle Ben is sitting in a car, with Peter Parker next to him, and he tells Peter "With great power comes great responsibility." ...But think about the opposite. Think about the catch-phrase from the new movie "Kick-Ass" (which is a great movie by the way). With no power comes no responsibility. The question is, "Is it true?" Face it, … [Read more...]

In a fit of spring-cleaning pique this weekend, I finally attacked my laundry bomb of a closet. After I’d re-hung everything, it was crammed like a Macy’s sale rack. Wait – exactly like a Macy’s sale rack. Why did so many of the clothes still have tags on them?! One by one, I flicked through the hangers. Oh, that cocktail dress I bought in case I started eating at fancy … [Read more...]

Three years ago, during the last semester of my senior year in college, I hit the job hunt hard.  Almost every weekend, I drove home for a job interview, looking for that perfect web/Flash developer position waiting for me in Chicago.  And there were a few offered to me.  I accepted one that sounded great.  Mission accomplished. And then I graduated from college, moved back … [Read more...]

Kaizen is a Japanese technique that focuses of using small steps of continuous improvement to bring about big change. Intrinsically, this makes perfect sense, right? The best way to make a huge life altering change would be to take it little by little. Step by step. But for some reason, when I’m actually in the midst of making a big change I want results immediately. I hate my … [Read more...]

I asked the boy beneath the pines. He said, "The master's gone alone herb picking, somewhere on the mount, cloud hidden, whereabouts unknown." (Chin Tao, 777-841) For centuries ancient traditions have looked to their elders for advice, counsel, and wisdom.  The role of an elder was not something a person sought.  Instead the community would identify those … [Read more...]