As we continue to be in lockdown, are you obsessed with the news, or limiting your exposure to it?
It’s easy to understand both approaches. Equally, you might have more time to read more things so might be wandering more widely than before. Just as we now have words in use that even 6 weeks ago most of us had never heard of let alone used (yes, furlough, I’m looking at you), then you might find yourself looking at tales of vaccine development or whether it’s appropriate to wear sequins when working from home (always).
Not everything is about picking up a book, so these are bits and pieces I’ve found fascinating in the current climate, that tickled the grey cells.
The Perks of Being a Weirdo
What I love out of this article from The Atlantic was the need for variances of opinions and experiences in order to get to new solutions. There’s also the part about it only needing one person to break ranks to start unpicking the thinking.
Given some of the news we’re hearing about delays to decisions that may well have affected the progress of COVID19, then maybe it needed a few more weirdos, a few more rulebreakers. Sadly, I don’t think politics is necessarily peopled with non-conformists in the right way.
Language and empathy in a time of crisis
There will be many analyses of different approaches taken to the crisis in the weeks, months and years ahead. I found this one about Jacinda Ardern’s leadership approach fascinating as it focuses on the language used. I think we’ve definitely learned that a time of crisis is not a good time to introduce new terms for important actions.
It talks about how she gave a clear message straight away on things like who was considered a key worker. And it talks about talking to a nation clearly, adult to adult.
There are lessons in here, not just for crisis management but for great leadership.
Focus on culture, not products
I’ll be honest, I don’t really know what this headline meant. It reminds me of a meeting back in my corporate days when the new head marketing guru spouted some nonsense about being part of the culture, but then couldn’t provide any examples of where brands had done that.
Stick with it though, as it’s still worth a read to look at things like should a business go dark or keep communicating (or you could read my take here on that). I did like the focus on long-form communication, from video to the written word. Could be a fascinating development.
Take a university course
I’m in lockdown with my teen, who should have been starting their A-Level exams shortly. Now they’re over the weirdness of the “what is happening” scenario, they’re looking at whether they can learn anything to support their chosen degree course.
Just before you think they’re a saint/swot, this is in between long lie-ins and binge-watching Tiger King on Netflix.
This is a great list of courses from universities around the globe covering everything from Engineering the Space Shuttle to the Circular Economy of Sustainable Materials Management and even Exploring Japanese Avant-Garde Art through Butoh Dance.
I’m saving that one.
But there really is something for everyone, and you may not have this time again for a long time. So what do we have to lose?
Embrace remote working or disappear
There are some businesses who have had to be dragged into remote working almost screaming and kicking, driven only by there really being no alternative at the moment. They are dinosaurs, clinging to relics of a bygone, of old status symbols, where big shiny office blocks were seen as important.
This article was a great wake up call as to why they need to consider the current situation as a clarion call to change. Or get stuck in your own revolving door of ego.
How to embrace grey hair during lockdown
Just leaving this one here. I haven’t made my mind up whether to tough it out, or follow the teen’s suggestion and go lilac or pink. But as always, great writing from Alyson. But then she also has a great round-up of gallery-going from your armchair, which you can do with roots and grey hair and in your PJs. See you at the Guggenheim.
On the reading pile
I have to admit my stash of books is going down quicker than normal. I usually have two or three on the go, dipping in and out. At the moment, I am rapidly making my way through Wintering by Katherine May, (amazing book).
I pick up It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be when I need a nudge or prod. Then Made to Stick is an exploration of why some ideas work, and others flop. Which appears not to be an exact science.
And because food is as important during lockdown as it was before in this house, when it’s meal planning time, then we move between Anna Jones and Yotam Ottolenghi. Of which there are a fair few. None of which would be bad reading, or cooking, at any time.
One to watch and look forward to
I love Wes Anderson’s movies. I think The Grand Budapest Hotel is one of my favourite films of all time. So I’m particularly excited at the thought of the new movie, The French Dispatch. From the trailer here, looks like it has many of the ingredients that make his films a feast for the eyes and the brain. Who knows when we’ll get to see it now, but I can’t wait.
What’s caught your eye in recent times? Are you reading more or less? Be great to hear what others have found intriguing, entertaining, frustrating or otherwise informative.
