Earlier today I completely wiped and reloaded my work (and only) laptop/machine. This is the fourth time that I have had to reload and wipe my machine in the last three years. There are several learning(s) from this experience that I think is a metaphor for life in general.

1.   Am I really going to do this? Wipe and reload is like a drastic change in your life and even though I know it is going to happen I simply wasn't quite mentally prepared for it. There was a sense of dread, the thought that I may loose something, which I did.

Corollary: in life we are never quite ready for the big change until we actually go through it

2.    Backup: Although I have tried to create a backup of my whole machine and it failed, the failure in the end was good. What is the point of that? I will simply restore the same image I had including all its problems and baggage. So failure of my initial backup is a good thing in disguise, so I will go with copying my files to an external drive instead.

Corollary - the best looking option may not be the best option for your particular situation. Failure can be a blessing in disguise

3. Misdiagnosis: Performed the wipe and reload in our tech support guys office and he even put the machine on a docking station just to be sure that was not the problem. Brought it back to my office and it didn't work. After much diagnosis agony, discovered it is my docking station that is fried. Oh well, my machine is much faster now.

Corollary: Misdiagnosis is possible but after a drastic change, you may find cures for diseases you didn't know you had. Attitude is everything

4.Delete the trail: Once installed, deleting the backup files from the  external drive was something else that made me anxious. I just feel like leaving a trail that I can go back to, redundancy is comforting.

Corollary: Make a clean break from the past.

5. What do I want, What do I need: There are so many programs on my machine most of which I don't need, but I have never bothered to clean. 

Corollary: Take time to clean out the junk in your life.

6. Where are my bookmarks: I have lost all my bookmarks on Internet explorer :(. I simply forgot to back them up and only discovered it missing while I need it.

Corollary: You can't remember everything, even when you lose something look on the brighter side - no I get to create a new bookmarks of only site I like and use and now I get to explore for new ones.

7. Explore: This is an opportunity for me to discover the applications that I have. Play with them and find new features that will make me productive. For example I discovered MSN radio in MSN messenger, cool however they miss the point in that Pandora will not play in the IM client.

Corollary/Update: I did find my bookmarks! yay! apparently I have loaded it my favorites on MSN live.

It is not life that matters but the courage you bring to it - Obafemi Awolowo

A famous line from a famous movie I can not remember :) But the point is that, at the time - "plastics" is where the action is career wise. In recent times, the action has been in information technology.

One question I have often thought about is what are the skills necessary to be successful in business in the future? And to be successful in business specifically. This eliminates the duopoly of good and steady careers - Doctors and Lawyers. Reading the current Jack & Suzy Welsh's article in businessweek I find some of his thought in synch with my own.

"- Chinese is the language to learn. China is already an economic powerhouse. It will only gain strength. Anyone who can do business there with the speed and intimacy that fluency affords will earn a real competitive edge"

"As for what to study - if you want to be where the action is now and for the next couple of decades, consider the industries focused on the alternative sources of energy. Or learn everything you can about the confluence of three fields: biotechnology, information technology and nanotechnology"

"That said, when it comes to picking an educational filed and ultimately a career, absolutely nothing beats pursuing the path that truly fascinates your brain and engage your energy and touches your soul"

In lay man terms:

Get the basics: (Reading, Writing and Arithmetic)

1. Read - learn how to read and read a lot. In addition, learn how to teach yourself anything you need to know
2. Write - ability to write articles and whitepapers and more importantly the pertinent research skills to produce this documents. Public speaking - ability to communicate, to deliver ideas,and convince others is absolutely crucial
3. Arithmetic - you have to be able to think in terms of data, perform analysis and master the discipline of logic

The basics enables you to think for yourself, but everything has to connect with your passion. Come back for more details on passion.

One characteristic (more like character flaw) that I recently notice in myself, is the inability to appreciate things I do well. Yes, like most people I like being complimented when I do good work, however, more often than not, I am dismissive of that appreciation or compliment.

There are several reasons, one is in my mind, I have already moved on to the next problem that I have to solve. So appreciating something in the past seems old. Two, I often feel, like compliments goads me to let my guard down - in my head, the voice is saying, what does this person wants? why are they complimenting me? weren't you expecting me to do well anyway? The third reason, is a sense of false humility, the self effacing, thank you smile, while inwardly I am saying, I am glad you notice but what else? will you remember this an hour from now? I guess I have a chip on my shoulder that most compliments are artificial and self serving. However, I can't really place the reason why I feel this way.

The sad part of this character flaw is that it affects my ability to compliment others. I really want to give sincerely compliments and be other people's champion. However, I would hate to be shallow about it, so more often than not, I just don't say anything. This is frustrating.

The solution is that I have to be conscious of this flaw , and I need to deliberately give people honest and sincere appreciation.

One thing that you rarely experience in Seattle is DWB.

However, I was pulled over the other night, for expired tags and I could just not shake the feeling that it was a case of DWB. I had noticed this cop car following me after I left a reggae club, but I did not think anything of it, in fact, I forgot they were there. However, on turning a corner the lights went on. The first thing that popped into my head is, I must not have signaled to make the turn, however my blinkers were still on. So what could it be - I wondered, is my tires flat, is something wrong with the car?

Anyway, after waiting for 10 minutes (yes I was watching the clock), Office Gallagher of course I didn't know his name at this time, came to the passenger side Windows.

Officer Gallagher: "Do you know why I pulled you over"

Me: No

Officer Gallagher: "Have you been drinking tonight"

Me: Yes - "I had a beer, one beer tonight at the club"

Officer Gallagher: "Have you been drinking or smoking something else tonight

Me: No (at this point I was pissed because he hasn't told me while he pulled me over, and it seems like he expected someone drunk behind the wheel or maybe even a brother driving dirty)

Officer Gallagher: "Well I pulled you over because you have an expired tag"

Me in my mind: - What the F#$K !!! in this drug invested neighborhood at 2am, you are stopping me for expired tags.

Me: "OK"

Office Gallagher: "So where are you coming from?"

Me: The war room

Officer Gallagher:" And you are sure you are not smoking or drinking or something" (Without saying the words, it was clear the officer was insinuating I may have been smoking weed"

Officer Gallagher: "I will be right back"

The officer went to his car, came back and started the drinking line of questioning again, he even went on to say he could smell something in my car.

Anyway while I have to prove that this is a case of DWB, I can not shake the feeling. For me this is sad, because this is something Seattle is not known for. And although I want a safe city, I am definitely not supporting the increase in the number of cops in the City.

This is my position and I am sticking to it.