My friend Alex Kjerulf is a wonderful guy. I say my friend, like I know him really well, but the truth is that I met him online in the summer, linked to his blog, Positive Sharing and then carried on a bit of an exchange with him. Turns out that he and I have a lot of similar interests, including Open Space Technology, a simultaneous reading of Crptonomicon and a love of fun. In fact, he does a lot of work with laughter and is currently writing a book about happiness at work. It’s in Danish, so I have no …
From the comments on improvisation, Andy has added a provocative thought: We talk about “The Organisation” as though it exists as an entity. But what makes it a unique, coherent, singular whole? It is after all a collection of numerous individuals, maybe numerous business units, probably diverse goals. Is it one CEO? One set of corporate accounts? Common shareholders? IMHO the thing that makes an organisation truly a coherent single entity is none of these – it’s having a vision that is truly shared. Now I am going to propose something. I believe that an organization’s vision is as messy …
I’m not sure, but Matthew Baldwin’s experience of a rare medical condition might just be the funniest thing I have read for a while. And then I read the comments: “Dang me! Sorry you were in pain. Btw, I’ve had a kidney stone and been through childbirth (twice). It’s true. You do NOT want the kidney stone.” What a Christmas he had. Here’s hoping 2004 is considerably meeker.
mysterium points me to an e.e. cummings poem, which makes a compelling way to start a new year: all nearness pauses, while a star can grow all nearness pauses, while a star can grow all distance breathes a final dream of bells; perfectly outlined against afterglow are all amazing the and peaceful hills (not where not here but neither’s blue most both) and history immeasurably is wealthier by a single sweet day’s death: as not imagined secrecies comprise goldenly huge whole the upfloating moon. Time’s a strange fellow; more he gives than takes (and he takes all) nor any marvel …