Learning
Cenote Samula near Valladolid, Mexico (~150km to Cancun) - The tree on top and then below.
The roots reach all the way down into a large cavern where it is possible to swim.
At First Glance
Looks can be deceiving. That is one phrase that I've taken to heart over my life journey. Translation - it is possible
to learn something from anyone, anywhere, at any time. It is just a matter of fine tuning our senses - sight, hearing,
smell, touch, taste, and that "6th sense" --- our gut feelings.
On my extended journey I've been fortunate to have the time to optimize my senses to maximize learning at any given
moment. Combined with self-developed techniques to "cleanse the mind," I've gotten rid of the stereotyping
of others, labeling of self and others, and the need to be critical and/or defensive over other people's ideas and
belief systems. This has helped tremendously in my ability to see things as they are, and not as I or others
imagine them to be.
Learning hasn't only come from travel, but from leveraging the fruits of the information explosion that have
occurred in our lifetimes. One of the best things I started doing while traveling and living abroad was to start
learning by watching documentaries - a lot of them. Prior to that, reading books was my primary method of learning
independently. For quite a few years, finding and viewing documentaries was central to improving myself and my
knowledge base. Tempered with the realization that it was/is the application of knowledge which forms experiences
which change our behavior.
Documentary Power
I've watched 200+ complete documentaries on nutrition, brain science, genetics, psychology, advanced technologies, science of light / water / EMF (electromagnetic frequencies) / sound (cymatics), archaeology, natural & human history, astronomy, spiritual matters. From independent to National Geographic, BBC, Discovery Channel, History Channel, CBC, and PBS.
Continual Improvement
Process Improvement in the Mirror
Process improvement comes in many forms and names. It has been a part of me for a long time, in my DNA so to speak.
It is one reason I took so easily to some of my roles as a software configuration / change management manager.
Improving and optimizing the software development process came naturally to me.
However, there is a danger of always striving to improve processes. We can become overly critical of others
who either are "inefficient in our eyes," or we can become "overly efficient" at a single thing
/ set of tasks. We then may miss the bigger picture. For example, we become "so good" at our job
that we sacrifice our health - physical / mental well being, which then degrades our performance later, a
law of diminishing returns. Or we may be overly focused on optimizing a given set of processes / tasks that
we don't see a competitive threat or new business opportunity. On a personal level - it can lead to unnecessary
impatience, (repressed) anger, stress, dissatisfaction, or lack of appreciation for other people's capabilities / limitations.
Watching people try to get the perfect camera shot while fiddling with their gear, and then "losing sight"
of a beautiful landscape or moment, is a similar example from traveling.
I've certainly been guilty of these in one form or another, but I've learned to find the right balance,
for me anyway. Whether it's been for improving a business or technical process, personal self-improvement of health,
finding ways to travel / backpack lighter, finding better gear, route optimization, how to analyze new situations faster,
or improving my knowledge of interpersonal communications, I always try to keep the larger goal in mind.