Comments on: Ten Pieces of Inspiration #12

By: joan

joan — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:29:03 +0000

I love the Elbert Hubbard quote and your comments. I work for a federal research and development laboratory where PhDs are the norm. Having only a little bachelor’s degree to my name, it would be very easy to feel intimidated around all the scientists and engineers I work with. My job, however, is to communicate their incredibly complicated ideas to audiences ranging from peers to laypersons or politicians with no scientific background. If I don’t ask “stupid” questions so that I can at least somewhat understand what they’re talking about, I can’t do my job. I’ve learned that people–even really smart people–get very excited about sharing what they know with others. People who have chips on their shoulders don’t last long around here. And there’s no such thing as a stupid question.

By: ChrisD

ChrisD — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:17:29 +0000

Watched the ‘learn to question experts’ TED talk, that lead to the washing machine talk and learning about Hans Rosling, that lead to learning about his Gapminder website, making statistics sing.
Just go look at the map of every country in the world, (colour coded by continent) changing in size in proportion to the population, moving on the x axis of average income and the y axis of life expectancy over the last 200 years. Absolutely fascinating. Now I’ve introduced TED and Gapminder to my flatmate.
Thanks Trent!

By: kat L

kat L — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 19:52:34 +0000

Your post about Rachel makes me think of my best friend Val. She too made the decision to pursue a career in social work while in high school and spent 17 years working in a women’s shelter and for Canada Mental Health. She was killed by a client at work about 6 weeks ago and her funeral was a testament to the number of people she touched through her work; it was a huge church and it was overfull. People were even in the basement and standing in the corners of the church for the service. She never made a lot of money in her lifetime but her life was an incredibly rich one. Her impact was such that there has been a memorial award set up in her name by some of her colleagues and friends. http://valeriewolski.net/award/ Individuals who work in these types of careers have my upmost respect and appreciation.

By: Debbie M

Debbie M — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 18:33:21 +0000

When you see how many hours upon hours it takes to learn how to walk, you see that it’s a good thing that people never tell kids things like, “Well, you gave it your best shot, but have you ever thought that maybe you’re just not the type of person who will ever walk?” And if someone did say that, fortunately the little kid wouldn’t understand. Kids just keep trying and trying and trying until they get it.

It’s certainly possible to err in the direction of not giving up soon enough, but I definitely err in the other direction. So when I find myself getting frustrated, I remember about little kids, using all their core muscles and even neck muscles and eyebrow muscles just trying to stay sitting up, and then falling over anyway, but just for a a brief period in their lives until they get it.

I love that attitude on experts, too. I need to surround myself with differing opinions more, and ask about assumptions and “how do you know that” more often.

By: Creede

Creede — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 18:02:21 +0000

Hi Trent,

I really enjoy getting the newsletter.

W/r/t the Earl Scruggs/Steve Martin clip: You’re right, it is an amazing display of musicianship. It shouldn’t be much of a surprise that Earl can play the solo from “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” without looking at his instrument, though. For one thing, he’s been playing the banjo since his early teens (he is now 87). For another, he in essence invented the hard-driving three-fingered picking style we have come to associate with bluegrass and that is exemplified in the video. And for yet another, he wrote “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” in 1949 and has been performing it since.

My point is not to take anything away from Scruggs, his performance, or anything you said. My point is that Earl makes playing the banjo at breakneck speed look easy because he’s been doing it his entire long life. He has put in the hard hours of practice and is reaping the rewards for it.

“That which we persist in doing becomes easier, not because the nature of the thing has changed, but because our capacity to do it has increased.”

By: valleycat1

valleycat1 — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 13:53:17 +0000

My daughter continues to be an inspiration to me – & she’s 29!

Banjo players always make it look like so much relaxed fun. Steve Martin’s CDs, if you like good banjo music, are a lot of fun. Bela Flek is absolutely amazing as well – & goes far beyond what you think of as typical banjo music.

By: kk

kk — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 08:28:52 +0000

I love the fact that you include your children as sources of inspiration. If we take the time, our children can teach us a thing or two. Or simply remind us of the basics of life. Thanks for sharing.

By: Joanne

Joanne — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 00:47:25 +0000

Thank you Trent. Great ideas

By: Kate

Kate — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 00:05:50 +0000

Gwen: I think that he meant it the way that he wrote it. The Democrats of today are very much like the Republicans of the 60′s when you read about their belief system and their platforms.

By: NMPatricia

NMPatricia — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 21:55:03 +0000

I have to totally agree with your son being an inspiration. When I think about how much individuals who are that age are learning, and nearly constantly, it amazes me – and fills me with respect for these little beings. Hats off to kids.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 19:33:10 +0000

Love the picture of your son and totally agree that kids have this way about them of being persistent without necessarily even realizing it. I teach kindergarten and the improvement the kids make during the year is amazing and it comes with a lot of hard work.

By: Gwen O.

Gwen O. — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 18:49:55 +0000

Do you mean Goldwater reminds you of the Republicans?

By: Stacy

Stacy — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 18:39:36 +0000

I love these posts as well.
The music was awesome- I too was blown away by their level of skill.

By: Pat S.

Pat S. — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 17:22:04 +0000

For sure, Len.

By: Len Penzo

Len Penzo — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 16:21:07 +0000

I’ll echo Kathryn’s sentiments. I look forward to reading these every week. They always raise my spirits. The photos you occasionally share of your son Matthew always bring a smile to my face — probably because it brings back such nice memories of when my 13 and 11 year old kids were his age.

All the best,

Len
Len Penzo dot Com

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 15:40:54 +0000

Thank you for sharing these things each week. I know they don’t generate a lot of comments, but i certainly enjoy these things you share.

I think Noreena Hertz is spot on.

By: Troy

Troy — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 15:25:56 +0000

Nice work, Trent.

This series isn’t generic, rehashed PF information. It is unique, authentic and displays some of your best work.

Keep it up.