Archive for May 2006
How to Succeed in Business
I’ve been a Mac bigot for close to twenty years now. (Yikes!) After a brief flirtation with a PC in college — I bought it through the Be developer program, so it didn’t mean anything — I switched back five years ago, and have been enjoying seeing all the great products and momentum coming from Apple in recent years.
About six months ago, I decided that one of my “long-term career goals” is to be able to use a Mac at work. Given the time I spend in front of a computer, i figure that the UI I stare at everyday at must play a big role in my productivity and happiness at work – perhaps even my overall quality of life.
Recently, I thought of another angle – that using a Mac is correlated with professional fufillment. Since IT departments typically dictate a standard computing environment for their organization (i.e., “Dude, you’re getting a Dell”), using a Mac is probably associated with high levels of autonomy or power within an organization. Or, you are probably working in one of the Mac strongholds: a cutting-edge software shop, the creative world, academia, or the sciences, all of which are attractive sectors to me. Maybe this idea isn’t as stupid I as I first thought!
On the Run
My favorite part of Brad Feld’s blog is his posts on running. Today’s post, on his morning run in through the English Garden in Munich, got me thinking of my new favorite activity: running while on the road.
My first experience with this was last summer in London, when I got up early and, map in hand, explored South Kensington and Hyde Park. The streets were quiet, I had no idea where I was going, and I had a complete blast. The experience was capped upon my return, when I came back and loaded up on coffee and carbs at the excellent breakfast buffet at the myHotel Chelsea.
A couple weeks ago I spent a weekend in Amsterdam, and I got in two good runs. Starting in Oud Zuid, I ran a loop through the Vondelpark, the biggest park in the city, and returned via the MuseumPlein. The next day, I took an evening run followed the Amstel Kanal into the Pijp, ran through the Sarphatipark, and down Albert Cuypstraat, the busy market street.
I can’t wait to do more of this – endorphins and adventure are a great combo!
