The connection between broadsiding and blogging

On a recent visit to the National Archives, I was engrossed with a broadside display.

Broadsides are the blogs of their day, a blend of art and news.

Both have a lower barrier to entry compared to other respective contemporary formats (e.g., treatises or whitepapers). Both are designed to be ephemera. However, an individual exemplar sometimes resonants beyond its intended lifespan and audience. That long-term impact potential is greater for blogs. Since blogs are digital, they are searchable and sharable without limits. Since broadsides are printed, they are static and nonscabable. Their size and content is limited by the properties of the physical press, printing press of the broadside heyday most cheaply produced a single page.

The illusion of being ephemera makes both more accessible, thus encouraging writing (and publication). Even if the writing is intended to be disposable, more writing makes better writers.

Treating manuscripts like pieces of code

As I revise a manuscript, I find bugs (i.e., things that are not the way they should be). If they can be fixed in less than two minutes, then I immediately correct them. Otherwise, I stack and track via a bug list. My bug list has two contexts: full focus and brain dead.

Brain dead bugs can be fixed with minimal cognitive effort. For example, fixing the axis on a figure.

Full focus bugs require cognitive horsepower. For example, synthesizing previous research.

Sometimes sharp tools aren't needed for interesting problems

Sharp tools help at the edges of science and business. If your tools are dull, you simply cannot keep up. However, you probably do not need the Large Hadron Collider to make a discovery or a High-Performance Computing Cluster to make your business idea a reality.

Given the tools you have access to at this instant (which is probably more than most people had 5 years ago), how can you make a dent in the universe?

Infastructure over willpower

I have very little willpower and don't like use the little amount I do I have.

Instead, I choose to create an infrastructure that makes the "right thing the easy thing." I set a timer for stretch and perspective breaks during head's down work. I keep my computer and web browser "clean." They only show me the right thing at the right time.

I carefully construct that infrastructure to be right for the given context. Very few options (or none) in my physical or virtual environment gives me the freedom I'm looking for.

Drowning in (the) waterfall (of) research plans

Most researchers plan too much (if they plan at all). I have seen Gantt charts and reverse calendars for research projects that do not reflect reality by the time the laser printer spits them out.

By definition, you conduct research because you do not know everything. It is foolish to think you will not discover new information about your project or your process by "doing the work."

This is where Agile software practice can inform research practice. Set a quick iteration goal (e.g., collect pilot data or run primary statistical analysis). Then assess what was done and how it was done. Adjust course.

Are we running in the right direction?

How can we run faster?

Daily stand-ups wouldn't hurt either.

My focus on commonalities over differences

Humans are remarkably similar. As a species, we have relatively little genetic diversity[1]. There are cultural differences. But IMHO - our commonalities trump our differences.

I rather spend my limited time understanding the rules of humanity than the exceptions.

My scientific research focused on the basic process growing out the unique neurobiological constraints of humans. Much of psychology focuses on minor differences. The narcissism of minor differences is a sticky subject. Endless fascinating but has only a fraction of the power of unlocking our shared fundamentals.

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1. Probably a result of a near extinction-level event.  ↩
   

Creating playgrounds

Everyday I create playgrounds. Some of them are physical, most of them are virtual.

I see who comes to play with me. If not enough of the right people want to frolic, I change the structure or the rules. It is easier to change virtual playgrounds, but there is something magic about exchanging molecules.

I don't stress if the playground is right the first time (or ever "perfect"). I baked-in continuous change with continuous improvement is a byproduct.