Michael T. Starks

Category: Society

  • Owning DVD’s

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    I remember when I used to own a lot of records. I don’t have any of them anymore. I may have transferred some to cassette tapes, but I don’t even have a way to play cassette tapes anymore. I still have a lot of DVD’s, but I can’t remember the last time I played one…

  • Midlife

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    Today, I finished reading the book Midlife by Kieran Setiya. The author calls it a philosophical guide. I found parts of it very interesting and relevant to what I’ve experienced in my fifties. Here is a brief review of the ideas, based on a summary chapter in the book. Life can seem bleak, whether or…

  • Decision Making

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    Often, decisions must be made based on incomplete information. Here’s an example. Suppose you need to get from Sioux Falls to Denver. Traveling by car, with a couple of stops, the trip would last at least ten hours and cost at least $50 in gas and food. While these estimates could be improved, the exact…

  • Be Curious

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    Yesterday, I learned a bit more from the Original Series Tell a Great Story that Michael Lewis has on Masterclass. I was struck by the following quote that he shared. The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already, but the simplest…

  • Influencers Are Not Your Friends

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    I love to learn. As a consequence of this, I follow several “Influencers” to learn more. I enjoy reading books, watching videos, and reading emails from Simon Sinek, Adam Grant, Esther Perel, Chip and Dan Heath, Ramit Sethi, Marisa Murgatroyd, Marie Forleo, and others. Here’s the thing. The relationship we have with Influencers is typically…

  • Courtesy

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    “Good behavior” is a social convention that depends on the times, the place, and your specific groups. I grew up in Colorado, where awkward conversations were often pushed aside in favor of talking about the weather. I encountered something very different in New York, where I went to college. My suitemates were from Queens, the…

  • May the 4th…

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    People do not have the same priorities. This is a good thing. Today, early in the morning, I got a text from my son reminding me to celebrate Star Wars Day. This meant the world to me! May the 4th be with you! Later in the day, I took my daughter to visit other family…

  • The In-Between

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    I’m a project person. I like doing projects. The “In-Between” is that strange time when I’m not working on a project. One project has ended. Another is yet to begin. This would be a good time to go on a vacation. Traveling is probably the best thing I could do in between projects! However, I…

  • Celebrate Your Wins

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    Even small wins are worth celebrating. Did you lose five pounds? Celebrate! Did you take a nice walk? Celebrate! Did you have an instructive parenting moment? Celebrate! And especially if you’re on the verge of completing a big project, celebrate! Today, I got past a difficult issue with a screenplay that I’m writing. What better…

  • Networking Effects

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    When trying to solve complex problems, a diverse network of skilled people tends to outperform even the most extraordinary individuals. Having said this, coordination matters. Networks of people can get derailed, just like individuals, although for slightly different reasons. Whereas individuals have personal biases that lead to blind spots, networks of people can be brainwashed…