Triangulating Data and Business Research

While conducting research and other ideas it is helpful to use triangulation to help determine the validity of a finding. In general, triangulation includes the use of two or more data points to references and cross-check the conclusion. This cross-validation helps in ensuring accuracy and lends additional support of the findings for implementation.

If you are working in for a business and want to conduct a study on how a company can improve employee perception you will not want to use a single data sources. The same can be said of using data to determine the effectiveness of a particular skill in the market.

If you were an executive making a decision on how to invest money, or what strategic choice, or where to move your business you are likely to want research. That research can be supported by a single data source or multiple data sources that are triangulated. If it was me....I would want multiple data sources before I make a big mistake!

Why Wisdom Should be Encouraged In Politics and How to Foster It

When we look at politics and behavior in today's world we might be shocked by how certain concepts such as wisdom is not as important as say concepts like power, strength, and "being right". Our culture has shifted somewhat in political landscape to be something less than its full potential. Wisdom is an idea that encompass using past experience and reflecting on knowledge to make the best decision. It is a fundamental guild to "doing the right thing" in any given circumstances.

It is important for people in society to reach beyond the debase into some loftier idea of how humans can be. They are thinking and feeling creatures that have the capacity to take a moment and be objective about life. Wisdom is the highest form of knowledge that should be encourage among our politicians and our youth to ensure they are helping society.

How to Improve Wisdom:

1. Recognize your emotions and let them go before making judgement.

2. Reflect on behavior and choices.

3. Learn from your environment what works and what doesn't.

4. Seek knowledge from a general and specific mindset.

5. Trust those who believe it is possible to be wrong.

6. Talk to people and gain multiple perspectives.

7. Take your time before making decisions.

Got to Love the New One Almond Bliss!

Eating protein is a natural part of getting in shape. Your body needs protein to repair muscle and grow. Browsing the Trader Joe isles I made my way up to the selection of health bars. Young people seem to like them a lot and they have lots of different kids. I grabbed a couple different types to try them out. 

The One Almond Bliss bar was fantastic! Some protein bars are pretty good, some not so good but....this one was fabulous!

Chocolate and coconut reminded me more of an almond bar but with a healthy twist to it. It packs about 20 grams of protein and 1 gram of sugar with 230 calories. That is pretty good if you can also get the taste with it. 

You may need to keep it out of arms reach as it is soooo good you just might eat more than one and pack on the pounds. 

Protein, Eggs and Avocado After a Workout

I like to workout but don't always get the results I want. Through trial-n-error, reading and talking to people I found that eating an adequate amount of protein after a workout helps in improving your muscle tone and fitness levels. Having eggs and avocado after a work can make a big difference in your health.

Eggs are high source of protein punching somewhere around 80 calories and 6 grams of protein. Having 4 or 5 eggs puts in your body 30 grams of protein.

Avocado has great fats that help your body with good carbohydrates, fats and potassium. It will ensure greater electro activity in your body.

The key is to each something within the first hour after working out. Your body is in need of nutrition and will likely begin to use this food to help encourage muscle growth. The best bet is to eat within a half hour because this is when it counts!

Make Choices by Focusing on the Long Term

Each decision we make moves from one possibility to the next one. We are the sum of the choices we make as they represent how we view and navigate through the world. Each time we face a problem we make another choice. So on and so forth each and every day. One could theoretically go back and check all your choices throughout your life and determine your patterns of thinking.

We are Limited by Imperfect Information.

Of course we also know that "perfect" information isn't always available when we make these choices. We are at a disadvantage with our limited understandings so looking at short term gains is not always helpful. Without perfect information it is often wise to make choices so you maximize opportunities. Limited information poses a risk.

Make Choices that Maximize Opportunities.

Likewise, it is helpful for being strategic about your life and about business. Having some goal that maximizes opportunities in the future allows you to weigh and balance the different options using the same vantage point. If you consistently apply the goal you will be able to connect all of your choices.

Evaluate Your Choices

Finally, it is also helpful in reducing stress. If you focus on the long-term then small set backs are not the end of the world. You just adjust and keep on moving toward your goals. There will be lots of different roadblocks and obstacles on the way so you might as well minimize their stress value.

Minimize Impact

Why are we having such a hard time fighting global warming?

New reports from Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Nepal indicate that one of the world's largest polar caps is likely to thaw out by 2100. T'he report took into account more than 350 researchers and policy experts, 185 organisations, 210 authors, 20 review editors and 125 external reviewers. Why are we having such a hard time understanding and tackling global warming?

I can break this down into two reasons. Lack of coordination and lack of industry interest. 

1. Lack of Coordination: We don't have the mechanism to force all countries to adhere to new standards. In many cases, it is voluntary and such countries are more interested in economic growth than something a few decades down the road. 

2. Lack of Industry Interest: Some companies get the message and are doing the right thing. Many others are putting their fingers in their ears because they hope to make some money and reduce the possibility of legislation and regulation. 

http://www.icimod.org

Anchor Your Business in Ethics

All businesses should have some ethical stance that guides employees to making the right choices. Ethics is a system that people compare and contrast possible outcomes against to ensure that their behavior is sociably acceptable. When the ethical system is not open or easy to follow people begin to skirt such ethics in their own self interest.

Ethics, values, and societal harmony come together. Sharing is inherent when we can receive the benefit of receiving when we are in need. Biologically we are designed to need status among our peers and support of our friends.

Because society is full of people we don't know and often don't connect with, we may not feel any real obligation to follow the rules. As long as we don't break the law or people know about our behaviors then we can break all the ethical rules. Add in court battles and everything seems ok.

The problem is that as soon as we do this we also reduce the need for others to follow the rules as well. We cannibalize ourselves as each person takes more than their fair from the system. The brightest can't come forward because the selfish have blocked the paths. To run a smart business means enforcing ethics and encouraging other businesses to do so as well.

The way in which we can do that is through making ethics part of our system. We talk about it, enforce it, promote in part on it, and expect it from everyone. All the people of an organization exist under the same ethical rules. Keeping ethics helps manage an organization without the constant need for oversight.

Keep Your Body Moving Throughout the Day-10 Minute Sessions

We sometimes think that the only way to get into shape is to work out at the gym every morning. While this is great in order to get it done it doesn't necessary mean that it is the only way to get your workout in. Some people can simply workout throughout the day and receive the same benefits. Here are a few benefits of working out in 10 minute sessions.

1. Burning calories is an additive process. You don't need to burn them all at once.

2. People with responsibilities, kids and short time frames might not be able to work out all at once.

3. Walking up stairs, leg lifts at your desk, high knees around the house, push ups and sit ups while your listening can all be done through the course of your day.

4. It is wise to get up 5 minutes an hour from work. If you can have your workout while getting your blood flowing helps your body and brain function better. 

Keeping Your Home Together with Duck Tape

Last week I was walking around the beach and came across an interesting RV that was duck taped together. I believe this truck may have ran into an overpass and had much of its cabin ripped apart. The owners decided they would rather keep it running than retire the truck. Duck tape was used to keep the air out.

In the end, I'm surprised the car is still in use. It takes a special kind of person to use this car in this way. I'm not knocking it...I'm just saying WOW.

Why Research is Fundamental To University Contribution and Image?

Research in today's world is hugely important as companies seek to be innovative and generate new and unique ideas. Research is often out of the reach of the average person and is typically completed in business or in academic settings. Encourage universities to conduct research based on the needs of the market can help push innovation in society.

Universities have something to say. Incorporating research into a professors responsibilities helps to develop the full purpose of the university system to increase knowledge. That is difficult unless new knowledge is being generated. While not all professors must do research they should be contributing to their fields in some way.

Industry-University partnerships can help in the development of specialized knowledge that furthers a particular industry. This could be a new method of plastic injection or anything else. It is using the researchers abilities applied to specific problems that have practical utilization.

While we think of research as only contributing to the body of knowledge it also creates greater brand image of the university itself. Conducting research is important for disseminating useful information to the rest of society. Each article, research study, news spinet, press release,etc... gets hits on search engines that leads to greater overall image.