Information Overload

“Everything should be as simple as it is, but not simpler.” ~ Albert Einstein

Competence in communication is a must in our information-clogged society today.  Competent communication can come in many ways, from composure to depth of vocalization.  For example when seeking to employ yourself, whether through a cliché "job" or through independent means, you need one way or another to give a presentation to prove that you are capable of doing what you claim you will do.  In our society today, how you present yourself, is as, if not more important than what you are presenting.

When seeking funding to perform research, say for instance, I know precisely what I am going to do, how I am going to do it and why it will benefit society.  However if I am slouched and mumble softly while presenting to potential investors, the message that the investors receive is not the message I originally started with.

In life we are continually bombarded with these messages, opinions, notions, conceptions and corrections.  In this fast paced society there is bound to be errors in communication, on both the transmitting and receiving ends.  I wish to expound on this with the following, more abstract and technical scenario.

If I have a transmitter, and a set of receivers which are both contain identical decryption and encryption algorithms which have been programmed into them.  However, just before I transmit, I remember that I forgot to program the transmitter with the same decryption and encryption algorithms, but thinking “These digital products are smart they will be able to comprehend what I am sending.”  So I send my message any way, and I send data for hours and then when I finally finish, I walk over to my friend Joe's house - Joe was listening to one of the receivers.  And when I ask him what he thought of the data I sent over the air, he says “It was just white noise, at first I tried to understand it, but after a while I had enough so I just blocked it out, your data must be really screwed up, I am sure glad I did not try and use your data.”[1]

This scenario may seem absurd, and rightly so, there is a stark difference between telecommunications and human communications is that we have a response-ability and flexibility like no machine will ever have.  And it can be tempting to become like a machine, to analyze and assume rather than to simply ask for clarification from a correspondent.

So why didn’t Joe just walk over to my house and ask me to clarify what I was saying?  Maybe it’s because I have built around me a one way wall, one which I spew out information which no one can decrypt, and never take feedback.

All this could have been prevented in the first place if I would have analyzed my audience, and used the right means (algorithm) to send my messages.  When it comes down to the ‘nitty gritty’ we ultimately have the ability to make our own free will responses, but it helps to have put a bit of forethought into them. Thus it is primly beneficial to positively pre-program(‘prime’) our instinctive, originating output and resolute responses (signal compressing and processing).

Sincerely,

--

^“15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” ~ NIV Joshua 24:15

Jordan D. Ulmer

Cited:

1. Spencer, Sam. "An Overview of Information Theory." Math Coop. Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids. 18 Jan. 2013. Lecture.

Irrespective Jubilation

“It is not in the pursuit of happiness that we find fulfillment, it is in the happiness of pursuit.” ~ Denis Waitley

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”[1] Historical writings are intriguing and inspirational because we see that which has already been done and realize that we also have the capability to achieve.  The pursuit of happiness; sounds like an ennobling cause, let’s take an excursion into history and how the pursuit of happiness turned out in the past.

Since the Dot Com boom of the 1990’s America has been indulging in the pursuit of happiness via VISA’s , yes the accessibility of credit has allowed Americans to “pursue their happiness” to some devastating extremes.  Fact, the increase in personal debt in America in just the 2^nd quarter of 2011 was $18.4 Billion[2].  At this rate nearly two TRILLION dollars would have accumulated over the last 20 years, but frankly we have far exceeded that amount.  To really understand the devastation that has and is continuing to take place, I recommend you visualize these numbers at this (http://demonocracy.info) info graphic website.

Okay, so maybe the “pursuit of happiness” isn’t all that it’s made out to be fame and fortune are fleeting and depleting, so what are we supposed to pursue?  I purpose a simple word substitution by placing ‘joy’ where happiness now stands.  Doesn’t seem to make a difference does it?  But, I assure you it makes all the difference.   Happiness is derived from your mood, and your mood comes from your situations.  Whereas joy is situationally-independent, it’s irrespective of your circumstances.  Even the great founding father Benjamin Franklin surmised to say, “Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind than on outward circumstances.”  My friends I posit to you that the exchange of happiness with newfound joy will ensue contentment. 

Joy isn’t really a new concept, it’s just a rare and exceptional concept; employed by rare and exceptional people.  Like when Stephen R. Covey realized that circumstances don’t matter and that there is joy in contentment ultimately come from our proactive ability to respond, and so challenged to lay aside our instinctive reaction.  In his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Stephen summarized this profound revelation, “I am what I am today because of the choices I made yesterday… Our behavior is a function of our decisions, not our conditions...nothing can hurt me...no one can hurt me without my consent.”[3]

And after enduring the worst of circumstances Viktor Frankl still said, “Man is not fully conditioned and determined, but rather determines himself whether he gives in to his conditions or stands up to them.  In other words man is ultimately self-determining.  Man does not simply exist but always decides what his existence will be, what he will become in the next moment.”  Victor had an even more deliberating perspective on happiness as well as success, “For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or a person greater than oneself.”[4]

In the book of John, Jesus counseled, “no one will take away your joy.” ~ NIV John 16:22b While in a roman prison the apostle Paul chimed in to share his discovery with the Philippians, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” ~ NIV Philippians 4:12b-13

Finally Viktor Frankl challenged, “Your circumstances don’t matter.  You have in you the inherent ability to seek God’s purpose each and every day of your life.  God gave us free will, so the choice is yours.  The only obstacle to seeking and finding fulfillment is you.”

So what will it be; short term happiness or contentment and excellence in the’ pursuit of joy’?

Sincerely,

--

^“15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” ~ NIV Joshua 24:15

Jordan D. Ulmer

Cited:

1. "Declaration." The Declaration of Independence. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Jan. 2013. <http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/>.
2. Ellis, Blake. "Credit Card Debt Surges by $18.4 Billion in Second Quarter." CNNMoney. Cable News Network, 22 Sept. 2011. Web. 17 Jan. 2013. <http://money.cnn.com/2011/09/21/pf/credit_card_debt/index.htm>.
3. Frankl, Viktor E. Man's Search for Meaning: An Introduction to Logotherapy. Boston: Beacon, 1992. Print. 
4. Covey, Stephen R. "Habit 1: Be Proactive." The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1989. 66-94. Print.

Life Changing Investments

“Leadership development compounds.  The more you invest in other people and the longer you do it, the greater the growth and the higher the return.” ~ John C. Maxwell

When you farm, what you sow, you reap.  In business, what you invest, either accumulates or deteriorates, it depends on the investment.  But one thing is for sure investments are an essential part of life, not simply monetarily, but also relationally.

We are faced with many prospective investments, in everyday life that plea for our attention.  We can invest in assets, we can invest in organizations, we can even in ourselves but until we learn to invest in others, are we truly making a difference, is it a worthwhile investment?

Who are ‘others’ anyway?  Yes, others are the poor, needy and outcasts, but the category of ‘others’ consists of so many more. As John Andrew Holmes once said, “The entire population of the universe, with one little exception is composed of others.”

So how do we deal with this how can we invest in others if there is so many of them, it’s overwhelming!   John C. Maxwell summarized his investment surmise when he said, “Success is having those closest to you respect you the most.”  Ok so ‘others’ means those ‘closest to you’, that seems a bit more manageable; but Andy Stanley as finally challenged, “Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone”[1].

Choosing only one person to invest deeply in is a much more viable and much impacting way to invest in others.

What and how can we invest in others?  Your investment in another person can come from your talents and resources but ultimately it has to come from your time.  How we, spend time on other people will determine the magnitude of our effect on their lives.  Notice I used ‘on’ rather than ‘with’ that is because when you spend time on someone it forces you to think of time as the depletable resource that it is.  Furthermore when we spend time on others it’s a sacrifice, it’s an investment that can change a life forever.

Living for others, paraphrasing Albert Schweitzer, is not without its challenges but the fruit is worth the labor!  So go and do for one what you wish you could do for everyone.  It’s more than a life investment; it’s an investment of a lifetime!

Sincerely,

--

^“15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” ~ NIV Joshua 24:15

Jordan D. Ulmer

Cited:

1. One, Not Everyone. Dir. Andy Stanley. North Point Community Church. N.p., 1 Jan. 2011. Web. 16 Jan. 2013.

Attitude of Gratitude

“Any time you focus on others, empowerment naturally becomes the by- product.” ~ John C. Maxwell

Where your focus lies there your understanding will be also[1].  What we focus on effects our actions, our motives, and our entire mindset.  If life is a vector propelling you to your legacy then your focus is the direction in which you are moving, and your effort is the magnitude of impact you will make on others.

To leave a legacy worth leaving we need to daily align our focus with the life we wish to lead.  I am reminded time and time again of the power of focus.  Some of my most innovative and life changing ideas were dawned on me as I ran trails through the woods, fields, basking in the beauty of God’s creation.  Nature is an awe-striking, focus changing perspective which allows me personally to get my focus off of my temporary problems.

Despite the necessity of positive relationships sometimes we can get so caught up in our own life’s that we neglect the lives of others.  Thank you is likely the most powerful composition of words; because it compels you to divert your focus from yourself to those around you.  Telling one person a day how much you appreciate them, will change your whole perspective.  You can write an email, you can give a complement, you can you can, and if you will, your focus will change forever.

It becomes much easier to apply an unfailing effort, once your perspective has changed, once you stop looking inward and start looking outward, you may even begin to see solutions to conflict that were there all along, just waiting, patiently to be discovered.  As Heather Woodey said, “Mindset fuels action and action fuels results.”

Sincerely,

--

Jordan D. Ulmer

Cited:

1. Carnegie, Dale. "A Simple Way to Make a Good First Impression - Smile." How to Win Friends and Influence People. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1981. Print. 

Picture Perfect

“Most of our problems are not circumstantial.  Most of our problems are perceptual.” ~ Dave DeHaan 

Any problem, every problem, has a solution.  The trick is finding the optimum solution in the given amount of time.  Although solution finding requires innovation and creativity it ultimately requires process.  Solutions for problems are easier seen from different perspectives via abstraction.

Seeing the problem is one thing, understanding the problem is entirely different.[1]  Abstraction is quite a handy tool when it comes to understanding a given problem’s tendencies and identifying the optimal solutions.

The notion of abstraction is simple; it’s ‘analyzing a problem in different contexts’.  Abstraction is something we do every day without even thinking about it.  Every time you read a word your mind is taking a physical characters with respect to the words around it(context) and relating it to past experiences that involve that word.  In the same way by visualizing a problem in different perspectives gives new insight to the task at hand.

Abstraction is vital when scientifically modeling data, it allows one to see the trends on a high level and derive their explanation on a low level.[2]  Abstraction is not only useful in the technical realm but also in the arena of communication.  In almost every workplace presentation, some notion of exemplification is stated to help clarify certain points or propositions.  And whenever we are conducting a presentation we have to begin with the audience in mind.  In many cases the audience, presumably wants to see your project from a high level of abstraction (generalized overview).  Thus, however useful the examples may seem, there can arise conflict when you give a specific scenario that you explain in detail, and the audience tries to comprehend to no avail, or worse coming to an inaccurate interpretation of your presentation.

Paraphrasing Immanuel Kant’s revelation, “A generalized notion may be derived into an example however the integration of a specific example does not accurately represent the generalization as a whole.”[3]  In other words a few well-chosen general concepts can provide much more prolific results, than any sum of individual scenarios may ever avail.  So, to the best of your abilities leave out unnecessary details; for a simple, intuitive presentation ensues profound results.

In retrospective there are many problems that could have been solved, and conflicts that could have been avoided if I had only viewed and conveyed the situation on different levels of abstraction, from other perspectives.  So, next time you’re faced with a difficult problem remember that the solution may simply lie in a new view or a fresh perspective.

Sincerely,

--

^“15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” ~ NIV Joshua 24:15

Jordan D. Ulmer

Cited: 

1.  Kant, Immanuel. Critique of Pure Reason. Trans. J. M. D. Meiklejohn. Mineola, NY: Barnes & Noble, 2004. Print. Pg 70
2. Victor, Bret. "Up and Down the Ladder of Abstraction." Up and Down the Ladder of Abstraction. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2013. 
3.  Kant, Immanuel. Critique of Pure Reason. Trans. J. M. D. Meiklejohn. Mineola, NY: Barnes & Noble, 2004. Print. Pg