Matthew's Blog
My Writing Software Dealbreaker
When I try new writing software, I have one dealbreaker: fussiness with backing things up. If I can’t be certain my work product can backed up, then it’s not the software for me. I need to be able to clearly identify the relevant file(s) and manually copy it to a USB...
What is a Pivot?
What does pivot mean in reference to your career or to your ikigai? Here’s the definition of the verb "to pivot," taken from the Oxford English Dictionary: Intransitive. To turn on, or as if on, a pivot; (Military) to swing round a central point during a manoeuvre....
The Tools Are Not The Craft
It’s necessary to be knowledgable and interested about the tools of your craft. But, if your interest in the tools of your craft exceed your interest in the craft itself, you may have a problem. (In my case, I need to be careful I don’t become too interested in the...
Big Data & Information or Creativity & Connection?
Many people think we are in the thick of the Information Age, where Big Data and AI rule, and Creativity and Connection serve them. But I believe the near future will be just the opposite. I believe we are in the early stages of the Creativity and Connection Age, and...
Clinging to My Physician Persona?
In Buddhism there is a Sanskrit term, Upādāna, which can be defined as attachment, grasping, or clinging. In its various forms, it’s one of the principle causes of human suffering. In reference to clinging, at the end of this year, I have an important career decision...
My Writing Companion
I'll often tweet about how our little cat. Roo, interrupts my writing—usually by standing on my keyboard or journal. But truth be told, he is a lovely writing companion. He is an ever present part of my morning writing routine from 6 am through 11 am—always there with...
Slow Down
I live in Bellevue, Washington, but my health club I go to every morning is in Redmond, Washington, about 10 miles east of me via Highway 520. I usually go quite early in the mornings, around 5 a.m. I find the world is much slower at this time. However, occasionally I...
My Go-To Writing Coffee Mug
One of my go-to writing coffee mugs has a raven-inspired Native American design on it (see above). It acts as a reminder for me to work on my raven-inspired work of fiction: The Raven Singularity. Is this a trick? Sure. But it does work, and that's good enough for me....
Knowing The Essence of Your Business
Earlier this week, my wife went on a short trip and stayed at at a downtown boutique hotel in Victoria, B.C. Unfortunately, on the last evening of her stay she found her door open and ajar twice. Her room door had an electronic key without an internal physical...