Mental Models 2/6

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Shum's Blog

A collection of observations along the way.

Stories vs. Truths

May 123 min read

Stories vs. Truths

You experience one thing and you share another thing. The difference matters.

Expectation vs. Invitation

May 51 min read

Expectation vs. Invitation

Having expectations creates room for disappointment, so why do we keep setting them?

Pain and Progress

Apr 281 min read

Pain and Progress

A short riff on what it takes to play some sweet tunes.

What is Water?

Mar 312 min read

What is Water?

A short riff on a big error, inspired by David Foster Wallace's famous speech.

Always be an Imposter

Mar 242 min read

Always be an Imposter

A short post about something that should stick around for longer.

Tools

Mar 172 min read

Tools

Riding bikes, cooking meals, and what we should learn by watching experts in action.

The Trivia Effect

Mar 103 min read

The Trivia Effect

We don't listen to the radio the same way anymore.

The Natural Thing

Mar 35 min read

The Natural Thing

With six minutes to go on the clock, I had an identity crisis.

The Thermostat and the Furnace

Feb 112 min read

The Thermostat and the Furnace

It was colder than it should have been when we walked into the house.

Up and Down

Jan 282 min read

Up and Down

A short look at what we should compare to.

The Voices in our Heads Part Two: The Imposter and the Critic

Jan 212 min read

The Voices in our Heads Part Two: The Imposter and the Critic

A look at who shows up when we're new to something, and who shows up when we've made a mistake.

The Voices in our Heads Part One: FOPO

Jan 142 min read

The Voices in our Heads Part One: FOPO

You want to do something but you aren't sure how it will "look." Let's explore.

The Map is not the Territory

Jan 72 min read

The Map is not the Territory

My favourite mental model.

Umbrellas and Rare Friends

Dec 31, 20232 min read

Umbrellas and Rare Friends

A short exploration into important things that we don't often need.

The Story About The Stories

Dec 10, 20233 min read

The Story About The Stories

I was supposed to meet up with a friend. He didn't text me back.

The Things we Save in a Flood

Dec 3, 20233 min read

The Things we Save in a Flood

I was sitting at my desk working, and my wife yelled for me from the basement. I knew it wasn't good news.

Target Fixation: Part Two

Nov 12, 20232 min read

Target Fixation: Part Two

Hi I'm [Insert Name]. I'm the [Insert Job Title].

Target Fixation

Nov 5, 20232 min read

Target Fixation

The tree wasn't even in the way. You made it in the way.

To Switch or not to Switch?

Oct 29, 20233 min read

To Switch or not to Switch?

Have you ever started watching a TV show and then wondered if you should give up?

Try not to Think

Oct 22, 20232 min read

Try not to Think

I was watching a gymnast on a balance beam and then their parent said something.

Pack Your Principles

Oct 15, 20234 min read

Pack Your Principles

A small story about a journey to a park we'd never been to.

Measuring Presence

Sep 24, 20232 min read

Measuring Presence

A short exploration into what a rowing machine and a horse have in common.

Correcting vs. Guiding

Sep 17, 20232 min read

Correcting vs. Guiding

John Mayer said something on a podcast recently. It stuck with me.

The Nature of Comparison

Sep 10, 20232 min read

The Nature of Comparison

The other day, our son said, "There's one of everything." That got me thinking about why we compare things.

This blog is written by me, Shaminda (Shum) Attygalle. It is a collection of observations on mental models, change, work, and relationships. I publish a new post every Sunday. If you're looking to connect with me directly, feel free to send me an email anytime, or connect via LinkedIn.

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