Comments for Simon Goland http://www.simongoland.com Simon Says Consulting, Strategies for Navigating Complexity Mon, 04 Apr 2011 06:30:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on About Seiko Brown by Anonymous http://www.simongoland.com/about-seiko-brown/#comment-21 Anonymous Mon, 04 Apr 2011 06:30:16 +0000 http://www.simongoland.com/about-seiko-brown/#comment-21 Hi Simon<br />Just read this page...love it..I now have four "just a dogs" and they have held me to this place through some pretty rough times. They definitely keep me busy and not into myself. My oldest is 16 years and I am really not looking forward to "the day" and yet I got another one knowing I will have to go through the loss 4 times over! Crazy love!<br />Thanks for your writings.<br />Love & laughter to you<br />Gloria Hi Simon
Just read this page…love it..I now have four "just a dogs" and they have held me to this place through some pretty rough times. They definitely keep me busy and not into myself. My oldest is 16 years and I am really not looking forward to "the day" and yet I got another one knowing I will have to go through the loss 4 times over! Crazy love!
Thanks for your writings.
Love & laughter to you
Gloria

]]> Comment on Big Brother in the 21st Century by Elizabeth Guyton http://www.simongoland.com/big-brother-in-the-21st-century/#comment-19 Elizabeth Guyton Sun, 26 Dec 2010 00:41:38 +0000 http://www.simongoland.com/big-brother-in-the-21st-century/#comment-19 Simon - I just sent you a friend request on Facebook, then read this posting with relief, since it recognizes a current phenomena here in the States, and with sadness since our countries are acting against their private citizens in the same ways communist countries did. <br /><br />I've had personal experiences these last few years that parallel yours while folks who have never experienced these horrors deny they can ever occur in our countries.<br /><br />These experiences have become marked since making three Youtube films about the Oil Spill in Louisiana (see www.babygirlguyton.blogspot.com , or Youtube "Oil Spill Crisis: Day 76")... but, maybe the experiences began earlier when I was in Canada.<br /><br />My current address is PO Box 1454, Nederland, CO, 80466, and the edress is ezabellive@yahoo.com. Would love to stay in touch!<br /><br />Elizabeth Simon – I just sent you a friend request on Facebook, then read this posting with relief, since it recognizes a current phenomena here in the States, and with sadness since our countries are acting against their private citizens in the same ways communist countries did.

I've had personal experiences these last few years that parallel yours while folks who have never experienced these horrors deny they can ever occur in our countries.

These experiences have become marked since making three Youtube films about the Oil Spill in Louisiana (see http://www.babygirlguyton.blogspot.com , or Youtube "Oil Spill Crisis: Day 76")… but, maybe the experiences began earlier when I was in Canada.

My current address is PO Box 1454, Nederland, CO, 80466, and the edress is ezabellive@yahoo.com. Would love to stay in touch!

Elizabeth

]]> Comment on Right Livelihood by Greg http://www.simongoland.com/right-livelihood/#comment-18 Greg Mon, 04 Oct 2010 05:27:26 +0000 http://www.simongoland.com/right-livelihood/#comment-18 Great post, Simon - thank you! <br />This reminds me of a short piece Helena read me today from the Sunday Comics: <br /><br />from "Candorville"<br />Guy #1: <br />"Do you want your impact on this world to outlast you? In the end, we either turn into a long-remembered story, or we fade away. If you could have people say JUST ONE THING about you at your funeral... what would it be?"<br /><br />Clyde:<br />"Hey! Look! He's breathing!"<br /><br />Guy #1:<br />"Good talk, Clyde."<br /><br />Anyhow, thanks for sharing this - and your pics as well. Looks like a very satisfying trip on many levels!<br /><br />I may be up in Vancouver soon (in late Oct.) for some meetings - hope to see you then?<br /><br />Best,<br />Greg<br />http://www.vertopiablog.org Great post, Simon – thank you!
This reminds me of a short piece Helena read me today from the Sunday Comics:

from "Candorville"
Guy #1:
"Do you want your impact on this world to outlast you? In the end, we either turn into a long-remembered story, or we fade away. If you could have people say JUST ONE THING about you at your funeral… what would it be?"

Clyde:
"Hey! Look! He's breathing!"

Guy #1:
"Good talk, Clyde."

Anyhow, thanks for sharing this – and your pics as well. Looks like a very satisfying trip on many levels!

I may be up in Vancouver soon (in late Oct.) for some meetings – hope to see you then?

Best,
Greg
http://www.vertopiablog.org

]]> Comment on A River of Life by Linda Francis http://www.simongoland.com/a-river-of-life/#comment-17 Linda Francis Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:23:31 +0000 http://www.simongoland.com/a-river-of-life/#comment-17 one time, when shooting the Nahatlach (www.reorafting.com) here in BC, one girl who's twin was also with us, was really, really worried about the impending trip. She called ahead and asked about the safety record etc...well, minutes into the first set (class 4 I think - the "meat grinder" they call it)...she goes right over the side (ironically, pushed in, there's photo evidence, accidentally by her twin's paddle)...here's the beauty of nature though...of course, she floats alongside the boat, doesn't get left behind (as we might think) and has the opportunity to get back in and keep going, at that point her preference.<br /><br />Just wondering if this is more evidence of nature's grace with us...slow and cumbersome-to-learn humans. I don't write this thought with the idea that nature is going to keep letting us off the hook, but that she has her ways of prodding us along, gently, but firmly. We have to heed these lessons. Like any mother, they are for our own benefit and ultimately, survival. Of this my 4-1/2 year old and 18 month-old are good reminders as well.. one time, when shooting the Nahatlach (www.reorafting.com) here in BC, one girl who's twin was also with us, was really, really worried about the impending trip. She called ahead and asked about the safety record etc…well, minutes into the first set (class 4 I think – the "meat grinder" they call it)…she goes right over the side (ironically, pushed in, there's photo evidence, accidentally by her twin's paddle)…here's the beauty of nature though…of course, she floats alongside the boat, doesn't get left behind (as we might think) and has the opportunity to get back in and keep going, at that point her preference.

Just wondering if this is more evidence of nature's grace with us…slow and cumbersome-to-learn humans. I don't write this thought with the idea that nature is going to keep letting us off the hook, but that she has her ways of prodding us along, gently, but firmly. We have to heed these lessons. Like any mother, they are for our own benefit and ultimately, survival. Of this my 4-1/2 year old and 18 month-old are good reminders as well..

]]> Comment on Between two stories by Linda http://www.simongoland.com/between-two-stories/#comment-16 Linda Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:23:48 +0000 http://www.simongoland.com/between-two-stories/#comment-16 Ahhhh Simon,<br />Interesting that this should come up in a post from you just weeks after I posed that question to you as we pulled up to the house with our children (mine human, yours canine) after a walk in the woods. While in the woods I always think about how I am walking on the same soil as First Nations people who treaded there so environmentally softly for so many more generations than it took for western people to deplete the Salmon stocks (among so many other things). The Seven generations concept is so simple and pure, and applicable here. It makes me think about how First Nations had a concept in their culture that I think we could introduce to ours, well, “mine” I guess is what I really mean.<br />As a “user experience” designer, we use “personas” to establish who our “users” are, and then use these characterizations to guide us through product design and development. These personas have a backstory, a name and photo and describe goals, what is important to that person and how that person might move through life and possibly want to interact with the proposed product. Once created, they are usually enlarged, printed and placed in a prominent spot for the whole team to refer to and be reminded of, while developing the product.<br />What would happen if, amongst the design community (and I think this applies for computer , web and mobile products too), we established a culture where a persona for the Earth and another for Humanity were default personas on any project? I think we would see differences like:<br />• Reduced, removed, or “self”-packaging<br />• Reduced factory pollution<br />• Creative shipping<br />• Improved working conditions<br />• Different materials used and re-used<br />• Products that were considered for usefulness<br />The costs to humanity include worker conditions not only in developing countries but right here where we are driven by “netscape time” as we call it. An insane expectation to work crazy hours to meet manufactured deadlines established only to be ahead of the competition, no other reason. What impact does all this extra work have on people and the environment (what if all those computers were unplugged for those extra 3 hours a day?). A persona representing humanity could capture and remind us of these considerations.<br />Finally, Simon, I think you may be the antidote to a quote I saw the other day, “Give a man a fish and he will be fed for a day, teach him how to fish and he will over fish.” Thank you for the work you do, I believe that your scales tip on the side of making a difference.<br />A sunny day to you inside and out my friend – Linda F. Ahhhh Simon,
Interesting that this should come up in a post from you just weeks after I posed that question to you as we pulled up to the house with our children (mine human, yours canine) after a walk in the woods. While in the woods I always think about how I am walking on the same soil as First Nations people who treaded there so environmentally softly for so many more generations than it took for western people to deplete the Salmon stocks (among so many other things). The Seven generations concept is so simple and pure, and applicable here. It makes me think about how First Nations had a concept in their culture that I think we could introduce to ours, well, “mine” I guess is what I really mean.
As a “user experience” designer, we use “personas” to establish who our “users” are, and then use these characterizations to guide us through product design and development. These personas have a backstory, a name and photo and describe goals, what is important to that person and how that person might move through life and possibly want to interact with the proposed product. Once created, they are usually enlarged, printed and placed in a prominent spot for the whole team to refer to and be reminded of, while developing the product.
What would happen if, amongst the design community (and I think this applies for computer , web and mobile products too), we established a culture where a persona for the Earth and another for Humanity were default personas on any project? I think we would see differences like:
• Reduced, removed, or “self”-packaging
• Reduced factory pollution
• Creative shipping
• Improved working conditions
• Different materials used and re-used
• Products that were considered for usefulness
The costs to humanity include worker conditions not only in developing countries but right here where we are driven by “netscape time” as we call it. An insane expectation to work crazy hours to meet manufactured deadlines established only to be ahead of the competition, no other reason. What impact does all this extra work have on people and the environment (what if all those computers were unplugged for those extra 3 hours a day?). A persona representing humanity could capture and remind us of these considerations.
Finally, Simon, I think you may be the antidote to a quote I saw the other day, “Give a man a fish and he will be fed for a day, teach him how to fish and he will over fish.” Thank you for the work you do, I believe that your scales tip on the side of making a difference.
A sunny day to you inside and out my friend – Linda F.

]]> Comment on Between two stories by Linda http://www.simongoland.com/between-two-stories/#comment-15 Linda Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:04:11 +0000 http://www.simongoland.com/between-two-stories/#comment-15 Ahhh Simon,<br /><br />Curious that you post on this very question I asked you when we pulled up after a walk with our dogs (your child :)) and my children in the woods. It always strikes me, as I walk in the woods (particularly near the coast in Vancouver) of treading on the same soil as the First Nations who lived here in harmony for so many generations, so many more than it has taken the Western people and culture to deplete the Salmon (only one example) of which you speak.<br /><br />This conjures up that aboriginal wisdom of 7 generations (as simple, yet pure and perfect consideration).<br /><br />It also conjures up an idea I had recently within my profession of "user experience" designer. On my bike ride down to meet with a colleague, I had an idea I shared with him. In our work, we use something called "personas" which are characterizations of the kinds of people who use and have an interest in the "thing" we are creating. In my case it is usually a product that gets used on a computer on or off the "web". Other product developers use this concept as well. There's always a backstory, an image and a description about what is important to that compilation of a person, and how they might move through their life and might interact with the product(s). These personas are then mounted somewhere near the project team and all actions are supposed informed and guided by these ultimate "customers" to produce a great "user-centred" product.<br /><br />My thought was that perhaps we could create a culture, amongst us product (and service) designers, to create and have a default persona, that of the Earth. What would happen if people in all walks of life and areas of commerce and recreation included the Earth and her "stakeholder" needs/wants/preferences in their designs. What if considering that persona at an equal level to the others was considered to be a "best practice" in the industry. I think things like this would be different:<br />*the product itself (and its usefulness and necessity)<br />*packaging<br />*shipping<br />*materials used<br />*materials re-used<br />*factory pollution<br /><br />And, what if another persona was created that represented humanity on the planet. A persona like that would remind us to consider the plight of workers and not just workers in third world countries, but also workers right here, who are working longer hours than medieval times, stressed out and lacking in time to spend on themselves and their families..."netscape time" as it is called in the industry. People working insane hours to meet manufactured deadlines, simply created to be "ahead" of the competition.<br /><br />I could rant on, but I'm supposed to be on vacation myself. There's some irony there I am sure.<br /><br />I saw a funny quote yesterday, and I think you might be an antidote to this, with the work you are doing, "Give a man a fish and he will be fed for a day, teach him how to fish and he will over fish."<br /><br />A sunny day to you to Simon, inside and out. Thank you for doing your part ~ Linda F Ahhh Simon,

Curious that you post on this very question I asked you when we pulled up after a walk with our dogs (your child :) ) and my children in the woods. It always strikes me, as I walk in the woods (particularly near the coast in Vancouver) of treading on the same soil as the First Nations who lived here in harmony for so many generations, so many more than it has taken the Western people and culture to deplete the Salmon (only one example) of which you speak.

This conjures up that aboriginal wisdom of 7 generations (as simple, yet pure and perfect consideration).

It also conjures up an idea I had recently within my profession of "user experience" designer. On my bike ride down to meet with a colleague, I had an idea I shared with him. In our work, we use something called "personas" which are characterizations of the kinds of people who use and have an interest in the "thing" we are creating. In my case it is usually a product that gets used on a computer on or off the "web". Other product developers use this concept as well. There's always a backstory, an image and a description about what is important to that compilation of a person, and how they might move through their life and might interact with the product(s). These personas are then mounted somewhere near the project team and all actions are supposed informed and guided by these ultimate "customers" to produce a great "user-centred" product.

My thought was that perhaps we could create a culture, amongst us product (and service) designers, to create and have a default persona, that of the Earth. What would happen if people in all walks of life and areas of commerce and recreation included the Earth and her "stakeholder" needs/wants/preferences in their designs. What if considering that persona at an equal level to the others was considered to be a "best practice" in the industry. I think things like this would be different:
*the product itself (and its usefulness and necessity)
*packaging
*shipping
*materials used
*materials re-used
*factory pollution

And, what if another persona was created that represented humanity on the planet. A persona like that would remind us to consider the plight of workers and not just workers in third world countries, but also workers right here, who are working longer hours than medieval times, stressed out and lacking in time to spend on themselves and their families…"netscape time" as it is called in the industry. People working insane hours to meet manufactured deadlines, simply created to be "ahead" of the competition.

I could rant on, but I'm supposed to be on vacation myself. There's some irony there I am sure.

I saw a funny quote yesterday, and I think you might be an antidote to this, with the work you are doing, "Give a man a fish and he will be fed for a day, teach him how to fish and he will over fish."

A sunny day to you to Simon, inside and out. Thank you for doing your part ~ Linda F

]]> Comment on About Seiko Brown by Deb http://www.simongoland.com/about-seiko-brown/#comment-14 Deb Fri, 14 May 2010 19:39:27 +0000 http://www.simongoland.com/about-seiko-brown/#comment-14 The time has come for us to let go of our beautiful collie Kirby. He would have been 14 this year. Thanks for your wonderful words . . . and images . . . they brought great healing tears to my eyes.<br />xox<br />Deb<br />2010 May The time has come for us to let go of our beautiful collie Kirby. He would have been 14 this year. Thanks for your wonderful words . . . and images . . . they brought great healing tears to my eyes.
xox
Deb
2010 May

]]> Comment on One Day by outdoordiva http://www.simongoland.com/one-day/#comment-13 outdoordiva Tue, 30 Mar 2010 04:29:19 +0000 http://www.simongoland.com/one-day/#comment-13 I came to your blog tonight looking for some inspiration -as is so often the case, I needed to get out of my own head... thank you Simon, I feel inspired! The Elliot quote was particularly poignant for me... and love your word art too! I came to your blog tonight looking for some inspiration -as is so often the case, I needed to get out of my own head… thank you Simon, I feel inspired! The Elliot quote was particularly poignant for me… and love your word art too!

]]> Comment on Feeling the Silence by Stephen http://www.simongoland.com/feeling-the-silence/#comment-12 Stephen Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:18:24 +0000 http://www.simongoland.com/feeling-the-silence/#comment-12 Simon,<br /><br />I enjoyed your glimps into your Silence. It is very rich. Enjoy your time.<br /><br />This quote from your blog found a space in my questions from last week and brought me a moveable moment of hope and pleasure in feeling what, I feel/think, is me in my Right-Livelihood. It was a feeling/thought of proper place, exclusively, no time necessary. Deeper explorations ahead, I fear and hope.<br /><br />SM Simon,

I enjoyed your glimps into your Silence. It is very rich. Enjoy your time.

This quote from your blog found a space in my questions from last week and brought me a moveable moment of hope and pleasure in feeling what, I feel/think, is me in my Right-Livelihood. It was a feeling/thought of proper place, exclusively, no time necessary. Deeper explorations ahead, I fear and hope.

SM

]]> Comment on Mussel Beach Campground by Anonymous http://www.simongoland.com/mussel-beach-campground/#comment-11 Anonymous Sat, 23 Jan 2010 18:58:19 +0000 http://www.simongoland.com/mussel-beach-campground/#comment-11 where else could you dream up such a pleasent compostion other than in a real wilderness suroundings like Mussel Beach campground. where else could you dream up such a pleasent compostion other than in a real wilderness suroundings like Mussel Beach campground.

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