Ultimately, I like to see knowledge applied to create experiences that affect people in positive ways. In some cases, knowledge of a process allows me to create something beautiful and pleasing, which brings delight and motivation to myself and others. Sometimes it is the analytical process itself that chases away uncertainty and doubt, empowering us to take the first brave steps toward a distant dream. I collect and categorize the methods and means that I believe are useful in these contexts. Knowledge is power and magic, bringing resolution and delight to our lives when wielded with care.
There are several inter-related activities that align with my interest:
- Identification – What is there that catches my attention? Why did it? Does anyone else perceive what I perceive in the same way?
- Collection, Categorization, and Examination – What elements are common? What principles span disciplines and interests?
- Cognition – How do we reason and think? What are the strengths and limits of our perception and thought processes? Where are our blind spots?
- Magic – What creates the leap from pure reason to imagination?
- Psychology of Motivation and Desire – How do we know what we truly desire? How does desire drive us to action?
- Process and Methodology – What are the ways we acquire knowledge and understanding from the chaos of the universe?
- Experience – What are the salient aspects of the human experience that shape our desires, choices, and ability to envision?
- Identity – How do we wield our knowledge to reinforce our own image, both to our self and to the world at large?
- Distillation of Principle – What universal insights can be extracted from our pool of knowledge and common experiences?
- Synthesis and Practice – What new knowledge can be created? How can we apply knowledge in new benefit-delivering ways?
Knowledge is often taken to simply mean memorization of certain facts or recipes, then recognizing when they should be regurgitated. I’m far more interested in knowing WHERE the facts and recipes come from. Having a good foundation in the WHY and HOW of our knowledge helps us see the non-obvious opportunities that exist in the unexamined spaces between well-worn concepts.
In the PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS section, you’ll find examples of design that help answer specific questions about task definition, time use, and projected use.
