Elwin Loomis’ Post

Have you been a member of The Window Tribe? The Chinese called it ‘small desking’ The Japanese, madogiwazoku, the tribe that sits by the windows." Employees whose services were no longer needed, but who the company did not want to fire, were given a spot by the window to while away working hours. It eventually evolved into oidashibeya— the "banishment room." Here, employees are placed in windowless rooms with nothing to do. Business cards taken away, and forced into menial tasks or complete idleness. This exclusion is particularly painful for long-time employees, especially in cultures where group ostracism is a strong punishment. The goal: strip them of status and meaningful work until they quit out of shame and/or boredom. This practice parallels a modern issue: quiet firing. Like madogiwazoku and oidashibeya, quiet firing subtly pushes employees out by making their work life unbearable rather than outright terminating them. This can include lack of communication, exclusion from projects, or constant trivial task assignments. These practices damage employee morale, company culture, and productivity. But more importantly damage the individuals I have talked to many who have gone through this. helped them realize their corporate PTSD. If you've ever felt yourself sidelined or undervalued, welcome to the tribe. You are not alone. As someone once said. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt well, here is the t-shirt. https://lnkd.in/gGfu-_mz

"I've kind of reclaimed impostor syndrome. I had a friend once say, 'You're not an impostor, you are a trickster goddess, and you've got them all fooled. Good for you.' I love that energy." A fantastic Quote (and reframing of imposter syndrome) by Amelia Cohen-Levy from Carmen Medina and Julia Mossbridge, PhD conversation/podcast "Panda's Playing Cello"

Connections, Community and support. I just finished listening to Anna Kincannon, MBA and Rebecca M.'s latest podcast “Is That Cashmere” Their interview with Andrea Markstrom ,  has me reflecting on connections. The value of purposeful networking:  which isn’t just about collecting contacts, it’s about forming relationships that have depth and potential for mutual benefit. Supportive networks, as connectors:  Andrea’s i.WILL ((Inspiring Women Igniting Leadership & Learning) and,  Anna and Rebecca’s Twin Cities Finance Women  are platforms that help individuals rise and succeed. Networks that act as a  safety net and springboard enabling members to take risks and grow. Empowerment Through Community:  Andrea’s initiative to start i.WILL without barriers, enabling a diverse group of women to join, reflects a commitment to empowering others by  making connections accessible. Her emphasis on giving back and supporting women across different sectors highlights how connections can extend  beyond immediate personal or professional gain to broader societal impact. A powerful conversation  between some powerful women,  sharing about overcoming common challenges,  such as feeling unheard or battling imposter syndrome. But as I drove home   after a particularly tough week. I was unexpectedly moved to tears. they mentioned my name, you see I had connected them. Often, my efforts to drive culture, nurture the new, and make impactful connections don't unfold as expected. Yet, here was a tangible affirmation that even small efforts can have significant effects. This isn’t about me..  it is about all of us, who strive to make a difference through the connections we make. This was precisely what I needed Thank you, Anna, Rebecca and Andrea for reminding me of the power of Simple acts of connection. I look forward to more "Is that Cashmere" Conversations.

This is the AI book to give your parents. https://lnkd.in/gHKACJrU I just finished Ethan Mollick's most recient book Co-Intelligence. If you have been playing deeply with LLM's and/or generative image AI's: prompt hacking, refining through embeddings or fine tuning, building custom GPT's, Code co-piloting, etc. You won't find much here to accelerate your knowledge or practices. BUT if you have been doing the above, you probably find yourself in conversations with others who are curious about the current landscape of AI, and want a better more holistic picture of what is going on today with these tools. Give them a copy of this book. Give it to the execs, the investors, the teachers, the students, the artists, the writers, the strategy folks... and yes.. Give your parents a copy of this book.. Mollick excels at demystifying the multifaceted nature of AI—covering philosophical, technical, and cultural angles. He also gives very tangible examples so people can feel more comfortable using these tools to impact their work/workflows today. I opted for the Kindle edition with WhisperSync audio, which is narrated by the author himself. Mollick does a fantastic job, adding a personal touch to the audiobook experience. Consider gifting a copy of this book to anyone looking to understand AI better or to feel more confident in utilizing AI tools in their workflows today.

Ever noticed how our work tools mirror natural water bodies? Think of email (Microsoft Office) as 'pools'—contained, static environments where information is stored securely, shared on our terms. Like serene lakes, they hold data until we're ready to dip back in. Conversely, modern platforms like Slack/Discord, resemble 'rivers'—dynamic, fast-flowing systems where information moves continuously, fostering real-time collaboration. These rivers connect, forming a delta of integrated tools enhancing flexibility and utility, ideal for startups and dynamic environments craving rapid adaptation and decision-making. Yet, not all rivers flow freely. While tools like Slack, monday.com, Fellow and Jira thrive on integration, creating a rich ecosystem of interconnected streams, others like Office 365 strive to be comprehensive, yet often remain more insular, optimizing for security and seamless functionality within their ecosystem. This distinction often aligns with generational and organizational shifts in workplace culture. Startups and younger generations may navigate the swift currents of rivers, shaped by instant messaging and social media,  whereas established companies and older professionals might find the deliberate pace of pools more conducive to their structured workflows. As our tools evolve, bridging these waters means fostering environments where both pools and rivers have a place, enhancing our collective ability to swim smoothly through our workday. Thoughts:  ☐ Integration and Flexibility: Exploring the river-like tools such as Slack and Jira, it's fascinating to see how their ability to integrate with other platforms enhances flexibility and responsiveness. Have you found certain integrations particularly beneficial for your workflow? ☐ Microsoft's Approach: While Teams tries to merge into the river stream, it often remains within its own ecosystem. Do you think this affects its utility in a multi-tool environment, or does it offer enough within its ecosystem to stand alone effectively? ☐ Pace and Interaction: One key difference between ‘pools' and 'rivers' is their pace. Pools allow for thoughtful, delayed responses, ideal for detailed discussions. Rivers, by their nature, promote rapid exchanges and quick decision-making. How do you manage the pace in your preferred communication tool? ☐ Comfort with Technology: Technology comfort can significantly influence preferences for pools or rivers. Those who grew up with email may find the permanence and control comforting, whereas digital natives might find rivers' real-time interaction more intuitive. What's been your experience in adapting to different tools based on your comfort with technology? ☐ Cultural Impacts on Tool Adoption: Startups often favor river tools for their flexibility and speed, crucial in a fast-paced environment. How do established companies in your experience handle the shift towards more dynamic tools? Is there resistance, or is the transition welcomed?

This morning, a routine walk with my dog I stumbled upon an unexpected object: a kid's Nerf sword, abandoned leaning against a lamp post. Moments later, a huge, unchained black dog began barking at us from his lawn across the street. In a turn of thought, I imagined the sword as Excalibur. I walked back to the lamp post. The beast, the Dog barking, daring me, from his post at the corner of his lawn. Picking up the sword, Humorously in my head, I said the words declaring myself as it's true owner. Only to place it back down and continue on my walk, the still barking dog now just a character in my brief imaginative journey. This simple encounter reminded me of the power of perspective and the magic embedded in our daily lives. A beautiful metaphor for the following: 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴: Even in the most mundane moments, our capacity for creativity can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. Life invites us to write our own stories, filled with whimsy and wonder. 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲: How we choose to view our surroundings can significantly alter our experience. A barking dog can be a threat or a guardian of mythical treasures, depending on the narrative we craft in our minds. 𝗝𝗼𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆: Our daily routines are ripe with opportunities for adventure and enchantment. It's these moments that often bring us the most joy, reminding us of the richness of our lives. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚. Our lives are filled with these tiny adventures, waiting to be discovered and appreciated. Let's not overlook the magic in the mundane, for it's often in these moments that we might find our greatest joys and insights. Have a magical weekend everyone! #LifeLessons #Creativity #Perspective #EverydayMagic

Being Average is not Average *YES* Lauren Hannon Many of the most intelligent  (squarely 'Above' Average) folks  I know struggle existentially. Higher intelligence does not  correlate with happiness. Many of the people I know  who are materially successful,  like to attribute it to their:  Drive, Passion, Talent, or Smarts. But often looking deeper;  the factor(s) they forget to mention are: Luck, and Timing. Luck, timing, moments of opportunity  are often more important to ‘ Above’ average success than  Drive, Passion, Talent or Smarts. Several parents I hang with  share that their kids are going to  the best-in-class schools,  or are super star athletes.  Solidly ‘Above’ Average.  I am so excited and proud for them! My kid is average.  What I want her to learn is: Kindness Love for herself Ability to be compassionate and love others   I want her to find work that energizes Where she can make a difference That provides enough  To build a life. I want her to find friends  that lift, support and  Love each other. These should be ‘average’ available to everyone She is a teen, And friends, Social media, Society. Seems to be a river  A current In the opposite direction. It takes above average effort To be average

We all have negative thoughts. I fight these dragons daily. Lately I have been using AI as a way to reframe these thoughts. And I have found it to be really effective.. Perhaps I’ll eventually be able to have tea with my dragons. (https://bit.ly/3uV8tZA ) This is what I am doing: ☑ Use paid GPT4 to help create personalized scripts. I can get into the prompting details,  but It really is highly personalized using  specific situations,  and experiences. These scripts center around  reframing the negative, gratitude, affirmations, and meditations.  I have found with affirmations, using a format of repetition using ‘you’ and ‘I’ to be powerful i.e: I release any negative thoughts and feelings that do not serve me. You, release any negative thoughts and feelings that do not serve you. ☑ I then take the script and use ElevenLabs to convert it to speech. (You can use GPT, but I like the ElevenLab’s voices.) ☑ I take the voice.mp3 and often background music ( found free-use Youtube, meditation music) and blend it using Audacity. (often I slow the voice down by 80%) ☑ I save this as a .mp3 and then move it to my podcast app on my phone to listen. I am paying for GPT4 and ElevenLabs, but you can do this for free using co-pilot and some free voices out there. Audacity is free. As an example, some of you may be driving into work tomorrow. Here is a drive into work positive mp3. You can download it here: https://bit.ly/4cv4oka As I about to hit post. The critical part of me, starts thinking about Al Frankin's "Stuart Smalley", and the critic internally rolls its eyes.. but I turn towards this critic and say "yea, it's corny- but because of you I need to remind myself there is a lot to be grateful for, and remind myself to be kind.. kind to others and myself, even kind to you critic. Thank you and now sit down.. " It is still there rolling its eyes, but thats ok.