I read a book by Gerald Weinberg... and it was excellent!

Flowers rock!

On August 3rd a post showed up in my blogger window from a blog I follow called Weinberg on Writing. The post began, "If any of you are still out there, you're probably aware that I've been absent because I've been battling (and winning) a thymic carcinoma."

I was still "out there" and sent out an e-mail to Jerry. He was kind enough to respond. Jerry is an author, consultant, and much more. Wikipedia describes him thusly: "Gerald Marvin (Jerry) Weinberg (27 October 1933) is an American computer scientist, author and teacher of the psychology and anthropology of computer software development."

He's kind of a nerd with personality and insight. His blog states his life's purpose as, "Helping smart people be happy." He's made mine happier.

I own three of Jerry's works of non-fiction: An Introduction to General Systems Thinking, Secrets of Consulting, and More Secrets of Consulting. (I used to be a Systems Engineer, and Jerry, through his books, helped me become a better one.)

At CSUF Arboretum

Back in December of 2008 I did a post called "Let kindness rule" that mentioned Jerry, and he posted a comment! (I was elated, after I found out it wasn't a prank. I was suspicious!)

As a result of that post, I began to follow one of Jerry's blogs: Weinberg on Writing. And that brings us to the topic of this post: I read a book.

This time a read a work of fiction by Jerry called "First Stringers."

When I heard about Jerry's bout with cancer, I wrote him an e-mail, and he wrote me back. At the bottom of his e-mail there was a line, "Treat yourself to one of my engaging eNovels...

See free sample chapters at: link."

Buster 1 and Buster 2

I read the free chapters, and then I ordered one of Jerry's novels: "First Stringers: Eyes that cannot see." It was captivating. It was enthralling. It absorbed my attention almost non-stop for 36 hours. Dang. (It's a 614 page e-book.)

I could talk about the book: setting, characters, plot, and themes, but I don't want to give too much away. You can read the free chapters and see what you think.

The sub-theme that I most appreciated? Abilities and Disabilities.

Remember Jerry's main theme is "Helping Smart People Be Happy." Jerry's a smart guy. He knows stuff about stuff. But most of all, he knows that smart people, people who think, people who ponder... yes, even people who blog, need help. We need help in learning how to be happy: Learning how to view our gifts, our world, and our part.

Jerry's novel continues in that vein. He has created robust, smart characters, installed them in the present day Southwest (Four Corner States), and has given them meaningful problems to solve. Against that backdrop Jerry continues his quest to help smart people be happy, this time, as we are carried along with the main characters through a suspenseful plot that twists and turns on its way to a satisfying conclusion.

A double delight!

All this... and there is a sequel!

Happy Sunday.

(And thanks Jerry.)

101st Post: Listen to your inner DJ

Today is a personal milestone: This is my 101st post.

A year or two ago I begin writing and using self-affirmations as a way to stimulate personal growth. At some point I added this affirmation to my list of affirmations: “I enjoy writing to inspire and instruct. I enjoy the feedback I get from the readers.”

Do affirmations work? (Read the previous 100 posts!);-)

Lately I’ve been writing about the songs that programmed me into optimism. Today I want to share one of the Secrets of Consulting gleaned from Gerald Weinberg’s book by the same title. He’s got a little section late in the book entitled, Using Your Unconscious Mind: The Songmeister.



From my previous posts on songs, it becomes obvious that I know lots of songs, most of us do. From time to time those songs creep into my consciousness: I find myself humming a tune, and I don’t know why.

Jerry suggests that the tunes that surface can contain useful clues for solving some problem that the conscious mind might be missing. He cleverly names the subconscious DJ that picks the tunes, The Songmeister.

My brain works that way. During the day, I’ve learned to listen to my internal DJ.



Sometimes the links are obvious… This morning I found myself humming the Happy Birthday song. (Yesterday was my oldest daughter’s birthday. I’m still celebrating.)

Sometimes the song holds a link that I have to ponder to find, but it’s usually there.

Right now I have a sad but comforting song haunting me. (I think it’s because of the sudden death of a co-worker’s spouse. I’m feeling my co-worker’s pain, and I’m reminded of my own loss a decade ago.)




Women are often better than men at having a 6th sense. They pick up clues many men miss. (Hey, a lot of men miss the obvious clues, let alone the obscure ones!)

Listening to you inner DJ can help you access information that’s percolating in your subconscious.

What songs are being served up by your Songmeister?

Tune in. Ponder. Become aware. Look for clues.

Adapt or Die!

Changes at work made me want to take up arms, so I cleverly began to read a chapter called “Gaining Control Over Change” from my Secrets of Consulting book by Gerald M. Weinberg.

I expected to get some good advice on how to get people to see things my way, instead Jerry informed me that the best way get changed is to resist change. His answer to managing change was to embrace it.



Another name for embracing change is adaptation. Jerry points out that some organisms adapt in order to survive an increasingly hostile environment. This is also called evolution. Hmmm…



I can manage change by embracing change in an adaptive manner. (Or I can become a dinosaur. And perhaps extinct.)



Those who resist change often begin to act in ways that make them change a lot. Rats. That’s what I’m trying to avoid: big change.



Amazingly, Jerry’s advice on embracing small change in order to survive was comforting. It wasn’t the answer I wanted, but it was one I needed.

That’s why I went to Jerry’s book. He knows stuff.

(Pictures are from an outing Dec. 27th 2008 at the Fullerton Arboretum)

A problem of apparent irrationality

I’m on Christmas Vacation, and for the most part I’m having a good time. I’m happy. However, just four hours before school ended on Friday, I got an e-mail containing a request.

Unfortunately for me, it was not a request I could simply ignore: it was more of an attempt at a “friendly” dictate. But it doesn’t matter what adjective you put in front of the word dictate, it’s still an unsolicited directive that can’t be ignored. In my case, I've given this the directive “The Grinch that Stole Christmas Award.”

Why? Because as a rational and reasonable man, my mind has a difficult time following unreasonable orders/dictates/policies. This new policy was going to cost me three to six hours, four times a year, for as long as I worked in this District. (And it duplicates a process that was already in place!) Ouch. The thought of acquiescing to this request haunted me. Not constantly, but enough to get the Grinch award.


Perhaps you’ve had such bouts with unreasonableness that interferes with a good night’s sleep? But what’s a person to do?

Me? I visited an old friend and mentor: Gerald Weinberg. Now, in reality, I’ve never met "Jerry." In fact, until yesterday, I called him "Gerald." But I do own three of his books, which I’ve read multiple times. He’s a “friend” I sometimes visit when I wrestling with a difficult problem. He’s always there for me, and he makes good sense. He helps me. ;-)

I had already pulled the two of the books off my bookshelf to share with my visiting son-in-law, who is working on his Ph.D. I started re-reading The Secrets of Consulting only to find that I’d highlighted just the preface and forward. Rats. No skimming opportunity here, so I started at the beginning.

As I read the preface, I was rewarded with a re-framing of my Grinch problem. I read the following account of Jerry’s approach to dealing with a major challenge of the consulting business:

“Most of the time, though, I enjoyed the direct interaction with my clients, if I could stand the irrationality. If I wanted to stay in the business, it seemed to me I had two choices:

1. Remain rational, and go crazy.
2. Become irrational, and be called crazy.
For many years, I oscillated between these poles of misery, until I hit upon a third approach:
3. Become rational about irrationality.

This book relates some of my discoveries about the rationality of seemingly irrational behavior that surrounds requests for influence. These are the secrets of consulting.”

Since I was currently going somewhat crazy, I recognized that my problem was really a problem of apparent irrationality. Once I could name the problem, I was partially relieved, because the correct naming of the problem is often the first step in finding a suitable solution: Become rational about irrationality.



A songwriter once said, “I may not have the answer, but I believe I have a plan…” I don’t even have a plan yet, but at least I know what the problem is. (For help in developing a plan I've skipped to chapter 8: Gaining Control of Change.)

PS: As an added bonus to reading and contemplating Jerry’s book, I used Jerry’s book as an intro to my previous post on this blog. The next day, lo and behold, I had a comment from Gerald M. Weinberg. You may have seen it. Who is this guy?

He’s the author of more that 40 books, including one listed on my favorite books list (An Introduction to General Systems Thinking). At first, I thought it was a prank. But it wasn’t. I followed the link and it led to one of my favorite author’s websites. I was delighted, nay thrilled. The very thought still puts a big grin on my face. Yowza!

PPS: Pictures today from the Moorten Botanical Gardens and Cactarium in Palm Springs.

Let kindness rule!

One of my favorite non-fiction authors is Gerald Weinberg. He has written several books aimed at those who provide consulting services. (Unofficially, almost all of us serve as consultants to someone.)

Weinberg informs his reader that most problems are “people” problems. He has lots of great modern-day proverbs to help consultants unravel these people problems, but the New Testament informs us how to avoid many people problems. One such bit of advice that I’ve been following during this holiday season is this: Love suffers long, and is kind.

All relationships involve a certain amount of patient endurance with the foibles of another; however, some relationships require larger amounts. Those cultures strongly influenced by Christianity acknowledge love and patience as virtues. We acknowledge that love should suffer long: and we try. But…



But we often overlook or fail on the other component of the advice offered in this New Testament proverb: Love suffers long, and is kind.

What? I’m called to suffer long AND be kind! Ahhhh… there’s the rub: Kindness. While I am being loving and patient (suffering long), I am to do it with kindness. Kindness means no meanness, no sarcasm, no nagging, no belittling, no digs, etc.

Hmmm… Anybody think that there would be fewer people problems among our friends, family, and community if we practiced this simple axiom: Love suffers long, and is kind?

Let kindness rule!