I love Marshall McLuhan’s description of his work in media. It explains his style and reason for writing which was strictly to understand. McLuhan referenced his written observations as probes. He popularized pre-publication before there was such as thing. I can relate to this safe-cracker approach since this is how I have often seen this site and its ... Continue Reading about Marshall McLuhan’s Safe-Cracker Approach to Writing
Keep Going by Austin Kleon – A Manifesto for Life and Balance
Who knew that a book about art could motivate a physician. I’m not sure that’s what Austin Kleon had in mind when he wrote, Keep Going - 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad, a brief, brilliantly produced book for people who create stuff. It's a motivating manifesto that puts a lens on a creative way of living. It makes sense that it would motivate those of ... Continue Reading about Keep Going by Austin Kleon – A Manifesto for Life and Balance
Physician Passion as a Professional Category
My friend Paul Sufka was planning a grand rounds on social media. He asked Twitter to identify the top few folks in each specialty so that the audience could have a place to start. A seed list for new folks getting going on Twitter. The problem is that many of the top voices ‘by specialty’ don’t have much to say about their work. Esther Choo, an ER ... Continue Reading about Physician Passion as a Professional Category
Sturgeon’s Law | 90% of What We Make is Rubbish
Sturgeon’s law suggests that 90% of what we make is rubbish. That goes for everyone. Your journal publications, editorials and podcasts. Your ideas and theories. Odds are, they’re not that good. When you own this reality you free up your head and your expectations. I live with this reality. I squeeze out ideas before they’re finished. Most float into the ... Continue Reading about Sturgeon’s Law | 90% of What We Make is Rubbish
You Don’t Understand What You Can’t Draw
Media creation is underestimated in education. You only know what you can write, record or draw. As Seth Godin has suggested, 'how are you going to explain this to your cat?' (Maybe a bad example but you get the point). In the space of doctors creating (or modifying) stuff is Wikiproject Medicine. The brainchild of UCSF's Public Physician, Amin Azzam, Wikiproject ... Continue Reading about You Don’t Understand What You Can’t Draw
When We Talk You Change Me
I met with a prominent doctor recently. He opened by joking that he wanted the assurance that what we were about to discuss would not make my blog. I told him I couldn't do that. He stopped laughing. I get what he was asking and I always respect confidentiality. But when you think about it, it's an absurd request. The reality is that every conversation changes ... Continue Reading about When We Talk You Change Me