NYC and the DMV
Thriving on Overload, Da Andrea Restaurant and Tavern on the Green, Will Hoge, Hunter Dickinson and Terrance Williams II, Smelly Shank
Welcome to my weekly newsletter. I hope you enjoy the picks and pics.
Fave Five 7: NYC and the DMV. Too Much Information (Thriving on Overload), Piquant Pasta (Da Andrea Restaurant and Tavern on the Green), Tennessee Troublemaker (Will Hoge), DMV Dynamic Duo Deliver in the D (Hunter Dickinson and Terrance Williams II), and a Smelly Shank.
Barb and I returned Sunday from ten days in New York City and the DMV (DC, Maryland, and Virginia). I had a great time seeing friends in New York, family in Maryland, and professional colleagues in DC.
I lived for six years in a New York suburb (Tenafly, New Jersey) and frequently visit my son’s family in Silver Spring, Maryland. This issue features content relating to both metropolitan areas.
Book Best Bet
Thriving on Overload: The 5 Powers for Success in a World of Exponential Information by Ross Dawson
I presented at the KMWorld Conference in Washington last week. It was a joyous reunion with many of my professional colleagues for the first time since 2019. One colleague who was at the first KMWorld Conference I attended in 2007 was not at this one. Ross Dawson lives in Australia, so he does not often attend conferences in the states. I last saw him at the KM Australia Conference in Sydney in 2010.
Ross interviewed me in 2020 about my Community Management Handbook. He recently sent me a copy of his latest book, and I enjoyed reading it. It has value for everyone, not just for those of us in the knowledge management profession. We all face the challenges of information overload, disinformation, propaganda, spam, and scams. Ross’s book provides practical advice and techniques for surviving instead of being overwhelmed. His companion site offers helpful resources that support readers of the book in implementing its strategies.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Learning to Thrive 1
Chapter 1 The Power of Purpose 13
Chapter 2 The Power of Framing 37
Chapter 3 The Power of Filtering 79
Chapter 4 The Power of Attention 119
Chapter 5 The Power of Synthesis 155
Chapter 6 From Overload to Abundance 189
Resources for Thriving 203
From Amazon: When managing massive amounts of information is part of your job and daily life, how do you transform a feeling of being overwhelmed into a sense of abundance and empowerment?
This groundbreaking guide delivers the practical insights and strategies you need to build a positive relationship with information and excel at work and in all your ventures.
Ross Dawson draws on his work as a leading futurist and 25 years of research into the practices that transform a surplus of information into compelling value. In Thriving on Overload, he shares simple actionable techniques for staying ahead in an accelerating world. It’s all about choosing to thrive on overload―rather than being overwhelmed by it. Develop the five intertwined powers that enable extraordinary performance in a world of overload:
Purpose: understanding why you engage with information enables a healthier relationship that generates success and balance in your life
Framing: creating frameworks that connect information into meaningful patterns builds deep knowledge, insight, and world-class expertise
Filtering: discerning which information best serves you helps surface valuable signals above the pervasive noise
Attention: allocating your awareness with intent―including laser-like focus and serendipitous discovery―maximizes productivity and outcomes
Synthesis: expanding your capacity to integrate a universe of ideas yields powerful insight, the ability to see opportunities first, and improved decision-making
Discover valuable lessons from some of the world’s most extraordinary “information masters” ― entrepreneurs, investors, executives, and researchers who excel at transforming vast mines of data into the solid gold of insight and effective action.
Packed with clear guidance, useful exercises, engaging stories, and handy resources, Thriving on Overload helps you build the capabilities that enable you to outperform your peers and prosper as never before in a world defined by excessive information.
A Dozen Insights from the Book
How much do you want to and need to know about what is going on? Realize that it is all too easy to get sucked into the news vortex. Decide what will genuinely add value to your life and support your ability to participate and contribute to a better society. (page 28)
Use writing and presenting to test and refine your thinking. (page 68)
We need to be able to assess whether any given information has positive or negative value for us, based on our unique circumstances and intentions. (page 83)
We also need to heed the impact of information on our mood and emotions. Many studies have demonstrated a correlation between depression and overuse of social media. Avoid doomscrolling. (pages 83-84)
For anything important, always try to track back to the original information source. (page 91)
To thrive on overload, it is not essential to be a content curator, but it can be enormously helpful. Consistently sharing useful information and insights can bring you immense benefits. (page 110)
Block out Deep-diving. Schedule times for Regenerating. Set a time each day for something that helps revitalize your mind, perhaps a walk in nature. (pages 143-144)
Minimize notifications. Delay gratification—resist the impulse to check your email or social media or the latest news. (pages 145-146)
All innovation stems from connecting existing ideas in new ways. (page 159)
Deliberately seek inputs that challenge your existing ways of thinking. (page 174)
Make smaller decisions that will yield information to improve subsequent and potentially larger decisions. (page 181)
Whether you prosper or are overwhelmed in our world of excess is, more than anything, ad choice. (page 191)
Restaurant Recommendations
Bill Sterling has been my close friend ever since we met as freshmen at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois in 1971. We were both born in Oak Park, Illinois in 1953, and we share a love of index funds, laughter, and good food. He and his wife, Cora, met Barb and me in New York to celebrate Barb’s 70th birthday in early November. We saw The Music Man starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster and enjoyed two memorable dinners together.
Da Andrea Restaurant 35 West 13th Street, New York, NY 10011
Bill reserved an outdoor table at this Italian eatery on Friday, November 4. The four of us shared a Caesar salad and two starters: Tuna Tartare (Yellow Fin Tuna, Avocado, Arugula, Endive, Tomatoes, Cilantro) and Burrata con basilico (Burrata, vine ripe tomatoes, basil sauce). I ordered Spaghetti Alla Carbonara (Spaghetti, Bacon, Parmesan Cheese, Cream Sauce) and it was delicious:
Tavern on the Green 67th Street & Central Park West, New York, NY 10023
For our Saturday dinner after the show, I booked a table at this legendary establishment in Central Park. It was located right next to the finish line for the New York Marathon that was being held Sunday.
Despite the fact that we would be heading to Maryland the next day, home to great crab cakes, Barb started with a Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with Gribiche Sauce, and she loved it. I was intrigued by the lengthy ingredients listed for the Chopped Vegetable Salad (Haricots Verts, Radish, Jicama, Asparagus, Roasted Butternut Squash, Lemon Zest, Tomato, Grilled Corn, Fingerling Potato, Avocado, Shaved Carrot, Grilled Bermuda Onion, Tangy Caper Dressing) and they all worked very well together. For the second consecutive dinner, we had pasta, and it was outstanding, I chose the Ravioli (Fontina Stuffed Ravioli, Smoked Tomato Butter, Charred Cherry Tomato, Basil) and Barb had a special pasta (with Chardonnay Braised Beef Short Rib).
For dessert, we shared birthday cake and ice cream in honor of Barb’s birthday the next day. It was a wonderful meal in a magical setting.
Marvelous Musician
Will Hoge (born November 14, 1972 in Franklin, Tennessee) is an Americana music singer, songwriter, and musician from Nashville. Yesterday was Will's 50th birthday. He will appear with Dave Hause at The Ark in Ann Arbor this Thursday, November 17. I love his songs, performances, and willingness to stand up for what he believes.
I saw Will on the Cayamo music cruises in 2011 and 2017. I last saw him perform at The Hamilton in Washington, DC in September, 2017:
From Rolling Stone: Why Will Hoge Won’t Shut Up and Sing on Political New Album ‘My American Dream’
The shut-up-and-sing crowd is losing. The louder you have to tell people to shut up, and not record these kinds of songs, that’s when you know their argument is not real.
Here is one of my favorite songs of Will’s, Young As We Will Ever Be:
Here is my curated playlist so you can check out the full range of Will’s music:
Sports Stars
Hunter Dickinson and Terrance Williams II
My son Roger coached Hunter Dickinson in basketball through the 8th grade at Mater Dei School in Bethesda, Maryland. And he coached Terrance Williams II for four years at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, DC. Roger has always been a huge fan of University of Michigan basketball, especially the Fab Five (Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Ray Jackson, and Jimmy King). So he was quite thrilled when both Hunter and Terrance were successfully recruited by U of M coach Juwan Howard.
Hunter and Terrance were teammates as youths and then opponents in high school. Hunter played for DeMatha Catholic High School, Gonzaga’s top rival. Then they ended up back together at Michigan. For more about their history, read From second grade to Michigan, how Dickinson and Williams II grew together by Paul Nasr.
Along with Juwan’s son, Jace Howard, Hunter and Terrance were elected Michigan team captains this year. Roger must be proud to have helped them develop into two fine young men.
DMV Dynamic Duo Deliver in the D
On Friday, the two largest universities in Washtenaw County, Michigan—University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) and Eastern Michigan University (Ypsilanti)—faced each other at Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit. It was a close, exciting game, and the fans of both schools turned out in large numbers to vocally support their teams.
Michigan won, 88-83. Hunter had 31 points and 7 rebounds. He made 13 of 17 shots in 32 minutes. Terrance had 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 assists. He made 3 of 7 3-point shots in 31 minutes. Pretty, pretty good performances for both of them.
High School: Gatorade Maryland Player of the Year (2020)
College: All-America, consensus (2021)—Associated Press, NABC, Sporting News, USA Today and USBWA
High School: Gatorade District of Columbia Player of the Year (2020)
College: Academic All-Big Ten (2022)
Picture Pun
Thought about ordering the lamb shank, but it didn’t pass the smell test.
