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Computer Crashes and Breaks


The one nice thing about computer crashes and breaks is that they give us a chance to catch up and breathe a little.

Cartoon of a man at a desk. He says, "I found a way to take my breaks. My computer is set up to crash every two hours."

Computer crashes have been around as long as computers. We have no problem finding articles and advice on what could be wrong and how to fix it. When we have a persistent crash, it reminds us how much we depend on these machines, doesn’t it?

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How do you know when criticism isn’t working?

Cartoon of a dog washing dishes

Cartoon of a dog washing dishes and a man
Cartoon of a dog washing dishes. A man says to him, “You missed a spot.”

Criticism is the most popular way to teach someone something, isn’t it? When we someone who isn’t doing things the way we think they should, the most natural way to teach is to correct the individual.

So why do we hate criticism?

  • Because it can tear down a person if we’re not careful.
  • A small problem magnifies a huge problem.
  • Without some tact, we sound brutish and hurtful.
  • The receiver of criticism interprets it through the lens of past experiences.
    • Experience with the one who is criticizing
    • Experience with the task they’re being criticized for.

How can we correct a problem if criticism doesn’t work?

  • Be vulnerable. No one likes to receive criticism if the one sending it displays an air of perfection. People are much more receptive to criticism if we are honest about our own faults.
  • Choose your battles. Is it really worth pointing out that little spot when ninety-nine percent of the job was perfectly?
  • Point out the good more than the bad. It is easy to focus on the bad news, but who likes to hear it? A critical point goes further if most of the time we her positive comments.

How do you effectively use criticism in your business or with your kids?

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See how easily you can spot an unfair rule

Cartoon of a cat executive and a dog employee
© 2013 Kevin Spear

Cartoon of a cat executive and a dog employee. The cat says, “We have a ‘No Panting Policy’ around here.”

I thought of this idea several years ago when my kids were watching the movie, Cats and Dogs. It’s about dog spies and an evil genius cat that is planning to take over the world.

I thought of what would the world look like if cats were in charge and dogs had to bow to the felines’ whims. Then I wondered how many rules and laws are skewed towards the majority culture and we don’t even realize it.

Is it easy to spot those rules? I’m not so sure it is. What seems perfectly normal to one culture could look like oppression to another. It’s mighty hard to abide by The Golden Rule when you don’t ask the other party how they want to be treated.

So how do you spot an unfair rule?

  • Seek the input of all parties involved
  • Listen without being defensive. Besides, is that rule really worth defending?
  • Ask whether an old rule still makes sense
  • Ask why the rule was instituted in the first place