Mixing fluid and rigid systems

Nietzsche famously argued that art grows from the marriage of Apollo, the Greek god embodying rationality, order and planning, and Dionysus, who embodies drunken disorder and wild dancing.  The two gods obviously conflict, but their unruly marriage is essential, Nietzsche said. Strong companies likewise embody a continuous conflict between these …

Walk farther, faster in your seventies to live longer

Here’s a new study from researchers at Tufts to share over turkey if you’re looking to motivate older relatives. Even a  little walking goes a LONG way: * Adults who walked at a pace faster than three miles per hour (mph) had a 50%, 53%, 50% lower risk of coronary heart …

New study: stonger legs, stronger minds!

Anyone who exercises knows intuitively that being fit not only makes you feel better, it sharpens your mind. Lots of studies have indicated a correlation between fitness and mental acuity. But the question has often lingered: is this just because people who are lucky enough to be primed genetically for fitness are …

On running, writing and inspiration

Interweaving ideas from many writers, Nick Ripatrazone has a gorgeous meditation on the co-mingling among writing, running, meditation, innovation and inspiration. Called “Why Writers Run,” the Atlantic Magazine article might just as well be called “why runners write.” Or, for that matter, “why everyone who needs inspiration should run.” Here’s a taste, …

How to learn what people want (but don’t yet know they want)

“A lot of times, people don’t know what they want until you show it to them,” Steve Jobs famously said about the importance of not depending on customers for new product cues. Obviously, most of the time, people do know what they want — a bigger pair of pants, a hotter bowl …