• What science may have to say about the Tipping Point
• You’re wrong – but that’s ok
• What I’m trying to do differently this year and how you can help

Check it out: Jan 2012 Newsletter

http://predictablesuccess.com/blog/if-picasso-had-your-schedule-wed-never-have-heard-of-him-redux

Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.

–Thomas Jefferson,

How does a renaissance person think? Here’s one psychologist’s thought:

“people who are high in both thinking style are Renaissance people. They have the brains of scientists and the sensibilities of poets. In other words they have the positive features of both thinking styles and do not have their negative features because they are kept under control by the other thinking style.”

For more, check out the whole post-

http://www.creativitypost.com/psychology/how_renaissance_people_think

What kind of side-projects do successful executives work on? Polymath ones of course!

http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/story/292434/pet-projects-of-tech-execs

Victory is mine!

I’ve recently been crowned the champion of my Fantasy Football league. Though it may seem trite, I consider it an accomplishment – especially since I finished dead last just two years ago when I started. Down rain on my small wins!

1. What qualities made Steve Jobs a polymath?
http://roguepolymath.wordpress.com/2011/10/08/polymath-profile-steve-jobs/

2. Can you really give 110%?
http://roguepolymath.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/the-secret-to-giving-110/

3. A tribute to a fallen hero
http://roguepolymath.wordpress.com/2011/09/29/my-weekend-a-tribute/

4. Don’t look to politicians to save you
http://roguepolymath.wordpress.com/2011/08/08/politicians-will-not-save-us/

5. Failure is always an option
http://roguepolymath.wordpress.com/2011/04/27/failure-is-always-an-option/

What was your favorite Rogue Polymath post from this year?

Good King Wenceslas

Origins:

The carol was written by Englishman John Mason Neale in 1853, but its origins are much more complex. The tune comes from a 13^th century Finnish tune recorded in a book of school music in 1582. The lyrics seem to be based on a Medieval Czech poem of a legend of King Wenceslas.

Who was this guy Wenceslas?

Technically, he wasn’t a really king (just like Lord Farquad). He was the Duke of Bohemia (present day Czech Republic) during the Tenth century. His real name was Vaclav (Wenceslas is the German version), which doesn’t quite have the same ring to it. However, by all accounts, he was a good guy. He also founded St. Vitus Cathedral.

His brother, Boleslav, was not such a good guy. He arranged for Wenceslas to be murdered on his way to church, thus ensuring himself a permanent spot on the ‘naughty list.’ Wenceslas was vindicated by being declared a martyr on the church and is now the patron saint of the Czech Republic. In your face Boleslav!

Eventually, he was posthumously given the title of King (so that part is kind of true). The story of going out in the snow to help a poor peasant is probably mostly legend as Wenceslas became like a rock star in the years after his death.

What about this Stephen person who was having a feast?

The Stephen referred to here is the first martyr of the church (Acts 6 & 7). His feast day is December 26^th, hence the reason for this song being a Christmas carol. The feast of Saint Stephen was part of the Twelve Days of Christmas (you remember the 12 days of Christmas right?). The day after Christmas remains a popular day in the United Kingdom and is celebrated as Boxing Day.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_King_Wenceslas

http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/carols_stories.shtml

http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/good_king_wenceslas.htm

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Origins:

Written versions of this song date back to 1780 England, compiled in a child’s book called Mirth without Mischief. However, it’s believed that the oral version considerably predates the written version. Also, there is circumstantial evidence that it’s originally French, not English. Its structure was used in a game called ‘memories and forfeits’, where each player had to remember all the previous lines. If they forgot, they had to pay a penalty (forfeit). Something like the game Truth or Dare.

12 days?

In contrast to today’s commercial Christmas season which unofficially starts the day after Thanksgiving (and unfortunately in isolated instances – before then) and culminates on Christmas day, Medieval Christmas celebrations were different. They began Christmas day and continued to January 5th, twelve days total. January 5th is the eve of a holiday called the Epiphany which celebrates the Magi bringing gifts to the Christ child.
3 Calling Birds

They were actually ‘collie’ birds (as in coal-ie), which means black birds

5 Golden Rings

Not really jewelry, instead it refers to a type of bird with a yellow ring on its neck (like a pheasant). Now you can see the continuity between all the first seven gifts (hint – they’re all birds).

Rising Costs

Every year some economist calculates the cost of actually purchasing these items for your ‘true love.’ Here’s how much it will cost this year: 12 Days List Passes 100K

sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_Days_of_Christmas_(song)

http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/Notes_On_Carols/twelve_days_of_christmas.htm

The Peter Principle
Parkinson’s Law
Murphy’s Law

Check out the other four by reading his post here.

3 Characteristics of an Educated Man – sounds like a polymath to me

Compare your To Do list with that of Leonardo Da Vinci, and consider if there are “unexpected benefits of not being able to focus.”

A nice synopsis of Raphael’s life and work (the artist, not the Ninja Turtle)

An interview with polymath CEO of Sam Adams – mountain climber, entrepreneur, brewer, teacher  - Jim Koch. He dropped out of Harvard to learn his own way and built Boston Beer Co from his kitchen to 1% of domestic beer sales.

Bonus – he’s a big fan of Demming (whom I’ve featured on this blog before) http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/220792

Is multi-disciplinary interest hereditary? http://puttylike.com/your-parents-and-your-multipotentiality/

• Similarities between Government and Business
• Why multiplication is better than addition
• Why being just expert enough may be all you really need

Dec 2011 Newsletter

This year we drafted our teams by auction for the first time. I was a little apprehensive, having never done it before, but things turned out pretty well. My team, lead by Drew Brees, Darren McFadden/Michael Bush, Maurice Jones-Drew, Wes Welker, & Mike Wallace (and supported by Beanie Wells, Brandon Marshall, and Fred Davis), has kept me in the #2 spot for most of the season. I even has one week in the #1 spot, by far my best year ever. Now I’ve clinched a playoff spot and fighting chance at the title. I’ll let you know how that works out.