Axiom 91: Learn to be Analog & Digital

I was born in 1980 into an interesting generation. I was born into an analog world and watched it change into a digital world during my prime mental development years as a youth.

I watched as the old ways died. Rotary phones, televisions with rabbit ears, cassette tapes, paying with cash, handwritten letters, getting the newspaper delivered, and other antiqued transmissions were replaced by cell phones, digital television, music streaming, debit cards, emails, and internet news among other things.

The speed of information and technology was completely transformed before my young eyes. Now I watch as the generation after me cannot grasp the concept of what an analog world looked like and the generation before me struggles to find comfort in having to do everything the "digital" way.

It is important to know that no matter what generation you belong to there is no right or wrong way in doing things the "old" way or the "new" way. Each way has its own advantages and disadvantages. Don't assume that just because it is the habit from a different generation that it is necessarily wrong or right. Speaking as someone from both the analog and digital world there is value in every way of doing something.

A record can sound as good as a lossless digital audio file. A handwritten letter can be as important and meaningful as any email. Don't forget the value in doing things the way another generation does them.    

America's Best Burger - Brindle Room NYC

I was in New York for a day last week and there was only one thing I wanted to eat for sure while I was there, a burger from Brindle Room in East Village (www.brindleroom.com). Sure I'd been to New York many times before and eaten at many great places, but this burger is the best sleeper of a meal in the entire city. It's not only the best burger I've ever had it's also one of the best meals I've ever had. It's that good.

This is what I had been dreaming about for the last seven months since my first visit there:

You'd think that a $16 burger couldn't compete with a meal from a five star restaurant but you'd be dead wrong. Compare this to a $50 burger from the ultra-swank 21 Club in Midtown and it wins by a mile every time.

Here's a picture of this beautiful beast:

So for such a simple looking burger what makes this burger so badass? I think it is a couple of things. First, the cut of meat is different. It's makes the burger more flavorful. It tastes richer and more filling than other burgers. Second, the bread taste like donut bread. It allows the bite of the burger to be softer. It's like eating a heavenly cloud.

And let's not leave the fries out either. Those might be the best damn fries I've ever had also. They're crispy, crunchy, and taste fresh. Overall, I can't wait to go back again next time I'm in NYC. You can't ask for a better meal.

Here's a video of how the magic happens:

Axiom 90: Problem Solving is the Best Skill

"If I had an hour to solve a problem I'd spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions." -Albert Einstein

"Problems are only opportunities in work clothes." -Henri Kaiser

In school I often wondered, what is the point of doing this assignment? Why do I need this information? In a world of technology that allows us to look up information in seconds or solve a math problem by taking a picture with our phone what's the point of doing things the hard way?

The point is that you need to learn the skill of problem solving.

It is this most valuable skill you can ever learn. Good problem solving skills are a rare asset prized by companies. At the end of the day companies make money by solving a customer's problem, and they have to continue to solve problems to stay in business as industries evolve.

As companies innovate they find new ways to solve problems. In life there is not always one way to solve a problem. There are good ways and bad ways, and if you ask ten industry experts how to solve a problem you will probably get ten different answers.

When I have screwed something up in life I have found my problem solving skills were vital. It is often when times are toughest that our problem solving skills are the most invaluable. I've made many mistakes in life, but rarely have I made the same mistake twice. I can thank my problem solving skills for that.

Develop your problem solving skills. Embrace those boring lessons that seem pointless. The time will come when that information is valuable. When you encounter a problem examine every way possible to fix it. You will find that good problem solving skills might be your best asset.