Where to even start with confirmation bias? It surrounds us—colors our very perception of the world. If we’re not paying attention, our mind will seek out information that confirms our thinking. There is something of self-preservation in this—isn’t it cognitively easier not to change your mind about something? it’s not the high road, sure—but it’s … Continue reading On confirmation bias
Author: T Coe
On polypton
Polypton is a word scheme that plays with derivative forms of the same word. FDR offers a famous example in his claim that the “only thing we have to fear (1) is fear (2) itself.” Fear #1 is a verb in infinitive form, while fear #3 is a noun. Both words, of course, share an … Continue reading On polypton
On how to win
People like humility—until they give you an award. Once you win an award, they don’t want to hear about it: humility is boring when you’re holding an award in hand. No one really wants to tell you that you’re deserving and then have you bashfully stare at the floor and tell them “Oh, well, I … Continue reading On how to win
On how there are more types of trees out there than I thought
I thought the trees were all cottonwoods, honestly. A band of trees crowd the banks of the creek that runs through the park behind our house. Cottonwoods, right? As I learned yesterday—in my mission to learn more about my bioregion—yes, there are cottonwoods. But there are also white willows and peachleaf willows and black poplar … Continue reading On how there are more types of trees out there than I thought
On 7 things from last week (5/22/23)
Paternity leave. I’m looking, as of last Friday, at 10 weeks of no work and lots of hanging out with a 4-month old! Marketing Excellence Awards. I’m humbled, to say the least, to have received the Marketer of the Year award from SMPS Colorado last week. Leaves. It always takes longer in Colorado—but the leaves … Continue reading On 7 things from last week (5/22/23)
On worrying that work means too much to me
As I write this, I’m embarking on 10 weeks of paternity leave. The thought of 10 workless weeks in a row is both thrilling and worrying—thrilling because who doesn’t want a break from the grind and worrying because work has slinkily become a sizable chunk of my identity these past few years. That last bit … Continue reading On worrying that work means too much to me
On missing running meetings
I miss running meetings. I feel a little silly admitting this—but there it is. Last year, I was charged with running 2-3 monthly leadership meetings, and I relished it. Agendas, minutes, gently redirecting discussions. Why do I miss it? Partly, it's my ego. I felt important running those meetings. It feels good to be in … Continue reading On missing running meetings
On the mere exposure effect
Why "mere"? Mere because just the simple fact of having previously encountered something makes it seem good or preferable later on. The weird part of this is that you don't even need to be conscious of the previous exposure. The oddity of this blew my mind when I encountered the effect in Daniel Kahneman's Thinking, … Continue reading On the mere exposure effect
On agnomination
Agnomination is a word scheme that replaces one word in a phrase with a similar sounding word that offers a contrast of meaning, often an antithesis. The scheme results a stark either/or premise with an "echo" effect. The most famous example in modern oratory is Malcolm X's "the ballot or the bullet" speech. The use … Continue reading On agnomination
On miller moths and toddlers
The other morning my toddler and I were washing our hands in the bathroom when a small something flitted out from behind the mirror. "Bug! Bug! Bug!" he cried, and nearly fell off the stepstool. Wary of inciting any nascent phobia insects—a phobia I'm half-sure lies dormant within most of us, entomologists excepted—I stilled him … Continue reading On miller moths and toddlers
Taylor Coe 