What if Irony is Judging Others for Lacking Empathy?
In the preface of my book,
I talked about the layman’s struggle
to understand
software.
10 years since then,
I find myself—
a formally trained computer scientist—
struggling
to understand
software.
Not because I don’t understand
how the software
works,
but because despite knowing
how the software
works,
what it does
is still
bewildering.
Click here to listen on Spotify
In our second episode of the season, we host Luke Segars, Co-Founder and CTO of Subsalt.
Having experienced both the positive and the negative impact of culture, Luke wants to ensure that the company he leads becomes an example of the former. In this episode, we explore his inquiry into building such a culture from scratch.
Often times
what we are doing
is nothing more
than exploring.
At the heart
of an exploration
is the fact
that we don’t know.
We may try to make it seem
like it is more
than a mere exploration,
by saying we have
a question
a vision,
or a hypothesis.
But deep down,
we know
we are simply
exploring.
I cannot believe
it’s been 10 years
since the publication
of my book.
To celebrate this occasion
and to share my work more broadly,
I’m launching a 10-part series
of short writings (mostly 1 pagers)
on empathy.
Click here to gain access at free-of-charge.
This is a work-
in-progress.
You can comment on it
so as to influence my direction
The first 6 parts
have already been published.
I plan to publish the other 4
throughout the year.
When using
a table saw,
there is the danger
of severing
our fingers.
What’s remarkable
is that so long as we have
a clear understanding of the danger
in using the table saw
many of us find it sufficient
to work up the courage
to engage with it
despite the danger,
instead of staying stuck
in the thought
of severing our fingers
which merely gives rise
to fear.
When someone judges us
a “difficult
case,”
it can be easy
to blame ourselves
for being
a “difficult,
case.”
While this may mean
there is something extraordinary
about us,
it also means
that someone with greater skills
will not not judge us
a “difficult
case.”
p.s: This was inspired by a meeting with a doctor who called my wife a “difficult case,” while asking her to work with another doctor with more experience and skill. An unfortunately common case of compassion without empathy, displayed by many of us, including yours truly, when we take on the role of caregiving.
Sometimes
arrogance can arise
in the presence
of another person
whom
we distrust.
What if
“imposter syndrome”
is less our lack
of competence,
and more our lack
of information
of how others
really
are.
Season 2
of “The Journey of Realizing Empathy”
is now live.
In our inaugural episode,
we host Priya Amin,
former Founder and CEO
of Flexable.
During COVID,
Priya had to close Flexable down
both because of financial strain
and her own personal burnout.
In this episode,
we explore her inquiry
into being more compassionate with herself
as she moves through the next phase
of her entrepreneurial
journey.
Let the conversation
begin.