Scrolling Through Life And Missing It

We live on our devices. Clips, viral videos, news alerts - they’re everywhere, and they grab our attention like magnets. Did we see that thing? Did we hear about that guy? 

Sometimes it feels like we’re keeping up with the world, but are we keeping up with ourselves? Hours slip by while we react, scroll, and double-tap, and the life happening right in front of us quietly passes by.

Missing Moments That Matter 

 Life isn’t a feed. The laughter around the table, the quiet moments at sunrise, the small gestures that mean the most - they aren’t trending, and they aren’t going viral. When we’re glued to our screens, we risk missing the very moments that make life rich. 

Relationships weaken, opportunities pass, and our own story gets lost among everyone else’s highlights. That doesn’t mean we ditch tech entirely. Devices are tools, not life itself. The trick is balance. Let’s take a walk, have a conversation, or just pause to notice what’s happening around us. Being present, opens doors: we see people, ideas, and moments we would have scrolled past. 

Finding Life Between the Notifications 

Ask questions, notice details, and truly listen. Life is happening, whether we’re looking at it or not. When we reconnect with our own world, the digital one becomes less distracting and more of a choice rather than a habit. We live on our devices - but life is happening for us, right now. 

 Let’s not miss it. ____

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2021: Year in Search

Since 2001, Google has published their year-end review through search statistics, news stories, and videos entitled Year in Search. As you look through these, you'll discover how much has changed and how much has happened in the last two decades.

Here's the 2021 Edition

 

Here's 2020 back to 2001

 

2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005 • 2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001

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A Year in the Life

We first heard about some virus in Asia. It looked bad. Then really bad. Then we heard that story of China building entire hospitals in a matter of weeks. Then the World Health Organization put a name to it – PANDEMIC! It felt like it was something happening in a movie or at the very least to someone else. 

A year later, it's happening to all of us. It has felt like a decade and an instant.  

We covered the 1918 Spanish flu in history class. It looked like something that could never happen these days. Yet it did. A year ago the world turned off the lights and shut the doors and most of its restaurants and offices. A large percentage of the world had to learn to work from home and millions lost their jobs. Lives were changed; lives were lost.

Stay the Course 

It is kind of adorable when you can still hear people proclaim they can't wait until things get back to normal. Yeah, normal left the building and is it not returning. The new normal has taken over. My life has forever changed in many ways – has yours?

The new normal is yet to be defined and it may take years for us to adjust. Remote work, social distancing, and masks have replaced hugging loved ones and going out for a night of food and drinks with friends. Even as we all await our turn to be vaccinated, we still have a long wait for this new normal to become somewhat stable.

Lost track of time

When this all started, I was glued to the news – on my phone, tablet, tv, every waking hour checking numbers regularly and then checking the websites. I was watching social feeds and I'm sure we ran into each other doing the same. Here in Canada, we have been somewhat fortunate but it's heartbreaking to see the attitude of some who disbelieve this is real while more lives are lost.

I never leave the house without a mask on and I obey all of the protocols, I've become numb. How are you doing? Have you let your guard down? Have you become fed up with all this yet? Of course, me too. But we have no choice. Two members of my extended family have died from Covid-19 and about half a dozen professional colleagues have gotten the virus and since recovered. 

The flipside

But what good has come out of the last twelve months? Maybe you have even better friendships? Perhaps you've thought long and hard about the changes you want to make in your career? Possibly now is the exact time to follow that dream or idea and go for it?

We've come too far and far too many people have lost their lives already. We have to continue to wear our mask, wash our hands, and keep socially distanced. And for those who think making eye contact and saying hello will get you infected, we don't have to lose our manners while being careful. 

Stay safe!

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What's New With You?

It's a new year after a crap year that we hope is a great year. I don't know about you, but the end of the year usually brings me the most reflection. It's as good a time as any to review the past 12 months and make some plans and ideas for the next 12 months.

We have all spent WAY too much time watching our screens and seeing bad news, so it's not easy to make plans per se when we don't know what normal is anymore. Nonetheless, we have to remain diligent. Vaccines are coming and we have to keep our masks on and our social distancing in place.

What Day is It? 

 I have lost count how many times I've had to check my phone to discover what day of the week it is and time seems to be flying by. Days pass like a few hours and months feel like a few days. it's weird, isn't it? 

I'm among the tens of millions of humans on the planet whose career was affected by the Covid-19 virus. In my case, I may have pushed a bit to make it fully happen as it felt like the perfect time but perhaps most would have disagreed.

So as I embark on new adventures, I hope you will take even a few moments during this once in many lifetime chance to allow yourself to dream a bit. 

Perhaps this is the time to look at starting that business or making a shift in something that is stuck in your life. One thing is for sure, it is never easy to make a change. 

Stay safe and be kind to yourself.

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Zeitgeist 2017

Since 2001, Google has published their year in review through search statistics, big news stories, and video clips entitled Zeitgeist which means the spirit of our time.

Here is the 2017 edition



2016 to 2001















2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005
2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001
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One Mann's Opinion

My grade 10 history teacher proclaimed there is no such thing as an unbiased opinion. News agencies have purported they are your source for the real stories void of any slant or partiality. Marketing companies create campaigns to convince us this is the best product there ever has existed in that category. Some leaders espouse open collaboration whilst showing clear favoritism to some employees. We all do it even though we may claim to be unbiased.

So when two people are having a conversation – they begin with their own bias, opinion, and experience. It doesn’t start on even footing. You and I may think we agree on something but there are nuances we may not discuss. And if we continue to make them along the way, in short order, we could be far apart from each other because we make assumptions we’re on the same proverbial page.

No expectations

In a team environment, making assumptions can be dangerous as well. It can be difficult to keep that in check if you have been working together for a while. There's a dance and an unspoken language among a group that forms over time. So if you do regular check-ins with each other, it can create even stronger collaborative situation.

I have opinions, you have biases, we have our own view. If we simply ask each other, we may discover a better way of looking at the world.

That's just my opinion.
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Time and Spirit

Since 2001, Google has published our collective online behavior entitled Zeitgeist which means the spirit of our time. Here's this year's installment.


2015 to 2001

2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005

2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001

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2015: Spirit and Time

Since 2001, Google has published our collective online behavior entitled Zeitgeist which means the spirit of our time. We end 2015 with a lot of pain in the world but through some tough times, let's remember the beauty we all bring.

Here's the 2015 installment.



2014 to 2001

2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005

2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001

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As a passionate leader, Kneale Mann has extensive experience as a business advisor and project manager in numerous industries and organizations including; human resources, corporate training, financial services, media, real estate, healthcare and more. He is always open to meeting leaders who want to improve their bottom line through strong culture and leadership. knealemann@gmail.com

Making Assumptions

My grade 10 history teacher proclaimed there is no such thing as an unbiased opinion. News agencies have purported they are your source for the real stories void of any slant or partiality. Marketing companies create campaigns to convince us this is the best product there ever has existed in that category. Leaders espouse open collaboration whilst showing clear favoritism to some employees. We all do it even though we may claim to be unbiased.

So when two people are having a conversation – they begin with their own bias, opinion, and experience. It doesn’t start on even footing. You and I may think we agree on something but there are nuances that we may not discuss. And if we continue to make them along the way, in short order, we could be far apart from each other because we make assumptions we’re on the same proverbial page.

No Expectations

I have a friend who says he goes into every situation with no expectations. It sounds like a great idea. You go in not imagining an outcome and no one gets hurt. Easy peasy. But he does presume to be respected and trusted so can he really have no expectations? Of course not.

In a team environment, making assumptions can be dangerous as well. But it is difficult to keep that in check if you have been working together for a while. There’s a dance and an unspoken language amongst a group that forms over time. So if you do regular check-ins with each other, it can open up an even stronger collaborative situation.

I have opinions, you have biases, and we all have our own view. Instead of making the assumption we see things the same way, if we simply ask each other, we may discover a better way of looking at the world.

But that’s just my opinion.
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Kneale Mann | People + Priority = Progress

Our Spirit and Time

Google has been preparing a year-end review since 2001. They call it Zeitgeist which means spirit of the time or spirit of age. It's a look at our world in a couple of minutes. It's a snapshot of you and me. Here are the year-end lists since the company started compiling them and here's to a inspiring 2014!

Search on...

2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005

2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001

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Kneale Mann | Leadership Strategist, consultant, writer, speaker, executive coach facilitating performance growth with leaders, management, and teams.

Google Zeitgeist

2011: Did We Make It?

Historians may write their summation of 2011 a bit different than we are writing it now. When you look at it you can certainly say we have endured another challenging year. As we step into the Google Zeitgeist for 2011, the words that I keep thinking about are adversity, hope, conflict and empowerment.

What are yours?


Kneale Mann

visual credit: google | song credit: mat kearney - sooner or later

What Will You Do in the Next 30 Days?

I was on a conference call this week and we were talking about all the things we wanted to do. Those items on some bucket list or someday sheet, tacked to the bulletin board next to the array of conference laminates, the calendar and a few wise sayings from past fortune cookies. We know our lives won’t last forever. As Steve Jobs said, "Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose."

A few years ago, Matt Cutts, whose day job is quality control at Google, felt he wanted to look at his list a little more carefully. And instead of placing it back on the wish he could get to it one of these days pile, he did it.

Will you get to your list?


Kneale Mann

visual credit: TED

Make Time for Think Time

The content will never end

Don’t follow rules, follow rules, be on every channel, be selective, watch this video, buy my program, read my blog, see this new thing.We are constantly trying to find ways to filter through the stuff and find what's important. But how do we shut out the noise from out there and inside our own minds?

Take Digital Time Off
The Internet will be here tomorrow. Shut off your computer and your phone. Try it for 24 hours. It's okay, we'll be here when you get back.

Keep Things Simple
I start less and finish more. It’s not easy and it takes daily practice. Squirrel.

Listen to Your Voice
It’s fascinating how much weight we give others' opinions. Take the time to listen to your voice more often. It knows you better than they do.

Find Your Focus
This is like adopting a new exercise regimen. The treadmill in my basement has yet to get me in shape on its own. Weird.

Memes Can Be Dangerous
The human mind is a miraculous machine that can create whatever reality we wish and for some strange reason negative thought can infiltrate faster than positive. Our thoughts are just our thoughts and we can work on turning self-doubt moments into action items.

Give Yourself a Break
Take some time by yourself and list all of your strengths. No one needs to see the list, so be completely honest with yourself.

Step Away. Enjoy the Silence.

Kneale Mann

image credit: wickednox
Original post: Aug 2010

From Vancouver to The World

Welcome to our Instant Life

Business owners and managers who have yet gone deep with a digital presence often worry about the time commitment, the ability to manage the content, the sheer volume of information and the return on their investment.

This week we watched in disgust as thousands of people went on a rampage in downtown Vancouver moments after the Canucks lost their second bid at a Stanley Cup. Over a hundred people have been arrested so far, clearly a tiny fraction of those who should be brought to justice, and a couple of hundred people were injured which in itself is a miracle. There have been incidents like this in the past where lives were lost.

Good Versus Bad

The actions are inexcusable. If you are upset that your team lost a hockey game, go home and smash your own house and car. But the very tools that were used to broadcast the Vancouver events to the world in an instant this week will slowly turn positive in two distinct ways.

There is video evidence of the actual people who did the damage and hurt others. It astounds me how anyone can destroy property, hurt others and happily film themselves doing it. There are thousands of Twitter, Flickr, Facebook and YouTube accounts littered with the names and images for authorities to sift through but the bigger question is one I’m not sure we can answer – why did this happen and if the Canucks had won, would it have happened anyway? It’s easy to say a small group of thugs started it – time will tell – but that doesn’t excuse thousands – yes, thousands – of others joining in.

Bad Turns Good

But the other positive result is that in mere hours, hundreds of Vancouverites were on the streets cleaning up their city and tens of thousands of supporters were spreading the news through various Facebook groups. Vancouver is one of the most beautiful, clean, fun, engaging cities on earth. If you have never been, I implore you to do so. If you have been, go again and let’s not let the bad ones prove what some are suspecting is a long hill to climb to improve the city’s reputation.

The digital age gives us reasonably inexpensive tools to spread ideas quickly. The social web has opened up avenues to people who share our interests all over the world. But the events of Wednesday night in Vancouver remind us the responsibility we have with our web presence and content.

Let’s remember our responsibility as human beings.

Kneale Mann

image credit: thescore

Rights and Privileges

We All Remember Where We Were When

That is a phrase that is only uttered a handful of times during a lifetime. Depending on your age, that is a reference to the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the death of Kurt Cobain, September 11th or last night when the world tried to digest the news that one of the most sought after criminals had been killed.

At the height of the frenzy, there were over 4,000 tweets a second and every news agency on television, radio, print and online were scrambling for information. We were the news cycle. We were instantly brought back to 2001.

Your Vote Counts

Today is a national election in my country. Canadians were cynical that the government had passed a non-confidence vote in our house of commons to force the minority leading Conservative party to call an election. It’s expensive and no business or country or individual can afford to spend unwisely these days. According to the polls, this will be an historic day. Time, as they say, will tell.

We live in an instant news world. About two billion of us are online which is still only a third of the world's population, but the power for each of us to publish information has caused exponentially more content. Some is correct, some is reactionary, some is for good and some is not.

The Social Web has Changed the World

Through years of building online relationships, it is an honour to be able to send a message to people I have connected with from all over the world. There are kind emails and texts from caring people from places I’ve never been. They are people, not job titles. Last night, we shared something profound and most of us were alone or with a couple of other people. Billions were getting the news one-on-one.

Digital channels have given us the ability to share information quickly. Last night, major news agencies were quoting the social web as much as their own sources. Twitter, Facebook and the Blogosphere is a constant hum of information and opinion. As the saying goes, we must remember so we don't forget. And millions of us have the ability to share our voice.

Some call that a right, some call it a privilege but it certainly should not be taken for granted.

Kneale Mann

image credit: istock

The @Ev olution of Twitter

We know the social web moves at the speed of light but it is interesting to go back almost two years to see how things were, how they have changed and in some cases (and not necessarily in a bad way) stayed the same.

This is Evan Williams at TED in February 2009 being a real, genuine (and nervous) guy talking about the birth, the launch and the evolution of Twitter. He says he always follows the hunch but never assumes where it will go. [video]

Advice we should all heed don't you think?



knealemann | email


video credit: TED

Six Ideas to Silence the Chatter

We are overrun with content and it will never end.

Don’t follow rules, follow rules, be on every channel, be selective, watch this video, buy my program, read my blog, see this new thing.

We are constantly trying to find ways to filter through the stuff and find what's important. But how do we shut out the noise from out there and inside our own minds?

Take Digital Time Off

The Internet will be here tomorrow. Shut off your computer and your phone. Try it for 24 hours. It's okay, we'll be here when you get back.

Keep Things Simple

I start less and finish more. It’s not easy and it takes daily practice. Squirrel.

Listen to Your Voice

It’s fascinating how much weight we give others' opinions. Take the time to listen to your voice more often. It knows you better than they do.

Find Your Focus

This is like adopting a new exercise regimen. The treadmill in my basement has yet to get me in shape on its own. Weird.

Your Memes Can Be Dangerous

The human mind is a miraculous machine that can create whatever reality we wish and for some strange reason negative thought can infiltrate faster than positive. Our thoughts are just our thoughts and we can work on turning self-doubt moments into action items.

Give Yourself a Break

Take some time by yourself and list all of your strengths. No one needs to see the list, so be completely honest with yourself.

How do you silence the chatter?

knealemann
Create experiences not campaigns.

image credit: pfreefoto

Information Super Gridlock

We are pummelled with shards of online content constantly. It's like downtown Cairo traffic.

I saw Henry Rollins a few years ago talking about his trip to Egypt and he said there are four lane highways with six lanes of traffic.

The chatter, garbage and noise begin to blur while our ability to decipher crap from non-crap is tougher every day.

Good or Bad?

Technorati monitors around 200 million blogs; there are opinion columns, online news sites, forums, chat rooms and social networking spaces that give us choice. And that's over and above all the news, sports, information and entertainment portals.

But these options have created a problem. We have too much choice and all the good stuff is mixed with the stuff we don’t want or care about. That's why we often visit the same sites everyday, we are frozen in indecision.

The World Wide Maze

Search Engine Optimizationists (it’s a word now, just made it up) say it’s all about rank, bloggers stomp their keyboards for free speech and we marketing/social media types talk about open source conversations and collaboration.

If you don’t reside in those worlds, you don’t care. You just want to be entertained, informed and get details on that new rider mower. And you may not want someone to tell you what to choose or think.

How do you navigate the deafening racket?

@knealemann
marketing and social media strategy

image credit: google

The New News Cycle

We are officially overwhelmed with content. It’s everywhere. Blogs, podcasts, news, media, books, pamphlets, it’s being created faster than we can consume it.

The movement in the last couple of weeks on Twitter with regards to the Iranian election has been inspiring.

The Power of We?

The people do have the power. Will any of it change the horrific situation over there? Hopefully. But if not, it will change the next one. We must believe that we can change things as a group.

Thursday 5:10pm

I checked email and in came a series blasts from the various news agencies all reporting that Michael Jackson had suffered a heart attack.

Tune It In

My immediate reaction was to post something on Twitter. No phone call to any of my other media friends, I didn’t turn on the radio or television, I didn’t first visit a website, I tweeted it.

Reports were flying around faster than the speed of 110wpm and an hour had passed. Checking sites, tweeting, reading tweets, checking sites and the confirmation came through that Jackson had passed away.

The Scramble Was On

There were the rumor mongers, the unconfirmed reports, the confirmed reports, the recanted posts, the tweets about the cause of death, the unconfirmed confirmations – it was mayhem.

Twitter servers were vibrating from the pressure. News sites were crashing from the traffic. Traditional media outlets were scrambling to get things on the air.

...Then There Were Three

Earlier this week, television icon Ed McMahon passed away. Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson in the same day. And with channels like Twitter, Facebook and FriendFeeed and others, the reaction was instantaneous.

We live in a tabloid laden quick to the mic/cam/site world. In the quest to scoop, many don’t bother to check for the truth. Hence the Harrison Ford and Jeff Goldlbum rumors that followed Jackson’s passing.

Is There A New News Cycle?

Is journalism no longer about fact checking and respect? Are the rules out the window while most hide behind the thinly veiled “public’s right to know”?

Some claim social media channels aren't reliable journalism. Well while the Twitter stream was searching for real information, TMZ was quick to get the scoop on the news of MJ's death before CNN and NBC while Entertainment Tonight had a picture of him on the stretcher on the way to the hospital on their website.

In a day of two famous deaths, a President's health care town hall, the Iranian election story and the money crunch; perhaps we're all just a little too tightly pressed against the glass.

Our thoughts go out to the friends and families of
Ms. Fawcett, Mr. McMahon and Mr. Jackson.

Ed McMahon: 03.06.23 - 06.23.09.
Farrah Fawcett: 02.02.47 - 06.25.09.
Michael Jackson: 08.29.58 - 06.25.09

@knealemann
knealemann at gmail dot com

Helping you better utilize all media.
How to make it, use it and profit from it.

photo credit: michaeljackson.com

Twitter: Good News Only Day

The news cycle is peppered with Twitter right now. When my mother asks about it, I know it’s ‘everywhere’. So now what? Hopefully you are getting what you need from it and hopefully gaining new contacts, new ideas and new relationships.

If you are not on it, perhaps you are confused about what it is or whether it's another useless time waster.

This is not about Ashton or Oprah, Ellen tweets are cool and Anderson does a good job promoting his show, but what are YOU getting out of it? What are YOU sharing? How is it helping YOU grow?

The stream is often cluttered with sales’ pitches and once-in-a-lifetime offers. But what about just one day, where all we do is share good news on Twitter?

What if - for just one day - we put away our theories and our business chat and just share something good. I’m not suggesting we put blinders on and forget reality, but just for 24 hours we share good news.

Perhaps you know of someone who selflessly helps others with no anticipated personal gain or you read a cool story that makes you feel good. It doesn’t matter the scope or the size, just good news that others may enjoy.

Good News Only Day on Twitter.

Is it possible? Can we do it? #gnod

@knealemann