Author Geir Isene

Amazing person: Brendan Martin

Geir Isene 42 Comments

The first time I saw Brendan, he was busy entertaining a whole school yard full of kids and parents. With three torches flying and a burning bicycle balancing on his head, the crowd was cheering and having great fun. So I decided to hire him. The best recruitment I ever did – out of more than 2000 recruitments over the years.

It’s hard to do Brendan justice through a simple blog post like this. He is the one person I know that can deliver just about anything. Whatever he sets out to do, he can get it done – from running the half marathon remarkably fast, beating the crap out of me on the pool table, mastering golf and becoming the best foosball player in Norway – to consistently creating value in business projects. Brendan is the most direct and honest person I have met. He would tell the President of the United States exactly what he thinks with no holds barred. In a war, he is the one I would want to have as my wing man.

I am honored to share my workday with Brendan – and because of that I now call it my playday.

His childhood was remarkable, being the son of “Romeo and Juliet” with one family high on the Unionist side and the other at the top of the IRA. He has learned a lot in his life – but more importantly, he can teach and inspire others. Being a Montessori teacher and a prize winning instructor of business courses, he can spell-bind an audience and get them to get it. Whatever “it” is.

I am personally on a quest for less security, certainty, comfort and solidity in life. And with Brendan as a partner, there’s always a surprise lurking.

Surprises can be found over at his blog.

This marks the start of a new series of posts on this blog. More amazing people to come.

Scientology in use

Geir Isene 387 Comments

I recently got an interesting e-mail from one of the readers of this blog and asked her permission to post it here. It relates to a blog posts I wrote some time ago – I am not a Scientologist. Marianne has some good points:

Hello Geir,

I have been avidly reading your blogs (both of them) and many of the postings on the scnforum.org you started. Thanks for doing all that work over the years. As I read through the various materials on your site and then began reading Marty’s Rathbun’s blog, I had quite an epiphany, which I think is very much related to your concepts on tools and how you regard Scientology. I posted it on Marty’s blog on a thread announcing the new iScientology.org website. I wanted to send it to you rather than post it on your current blog because it appears that you are pretty much moving on — good for you!!

Its a beautiful website, carefully thought out and written. (referring to the new iScientology.org website)

I would love to see an addition to the information about Scientology, something I have found to be very true in my life.

Scientology is something I USE. I also USE my education. I also USE my mind. I also USE my body. I also USE my attitude. I also USE my country’s constitution. I also USE communication and CREATIVITY.

I am none of the above, for these are all things one does, not what one is.

I often see this on this blog, this effort to label someone as a “true” Scientologist or a “false” Scientologist. And depending on which “SIDE” one is on we get the labels: A squirrel. An apostate. A sociopath. And so on.

If I have an “identity” at all, it is “citizen of the universe.” I have found it fruitful to expand my view. Citizen: A native, inhabitant, or denizen of a particular place.

This is from the 1953 Webster’s College Edition: Civilize: 1. To bring out of a condition of savagery or barbarism; instruct in the ways of an advanced society. 2. Cultured and courteous; refine.

I was hoping so much that there would be a return to the concept of Scientology is for USE. By ANYONE, Scientologist or NOT, who cares to learn it and learn it well.

I was hoping there would be a return to the principle that it is NON-DENOMINATIONAL and available to all of good will, with no one demanding that one BECOME A SCIENTOLOGIST, in effect or in reality denouncing one’s existing affiliations / membership. It was the basis on which I first took up Scientology training. I was told that it was perfectly OK that I was a Buddhist. No need to turn my back on my love and joy and experiences and my group. But it turned out that it wasn’t true, and more and more I found myself being pressured to denounce Buddhism in favor of Scientology, to declare myself a Scientologist.

I have long reflected on all this since I walked out of the CHURCH of Scientology. All these labels obscure the truth. These labels are all based on exclusion. Someone is not good enough, is awful, is detestable, is this and that and judge and judge and judge and judge.

I’ve had a belly full of this. Don’t you think its time to end this unworkable way of teaching Scientology auditing?

Make it safe and make it acceptable for the Rabbi in the synagogue to USE Scientology auditing. He can still be a Rabbi — a Rabbi who is a trained auditor. He does not have to BECOME A SCIENTOLOGIST. He can even deliver deliver auditing without calling himself an auditor, let alone a Scientologist. One who USES auditing to assist others. The same for the Christian minister.

It should be safe and acceptable for him to use Scientology. He does not have to become a Scientologist to do this. If Scientology is offered “identity free” then it will be freely used, by everyone, not just by those who are willing to forswear their original allegiances to become a new identity.

Even more fascinating, there were only two responses to my post, and one of them crystallized the epiphany for me. The person said:

You’re right. At some point it was not enough to be a student, to be a pc. That was the point when Scientology became a cult.

Anyway, I am writing to you about this because I really felt that I got to know you through all the many things you have written and your tolerance towards others who have shared their ideas and disagreements and so on throughout the last couple of years.

Thank you!

Marianne

Up to lately

Geir Isene 13 Comments

What have I been up to lately?

I haven’t been very active regarding philosophy or blogging lately. But I have been doing some fun technical stuff – like updating HyperList and mail_fetch.

I have also had great fun with Brendan, Ole Wiik, Kristin Størmer Steira and other friends.

And of course a daily dose of fun with the kids.

I will be writing a blog post soon on Kristin Størmer Steira – she is one hell of a person – one to watch out for this winter.

Using HyperList for social engineering

Geir Isene 9 Comments

Here’s one HyperList user’s account:

“There is this one girl with whom whenever I talk, we end up arguing and as usual girls are never defeated in an argument. This time, a few days back, I decided to plan out how to defeat her in an argument. Using the HyperList method, I planned everything. The list was around 3-4 pages big. Then I argued with her and yes bowled her out 🙂”

I am glad to be of assistance 🙂

Discussions on the Net

Geir Isene 352 Comments

I am sitting in a relaxing chair in one of my favorite places (Tehuset i Lillegrensen), contemplating three years of actively discussing on the Internet. Enjoying a cup of Chocolate Mint Tea, I write my current conclusion:

“Internet discussions are generally unproductive. They most often serve to solidify the viewpoints and opinions of a debater. When faced with opposing views, a debater will usually come up with increasingly strong and intelligent ways to defend his own – regardless of the value or rightness of those views. Discussions tend to be an exercise in rightness rather than a way to mold and morph and inspire one’s opinions, beliefs, trusts and outlook.”

Want to discuss this? Let’s meet over a cup of tea.

T

Try this

Geir Isene 8 Comments

Go to work and let go of plans and focus for the day.

Do something at work that you feel is fun and that contributes right now.

Be alert to hidden opportunities and grab a fun one when it arises.

Practice “less focus” for this one day, and see what happens.

Bill & David’s garage rules

Geir Isene 6 Comments

Most readers of my blog knows about my passion for HP calculators. But you may not know the reasons why. First of all it’s about exploring new mathematics. Secondly, the old programmable calculators offer the most easily accessible environment for programming – the calculators are small and with a push of a button, you can start programming away. Thirdly, it’s the sturdy design and craftsmanship and the constant innovation that used to be the hallmark of HP. The very essence of Old Hewlett Packard is captured in the rules that Bill Hewlett and David Packard put up on the wall in the their first office space – a garage:

  • Believe you can change the world.
  • Work quickly, keep the tools unlocked, work whenever.
  • Know when to work alone and when to work together.
  • Share tools, ideas. Trust your colleagues.
  • No Politics. No bureaucracy. (These are ridiculous in a garage.)
  • The customer defines a job well done.
  • Radical ideas are not bad ideas.
  • Invent different ways of working.
  • Make a contribution every day. If it doesn’t contribute, it doesn’t leave the garage.
  • Believe that together we can do anything.
  • Invent.

That mindset formed the foundation of what came to be one of the most successful technology companies.

These days, we find tech businesses more focused on focus than innovation. More focused on regulating people than encouraging them. And more driven by profit than their heart.

One day I will implement this mind set in an modern technology company. I will keep you posted.

hp

Generous

Geir Isene 22 Comments

Being generous.
Giving without thought of reward.
But giving.

Every person is an adventure.
Of endless possibilities.
And everything is possible.

Chill.
No Blame, Shame or Regret.
What’s done is gone.

These are my aspirations.

I believe being generous is the most important.

What’s with the fuckin’ drama?

Geir Isene 9 Comments

Ten years ago my youngest son was three and sitting besides me in the front of the car on his little baby-seat. I was 20 minutes late for an important presentation for 12 eagerly awaiting important people. My phone was dead and I couldn’t call in to say I was late. I was running 5 red lights in a row, teaching my son a few swear words in the process. When I got to the final intersection, there were three cars in front waiting… on a green light! The light was fuckin’ green and they weren’t moving. I was honking the horn and about to decide to freak out when my son looked at me calmly and said: “Daddy, this is no crisis”.

All my stress inflated like air from a balloon. My body and mind went instantly calm as I turned my head to him and said “You are absolutely right – this is no crisis.” I chilled, ran the car in second gear, whistled a tune, had fun with my kid, parked the car, walked jolly and unseriously into the meeting and completely rocked the room by relating my newfound knowledge. Delivered to me by my son no less. A lesson that has served me well ever since. I’ve told this story before, but it’s worth repeating.

Nowadays I look at the apparently serious and critical situations that seems to abound. When people write to me in fits over something, when business people tie themselves into a not over details, when everyday situations gets the better of stressed-out individuals. I curiously watch when this happens to me. And then I remember my son’s words and decides to instantly chill.

The drama is very seldom warranted. “This is no crisis”.