A statistics class in college taught me the critical skill of putting numbers into perspective. They require context, after all. Each class began with a charming ritual. The professor would write a two- or three-digit number in white chalk on the blackboard. Drawing a vigorous circle around the number, he'd ask the class in a booming voice, "What does this number mean?" The ritual response, delivered with equal vigor, was always, "Absolutely nothing!" A good group laugh usually followed. Then, we'd move on to the day's lesson on the Bell Curve, standard deviations beyond the mean, and so on.
Building products, I remember the day I discovered data and the insights it could bring. That was followed by building too many dashboards to count everything and it was really quite fun - until we started drowning in data. Was it Einstein that said ‘Not everything that can be counted counts?’ This is a cool take Bridgette on how numbers rule us in the most fundamental ways - I never thought of it that way
This might seem like an unusual response, but it's an honest one and the one that has powered my writing for decades. Travel. Explore. Talk to people, and really listen. Be curious and open. Try new foods, learn a few languages, listen to music from all over the world, play with children and especially with your words.
A statistics class in college taught me the critical skill of putting numbers into perspective. They require context, after all. Each class began with a charming ritual. The professor would write a two- or three-digit number in white chalk on the blackboard. Drawing a vigorous circle around the number, he'd ask the class in a booming voice, "What does this number mean?" The ritual response, delivered with equal vigor, was always, "Absolutely nothing!" A good group laugh usually followed. Then, we'd move on to the day's lesson on the Bell Curve, standard deviations beyond the mean, and so on.
What a story! And what a fantastic way to teach the meaning of numbers.
Building products, I remember the day I discovered data and the insights it could bring. That was followed by building too many dashboards to count everything and it was really quite fun - until we started drowning in data. Was it Einstein that said ‘Not everything that can be counted counts?’ This is a cool take Bridgette on how numbers rule us in the most fundamental ways - I never thought of it that way
I like the brain stretch and grounding here.
How can I write like this?
This might seem like an unusual response, but it's an honest one and the one that has powered my writing for decades. Travel. Explore. Talk to people, and really listen. Be curious and open. Try new foods, learn a few languages, listen to music from all over the world, play with children and especially with your words.
Thanks Birgitte!
I remember when numbers started having a meaning to me as a child and to my kids too.
I’ll try to live one day without numbers and see if it works out.
You are a brave soul Raul!
“If I gave you a $1 and your father gave you a $1, how many dollars would you have?” Larry (from 3 Stooges) answered, “$1”
Guy answers back, “You don't know your arithmetic.” Larry responds, “You don't my father” 😃
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3S5C2SNEY4