I often see social media posts (or sometimes real life examples) of a thing where parents put their kids into outfits that act as bumper stickers. Whether it’s a political orientation, or perhaps a sports team, I question the ethics. A child, especially a toddler or infant, is too young to have associations with political candidates or sports teams, even if those candidates and teams come from the child’s hometown.

The first thing I do on most days of the year is make coffee. It’s nothing fancy. I make a pot for myself and my wife. The ritual is the key. First I pour the water into the coffee maker’s chamber. I grind the beans. I spoon about 10 tablespoons of coffee into the filter. Then, I brew. And while it’s brewing, I’m contemplating. I’m puttering around, letting the various thoughts in my mind sift in and out of existence.

Some things happen quickly; other things sneak up on you. I was chatting with a friend recently who used to feel like they were the least valued person in their workplace. They felt inexperienced, a sense of imposter syndrome, you name it. This was just a few years ago. But recently, they turned around and looked in the mirror. In just a few years, they transitioned from a rookie to training new staff and earning their boss’s deep trust.

I know I’m going to take some heat for this, but here goes: When you start your argument with “I know I’m gonna get some hate for this but…,” you’re weakening your argument. I figure people do it because it makes readers click “under the fold.” So, you start your piece in a defensive way, call attention to the fact that your view is unpopular, but at least people read your argument.

If you wanted to learn to play basketball, would you rather learn it from the champion of your local high school basketball team, or from Michael Jordan? Most people, I suspect, would love a basketball lesson from Michael Jordan. But this is misguided. The person you want to learn from is the intermediate who has just mastered the part of the skill that you’re about to engage with for the first time.