A blog that explores life and society. Mostly pieces on business, economics, arts and other interests. A place to showcase activities and explore ideas.
The other day, I frequented a coffee shop and noticed how beautifully designed and thoughtfully crafted the space was. I thought you might appreciate this photo—it’s very nicely done.
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| Prints can be up to post size for $50. Glossy or matte. Review My Gallery for other works. Pay for Art PayPal Email me if you have questions or special requests muradabel@gmail.com |
We have discussed talented individuals before, often using terms such as giftedness or genius, depending on how those concepts are defined. Since we also talk frequently on this blog about human capital, this is a fitting topic to explore.
Contributions to society can come from anyone, gifted or not. However, higher levels of cognitive ability, emotional intelligence, creativity, and other capabilities can often contribute to higher levels of performance. The study below argues that if society became better at identifying and developing its gifted and talented members, we might be better positioned to address some of our larger and more complex problems. There is certainly a reasonable argument to be made for that.
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| (Illustrative Only) Joe thinks about his new invention , "Look at that! If I put this helmet on in the morning while working I could charge my phone and turn on my coffee pot. ☕ Amazing!🙃 A Discussion on Values |
Talent can also be overlooked when our definitions are shaped by assumptions or biases about who is capable of exceptional performance. Gifted individuals can come from virtually any demographic, socioeconomic background, religion or culture. Talent should therefore be viewed broadly. It is not limited to intelligence or academic achievement. It can include technical skills, artistic ability, athletic performance, creativity, leadership, problem-solving, or the ability to make connections between seemingly unrelated ideas.
In many ways, giftedness is about the capacity to absorb information, recognize patterns, make sense of complexity, and use that understanding to create something new or solve a problem. As individuals develop these capabilities, they can move through different stages of learning and development until they reach increasingly sophisticated levels of performance.
The larger question, then, is not simply how we identify gifted people. It is how we take talented individuals from across society and give them opportunities to grow and contribute. If we did that more effectively, what impact might it have on education, organizations, innovation, and society as a whole? Maybe nothing but its a philosophical idea to ponder. 🤔
There is another important question: Are we actually prepared to have highly talented people in our society? Exceptional individuals often challenge existing assumptions. They may introduce different opinions, new ways of living, or unconventional approaches to solving problems. If we are unwilling to accept different perspectives, or limit freedom of speech (i.e. the free society and higher performance and individual freedom argument.) we may unintentionally suppress the very people capable of creating meaningful change. (In other words, why share ideas when it gets misinterpreted, politicized, misused etc. Few positives and lots of negatives. So the type of environment we create is important. Think about that for the long term health and innovative capacity for a company or a society for a moment. This is the human capital element where egagement and disengagement is a root behavioral transaction based on many micro transactions that help create an implicit sense of environmental context.)
(As a side note, a number of drafters of the Constitution were considered gifted. How they thought and came up with those ideas comes from free exchange and open conversations.)
That is something worth thinking about. Developing human capital is not simply about finding the people who already fit our definition of talent. It is also about creating a society and organizations capable of recognizing potential, encouraging different ways of thinking, and giving talented people the opportunity to develop.
Developing Gifted Talent to Address Real-World Problems
Wai, J., & Lovett, B. J. (2021). Improving gifted talent development can help solve multiple consequential real-world problems. Journal of Intelligence, 9(2), 31. https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence9020031
Small business is the backbone of our society, and we need to foster and support it. Small businesses not only help revitalize our downtowns, but they also create opportunities for a broad segment of society. They give people a place to start their ideas, build wealth, and contribute to an economy that continually renews itself.
So, there is some encouraging news in Bank of America’s report on small businesses. For the most part, hiring is up, although businesses continue to face challenges finding qualified labor. Profitability is also improving, with transportation and manufacturing experiencing some of the largest gains. That is positive news from a small-business perspective.
Travel spending also increased, particularly in areas such as airlines and related transportation. Overall, these are some encouraging indicators. As always, it is important to keep monitoring the statistics and watching what is happening in the broader market.
Small Business Shows Signs of a Summer Rebound
Bank of America Institute. (2026, August 18). Small business checkpoint: A summer rebound. Bank of America. https://institute.bankofamerica.com/economic-insights/small-business-checkpoint-august-2026.html
Leadership models help us formalize our understanding of how leadership works under different conditions. The study below examines leadership during times of crisis and highlights an important reality: leaders cannot always rely on existing ways of doing things. Sometimes, circumstances require leaders to develop unique solutions to problems.
The study below identifies several characteristics of effective leaders, including flexibility, empathy, innovation, and long-term vision. Leaders need to know where they are going, but they also need to be willing to innovate and adjust their approach along the way.
Empathy is particularly important because leaders must be able to connect with people and understand their emotions and perspectives. Other research has shown that leaders who lack empathy may have difficulty building meaningful relationships with their employees. In turn don't have an intuitive understanding of their needs because they are limited by transactional thinking. A leader may be able to accomplish tasks without strong interpersonal skills, but that approach can sometimes leave a wake of damaged relationships and organizational problems behind. Ultimately leadership will strengthen or weaken an organization.
Flexibility is equally important because organizations and their environments are constantly changing. Leaders need to recognize when existing approaches are no longer effective and be willing to adapt.
Organizational culture is another important part of this process. When an organization creates an environment that encourages creativity, experimentation, and new ideas, employees are more likely to innovate. A supportive culture can therefore strengthen an organization's ability to adapt when challenges arise.
Overall, there are significant benefits to moving beyond traditional leadership models. Effective leadership is not simply about following established procedures; it is also about knowing when to adapt, innovate, understand people, and respond to changing circumstances.
The study below provides an interesting look at these ideas and how adaptive leadership can help organizations navigate uncertainty.
Adaptive Leadership in Times of Crisis:
The hypothetical Feather Party is a learning thought experiment. The purpose of this blog is not necessarily to produce a perfect analysis, definitive answer, or final conclusion. Instead, the goal is to encourage discussion and exploration. If someone presents an alternative perspective, we can simply say, “That’s a great point,” and incorporate it into the conversation. The objective is to explore ideas rather than force an answer, conclusion, or solution.
The hypothetical Feather Party asks us to imagine what a third party of independent voters might look like and how such a group could potentially influence decision-making, particularly at the highest levels of government. We approach the concept from a philosophical and learning perspective.
From that standpoint, a hypothetical Feather Party would generally support policies and decisions that expand and protect freedom of speech. This does not mean supporting speech intended to cause direct harm, but rather recognizing the broader value of allowing people to think independently, share ideas, challenge assumptions, and contribute different perspectives to public discussions.
A healthy society should have room for more than one narrative. People should be able to present competing ideas and perspectives without the expectation that everyone must reach the same conclusion. The purpose is not to force our opinions on others or manipulate the discussion. Instead, it is to create an environment where different perspectives can be considered.
This connects with another learning thought experiment we previously explored through the Allegory of the Clan, which examined economics, social development, bigotry, and the misuse of institutions. When institutions are used to impose particular religious, racial, political, or social beliefs on people, problems can emerge. This raises an important question of purpose and intent: What are institutions supposed to accomplish, and how should they be used? Always support what is right to encourage development.
Freedom of speech can help address these problems before they become larger social conflicts. When people are free to express ideas and challenge prevailing assumptions, society has a larger pool of knowledge from which to develop answers and solutions. Human capital that might otherwise remain disengaged can become part of the discussion.
People should be able to contribute to important conversations without automatically fearing retaliation, losing employment, being targeted, or being excluded simply because they expressed an unpopular idea. Those sometimes can lead to profound breakthroughs in understanding. When people become afraid to participate, society loses potentially valuable knowledge and perspectives.
Ultimately, the hypothetical Feather Party is not intended to provide a definitive political platform. It is simply a learning exercise—a way to explore how independent voters might think about political influence, freedom of speech, social development, and institutional decision-making.
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| (Illustrative Only) The average man and woman seem to have some great ideas so let us pass them upward. |
The goal is not to win the argument. The goal is to have the discussion.
Go ahead and read the study.
Three Economic-Social Systems and the Importance of Freedom of Speech
If you enjoy the arts, you shouldn’t miss Serenade: Expressions of Magic in the Moonlight, presented by City Ballet. This marks the company’s 34th season.
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| Intermission |
While I have done a little dancing in a different company I can say I appreciate the hard work. That is universal across all people who dance. Performancers practice for weeks and months and it takes a lot of physical and mental focus.
Some of these dancers are incredibly light on their feet, physically fit, and capable of delivering beautiful, sophisticated choreography. They are on a higher level.
One particularly impressive section of the performance incorporated rings. The choreography, movement, and creative use of the rings were simply fabulous. Seeing how the dancers integrated the equipment into the performance really demonstrated the amount of work, practice, and coordination required to produce a show at this level.
This is a top-notch organization, and the performance is a wonderful example of what professional ballet can bring to the San Diego arts community.
And if you don’t know much about Serenade, it dates back to 1934, making it a longstanding part of the ballet tradition.
The genesis of Balanchine’s “Serenade”: a chronology and bibliography
There is some encouraging economic news to report as U.S. business activity accelerated in August. After several economic indicators have largely been puttering along without showing a clear direction toward either strong growth or decline, this latest report offers a more positive signal. But it comes with some issues in terms of manufacturing weaknesses.
Services are emerging as a key driver of economic growth, although manufacturing remains an important part of a healthy economy. It is still relatively high but showed a decline recently.
The report also points to increased hiring, with businesses adding new workers as confidence improves. Confidence has value in the market because on a psychological level it impacts perception and in turn investments (In Theory).
Perhaps most importantly, business owners appear to be becoming more optimistic about the economic outlook. While there are still challenges facing the economy, the August data provide some welcome evidence that business activity may be gaining momentum.
U.S. Business Growth Accelerates in August 2026
S&P Global. (2026, August 21). S&P Global flash US PMI®. S&P Global Market Intelligence. https://www.pmi.spglobal.com/Public/Home/PressRelease/552d682e429640fcb8af7da17ad060c3
