Author: Dave VR

Not returnable by design

I was working in a factory on the returns line. I took an item out of its box and started running tests. Afterwards I tried putting it back in the box with no luck. People started laughing at me. One individual said I wasn’t doing it right.

It turns out that you need a special tool to get it back in the box. It compresses it just right so it will fit. I’m told it’s to maximise space and reduce packaging costs. I think it is to reduce returns.

Think about it. To return it you have to send it back in its original packaging. If you can’t get it back in the box how do you return it?

Not returnable by design. That’s my thinking anyway.

Turning your driveway into a forecourt

I was reading up about a company that wants to turn your domestic EV charger into a business. You sign up, configure your availability periods, and voila! Your charger appears on a map for other customers to see. Let’s say they are in Oxford and they need to charge their EV, they open the app and can see what chargers are available nearby. They can see your charger’s fees, reliability and charging speed.

This got me thinking about the implications of this business model. For one, these chargers were sold as domestic chargers. They are not meant for 24/7/365 use by multiple vehicles. Does the charger manufacturer’s warranty cover such use? Also what about your home insurance? You are technically turning your driveway into a forecourt. And as most domestic chargers charge slowly, the customers will most likely be hanging around for a while. Free parking! But what is your public liability insurance like? What if their car catches fire?

I like the idea of being able to earn some extra cash from your EV charger, especially if the energy is free from solar generation or a special EV tariff. But consideration should be given to all aspects of what essentially is running a business.

Trust but verify

I find myself using AI a lot. Like a lot. It’s slowly replacing Google for me. I use it to answer questions rather than trying keyword combinations first in a search engine. I usually get my answers much faster  that way.

I have one rule when using AI: Trust but verify.

I check everything it says or recommends, especially if I intend to act on it in some way. Depending on any associated risks or costs I’ll check that its answer is complete and that it hasn’t missed anything. An alternative option for example.

Trust but verify.

Sold time

Sold time. That is all that employment is.

You agree terms for selling your time to someone. They agree to pay you a certain amount in return for your time and skills, and in return you sell them a certain amount of your time, lets say six months for a contract, or maybe it’s perpetual in terms of employment, with annual reviews, maybe.

Yet after the initial negotiations and contract agreement, and after you’ve settled in, you start getting a little bored. There’s not enough holidays. Maybe you feel another sick day coming on. You start to hate the fact that you have to get up and go to work.

The thing is, it all just comes down to the fact that you sold your time and now you are having second thoughts, or maybe you want to renegotiate, or maybe you want out of the agreement altogether.

Life is too short to keep working at a job you don’t like. Sell your time to someone else or maybe even take a break. Sell some time back to yourself. Give notice and find someone else who would like to pay for your time, doing something you will enjoy.

We only have so much time to sell, so sell your time wisely.

Tracking your water intake

It seems weird that we should track our water intake. Yet most of us are not drinking enough. There’s even apps to help track your intake. Are you hitting your daily target? I think it’s 8 glasses, or 3 litres, or 4 pints depending on who you ask.

Why are we not drinking enough? Modern diets with over-priced food and drink numbing our taste buds and quench for thirst? Or feeling hungry when we are actually thirsty?

If in doubt, drink. Water that is. Anything else could be a diuretic. Don’t risk it. Best play it safe and drink water. That’s what your body wants anyway. A nice cool glass of water. Eight of them a day.

Stay hydrated!

When is rock bottom?

You hear the term a lot: reaching rock bottom.

When do you know you’ve hit rock bottom? There always seems further that you can fall. So when is it the actual rock bottom?

“I hit rock bottom and turned my life around“. Maybe it’s the point at which you can’t take any more or mentally make the decision to stop falling and to do something about it? Maybe everyone’s rock bottom is different. It’s when you decide to stop falling and to move in the opposite direction.

I need to stop falling.

Time-restricted loyalty

I’m not a fan of these time-restricted loyalty cards or apps. You know the ones I mean. Popular with beverage sellers or entertainment venues. Your Nth whatever is free, but only if you use it by X date. Time-restricted.

The idea of a loyalty card was to encourage customers to frequent your business more than the competition. We reward loyalty by giving you something free in return. On your Nth visit or purchase, have a free X on us.

Only now this loyalty is time-restricted until we change the card design, or update the app, or next month, whichever comes first. We appreciate your loyalty but the clock is ticking.

The definition of a professional

What is the definition of a professional? Originally it was someone that gets paid for the work they do. Is that still the case? Amateurs get paid. Even bad ones, although we tend to call them cowboys. Another definition is someone with a profession. A blogger is a profession. Doesn’t mean they get paid. Not much anyway.

To me a professional is someone with a skillset that is needed and paid for, and where they take pride in their work and the quality of the skills they offer. It’s someone that works at their profession, improving their skills and range. Someone that is seen as somewhat of an expert at what they do. A pro.

A pro at their profession.
A professional.

Sitting next to a billionaire

I was sitting next to a billionaire and didn’t realise it. Someone with more money than Richard Branson. They seemed normal. I perceived them as such. Later when I was told who they were, and that they were a billionaire, I started thinking. They didn’t radiate any billionaire vibes. There was no air of achievement, aura of wealth. Nothing. They just seemed.. normal. Like every other person.

What did I expect? Something like the memes where there will be signs that you are suddenly wealthy. Designer clothes, accessories, a fancy car, etc etc. No nothing. Just a normal person enjoying the same event as me. Only much much more wealthy.

You never know. You could be sitting next to a billionaire right now and not know it.

Feeling your age

Feeling your age. An expression often used when you feel old. Unable to do something that you used to do with ease. Or used as an insult to infer a loss of physical ability. Feeling your age.

Yet in my head I’m forever twenty four. I’m constantly surprised when I look in the mirror. I have to do a quick check that it’s me. I look older. When I dream or imagine myself doing something I’m always younger. Reality kicks in when I actually attempt something, or my body tells me to pack it in and act your age. These days I’m definitely feeling my age. How old do you feel?