My blog is a creative take on a variety of seemingly disparate topics that tie together by the time you reach the end of a post. It is a longform format with a sprinkling of embedded links, images, videos, quotes, word definitions and social media posts to enrich the story. If you are new to this space or need a refresher as to why the blog is called “Random Somersaults,” I refer to my first post back in the spring of 2021. It is the only “short” one I’ve written so I include it in its entirety.
A few wonderful compliments I’ve received from readers about this blog that stand out to me include:
My initial intention was to be fun and entertaining and have a reader always learn something new. That remains my goal. However, the last accolade above sheds light on how this blog defines my personal branding. A differentiator in my work is the range of my thinking and how I use that to process information before shaping a narrative to meet the specific needs of my clients. I hope you love reading “Random Somersaults” as much as I enjoy creating it. If you do, may I suggest you pay me the compliment of sharing my writings with those in your circles. Evergreen (adjective) 2a : retaining freshness or interest : PERENNIAL b : universally and continually relevant : not limited in applicability to a particular event or date The evergreen nature of “Random Somersaults” makes it ideal to enjoy at any time. The best way to do that is to scroll through the list of archived posts and click on what captures your interest. To whet your appetite, here is a sampling of excerpts (and links to the full posts) from the voluminous amount of content created since I launched “Random Somersaults.” And, in case you missed, Part I of my “Best of” posts, here it is.
Goldfish and Attention Spans I admit that consuming “Random Somersaults” requires a significant attention span. So, no wonder I devoted a post to that topic. After all, the attention span of humans is reportedly getting shorter at an alarming rate. A study in 2015 revealed that the average human attention span shrunk by nearly 25 percent over a 15-year period between 2000 and 2015 (from 12 seconds to 8.25 seconds). It also noted that we now have an attention span shorter than goldfish (9 seconds)! RANDOM SOMERSAULT: By the way, Pepperidge Farm Goldfish® ranks among my favorite snacks! Why is this relevant? Only because I dropped an image in at this point of the post to pique your interest as perhaps a feeble attempt to keep your attention. For your information, Goldfish® crackers were introduced to the United States in 1962 after the snack cracker was discovered on a trip to Switzerland by Pepperidge Farm founder Margaret Rudkin. She returned with the recipe invented by the Swiss biscuit company Kambly. The above-mentioned study on attention span gained a fair amount of attention since it was widely reported by news outlets. However, two years later, a story by the BBC cast a shadow (more like a blanket) of doubt on the validity of the study. A deeper dive revealed suspicion around the source of the data for the study. Further investigation led to the revelation that it is not true that our attention spans are decreasing. It is more a case of something grabbing our attention than an ability for us to stay focused. So, in this evolving digital age, it is harder to hold one’s attention because of the glut of content that flows every second of the day.
Artificial Intelligence I most definitely am not a luddite but that doesn’t prohibit me from taking a cautious approach to Artificial Intelligence, especially when it comes to ChatGPT. I continually monitor the developments and trends related to this technology but can’t see myself wavering from the point I made in my post: No doubt, AI is going to be an increasingly valuable tool. As defined by Wikipedia, "Artificial intelligence (AI) is intelligence - perceiving, synthesizing, and inferring information - demonstrated by machines, as opposed to intelligence displayed by non-human animals and humans." The key words in that are "perceiving" and "inferring." This is where the human touch is needed to hone the information to add the elements of "interpreting" and "understanding." This tweet captures my feelings as well as I imagine many others when it comes to AI. The long and short of it is that we cannot dismiss the human element in communicating ideas and information. I think of my professional writing as an art form, especially this blog. Its tone and flow is meant to come across as personal, conversational, and creative. It weaves the human journey of experiences and emotions into a flow of information on a wide range of topics and information that only gets tied together through my human touch. I challenge ChatGPT, which produces relatively sterile and straight forward information, to replicate a "Random Somersaults." The long and short of it is, that as human-like as it is supposed to be, it just can't!
Chicago I’m surprised the Chamber of Commerce hasn’t paid me for my post about how wonderful it is to live in the city of Chicago! My post from last summer is by far the most popular “Random Somersaults” I’ve published. I consider it a must read for anyone before visiting the “Windy City” since there is so much more to this world-class city than crime and rats! Neighborhoods. To get a true sense of Chicago, you need to venture out of downtown. I’m not aware of any city quite like this as Chicago has such a neighborhood feel. In all, there are 77 distinct neighborhoods that will grow by one with the completion of “The 78.” Whenever we host out-of-town guests, we make it a point to give them the experience of enjoying the city’s vastness through jaunts to many of the neighborhoods. A fair amount of provincialism exists with locals exuding great pride for their section of the city. There may be no better proof than seeing the divide of the city over its two baseball teams. Recently, my wife and I had lunch on the north side. Interestingly, the TVs had the Cubs game on among other sporting events but not the White Sox game that was taking place at the same time. On our way home, we stopped for a drink at one of our favorite nearby watering holes in the “South Loop.” I noticed the Sox game was being shown but not the team from Wrigleyville. I shared my observation with a nearby patron donning a Cubs hat (not sure why he would be wearing that in the near south side, hahaha!). He eloquently, and diplomatically, explained his view of the White Sox, “I’m happy when they win but I don’t lose any sleep when they don’t.”
Sense of Community One of my more discursive posts centered around the powerful concept of community. If you check out the full blog, you will see why I used the word “discursive” in the previous sentence. You will also learn there is a difference between an acronym and an initialism. I closed the post writing about one of the communities in my life, the physical one. It is far easier to stay positive, especially in these trying times, when you belong to a welcoming community. Every day I’m grateful for the community in which I live. I gain great comfort on my daily walks through the neighborhood made only richer when stumbling across a message like this I found on a streetlight.
Quotes I’ve collected hundreds of quotes in my lifetime. I enjoy weaving them into the theme of a blog. Here are some of my favorites featured in “Random Somersaults,” without context unless you click on the embedded link to the original post. The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he vowed to make it.” - J.M. Barrie
What it takes to win is simple, it’s not easy.” – Marv Levy
Excitement is the thread that connects you to your path, passion and purpose in life." – Ruben Chavez
We are born with the ability to smile, yet as we age, we smile less often. Research shows that children smile an average of 400 times per day, compared to the average happy adult who smiles 40-50 times per day and the typical adult who smiles only 20 times per day.” – Earlexia Norwood, M.D
The biggest concern for any organization should be when their most passionate people become quiet.”
I suppose the best brand is just being yourself.” – Higgins (character from Ted Lasso).
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WHY "RANDOM SOMERSAULTS?""Random Somersaults"
features storytelling based on themes spurred by personal and professional experiences and thoughts that represent a broad range of topics with a few random, yet relevant, detours. It is a terrific way to get to know Pete Fierle as you gain insight into how he processes information through this less formal and creative style of writing. The blog has been described as “fun and informative” and “what fun to meander through ideas and streams of consciousness.” AuthorPete Fierle has a love for all mediums but a special affinity for the written word (that flows from a keyboard or fountain pen) as a powerful platform for storytelling. ARCHIVEBe sure to check out the archives and roll through past posts for a variety of topics and stories.
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