Unperspective: You’re Not All That

October 26, 2020 Trevor Perry

Some advice in life seems quite contradictory. In my book, Never Iron When You Are Naked, I have two pages next to each other titled (1) Eliminate Omphaloskepsis and (2) Indulge in Omphaloskepsis. This fascinating word simply means “navel gazing.” On one hand, I suggest you should stop gazing at your navel and get up and do something. On the other, I encourage you to find moments of quiet and solitude where you can balance and contemplate. In this column, I have another double-sided perspective to offer.

In other columns, I have talked about self-centeredness. It’s a human trait …

Unperspective: I Am Weird, You Are Weird

July 20, 2020 Trevor Perry

People are weird. All of them. You are weird. I am weird.

I believe in this so much that in my past I started a company with P.A.W. in its name. The fact is, it’s true, but not quite how you think.

The Webster’s Dictionary definition of “weird” is short, including “of strange or extraordinary character: odd, fantastic.” Odd is defined as “differing markedly from the usual, ordinary, or accepted” and “not regular, expected, or planned.” Fantastic is defined as “so extreme as to challenge belief.”

Taking a different look at weird, it’s easy to see where we have been …

Unperspective: Are You Still Pushing A Hand Mower?

May 18, 2020 Trevor Perry

Driving on the freeway the other day, a small Fiat 500 zipped around me and pulled into the left lane, right behind a Ford F450 dualie. A tiny car, with a driver vaping with one hand, following this huge truck at 70 mph, without consideration for any possible traffic situation, other drivers on the road, or even their own life.

Driving is a phenomenon where the operator, being surrounded by a large box of metal – and often a lot of plastic, feels invincible and invulnerable. This comfort zone is completely artificial – an invention of the driver’s mind. There …

Unperspective: To Which Side Do You Belong?

April 6, 2020 Trevor Perry

I recently presented one of my motivational life/work balance keynote sessions to a small group. If you’ve attended one of my sessions, you’ll know I hand out crayons and paper for audiences. We use these to engage the audience in drawing and writing (poetry), with a simple premise – now you are an artist and a writer. You came to my session with fewer skills than when you left.

Of course, there are many audience members who grumble about the concept of being “forced” to use a crayon – after all, crayons are for kids. It’s an opportunity to point …

Unperspective: Are We There Yet?

January 20, 2020 Trevor Perry

I recently drove a 26-foot truck – with my car on a trailer behind – more than 1,700 miles across America. The journey took four days and 42 hours on the road, with several stops for fuel for the truck and myself. When you have that much time to focus on one thing – driving, your brain has a lot of time to ponder the world.

While I listened to some branding audiobooks and engaged in the occasional screaming loud sing-alongs, I learned a few lessons. As I was dictating them into my notes app, I realized that many of …

Unperspective: Get Over Yourself

October 21, 2019 Trevor Perry

Some days I am a moron. And not just an average moron, but a complete moron.

This week, I was speaking at a technology conference. As the momentary “expert” on the topic, I felt I was teaching well, and the audience was learning well.

First, moron behavior. I read my reviews immediately before my next session. The majority were constructive, however, one stood out. It said that the “speaker was combative” and “derogatory to the audience.” I walked into that next session in a daze.

My immediate reaction was defensive. I realized that the one person who kept challenging me …