Eric Emerson

I'm the guy who looks at most things and thinks "We really all agreed this is how it should work?"

I take being a dad/brother/son/friend pretty seriously. I try to take myself less so. People are fragile, most of the time.

Elegance of design makes my heart rise, and cumbersome design infuriates me. It matters not whether 10,000 lines of code or a door knob. Good is good, and bad is annoying.

I dig the Aussie notion of deliberately walking about and looking, American confidence in innovation and ingenuity, Brit propensity for understatement, Dutch work/play outlook on life, and Czech pragmatism (extra points if that last one made more than just 'sense').

I'm a believer in experimentation, lots of monkeys with lots of typewriters. Darwin is not just for Galapagos.

I've worked in a dozen industries, for organizations of 20 to 200,000, on three continents, across 9 time zones. I've lived in 9 states and three other countries. I hold and have held clearances, certifications, degrees - but more importantly, discussions. I've found the root of most organizational issues are human issues, not failures of intent or of dedication. I've also found that leaders wait too long to seek help, are often fearful of being out-shone, and that competency is lacking in most domains. Dunning-Kruger is alive and well, and bureaucracy (though often necessary) provides copious cover for it. Pareto is serious.

Some of my friends would surprise you. That they choose to be my friends surprises me. What they know and accomplish every day amazes and inspires me. My most prized possessions are the love of my kids and the respect of my friends. Though I probably prize access to ice cream more than I should as well.