Articles

On Consumption

November 29, 2024Ernie Gray

Today is Black Friday, the day where most of the citizens of the United States, after participating in a day of gorging on food and disposing most of it into the garbage get into their automobiles and swarm to various department stores to buy stuff they don’t need and justify it because the goods are supposedly deeply discounted, marking the beginning our annual mania of consumption of mass consumer products. In a 2019 study, it was estimated that 80% of these goods will end up in landfills.

Agile & Jazz

November 16, 2024Ernie Gray

Software product development and jazz music share a remarkable similarity in their essence: both are grounded in creativity, exploration, and improvisation.

The Time Mastery Myth

October 23, 2024Ernie Gray

Do we, influenced by our inherited conception of time, find it challenging to appreciate each moment for its own sake, rather than its usefulness for future goals?

Baseline: A Steady Diet Of Nothing

June 16, 2024Ernie Gray

From straight-edge hardcore punk to modern wellness social media influencers, it’s been a long journey to make clean living cool again.

The Power of Empathetic Leadership

June 1, 2024Ernie Gray

The ability to step into another’s shoes and understand their situation and challenges is a powerful trait that builds trust, faith and cohesion that is essential to the success of teams and organizations.

Remote Work Time Management

May 18, 2024Ernie Gray

The productivity paradox facing remote workers cannot be solved with technology. It’s a management problem.

Healing the Digitally Distressed Mind

February 29, 2024Ernie Gray

It’s not until you schedule an intentional “digital detox” that you’ll see how much compulsive behavior punctuates your life and how much willpower it will take to permanently change it.

Microsoft’s Productivity Research

October 7, 2023Ernie Gray

Microsoft research estimates that knowledge workers spend 60% of their time in meetings, answering emails, or chatting. They call this Digital Debt.

1987: The Year U2 Broke The Big 80s

August 27, 2023Ernie Gray

It’s difficult to appreciate now, but from an audio production standpoint, almost everything about “The Joshua Tree” was antithetical to the prevailing norms of 1987.

Creativity, Models & Archetypes

April 1, 2023Ernie Gray

Comparing AI models to human creative processes, considering why people like certain styles of music, and how lateral thinking tools can help us create more original music.

Interview: Brian Shulman on music pioneer and businessman, Stan Shulman

October 22, 2016Ernie Gray

Brian Shulman is a business colleague and friend who’s been a profound influence in my life both professionally, as a software innovator and businessman, and personally, as a mentor of tremendous character. Brian is not involved in the music industry himself, but I was fascinated to learn about his late father, Stan Shulman, who was … Continue reading Interview: Brian Shulman on music pioneer and businessman, Stan Shulman