Balancing the Scorecard

Just a quick post on this beautiful afternoon to share a couple of thoughts that are rolling around in my head. A lot of this is based on a virtual conversation I had today with a great friend and former colleague at Penn State. So while I hoped it would be focused, I am not sure it really is …

Something I have tried very hard to do for a number of years is to take a little time each day to reflect on how things are going. Sometimes I lose track of that thought and put too much time in between actually doing it. I have noticed the last week or so has been a blur so I wanted to reinforce my own behavior by writing it down here.

Since starting at Stony Brook I have had to absorb a lot every single day … from learning where buildings are, to meeting new people, to understanding new budget models, managing a whole new campus governance approach, leading and understanding projects,figuring out SUNY, and everything in between. And none of that includes my family! I have been trying to take my time to recognize and tally “wins” on a regular basis and while the list is easier to update here at work, it seems a little more difficult to do holistically.

With that in mind I have tried to make time to talk to myself about my attitude, performance, love, friendship, and everything in between in both contexts (and where they overlap). It is an effort to take stock of all that is happening around me and to try and be more focused on each moment. I am not successful all the time and some days the wins are few and far between in one area or the other, but the idea is to construct a balanced score card so that all that is important to me stays in equilibrium.

To do that I have to make sure I “come out of my head” and be more present with those around me. One thing that I tried to do is to ask my family at dinner, “what went right for you today?” It is amazing what you hear if you can really listen. I have to remember that each day my family is dealing with all of the same things I am — everything is new and each day is a mix of an amazing adventure and a huge learning experience. Reflecting with them has been a good experience for us all. So as we work towards the weekend, I wanted to offer those thoughts … really if for no other reason than for me to reflect a bit on how good things really are.

Port Jefferson View

Federal Investment in Research Still Essential | Dr. Samuel L. Stanley, Jr.

Into this ominous picture has come some light. Indeed, much has been made of and reported recently about the enormous sums being invested by philanthropists into science, medical and technological research. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has contributed $500 million to establish a brain science institute in Seattle. Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Google, and his wife Wendy have allocated some $100 million of their fortune to fund the Schmidt Ocean Institute for the marine sciences. Philanthropist and entrepreneur Eli Broad donated $700 million for a joint venture between Harvard and the MIT to explore the genetic basis of disease. These and many other entrepreneurial donors are taking the risks on basic research that were the hallmark of government for decades.

via Federal Investment in Research Still Essential | Dr. Samuel L. Stanley, Jr..