Conversation Agent - Valeria Maltoni

The Value of Data to a Community

We can all benefit from having more data on hand about our habits. Diets are a simple example, and still relevant in January of a New Year. Regardless of which program works for you, part of it is creating more efficiency between what we consume and what we accumulate in the system. The word is appropriate, because we're talking about a system of interconnected parts. Although it's tempting to jump on the fad bandwagon and clean house every so often, the best approach to create lasting change and improve wellness is the judicious way, following a personalized nutrition program. What... Read more →

The Link Between Emotion and Outcome

When something affects us, it has an effect on our decisions. A poor experience reinforces what we value based on the gap between what we expected and what happened. We carry the emotion associated with an issue forward into our next decision. The link between emotion and outcomes is one of the pillars of behavioral economics and one of the reasons why how people experience a product, service, or situation is key to understanding consequences to an organization. With detailed data and proper analysis, we can go from a review or comment to uncovering an issue worth fixing. Reviews signal... Read more →

The Scientific Method Explained

“If everyone's trying to trick everyone all the time, it's a lot of noise and confusion. It's better just to be straightforward and try to do useful things." [Elon Musk] In an interview for Rolling Stone by Neil Strauss#, Elon Musk explains the scientific method, a phrase he uses often when people ask him how he came up with an idea, solved a problem, or chose to start a business. For his purposes, in his words (mostly), he defines is as: Ask a question. Gather as much evidence as possible about it. Develop axioms based on the evidence, and try... Read more →

The Difference Between Luck and Skill

Success is a product of the interplay between luck and skill. But we often confuse the two, or are uncertain about which one is which. For better results we need to be able to distinguish one from the other, ahead of time. “There's a quick and easy way to test whether an activity involves skill,” says Michael Mauboussin, “ask whether you can lose on purpose.” Skill is the ability to fire knowledge readily in performance and execution. We know how to do something, and when the moment comes, we can do it. Luck has three specific features — it works... Read more →

The Middle Ground

When we're in the grasp of strong emotions like anxiety, getting blind-sided, and/or receiving poor feedback we tend to act on impulse. Often this means we add a poor impression on top of the situation we're facing. Impulse may not serve us well, the other person is probably not reading our minds, either. So many times, we end up with poor outcomes and we later regret our words, or actions. Not to mention that our reactions may backfire and make things worse for all involved. In the words of a wise orchestra conductor Ben Zander, it does make a difference... Read more →

On the Value and Meaning of Connection

“A man will be imprisoned in a room with a door that’s unlocked and opens inwards; as long as it does not occur to him to pull rather than push.” [Ludwig Wittgenstein] Unless that room is in Italy — in that case it opens inwards by default in most building and people have figured out how to get out centuries ago. This is an example of how when something applies to our experience and view of the world it makes sense to nod to it, even metaphorically. We go along because it rings true, yet is not true everywhere and... Read more →

Imagination and the Ways of the World

“The meaning of life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.” [Johannes Jacobus van der Leeuw] We get so wrapped up in the idea of maximizing future experiences that we miss the joy of what happens in the present moment. The effort of constantly projecting ourselves into an imagined future takes energy away from looking at what's right in front of us. But we shouldn't confuse planning with imagining. Imagination plays an important role in our lives. Without imagination we have no discovery, and no invention. When we study the lives of great inventors... Read more →