Suppose one had to explain what 2026 was like to Ralph Waldo Emerson. This is where I’d start, and maybe kinda work backwards. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08...

Giving another go at a public bookmarks feed: → Pretty web page: chrkrhc.later.place → RSS: feeds.later.place/chrkrhc@omg....

I’m glad I got to read this. I bet that @chrkrhc.bsky.social would like it too.

Monteiro@monteiro.bsky.social · 3w ago

Here’s your Saturday morning read: “We’re all familiar with the Mister Rogers ‘look for the helpers’ talk. But it’s worth remembering that Mister Rogers was talking to children when he said that. And we’re no longer children.” buttondown.com/monteiro/arc...

New on Improve Something Today: - a simple method for checking in - a reading & a game for Disability Pride Month - plus some recent updates across the site improvesomething.today/a-summertime...

A summertime check-in: Comfort-Stretch-Panic & Disability Pride Month

A simple method for checking in; a reading & a game for Disability Pride Month; plus some recent updates across the site.

improvesomething.today

It’s Disability Pride Month. Here’s my offering, a piece I wrote in 2023: improvesomething.today/the-world-of... For this year there’s an audio podcast version attached to the post; it’ll show up in the podcast feed next Wednesday.

The world of silence: marking Disability Pride Month

Being a hearing-impaired person whose job is to listen. Quiet, noise & rest.

improvesomething.today

You know I love simple practices. This is one of the simplest I’ve learned. Give it a go. improvesomething.today/qualities-of...

What kind of water is this like? A simple practice for noticing awareness

You know I love simple practices. This is one of the simplest, coursing down the centuries since, at least, these discourses in the Pāli Canon where the Buddha is in conversation with a guy called Saṅ...

improvesomething.today

Matthew Butterick’s Extinction-Level Capitalism: A Citizen’s Thoughts on AI Risk matthewbutterick.com/extinction-l... In my world Butterick is foremost the typographer who created the lovely font on my site. But he’s also a lawyer: co-counsel on various class action lawsuits against LLM vendors.

Matthew Butterick | Extinction-level capitalism

Matthew Butterick

matthewbutterick.com

Refreshed some links on my blogroll. We can bring these things back one click at a time. improvesomething.today/recommended/

Recommendations

Selected books, newsletters, blogs & podcasts. Find something new.

improvesomething.today

Wrapping up the first (?) 10 years of Improve Something Today with a big ol’ recap of what I’ve been up to over the past two weeks. improvesomething.today/wrapping-up-...

Wrapping up the first 10 years of Improve Something Today

It’s been a busy two weeks on the site :)

improvesomething.today

Here we have nine books I’m always on about, and why. Day 9 of 10 in my little Improve Something Today first decade celebration. This one is a pure indulgence for me. improvesomething.today/a-decade-in-...

A decade in books

Nine books I’m always reading.

improvesomething.today

Work Unit Routing Analysis (WURA) is a method for documenting & understanding processes when people say there isn’t a process. Read how to do it on Improve Something Today, where we’re celebrating 10 years of blogging with 10 days of posting. Here’s day 8: improvesomething.today/wura-pqr-pro...

Describing highly variable processes with Work Unit Routing Analysis (WURA)

A method for documenting & understanding processes when people say there isn’t a process.

improvesomething.today

Now that Improve Something Today is a decade old, here are some of your favorite—and my favorite—of the things I’ve offered to date. Celebrating 10 years of the site with 10 days of blogging. It’s day 7: improvesomething.today/our-favorites/

Our favorites (so far)

Now that Improve Something Today is a decade old, here are some of your favorite—and my favorite—of the things I’ve offered to date.

improvesomething.today

Five contributions to a project: money, effort, attention, memory & wisdom. We need them all, but tend to focus too much on the money. Read it on Improve Something Today. I’m celebrating 10 years of the site with 10 days of blogging. Here’s day 5: improvesomething.today/five-contrib...

Five contributions to a project: money, effort, attention, memory & wisdom

Following on Jerry Weinberg’s point that ‘the money is usually the smallest part of the price,’ what other prices are to be paid, and how should a consultant approach these contributions?

improvesomething.today

Open space technology, principle 4: “When it is over, it is over.” Circles that have been opened but not closed. Concludes a series started in 2022. Read it on Improve Something Today. Celebrating 10 years of the site with 10 days of blogging. Here’s day 4: improvesomething.today/open-space-t...

Open space technology, principle 4: “When it is over, it is over”

Appreciating circles that have been opened but not closed.

improvesomething.today

Three ways people respond to a problem (other than solving it). Noticing responses to problems; my reaction to each as they arise. Read about it on Improve Something Today, where I’m celebrating 10 years of the site with 10 days of blogging. Here’s day three: improvesomething.today/responses-to...

Three ways people respond to a problem (other than solving it)

Noticing responses to problems; there’s a whole set. The consultant’s reaction to each of these as they arise.

improvesomething.today

Actions|Results & +|Δ are two simple facilitation methods you can start anytime by drawing a single line on a sheet of paper. Read about ’em on Improve Something Today, where I’m celebrating 10 years of the site with 10 days of blogging. Here’s day two: improvesomething.today/single-line-...

Two facilitation methods starting with a single line: Actions|Results & +|Δ

Two simple facilitation methods you can start anytime by drawing a single line on a sheet of paper. What these are and when to use them.

improvesomething.today

Brian Kerr ( @chrkrhc.bsky.social ) sharing two tidbits of wisdom from a consulting book that was formative for him: 1) The money is usually the smallest part of the price 2) Set the price so you won’t regret it either way That second point resonated with a lot of us

Improve Something Today is about learning in public. As it turns a decade old, I scrounge around for 10 things I’ve learned while writing it. Also: my gratitude. Read it on the site: improvesomething.today/10-things-fo...

10 things I’ve learned in 10 years of writing Improve Something Today

This site is about learning in public. As it turns a decade old, I scrounge around for 10 things I’ve learned while writing it. Also: my gratitude.

improvesomething.today

Three things to consider this week → Timely plugs: Mandy Brown’s workshop, Abby Covert’s next sensemaking book, & new music (80s kids) Read it on Improve Something Today: improvesomething.today/timely-plugs...

Timely plugs: Mandy Brown’s workshop, Abby Covert’s next sensemaking book, & new music

Three things to consider this week.

improvesomething.today

The Periodic Table of Questions, ICA’s ORID, Liberating Structures’ W3, and more. How might we organize questions, and to what end? New post → Questions along the way. Read it on Improve Something Today: improvesomething.today/questions-al...

Questions along the way

The Periodic Table of Questions, ICA’s ORID, Liberating Structures’ W3, and more. How might we organize questions, and to what end?

improvesomething.today

Two passages from the architect and writer on the fourth anniversary of his passing. New post → Remembering Christopher Alexander: love even for the smallest pebble Read it on Improve Something Today. improvesomething.today/remembering-...

Remembering Christopher Alexander: love even for the smallest pebble

Two passages from the architect and writer on the fourth anniversary of his passing.

improvesomething.today

Given so many big things to be angry about, let’s indulge in some petty beefs instead. I offer four. New post → My beefs: notes for February 2026 Read it on Improve Something Today. improvesomething.today/beefs-februa...

My beefs: notes for February 2026

Given so many big things to be angry about, let’s indulge in some petty beefs instead. I offer four.

improvesomething.today

Two ways to make an 8-page mini-zine using stuff you already have—and three reasons why you might do this. New post → With paper, glue & scissors: how little zines can make a big difference Read it on Improve Something Today. improvesomething.today/zines/

With paper, glue & scissors: how little zines can make a big difference

Two ways to make an 8-page mini-zine using stuff you already have—and three reasons why you might do this.

improvesomething.today

Responding with attention, kindness & action as people return to work in difficult circumstances. New post → We have to remember this: notes for January 2026 Read it on Improve Something Today. improvesomething.today/notes-januar...

We have to remember this: notes for January 2026

Responding with attention, kindness & action as people return to work in difficult circumstances.

improvesomething.today

2½ readings on seeing failures & responding to them. Celebrating my accomplished & wonderful pals. New post → Going wrong, going great: notes for December 2025 Read it on Improve Something Today. improvesomething.today/notes-decemb...

Going wrong, going great: notes for December 2025

2½ readings on seeing failures & responding to them. Celebrating my accomplished & wonderful pals.

improvesomething.today

Making sense of ‘shifting baseline syndrome’ in the world & in the workplace. New post → Vanishing fish, boiling frogs & the dry bed of the sea Read it on Improve Something Today: improvesomething.today/vanishing-fi...

Vanishing fish, boiling frogs & the dry bed of the sea

Making sense of ‘shifting baseline syndrome’ in the world & in the workplace.

improvesomething.today

Ways to practice: refusal, invitation, risk. The new Ram Dass book. Revisiting ‘whole-heartedness.’ New post → A choice to counter culture: notes for November 2025 Read it on Improve Something Today: improvesomething.today/notes-novemb...

A choice to counter culture: notes for November 2025

Ways to practice: refusal, invitation, risk. The new Ram Dass book. Revisiting ‘whole-heartedness.’

improvesomething.today

Revisiting Argyris’ ‘undiscussables’ as emergent, unwanted behaviors & as features of organizational control. Keeping courage, showing kindness. New post → ‘Undiscussables’ 45 years later: still here, still bad & somehow even worse Read it here: improvesomething.today/undiscussabl...

‘Undiscussables’ 45 years later: still here, still bad & somehow even worse

Revisiting Argyris’ ‘undiscussables’ as emergent, unwanted behaviors & as features of organizational control. Keeping courage, showing kindness.

improvesomething.today

Readings on sneaker manufacturing, a dismal vision from the 1960s, & Wendell Berry on ‘provision.’ Plus two upcoming events. New post → The undefined moon: notes for October 2025 Read it on Improve Something Today: improvesomething.today/notes-octobe...

The undefined moon: notes for October 2025

Readings on sneaker manufacturing, a dismal vision from the 1960s, & Wendell Berry on ‘provision.’ Plus two upcoming events.

improvesomething.today

Remembering Joanna Macy. Two book recommendations (on AI and on facilitation). Two ways of looking at a chair. New post → Needing Earth and body: notes for July 2025 Read it on Improve Something Today: improvesomething.today/notes-july-2...

Needing Earth and body: notes for July 2025

Remembering Joanna Macy. Two book recommendations (on AI and on facilitation). Two ways of looking at a chair.

improvesomething.today