Speaking of Data...

March 2, 2026

Good morning! Make your way over to Madison, WHYsconsin tomorrow for the world championship of cheese… often won by Minnesotans. It’s end-of-winter Cardinal season… listen! “February chills bring March bills.” (Heller) Would you ever guess it? (BBC Science Focus) What nation-state has the highest opinion of itself, peak narcissism relative to the other 200+ nation-states? I got it wrong… what was your guess? It’s Germany, the Germans… and they have had a few moments in world history the last few centuries, so perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise? Following the Germans in close order, it’s Iraq, China, Nepal, and South Korea… perhaps also not surprising, when you think about it. The United States is up there — #16 — with a few Irish helping in self-deprecating ways to keep us from rising to the top. Rounding out the bottom, or least narcissistic, relatively, according to this study: Serbia, Ireland, The United Kingdom, Holland, and Denmark. (Michigan State University) Denmark doesn’t have to think highly of itself because it already knows it’s on top in all categories. How do you suppose narcissism correlates with nationalism? Did reading this inspire you to (re)read Narcissus and Goldmund?

What is the most beautiful music of all time?
- Impossible?
- How about an unprioritized Liszt (Franz, that is) of ten? Could you do that?
If you take to the roadways of the United States with a motorized vehicle, this will not be news to you, but the magnitude of it still might be.
- Anecdotally we had reached this conclusion long ago.
- Over the last decade, traditional cars; e.g., sedans, station wagons, compacts, now represent less than 20% of the non-commercial vehicles on the road.
- Those traditional vehicles have fallen in popularity and usage from 39% ten years ago to about 19% today.
- Trucks and other assault-style vehicles; e.g., pickup trucks, vans, currently represent 81% of passenger vehicles on the road. (Motor Intelligence, 2026)
  - (Unrelated but related: The number of commercial trucks competing for space and speed is another whole kettle of fish.)
Book: The Eleventh Hour, Rushdie, 2025
- If you’ve been looking for a quick and easy — and enjoyable — way to get acquainted with Salman Rushdie, this might be it.
IF our society is crumbling — and we won’t know for sure until it’s too late — look no further than I Love Lucy, the television show, that is.
- Or, if you prefer, look no further than Mister Ed, or The Ford Motor Company, or All in the Family, or Bonanza, or The Beverly Hillbillies, or baseball, or hot hogs, or the dearth of homemade applee pie.
- Ben Fritz (The Rise and Fall of the [U.S.] Monoculture, 2026) offers the theory that our society is falling apart, in part, because we no longer have a common pop culture.
- Though it was never statistically accurate (data are so the 1980s!) nor a panacea, the country had what was perceived and experienced as common interests related to television, music, hobbies, hometown newspapers, church basement socials, weekends, the town festival, and other assorted Rockwellian stuff.
- Even work was perceived as something everyone did from early morning until late afternoon — none of this 24 hours-a-day/ seven days a week stuff…
  - Or, going way back, a majority of us were on the farm — and that was a very common experience.
- And so, IF our society is crumbling, maybe we need another I love Lucy unifier?
Now, speaking of data, these are flawed in big ways, but…
- IF you are an Applee watch-wearer and IF you didn’t block the Russian spy data collection portals…
- You unwittingly provided your data to anyone and everyone — and among those data were your exercise behaviours and your heart rate…
- Applee watch-wearers in Hawai’i are by far the calmest; i.e., resting heart rates, among all U.S. citizens wearing the watch and having not blocked data collection.
  - Wonder why? (Have you ever sat on the beach in Hawai’i? — or even just hiked around Hawai’i for fun?)
- But, nobody gets more exercise on average than those running and hiking around Washington City in the District of Columbia.
- Those living in Mississippi, West Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma have by far the highest heart rates and (surprise!) get the least exercise…
  - (But, data nerbs please note: Those people might be wearing the least number of Applee watches! Or, have the data blocked.)
- Vermont and Massachusetts join Washington City and the entire State of Hawai’i as healthiest/ most exercise/ lowest heart rates. (Applee Heart & Movement Study, 2025)
“Be patient with yourself. Shouting at a flower won’t make it bloom.” (Mackesy)
Did you learn this in B school? (Or, perhaps as part of a classical or liberal arts education?)
- Culture is the shared values and beliefs that guide thinking and behaviour.
- Whether you like it or not, it exists within your organization.
- You might as well show some leadership and take ownership of the culture you want and expect.
- You will have a culture by design — or by default… or by regret… you choose.
  - Need help?
  - That’s among the reasons WE exist.
“Prioritizing brain health could generate $6.2 trillion for the global economy by 2050,
- with much of the value driven by higher engagement at work and reduced time lost to sickness and disability.
- Investing in brain health — which includes neurological health, mental wellness, and cognitive performance…
- … will be critical to empowering people and unlocking a stronger brain economy.” (Perez*, Etc., et al.)
The case for making bold bets in uncertain times: (Job, Pidun, Etc., et al.)
- Many leaders say it’s wise to hold back from making new investments or acquisitions during tumultuous times.
- In the investment world, taking risk during volatile periods can result in a windfall.
- During his 60 years at the helm of Berkshire Hathaway, WArren Buffett delivered compounded annual returns of nearly 20% — double what the S&P 500 achieved —
  - guided by the rule, “Be fearful when others are greedy and be greedy when others are fearful.”
- But, leaders have been more hesitant to embrace this principle when it comes to corporate strategy.
  - … assessing a sample of 6,000 companies over the past 15 years, only 10% of companies chose to make big bets during uncertain times…
- But, a subset of risk-takers were rewarded… they achieved stronger growth and higher returns and did so without facing a greater chance of negative outcomes.
- So, the question is, what’s holding the majority of leaders back from being bold?
1. Myth #1: You can’t take risks unless you are in a position of strength
2. Myth #2: You need a proven track record; i.e., experience, to take risks
3. Myth #3: You can only take risks if you have a cushion or a safety net to fall back on.
- Read more at M.I.T. Sloan Management: Sloan – Risk