1. Pixel Perfect:
Strategies for Overcoming Design
Perfectionism

3. 12 June 1964: Robben Island

4. Mandela is Told He Will Die There

5. View of the Prison Yard

6. Prisoners are Shamed Daily

7. Guards Try To Rob Your Dignity

8. Within 20 Minutes, He Felt Good!
“I was relieved.
Nobody has the
power to take
away my dignity.”

10. Why Perfectionism?

11. Brian Sullivan.
Hi, my name is
@BrianKSullivan
@bigdesign
#perfect

12. Research and Testing Expert
The Director of User Testing and Research at Tonic 3, a division of W3.

13. International Speaker

14. Writer of Books and Articles

15. Conference Organizer

17. Creative with Many Talents

18. Industry Speaker

19. Conference Organizer

20. “Perfectionism Kills Productivity”
Re-tweeted over 5,000 times when it was mentioned at my SxSW 2013 talk.

21. We Talked about Design Phrases

22. We Talked about People We Know

23. We Talked about Unicorns

24. We Talked about Behaviors
Contrary to popular belief, Photoshop does not solve everything!

25. A Previous Student Sends An Email
J. Schuh has taught at Collin College for over 15 years.

26. He Decides to Open Up
Dear Mr. Schuh –
I need your advice. For the past 4 years, I’ve tried to be
a designer, but I keep getting fired. I find it impossible
to meet deadlines, as I agonize over every pixel.
My co-workers think I am slow. I think they are sloppy.
I can’t hold down a job. I try to be creative, but I never
finish anything. To me, my designs are never finished.
I desperately need your advice. What should I do?

27. We Read Eight Books

28. Types of Perfectionism

29. Exercise #1: Perfectionist Quiz

30. per•fec•tion•ism (pərˈfɛk ʃəˌnɪz əm) noun
1. a belief that religious, moral, social, artistic,
or political perfection is attainable.
2. a personal standard or attitude that demands
perfection and rejects anything less.
Simple Definition

31. Psychologist View of Perfectionism
“Perfectionism is the desire to be
faultless, a fear of imperfection,
equating errors as personal defects,
and viewing perfection as the only
route to personal acceptance.”
--T.S. Greenspon, 2008.

32. (Unhealthy) (Healthy)
Maladaptive Adaptive

33. (Unhealthy) (Healthy)
Maladaptive Adaptive

34. (Unhealthy) (Healthy)
Maladaptive Adaptive

35. Exercise #2: Persona Note-taking
Adam the Adaptive:
1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
4. _______________________
5. _______________________
Personal Motto:
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________

36. • Satisfied with achievements made from intense effort.
• Tolerate imperfections without harsh self-criticism.
• Enjoy collaboration and cooperation.
• Value self-esteem and life satisfaction.
• Regulate and adjust their emotions.
• Manage their interpersonal relationships.
• Develop a social support system.
• Perform active coping when needed
• View relationships seriously.
• Watch their procrastination tendencies.
Adaptive Perfectionists

37. Adaptive Perfectionist Motto…

38. Exercise #3: Persona Note-taking
Mary the Maladaptive:
1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
4. _______________________
5. _______________________
Personal Motto:
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________

39. • Unattainable personal performance standards.
• Extremely self-critical in self-evaluations.
• Approach their relationships aggressively.
• Lack self-awareness in social situations.
• View their environments as competitive.
• Feel a need to control their environment.
• Very passive-aggressive in certain situations.
• Enjoy defining policies, structures, and rules.
• Despise gray areas and prefer binary thinking.
• Notorious procrastinators.
Maladaptive Perfectionists

40. Maladaptive Perfectionist Motto…

41. Profiles in Perfectionism
Picasso = Adaptive Da Vinci = Maladaptive

42. 13,000 Pages of Sketches

43. Two Masterpieces

44. Da Vinci Only Finished 30 Pieces
Da Vinci = Maladaptive

45. Picasso was Prolific
Picasso = Adaptive
• Traditional
• Blue Period
• Rose Period
• African-Influenced
• Cubism
• Neo-Classicalism
• Surrealism

47. 10 of Top 50 Paintings Sold at Auction

48. Both Types Can Do Great Work
Picasso = Adaptive Da Vinci = Maladaptive

49. Maladaptives Struggle More…

50. Maladaptives Can Shut Down
Remember the student, who shut down. Da Vinci did at the end, too.

51. ContrastCompare and

52. Adaptive Characteristics:
1. ________________________
2. ________________________
3. ________________________
4. ________________________
5. ________________________
6. ________________________
7. ________________________
8. ________________________
9. ________________________
Maladaptive Characteristics:
1. ________________________
2. ________________________
3. ________________________
4. ________________________
5. ________________________
6. ________________________
7. ________________________
8. ________________________
9. ________________________
Exercise #4: Comparison Sheet

53. Adaptive Maladaptive
Journey is a straight line.Journey is an irregular spiral.

54. Adaptive Maladaptive
Fault Finder.Benefit Finder.

55. Adaptive Maladaptive
Feedback is failure.Failure is feedback.
F =
Feedback
F =
Failure

56. Adaptive Maladaptive
Enjoy destination only.Enjoy destination & journey.

57. Adaptive Maladaptive
All or Nothing Thinking.Complex, Nuanced Thinking.

58. Adaptive Maladaptive
Defensive.Open to Suggestions.

59. Adaptive Maladaptive
Harsh.Forgiving.

60. Adaptive Maladaptive
Imperfections = Curses.Imperfections = Gifts.

61. Adaptive Maladaptive
Very, Very Rigid.Flexible and Adaptable.
I love it
when a plan
comes together
(especially mine).
Plan A,
Plan B,
Plan C,
Plan D

62. Attitude is the difference
between an Ordeal
and an Adventure.

63. PIXEL PERFECT
PICTURE #1

67. Embarrassment,
Humiliation,
Guilt, and
Shame
(not the same thing)

68. • Shame ≠ Guilt
• Shame ≠ Embarrassment
• Shame ≠ Humiliation
• Embarrassment ≠ Guilt
• Embarrassment ≠ Humiliation
• Embarrassment ≠ Shame
Some Words are Not Synonyms
• Humiliation ≠ Embarrassment
• Humiliation ≠ Guilt
• Humiliation ≠ Shame
• Guilt ≠ Embarrassment
• Guilt ≠ Shame
• Guilt ≠ Humiliation

69. Embarrassment
“Embarrassment is something that is fleeting,
often eventually funny and very normal.”
-- Dr. Brene Brown (Shame Researcher)

70. Example of Design Embarrassment
FOLD

71. Know the Nuance: Embarrassment
“A bad thing happened to
me. It happens to everyone.
It will be over soon.”

72. Humiliation
The act of mortifying a person to cause a
painful loss of pride, self-respect, or dignity.

73. Examples of Design Humiliation
A usability test can be humiliating for customers and the designers.

74. Know the Nuance: Humiliation
“I deserve to be treated badly by
these folks. I’m different. There’s
something wrong with me.”

75. Guilt
Guilt is a feeling that you have consciously done
something wrong, broken a law, or let someone
down. You have committed a wrongful act.

76. Examples of Design Guilt
You knowingly use a dark pattern to
entice a person to purchase the
wrong option.
In this example, the bundled option
looks best by using the dark pattern
called the second-best first option.

77. Examples of Design Guilt

78. Examples of Design Guilt
You wanted this simple, beautiful design. But, your client wanted this ugly design.

79. Know the Nuance: Guilt
“I have done something bad.
I got caught. I need to pay for
my action. I can correct it.”

80. Shame
Shame is an emotion in which someone sees
their “self” as defective, unacceptable, or
fundamentally damaged.
Shame is most often felt by victims of trauma—911 and Holocaust survivors.

81. Perfectionists Feel Shame

82. Critiques Feel Like Character Attacks

83. Know the Nuance: Shame
“I am a bad person. There is
something wrong with me.
This thing proves it.”

84. Know the Nuances
Shame:
“I am a bad person.”
Guilt:
“I did a bad thing.”
Embarrassment:
“A bad thing happened.”
Humiliation:
“I deserved it to happen.”

85. Perfectionism = Shame
“Perfectionism is a form of shame. Where we
struggle with perfectionism, we struggle with
shame.”
-- Dr. Brene Brown (Shame Researcher)

86. Resistance Versus Resilience
(Unhealthy) (Healthy)
Maladaptive Adaptive
Shame
Resistance
Shame
Resilience

87. Heart of Perfectionism

99. It is NOT about
RESISTANCE
It is about
RESILIENCE

103. Shame-Based Barriers of Perfectionism
1. Foreboding Joy
2. Procrastination
3. Sarcasm
4. Numbing
5. Viking-or-Victim
6. Smash and Grab
7. Zigzagging

104. Energy is contagious,
positive and negative
alike.

105. PIXEL PERFECT
PICTURE #2

106. Barrier of Foreboding Joy

107. Barrier of Foreboding Joy

108. Barrier of Foreboding Joy

109. Ellis Island (1890-1922)

110. 20 Million
Immigrants

111. 1 Million More than State of Florida

112. Lined Up for Health Inspections

113. Different Immigration Cards

114. They Came to America with a Dream

115. They Lived in Tenements

116. They Formed Communities

117. They Worked in Sweatshops

118. They Slept and Dreamed

119. Upstairs, Someone Dropped a Shoe

120. Barrier of Foreboding Joy
Foreboding joy is the fear of having your joy taken away.

121. Imagine
if you found
no joy
in your
Journey

122. Don’t Fully Enjoy a First Kiss

123. No Joy in Increased Sales

124. Don’t Enjoy Fully Milestones

125. Joy Can Be Terrifying
“The most terrifying emotion we experience
as humans is joy.”
-- Dr. Brene Brown

126. Pixelate Perfect Moments of Joy

127. They Don’t Fully Enjoy Life

128. Perfectionists Despise Vulnerability

129. They Dress Rehearse Tragedy

130. Customers Line Up

131. Product Team is Stoked!

132. Sales Go Through the Roof

134. Something Must Be Wrong

135. THERE
is
no joy
in my
Journey

136. Exercise #5: Scenario
You have hired a new designer, who fits in with
the rest of the designers and the product team
loves their design. Your perfectionist boss is
experiencing foreboding joy with the new hire.
1. How do you handle things with your boss?
2. How do you handle things with the new hire?

137. The Antidote to Foreboding Joy is…

138. Gratitude: Enjoy the Journey

139. Express Gratitude at a New Launch

140. Express Gratitude at End of a Sprint

141. Gratitude is the Best Attitude
Make daily deposits of gratitude into people’s emotional bank accounts.

142. Positive Comment
Positive Comment
Critical Remark
Critical Remark
1-2-1 Critique: Gratitude Sandwich

143. Critiques = Additive, Not Competitive
In the early days, Pixar
writers experienced the
foreboding joy of story
critiques by:
• John Lasseter
• Andrew Stanton
• Brad Bird
These meetings are done
with honesty and candor.

144. An Original, Boring Ending
The original ending had Wall-E saving EVE from a trash compactor.

145. The Updated, Heartfelt Ending
Wall-E is badly damaged saving the human race. EVE repairs Wall-E.

146. Barrier of
Procrastination

147. It is a small island in Denmark. Shakespeare used as his setting for Hamlet.
Zealand Island

148. Prince Hamlet suspects his uncle killed his father. He delays seeking the truth.
Elsinore Castle

149. Act 1: Ghost of Hamlet’s father tells him to revenge his murder. Hamlet delays.
Hamlet Sees Ghost of Dead Father

150. Act 2, Scene 2: Hamlet has chance to kill Claudius. He delays…
Perfect Opportunity, First Delay

151. Act 3, Scene 1: Hamlet talks to a dead friend, Yorrick. He delays, again.
To Be or Not To Be?

152. Tries to Publicly Humiliate His Uncle
Act 3, Scene 3: Hamlet performs a play within the play. He delays, again.

153. Hamlet Still Has Bloody Thoughts
Act 4: Hamlet does not understand soldiers who fight in foreign lands. When the
soldier leaves, Hamlet says how own thoughts are bloody. Hamlet still delays.

154. Act 5, Scene 5: Bloodbath

155. “There’s Something Rotten in Denmark.”
It is called procrastination. In “Hamlet”, his delay leads to a wasted life.

156. Purpose of Procrastination
“The purpose of procrastination is to protect us
from the failure, success, or change we are
terrified of, and it fulfills that purpose when we
lose all hope and stop trying. It is fear-based.”
-- Hilary Rettig (2011)

157. Source: http://20px.com/

158. Source: http://20px.com/

159. Need to Break the Endless Cycle

160. You are working with a seasoned designer, who
prides herself on doing pixel perfect designs. In
the office, she is infamous for procrastinating.
1. Discuss project management solutions.
2. What advice would you give a procrastinator?
Exercise #6: Scenario

161. Practice Effective Time Management

162. Proudly Show Early Design Concepts

163. Timebox Your Tasks

164. Test Early, Test Often

165. Establish a Daily Routine
Home Work Other
Shop/Gym Dinner Reading/TV Sleeping
WorkBreakfastGetting Ready Drive Time

166. Create Routines Within the Routine
• 09:00 AM: Answer emails and phone calls
• 10:00 AM: Morning meetings
• 11:00 AM: Work on projects (one hour)
• 11:30 AM: Lunch
• 12:30 PM: Work on projects (two hours)
• 02:30 PM: Afternoon meeting (or work on projects)
• 04:15 PM: Pick up child from school
Short Drive Time (estimated 5-10 minutes):
• Make phone call (using Bluetooth)
• Listen to podcast on design or usability
• Meditate after a stressful day
• Practice a presentation (for work or conference)
• Make a mental checklist of things to do

167. Set Realistic Targets

168. Use Positive Self-Talk
65,000 thoughts/day. 65% are negative, roughly 42,000.

169. Imagination is the enemy of motivation.
Don’t Fantasize about Desired Results

170. Plan for Obstacles
List possible obstacles for completing an assignment,
including procrastination habits. Develop counter-measures.

171. Reward Your Progress
Set up a reward system for positive reinforcement.
Similarly, arrange small punishments for failures.

172. Putting It Off or Getting It Done?
“Putting it off does not make it go away.
Getting it done does.”
— Ned Hallowell, Driven to Distraction

173. Break Large Tasks Into Smaller Units
Small chunks helps you see progress and builds momentum.

174. Fate or Destiny?
“Fate is what befalls a man who fails to act.
Destiny is for men who refuse to accept failure,
as their fate.”
— Lamar Wyatt (ABC’s Nashville)

175. PIXEL PERFECT
PICTURE #3

179. Barrier of Sarcasm

180. No Man is an Island

181. Poem by John Donne

182. Theme: Being Connected to Others

183. Simple Definition of Sarcasm
sar•cas•m (sahr-kaz-uh m) noun
1. the use of words that mean the opposite of
what you really want to say in order to insult
someone, to show irritation, or to be funny.
2. Greek (literal definition)…to render someone’s
flesh (with a caustic remark).

184. Sarcasm ≠ Verbal Irony
In Seattle, a weatherman told viewers the forecast shows “sunny days ahead.”

185. Sarcasm ≠ Irony of Fate
An irony of fate is history’s greatest composer (Beethoven) went deaf.

186. Sarcasm ≠ Situational Irony
These two signs were right next to each other at a bus stop in Chicago.
Want to learn about great
deals, ask the bus driver.
Don’t talk to the bus driver.

187. Sarcasm ≠ Dramatic Irony
The audience knows Juliet is about to wake up, but Romeo does not.

188. Sarcasm = Lowest Form of Wit
“Sarcasm’s insincerity offers a level of protection.
At its most innocuous, it doesn’t hurt anyone and
distances the speaker.
When you say the opposite of what you mean, you
don’t have to own it. You’ve got someplace to hide.
You get attention, a laugh, and the upper hand —
without having to stick your neck out.”
-- Dr. Jennifer Taitz

189. Social Media and Sarcasm
Fact: #yeahright was used 2,500+ times in one hour.
#winning #sarcasm #snicker #yeahright #fail

190. Body Language Can Be Sarcastic
You can be sarcastic with your body language, too. Let’s assume this guy said,
“I will get right on that.” Do you believe any of these faces?

191. Secret Service: Social Media Sarcasm
In June 2014, Secret Services opened bids for software to detect sarcasm on
social media as part of the Department of Homeland Security.

192. Imagine our five perfectionists using sarcasm everyday on your team.
Exercise #7: Scenario
During a design critique, two co-workers decide
to make several sarcastic remarks. You do not
know if you should follow their suggestions.
Some of their comments seemed like personal
acts. You left the room angry.
1. What do you say to the sarcastic person?
2. Do you talk to your manager about it?
3. What if your manager is the sarcastic person?

193. Antidote is to Limit Sarcasm
Create a “Sarcasm Free Zone” at work. You want open collaboration.

194. Use Sarcasm Like a Strong Spice
It is best to use sarcasm with close friends, who understand the humor.
Sarcasm is like a spice.
Use it sparingly.
• Too much, the dish
is overwhelmed.
• An occasional dash,
the dish is spiced up.
• A steady serving, the
dish is ruined.

195. Sarcasm Can Be a Form of Bullying
Perfectionists use
sarcasm to disguise their
hostility. Psychologists
see sarcasm as a very
subtle form of bullying.
Most bullies are angry,
insecure, and frustrated
(like perfectionists).

196. Pixar Uses Candor, Not Honesty
Ed Catmull devotes an entire chapter to the importance of candor.
“A hallmark of a healthy
creative culture is that its
people feel free to share
ideas, opinions, and
criticisms. Lack of candor,
if unchecked, ultimately
leads to dysfunctional
environments.”

197. Respect is the Antidote to Sarcasm
Ways to create a culture of respect:
1. Do not gossip, especially with envious people.
2. Be intentional in your communication.
3. Appreciate diverse opinions.
4. Be a bridge builder to promote teamwork.
5. Create a culture directed at competitors.
6. Do not acknowledge sarcastic remarks.
7. Promote ownership, so people’s voices matter.

198. Stop Sarcasm, Start with Empathy
Designers talk of empathy maps. How about living with empathy?

199. Take Your Shoes Off, Then Wear Mine
Before walking in another person’s shoes, you have to take your shoes off.
Walk a mile in my shoes. See what I see. Hear what I hear. Feel what I feel.
Then, maybe, you’ll understand why I do what I do. Until then, don’t judge me.

200. Ask for an Explanation
If you hear a sarcastic remark, respectfully ask for clarification.

201. Examine Sarcasm Triggers
Some people are only sarcastic in specific situations. Examine the triggers.

202. Make Conversations Meaningful
Your statements should be these three things:
1. True
2. Meaningful
3. Necessary
Sarcasm never meets all three of these categories.

203. Do Not Combat with Humiliation
Humiliation is closely tied to shame, which is a severe issue with
perfectionists. Be respectful and ask for clarification from the person.
If someone says a sarcastic remark about you,
do not resort to humiliation. It is so tempting.

204. Diffuse Sarcasm By Agreeing
Sarcastic Remark: “Snails move faster than you.”
Your Response: “Yes, they do. They are fast little buggers.”
When you receive a sarcastic remark, agree with them.

205. Announce Your Sarcasm
Sarcastic Remark: “I just thought of something sarcastic:
‘Snails move fast than you.’ I am totally joking.”
Diffuse your own sarcasm by announcing it.

206. PIXEL PERFECT
PICTURE #4

210. Barrier of
Numbing

211. Odysseus Visited Many Lands
Of the ancient heroes, only Hercules may have traveled more than Odysseus.

212. Island of Calypso (Oggygia)
In Homer’s The Odyssey, Calypso keeps Odysseus prisoner for 7 years.

213. Caves of Calypso
When Calypso sings, Odysseus forgets about his beloved wife, Penelope.

214. Hermes Tells Calypso to Release Him
Odysseus is enamored with Calypso. He is numb to all other things.

215. Calypso Sets Him Free
Calypso fell in love with Odysseus. She eventually sets free our numb hero.

216. Crazy-Busy or Numbing?
“We are culture of people who’ve bought into
the idea that if stay busy enough, the truth
of our lives won’t catch up to us. One of the
most universal numbing strategies is what
I call crazy-busy.”
-- Dr. Brene Brown

217. We Numb Ourselves in Debt
U.S. household consumer debt profile:
• Average credit card debt: $15,611
• Average mortgage debt: $155,192
• Average student loan debt: $32,264

218. We Numb Ourselves with Food
• 66% of adults are overweight or obese
• 35% of children struggle with obesity
• By 2030, 51% of the US population may be obese
• 20 years ago, no state had an obesity rate above 15%
• Today 41 states have obesity rates over 25%
• Since 1980, the obesity rate in teens has tripled.
• 72% of older men and 67% of older women are now
overweight or obese

219. We Drink to Numb Ourselves
In 2014, American recycled
enough aluminum cans to
rebuild the entire fleet of
US commercial aircrafts…
twice.
And, this only accounts for
what consumers recycled.
Source: American Beverage Association

220. Perfectionists Numb in Other Ways

221. Why Numbing Actually Hurts You?
“When you numb yourself, you try to not feel
vulnerability. It is especially debilitating
because it does not just deaden the pain of
our difficult experiences; it deadens all of
them—love, joy, creativity, and belonging.
We cannot selectively numb an emotion.
When you numb the dark, you numb the light.”
-- Dr. Brene Brown

222. Numbing ≠ Addiction

223. It is NOT about
RESISTANCE
It is about
RESILIENCE

224. Your manager uses different numbing methods
during times of peak stress, such as before a
major release or executive presentation. They
drink, swear, work long hours, and smoke. They
seem to promote people with same behaviors.
1. How would you handle this situation?
2. What coping strategies do you use for stress?
Exercise #8: Scenario

225. Antidote = Setting Boundaries
Each person is different. Identify numbing behaviors and set boundaries.

226. Use Positive Coping Strategies
Walking, going outdoors, or cooking a meal can be very positive ways to cope.

227. Plan for Breaks
Crazy-busy? It is a choice. Plan for breaks and vacations.

228. Manage Anxiety, Don’t Numb It

229. Ask for Help ≠ Weakness
Crazy-busy? Ask for help or delegate.

230. A lack of boundaries
invites
a lack of respect.

231. PIXEL PERFECT
PICTURE #4

235. Victim or
Viking Mentality

236. In DC comics, Paradise Island (Themyscira) is the home of the Amazon race.
Paradise Island

237. Home of Wonder Woman
In this comic, Wonder Woman is a warrior, hero, strategist, and spy.

238. Amazons Resemble Vikings
According to myth, Hercules and Theseus would have encounters with the
Amazons. With each encounter, the Amazons would march to war.

239. Perfectionists: Victim or Viking?
“Either you are a Victim in life –a sucker or a
loser who’s always being taken advantage of or
can’t hold their own –or you’re a Viking –
someone who sees the threat of being
victimized as a constant, so you stay in control,
you dominate, you exert your power over
things, and you never show vulnerability.”
-- Dr. Brene Brown

240. Victim or a Viking?
Perfectionists do not like to show vulnerability, so they may adapt a persona.

241. Viking Characteristics
• Exerts power of perceived threats.
• Stays in control.
• Tries to dominate.
• Never shows vulnerability.
• Ruthlessly attacks enemies.
• Uses any weapon available:
- Gossip
- Schedule
- Email
- Deadlines
- Meetings
- Departmental Policies
- Assignments

242. Victim Characteristics
• Constantly loses at home and work.
• Taken advantage of by people.
• Always loses, never wins.
• Whines about everything.
• Uses any tactic available:
- Excuses
- Rationalization
- Justification
• - Blame
- Lying
- Finger pointing
- No instructions

243. Using Vulnerability ≠ Being Vulnerable
Viking = Invulnerable Victim = Helpless

244. Victim or Viking: Scary Thinking
“When we lead, teach, or preach from a gospel of
Viking or Victim, win or lose, we crush faith,
innovation, creativity, and adaptability to change.”
-- Dr. Brene Brown

245. A project manager does anything to get his way.
People are either threatening or non-threatening
to him. When he feels threatened, the project
manager plays very dirty office politics including
getting people written up and fired.
1. How do you handle this person?
2. Do ignore the behavior altogether?
Exercise #9: Viking Scenario

246. A co-worker continually whines about how things
are unfair with work assignments. He constantly
gets other people to his work. They “work” from
home, but nobody believes him. This person says
that he feels helpless.
1. How do you handle this person?
2. Do ignore the behavior altogether?
Exercise #10: Victim Scenario

247. Antidote = Relationship Building
Cultivate trust and commitment to counter Viking-Victim mentality.

248. Build an Emotional Bank Account
An emotional bank account
is a metaphor for improving
and maintaining scorecards
with your relationships.
The account begins with a
neutral balance. You make
deposits and withdrawals
based on your interactions
with people.

249. Sometimes, It is Full

250. Sometimes, It is Injured

251. Sometimes, It is on Empty

252. Sadly, It Can Be Broken

253. Broken Banks Can Be Repaired

254. Mostly, It Grows and Shrinks

255. And, You Manage Multiple Banks

256. 20,000
Daily Interactions

257. The Golden Ratio is 5:1
Healthy relationships strive for 5 positive interactions to each 1 negative one.

258. Deposit = Listening with Empathy
Most people do not listen with the intent to understand.
They listen with the intent to reply. -- Stephen Covey

259. Deposit = Keeping Commitments
Showing up to work on time, meeting your deadlines, attending meetings,
doing what you say, and fulfilling obligations are regular deposits you make.

260. Deposit = Fighting with Respect
Every working relationship will have arguments and disagreements.
When you do, always keep your communication respectful.

261. Deposit = Remember Little Things
All the little things count and they are the building blocks of our daily lives.
Remembering a birthday, getting coffee, or a smile adds up.

262. Apologize for Withdrawals
When you make a mistake, apologize immediately. It’s a learning experience.
Keep your account in the positive, which you have worked hard to create.

263. Antidote for Ideas: Story Building
At Pixar, Ed Catmull explains
that originality is very fragile:
“In its first form, the films are
far from pretty. We call them
‘ugly babies.’ They need
nurturing—in the form of
time and patience—in order
to grow.”
Pixar usually gives 2-3 years to
turn an “ugly baby” into a film.

264. The Beast and The Baby
With ideas, you can develop a
Viking-or-Victim mentality, too.
After the success of Toy Story 2,
the Pixar team was exhausted.
It took nearly five years to
create Monsters, Inc.
Pixar wanted to feed the beast,
produce another sequel. Yet,
the creatives wanted to protect
the ugly babies.

265. Balancing The Beast and Ugly Babies
For Pixar, their Brain Trust (John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton,
Brad Bird) balances the Hungry Beast and the Ugly Babies.

266. Design Studios: UX Ugly Baby Solution
For UX Designers, the Design Studio method provides
us with a great mechanism to protect ugly babies..

267. PIXEL PERFECT
PICTURE #4

271. Barrier of Smash
and Grab

272. Easter Island

273. Known for Its Rock Statues

274. Two Mysteries Solved
For many years, historians
tried to determine two
things about Easter Island:
1. How were the statues
created there?
2. Where did all of the
people go?
Both mysteries got solved
a few years ago.

275. Statues Were Pushed Up
Local inhabitants used stones, wood, and brute force to push the statues up.

276. Massive Deforestation Led to Collapse
The tribe on Easter Island was over 10,000 people during its height. When
Captain Cook landed, it was reduced to about 100 people. It was avoidable.

277. Smash and Grab = Manipulation Tool
“The smash and grab occurs when someone smashes
through people’s social boundaries with intimate
information, then grab whateve