Author: Daniel H. Pink

When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel H. Pink explores how timing can impact our lives and how to use it to be more efficient and productive. The book uses research from psychology, biology, and economics to help people succeed at work, school, and home. 

Pink argues that timing is a science, not an art, and that people experience a regular pattern of peak, trough, and rebound throughout the day. Some insights from the book include:

Describes the country's first President through a biography and a compilation of quotes that cover such topics as John Adams, the American Revolution, liberty, taxation, and foreign relations.

The story of his life is the story of the founding of America. His was the dominant personality in three of the most critical events in that founding: the Revolutionary War, the Constitutional Convention, and the first national administration. Had he not served as America's leader in those three events, all would likely have failed -- and America, as we know it today, would not exist. Why, after two centuries, does George Washington remain one of the most beloved figures in our history? The Real George Washington answers that question by giving us a close look at this man who became the father of our country and the first American President. But rather than focus on the interpretations of historians, much of his exciting story is told in his own words.

One of the most influential books of the past fifty years, Team of Rivals is Pulitzer Prize–winning author and esteemed presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin’s modern classic about the political genius of Abraham Lincoln, his unlikely presidency, and his cabinet of former political foes.

Winner of the prestigious Lincoln Prize and the inspiration for the Oscar Award winning–film Lincoln, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, directed by Steven Spielberg, and written by Tony Kushner.

On May 18, 1860, William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, Edward Bates, and Abraham Lincoln waited in their hometowns for the results from the Republican National Convention in Chicago. When Lincoln emerged as the victor, his rivals were dismayed and angry.

I found out that there are two main ways of using Python on a Raspberry Pi Pico, MicroPython or CircuitPython.

It is much harder to play a .wav file on a Pico with MicroPython, and I could not find a solution to play MP3 files with MicroPython.  

There are how every serveral simple tutorials with libraries that exist for CircuitPython.  CircuitPython libraries have better support for sensors but you may want to use MicroPython for: Advanced APIs such as interrupts and threading, or existing MicroPython code.

As of now CircuitPython does support the Wifi on the Pico W so I really could not see any reason not to go for it.  According to CircuitPython documentation it is supposed to be simpler to get started with than MicroPython but I did not find it to be so.  For me using MicroPython with Thonny was super easy to get started with.

I tried to get Thonny to work with CircuitPython but finally gave up and started using the Mu Editor with it.

Installing CircuitPython on the Pico

Install CircuitPython by going to: https://circuitpython.org/downloads and downloading the correct version for your Pico either with our without WiFi.

Python code for MicroPython v1.19.1 using Thonny

# Light and Motion sensor control of Relay

from machine import ADC, Pin
from time import sleep
import tm1637
mydisplay = tm1637.TM1637(clk=Pin(26), dio=Pin(27))
mydisplay.brightness(0)

# Microcontrollerslab.com - LED button
# peppe8o.com/how-to-use-a-photoresistor-with-raspberry-pi-pico - light sensor

mot_delay  = 100.

The Book in Three Sentences

1. An atomic habit is a regular practice or routine that is not only small and easy to do but is also the source of incredible power; a component of the system of compound growth.
2. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don’t want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change.
3. Changes that seem small and unimportant at first will compound into remarkable results if you’re willing to stick with them for years.

The Five Big Ideas

1. Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.
2. If you want better results, then forget about setting goals. Focus on your system instead.
3. The most effective way to change your habits is to focus not on what you want to achieve, but on who you wish to become.
4. The Four Laws of Behavior Change are a simple set of rules we can use to build better habits.

The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton Christensen explains how successful companies fail by sticking to their established business models, overlooking disruptive innovations. It offers a framework to help managers anticipate and respond to market changes.

The innovator's dilemma is a management book about innovation written by Clayton M. Christensen, a Harvard Business School professor with a fantastic haircut, in 1997. Its findings are widely considered to be extremely insightful and in contrast to common wisdom at the time of publishing. Due to the importance of innovation in the technology sector, it has since become the quintessential management book in those circles.

Here is an excerpt from the book to hopefully explain disruptive innovation:

"Most new technologies foster improved product performance. I call these sustaining technologies. Some sustaining technologies can be discontinuous or radical in character, while others are of an incremental nature.

By Gary Chapman

The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts has sold over fifteen million copies in English and has been translated into over fifty languages around the world. It has helped literally millions of couples learn how to connect with each other and keep emotional love alive. They have made the transition from Stage One to Stage Two. They have learned how to express love effectively.

Here is a brief summary of the five love languages:

Take the quiz at 5lovelanguages.com

The phrase 'servant leadership' was coined by Robert K Greenleaf in his 1970 essay The Servant as a Leader. In this essay, Greenleaf sets out a number of ideals, values, and philosophies about putting people first. 

As Greenleaf himself states, servant leaders are servants first- the ultimate team players whose actions and purpose extend beyond the needs and desires of their own and extends to their colleagues and partners. They understand that if the team is ultimately successful, that they too are successful.

The leap from servant to servant leader is a difficult one for many people, but comes from a desire to continue to serve at an elevated level of responsibility.Servant leaders don't lead for power, glory, or a plush corner office- they lead to make a bigger impact on their people and their organization. They lead with heart, empathy and authenticity.

Source: Hope Heart Institute

17 February 2008