BigSky Articles

You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know – The Dunning-Kruger Effect

You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know – The Dunning-Kruger Effect

You know those people who are spectacularly incompetent but smugly go about their business thinking they’re the best? Everyone knows someone like that. Often it’s the people we work with, or the people we work for. And 99% of politicians. In my experience it’s been nearly every boss I’ve had – but maybe that’s just …

Read More Read More

The Grammar Police Strike Again

The Grammar Police Strike Again

  Have you ever used a word and then wondered whether you’d used it the right way? You know, that nagging feeling you’re making yourself sound dumb but no one wants to tell you. Or, perhaps you use words and don’t even realise you’re misusing them. Or maybe you just don’t care. Well … I …

Read More Read More

People Say The Most Stupid Things

People Say The Most Stupid Things

Even the title could cause an argument about grammar. To settle any confusion, ‘most stupid’ is used by those of us who like to stick to the older rules of superlatives.  Anything more than one syllable sounds wrong when you put ‘est’ or ‘er’ on the end but I’m fine with ‘stupidest’ or ‘stupider’. I’ve …

Read More Read More

Fear Has Two Sides

Fear Has Two Sides

  Everyone loves and deserves a bit of comfort but it becomes a problem if we get too comfortable and decide to stay right where we are. It’s ok to luxuriate in your own triumphs for a while but remember, you’re only as good as your last great achievement, and if you don’t strive for …

Read More Read More

Another Year Over And A New One Just Begun

Another Year Over And A New One Just Begun

  Christmas is traditionally a time to be with friends and family but for various reasons this year I spent Christmas home alone – well, I had company in the form of small, furry creatures but no other people – and no I don’t have a rat infestation. It was the first time in my …

Read More Read More

Trick or Treat? This Trick Is On Us

Trick or Treat? This Trick Is On Us

  At the risk of sounding as if I’m obsessed with Americans or picking on American culture, which I am so not, I want to take the opportunity at this time of year to talk about Halloween. Perhaps I’m picking on Australian culture this time. Ah Halloween. Only ten years ago it was just something …

Read More Read More

Dear America, Please Feel Free to Join the Rest of US

Dear America, Please Feel Free to Join the Rest of US

  Even though I live in Australia, most of the material I read and listen to is American, just like many of my clients, friends and colleagues. That’s fine; I’m used to the American culture. I love the diversity of living in one country while being immersed in the culture of another; I have the …

Read More Read More

Have a Drink Before Reading This

Have a Drink Before Reading This

  I had planned to post something entirely different but after shopping in a different area on the weekend I felt compelled to write a piece on the direction we appear to be taking. Last Saturday I thought I’d try a change of scenery and shop somewhere different. It was a huge supermarket with overflowing …

Read More Read More

Wake Up, Zombies!

Wake Up, Zombies!

  I live in a small country town, and I do mean small. There are about 400 people in the area. Since I’ve been living here I’ve noticed that a lot of the locals, the ones who’ve been here almost forever, do the same things all the time. Day after day, week after week, year …

Read More Read More

Vive La Difference

Vive La Difference

  Being an Australian who spends a lot of time with Americans I can’t help noticing some of the peculiar expressions they use from time to time. I know they aren’t peculiar to the people who use them, just peculiar to someone who wasn’t raised in America. Of course it’s just a cultural difference but …

Read More Read More