Episode 36 - Piracy and Problem Solving

Here's the notes for Episode 36!

Piracy and Positive Problem Solving

Some steps for positive problem solving:

Courtesy Your Road Map for Success by John Maxwell

The focus here is on family but these steps can be useful in other situations as well.

1. Attack the problem, never the person

You’re (hopefully) on the same side. Try to fix the problem, not the person. You can’t make a person change but you can change a problem.

2. Get all the facts.

Jumping to conclusions can be damaging. Before you seek solutions, make sure you fully understand what’s going on.

3. List all the options

This can help you get an outside, unemotional view at an issue and look at it with objectivity

4. Choose the best solution

Because why would you want anything else? This can be harder than it sounds when there are multiple good solutions are available, especially if people on opposite sides of a conflict are each pushing for their preferred solution. Maybe we should do an episode on good decision making

5. Look for positives in the problem.

As Benjamin Franklin said, “Those things that hurt, instruct.” There is often something we can learn from pain.

6. Never withhold love


4 Little known facts about the history of Pirates

1. The earliest known pirates were based in southeastern Turkey. Known as Lukkans, they plagued the Ancient Egyptians as early as 1400 BC. There’s also a coffeeshop in Turkey called Lukkans Coffee.

2. In 75 BC Julius Caesar was captured by pirates. When he found out he was being held for 20 talents he reportedly busted out laughing, telling them he was worth 50.

When he was freed he later returned with a small army, crucified the pirates, and took back the 50 talents. Whoops.

3. Eustace the Monk, who was also known as the Black Monk, was apparently so effective at pirating the English channel that both the English and French governments secretly hired him to be a privateer (privateers are government sanctioned pirates)

4. Blackbeard, the most famous pirate of them all, used to put lit fuses in his hair, sort of like slow burning, flaming matches, so that they would smoke, giving him a fearsome appearance. He usually tried to intimidate his opponent into giving up.