A major component of my skill set was to detect patterns.  If you can do that, sometimes but not always, you can do something to address the situation at hand.  I haven’t figured out exactly how I developed this skill but part of it came from working jobs that were repetitive.  Somehow, that gave me a good feel for patterns in people and situations.

One of the topics I’ve been discussing recently is how we can get stuck in patterns of our own.   In jobs, routines, relationships.  Not bad or good enough to really make any changes, so we plod on.  And this prevents us from reaching our destiny.  The grace disguised here is when something happens, usually not so good, to break that pattern.  But while this can be painful, it actually pushes you toward a better destination.

When I look back at many of my experiences, I realize how it was the difficult people and places that played a significant role in getting me out of my comfort zone and to the next place or level.  People can be trapped by many things – poverty, violence, addiction.  And the subtle ones – complacency and comfort.  These are all chains – some are just golden.

One of the differences between U2 and Pearl Jam concerts other than the spectacle and special effects of the former is the way they handle set lists.  When U2 goes on tour, the songs played from show to show are virtually identical and even in sequences.  They may throw in a surprise here and there but it’s generally scripted.  Pearl Jam, on the other hand, plays an entirely different set every show.  The opening song is always key and sets the tone for the rest of the night.  They start with something different and there’s some instinct and feel involved in what they choose to play.  This unpredictability keeps it fresh and prevents stagnation for fans and also themselves.

U2 also usually doesn’t play from their whole catalogue but Pearl Jam does.  U2 rarely to never plays Acrobat or the Unforgettable Fire.  Pearl Jam plays pretty much everything they’ve written.  These are pleasant surprises when they pop up.

Patterns can also be harnessed or disrupted.  I used a lot of this theory based on aerial warfare at work.  If you can get into your opponent’s head, you can influence and even control the outcome.

As a certain Sith Lord once said – it is proceedings as I have foreseen.

This is power.