Bill is still busyalways busy.
We caught up with Bill to learn about his methods, his bowties, and how he works.
Desk with keypad lower than desktop surface.
Have the portability of laptop with full capability of a desktopwhen I finally sit still.
I have multiple coffee brewing technologies in each location as well.
What apps, software, or tools can’t you live without?
Scannersto make documents into .pdf files.
I rely on weather apps everyday.
I take a great many pictures with my phone everyday as well.
What’s your best time-saving shortcut or life hack?
I scan and email documents like engineering sketches and contract signature pages rather using than postal mail or shipping.
I do it because it’s easier, faster, and more reliable.
It also requires less energy and fewer resources.
Is that life hacking or changing with the times?
I remind everyone, email goes one way.
Phone to-do lists often become too long to be useful.
My eyes and brain overlook key items.
Compare a paper market list with items crossed off with an electronic list from which items have been deleted.
Besides your phone and computer, what gadget can’t you live without and why?
Coffee makers of various descriptions and capabilities.
Emoji are very much like smiley faces drawn on post-it notes.
Animations are greathowever, I claim there is still nothing more compelling than a demonstration with physical objects.
Is there any particular methodology you have for distilling complex concepts into easily understandable explanations?
Then, be very disciplined in the words you use to tell the story.
Poisonous frogs and venomous snakes use toxins for very different reasons.
Regarding your recent book, what sort of tools do you use to manage large writing projects?
What everyday thing are you better at than everyone else?
I seem to excel at tying bow ties.
That’s from practice and an admitted fascination with knots.
I also seem to be especially good at poaching eggs.
That my friends and business associatescannot poach eggsis fascinating in a different, and of course troubling, way.
Add a few milliliters of white vinegar.
Drop the egg in the boiling swirling water.
What do you listen to while you work?
When I’m writing a book, it’s silenceno music.
When I’m doing something fun, like vacuuming, it’s the top 20 on satellite radio.
I crankUptown Funkas loud it will go.
When I’m working out, it’s a combination of these styles on wireless headphones.
Riders with headphones are, in my opinion, asking for trauma.
What are you currently reading?
This Changes Everything, by Naomi Klein (and this email from you…).
Are you more of an introvert or an extrovert?
I’m an extrovert, I suppose.
However, when I’m concentrating, I’m not much for interacting with others.
What’s your sleep routine like?
I’m in between a night-owl and an early riser.
I get up about 7:00am.
I seldom need an alarm.
When I’m traveling and time zones are a’changin', I use the alarm on my phone.
I can just ask the Siri software to wake me up.
Fill in the blank: I’d love to see _________ answer these same questions.
… the girl of my dreams, the one I’m going to marry.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Is there anything else you’d like to add that might be interesting to readers and fans?
A good hack lets you do more with less.
We need some fantastic enormous hacks to address climate change.
So hey everybody, let’s get busy!
Have someone you want to see featured, or questions you think we should ask?
Photo byNASA Goddard Space Flight Center(Flickr).
