All Posts By

Brandon Kowallis

Thank You for Arguing ObservationsPhilosophy

Thank You for Arguing

There are two types of arguing. The first type, which most of us—for good reason—like to avoid but often find ourselves engaging in, is the kind where we approach the argument with the attitude, I know I’m right, and I’m certain you are wrong. The second type enters the argument with the attitude, I think I’m right, but I might be wrong. Let’s take a gander and see where each of these approaches might take us. Any argument that involves a person with the I’m Right, You’re Wrong mindset is a completely pointless argument—unless, of course, the point is to…
January 23, 2026
Am I Really a Direct Person? ObservationsPhilosophy

Am I Really a Direct Person?

When I worked at Salt Lake Community College, people would often tell me I was a very direct person. This surprised me. Most people I know well would say that I am a very kind, caring, fun, people-oriented person. So what was up with that? The more I reflected on it, the more I realized the problem was in my definition of direct. When I think of a direct person, I think of someone who is very vocal about generally negative things and doesn’t seem to care about what others think. And while this could describe a direct person, it’s…
January 23, 2026
No Room for Complaining – Defining Your Problems ObservationsPhilosophy

No Room for Complaining – Defining Your Problems

Some people say that there is nothing wrong with complaining as long as it is followed up with at least three ideas for solutions. In fact, at one time, that was my approach. However, I have since learned there is a better way. What I would say to my staff today is that complaining is not welcome here; however, we actively invite you to share problems you identify once there is a mutually agreed-upon definition of that problem. Too often, people either complain about problems without doing anything about them (which is counterproductive because of the negative environment that kind…
January 23, 2026
On Venting ObservationsPhilosophy

On Venting

People may disagree with me on this, and that is okay. I'm mostly just walking through the landscape of my thoughts. I've struggled throughout my life with focusing on the negative side of things. It may have started when I worked for the federal government in the Park Service (there was a lot of griping at the park I worked at), or it may have started with the people I grew up with. I don't really know. What I do know is that I've had a tendency throughout my life to spend a lot of time pontificating with others about…
January 23, 2026
Meeting Minutes Kicks & Giggles

Meeting Minutes

This was a fun joke I sent out to my colleagues after our staff meeting to see if anyone actually bothered to read the minutes. The idea came to me when someone in another meeting I attended made a sassy comment about senior leadership and jokingly said to the administrative assistant, "don't put that in the meeting minutes". I thought, hmm, what if I created a set of meeting minutes that only had notes that shouldn't be included in the meeting minutes. Anyway, I had a fun time writing it and I hope you have a fun time reading it.…
June 13, 2024
Working with Me Philosophy

Working with Me

I got this idea of creating a "Working with Me" document from the Tim Ferriss podcast. I wish I could remember who he was interviewing. The basic idea is that we often assume that other's around us know the best way to work with us because we know what we like. Sort of like a toddler who assumes that everyone knows where the hidden toy is because he hid it and knows where it is. But the reality is that unless you have clearly communicated your preferences for how others should work with you, they probably don't know. And that…
June 12, 2024
On Nature Photography & Relinquishing Control Canyonlands from Mesa ArchNatureObservationsPhilosophy

On Nature Photography & Relinquishing Control

Nature photography is an art of unpredictability. It is an art of acceptance and adaptability, an art of patience and awareness. I was surprised, when I visited Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park, to find amidst the morning stillness, the gradually warming light, and the echoes of little critters going about their day, a handful of cranky photographers who had travelled hundreds of miles to reach this destination and capture an image that had been photographed thousands of times, bickering with “tourists” who were “in their shot”. A shot they had seemingly waited their entire life to photograph, on which…
May 3, 2024
On Being a Dad Expert Kicks & GigglesObservationsPhilosophy

On Being a Dad Expert

As a parent of curious children you have to be pretty much an expert in everything. “Dad, when was Dr. Seuss born?” “Dad, George Washington like cake?” “Dad, do Walruses dream?” “Dad, how do you build an airplane?” And they ask with such complete and utter confidence that you will know the answer to every question that pops into their minds that somehow the answers just seem to come.
March 2, 2024
The Nutty Putty Cave Rescue & the Death of John Jones – One Rescuers Perspective CavingNews

The Nutty Putty Cave Rescue & the Death of John Jones – One Rescuers Perspective

The day before Thanksgiving in 2009 I was invited to assist with the Nutty Putty Cave rescue of John Edward Jones. I ended up being the last person to see him alive, though at the time I arrived he was mostly unconscious. Since that time I have received numerous questions from reporters and curious individuals. Recently there has been an uptick in those requests as a result of some viral videos that have been posted. This is my attempt to provide information and help answer the questions that I am qualified to answer. The day after the rescue efforts failed…
February 23, 2024
Sidewalk Lines Observations

Sidewalk Lines

Obstacles made for entertaining the eyes of the bored, lonely eyes, troubled eyes, thoughtful eyes. Stress day distractions for the passerby thinking, don't look this passing fellow in the eyes. Horizontal canyons in miniature as I walk moving like the frames of film passing memories and imagination. Activating thoughts of times passed by like the trees to each side of me as I walk. A visible metronome ticking with my pace rhythm of imagination's song unraveling from my mind. A song only I can sing.
August 28, 2017