Extra Issue: 2016 best TV shows according to me

Not sure if this is something to be proud of, but 2016 was a year in which I followed several TV shows, most of which were amazing. I also had to drop some because of time constrains.

One thing is certain, it was really easy to select my favorite shows of 2016. GOT is an obvious choice and it has been for the last 4 years (I got late into the bandwagon). The two huge surprises were the first seasons of Stranger Things and Westworld.

Amazing Shows of 2016

Game of Thrones (HBO)

Well, if you don't know about GOT you are probably not reading this anyways
Stranger Things (Netflix)
If you haven’t watched Stranger Things on Netflix yet, you really should. I finished all the 8 episodes in less than 2 days and was completely addicted to the show by the end of it. The storytelling is perfect, there's an addictive mystery and the storylines are concise, inter-related and interesting. And above it all, the show is full of nostalgia as it takes place in 1983. Therefore there are hundreds  of 1980's pop culture references. To name a few:  Aliens (1986), Jaws (1975) and The Empire Strikes Back (1980). But mostly, the show is a mix of The Goonies (1985) with ET (1982) and Signs (2002). The directing and writing mix Stephen King and Steven Spielberg in an original and entertaining way. I can't imagine they can top it or even maintain it with season 2. But hope dies last...
Westworld (HBO)

WestWorld is a brilliant, mysterious and captivating show. 10-ish hours of some of the best things you will watch on TV these days. The cast, the acting, the scenarios and most importantly the masterfully storytelling were the ingredients to make the show of the year.

Excellent Drama
DareDevil (Netflix)

Vinyl (HBO)

Better Call Saul (AMC)

Narcos (Netflix)

Halt and Catch Fire (AMC)

Good/OK Dramas

Chicago Med (NBC)
Supergirl (CW)
Chicago PD (NBC)

Luke Cage (Netflix)

Billions (Showtime)

Disappointments

Fear the Walking Dead (AMC)

The Walking Dead (AMC)

Best Comedy

The Big Bang Theory (CBS)

Family Guy (FOX)

Modern Family (ABC)

Brooklyn Nine Nine (FOX)

South Park (CC)
Veep (HBO)

Broad City (CC)

Girls (HBO)

Shows I gave up
Criminal Minds (CBS)

SVU (NBC)

Blindspot (NBC)

New Girl (FOX)

The Blacklist (NBC)

Issue 9

The 9th and last installment of the year comes weeks after the issue #8. I do not expect this to continue as a weekly project, but I will keep posting it whenever a reach the mark of 4 to 6 interesting picks to share. While the readership is not high, I do find it interesting to group those picks on a regular basis. For one, it forces me to reflect if I am learning new things regularly. Secondly, it will serve as a repository of tips and ideas for the future and can help me in face-to-face networking opportunities. And finally, it's not a numbers game, if one tip will help one person, then it was worth it. Happy New Year!

1SE is an app that helps you record a 1 second film everyday. I took on this project last December and set myself the challenge to do it for the whole 2016. My key take-aways are very similar to the app creator  as he describes it in his TED Talk. As the year closes, I have now a 6-min video that encapsulates my whole year and it is a very cool retrospective tool. Most days were easy to find that moment that you want to record. But not every day. Having to make this filming every day forced me to reflect if I had done something special every single day. Some days were as simple as appreciating a beautiful sunset or a rainbow. Other days were not that special or great days and I had to work long hours or something but those are also worthwhile memories, not every day is great and happy.

Working with Millennials can be a challenge. This video from Simon Sinek shows why. Additionally, this is a great reflection on where our society is going and how technology is affecting human relationships.

Not so much an original and certainly not new pick, but A Clockwork Orange is a classic and cult 1971 dystopian film adapted, produced, and directed by, one of my favorite, Stanley Kubrick. As the film celebrates 45 years, I found it a good excuse to re-watch it. It is based on Anthony Burgess's 1962 novel A Clockwork Orange which was handed to Kubrick during the filming of 2001: An Space Odyssey (Easter Egg: a 2001 soundtrack LP can be seen during the film). A Clockwork Orange is a masterpiece that touches several sticky issues and it is one of the most violent films ever made but without being graphic. It is not easy to watch and it's not easy to understand either, the slang is made up and characters have strong accents. The performance of Malcolm McDowell as Alex is outstanding. What this guy went through during the filming is really impressive, I also recommend watching the "Making Of" documentaries. While watching some of those, there's no question that Kubrick was a genius but also an effective leader. He was persistent, perfectionist and would pay attention to every single detail. However, he was inclusive and could get the best out of people. The people who worked with him say that he would ask and take on ideas from anyone in the team regarding anything. That's such a powerful leadership skill that can only be executed when you have the right balance of self confidence and humility. A key take-way from my Kellogg's Managerial Leadership class. 

I finally got my hands on a vinyl copy of Let It Bleed. This is the eighth British album by the Rolling Stones and it was released in December 1969. A true rock classic regarded is one of the best albums of all times. In 1997, it was voted the 27th "Best Album Ever" by The Guardian. In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked it at number 32 on the magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". While I am a Beatles guy, this is a great record for any rock fans.