Avatars
Summary: A three-persona illustration system (Officer Bear, Blacksmith Bear, Data Scientist Bear) Paul uses in presentations and print material, keyed to the same three pillars this wiki is organized around.
Sources: Avatars.canvas (original content, authored by Paul); Officer Bear.png, Blacksmith Bear.png, Data Scientist Bear.png (illustrations referenced by the canvas)
Last updated: 2026-07-08
The canvas is a simple map: three illustrated bear personas, each with a single usage rule, no connections drawn between them (source: Avatars.canvas):
- Officer Bear is used in presentations and print material when core leadership principles are discussed.
- Blacksmith Bear is used in presentations and print material when practical solutions are discussed.
- Data Scientist Bear is used in presentations and print material when theoretical or conceptual topics are discussed.
How the avatars map onto the wiki
The three personas line up closely with the wiki’s existing content pillars.
Officer Bear covers the Navy-derived leadership material: dont-paint-over-rust, foundation-of-trust, voyage-planning, alligator-story, kitchen-cabinet, bar-raiser, and the “Core leadership behaviors” section of my-leadership-principles.
Blacksmith Bear covers the applied, get-it-done material: safe-enablement, team-yes, first-wrong-answer, candles-not-lightbulbs, and memory aids like “Stop the Dumb” and “Upgrade Your Shop” in my-leadership-principles. The name isn’t an arbitrary metaphor: blacksmithing is Paul’s actual hobby, documented in about-me and enduring-sustained-uncertainty as the “otherness” practice behind Blackthorn Workshop.
Data Scientist Bear covers the more analytical and conceptual material: asset-ownership, insurance concepts, and prevention focused insurance industry analysis and opportunities.
What this is for
This isn’t a new concept to explain, it’s an illustration key. If wiki content gets turned into a slide deck, one-pager, or other print material, this page says which bear goes with which topic.