Imagine you were going to Mars. (There is some current debate in the United States about a new goal for the space program, to go to Mars and perhaps place a permanent settlement there.)
Now imagine you are one of the potential astronauts. You are in a first stage promotional meeting and the director of NASA says: “we’re not going to spend a lot of time planning; but we’ll make it up with close contact during the trip. This is pretty big so we won’t have time for people to review and talk about all of the components. Don’t worry though; we have some great people working on this. Some of the traditional experts for this sort of thing may not be involved; but, that’s ok, we’re sure we won’t need them. We’re pretty sure it will all fit together and there won’t be any negative consequences. This is exciting. It’s going to be great!”
Now the director looks at all the astronauts and asks: “So who will be the first to go to Mars?” Would you volunteer?
In the case of a trip to Mars, hopefully NASA would not need to make such a choice, but in other situations this choice is presented. Most of the time it is a red herring. A false argument. More treatment does not always mean better outcomes and at a certain point, it never means better outcomes. If though, there really had to be a choice, I would always choose thorough (not over) planning, even if it meant just a little less in the way of services or project time.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Decisions Determine Destiny
Once you know where you want to go, what long term outcomes you want and the goals and objectives you need to get there. Once you set the plan with accountability and flexibility to allow for course and plan adjustment, you need to consider the nitty gritty stuff. The day to day tasks are as important as the major ones. We usually work out of habit and good habits create a life time of successful behavior. Focused, well planed, and directed, they are much more likely to bring about the results you are looking for. Decisions are different. Relatively few decisions should be made even monthly, fewer still weekly and very few daily. Sure you may decide exactly what you are going to eat on a weekly or daily basis, but if your goal is health, those choices will have already been significantly narrowed. Though many seemingly small decisions are still important, most of your significant decisions should be made in accordance with your plan and desired outcomes. When someone asks you if you want to take illegal drugs, that decision should have already been made. If someone asks you to do something dishonest that decision should already be made. If someone asks you to do something contrary to your plans and goals, that decision should already be made. If you have an unexpected conflict in values and priorities then a new decision may need to be made and if new information is likely to alter your plans then the plans may need to be adjusted and your decision may then need to be adjusted based upon an altered plan but be very cautious about any significant decisions on a spur of the moment basis.
You may say to yourself: ‘but some things have to be decided based on the ever changing situation.’ Successful people visualize and prepare for the possibilities and rarely have to make a significant decision on the “spur of the moment.” Many people live their lives and interact with others based on decisions of the type of person they want to be.
Even commanders in battle will have already decided what they will do if…
You may say to yourself: ‘but some things have to be decided based on the ever changing situation.’ Successful people visualize and prepare for the possibilities and rarely have to make a significant decision on the “spur of the moment.” Many people live their lives and interact with others based on decisions of the type of person they want to be.
Even commanders in battle will have already decided what they will do if…
Long Term Consequences
For every behavior, there is a consequence. We can almost always choose our behavior; but, can not always choose our consequences. Sometimes we must choose which is more important to us. Is it more important for us to choose our behaviors or more important to choose our consequences? We simply can not freely choose both. Sometimes we can delay some consequences but that is the best we can hope for.
We have a better chance of choosing our consequences if we choose the consequence first and then align our behaviors appropriately. For many if not most of the outcomes we would choose, there are time honored behaviors that will help us reach those goals and achieve those outcomes. If we start looking down the road and ask our self what outcomes we want, we can then align our behaviors. Once you have chosen your outcomes, research the behaviors which are most likely to help you achieve your goals and outcomes. Look at those “time honored behaviors” first, if there is something newer (within the last 60 years) and more faddish, review the research and find out what is really most likely to work. If it is really important to you, look at the research critically as not all research is of the same value.
When considering your desired outcomes, look way down the road. I love anthropology and sometimes read anthropology text books just for fun (I realize that would not be fun for most). Years ago I read a book on time, how cultures deal with and view time. The text would be about 50 years old and much has changed in the past 50 years but at the time it was written it was pretty accurate. At that time, for some cultures, setting long term goals and looking at long term consequences had them looking down the road 100 plus years. For other cultures long term planning would mean perhaps 5 years from now and for others tomorrow or even this afternoon. We all know people who have a hard time considering the long term consequences. There is an old adage I like that says: ‘when you’re up to your neck in alligators it’s hard to remember your initial intention was to drain the swamp.” I like this adage because while the alligator may be the more urgent problem, it may not be the gravest problem and draining the swamp will take care of all the problems. For example, if you have a swamp on your property filled with alligators and malaria and/or cholera, the alligators may be the most obvious and urgent issue, but probably not the most deadly.
Take a step back and consider what you want for you and/or your family 100 years down the road, 50 years, 10 years, and shorter term. Write down those outcomes and align goals and behavior (writing them down with specificity as has already been mentioned) in ways that are most likely to bring about those outcomes. If you can’t figure out which behaviors will create the results you want, consult research and experts. Get the help you need and do what you need to do.
Remember the old saying, “if you do what you have always done you are likely to get what you have always gotten.” And, “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
We have a better chance of choosing our consequences if we choose the consequence first and then align our behaviors appropriately. For many if not most of the outcomes we would choose, there are time honored behaviors that will help us reach those goals and achieve those outcomes. If we start looking down the road and ask our self what outcomes we want, we can then align our behaviors. Once you have chosen your outcomes, research the behaviors which are most likely to help you achieve your goals and outcomes. Look at those “time honored behaviors” first, if there is something newer (within the last 60 years) and more faddish, review the research and find out what is really most likely to work. If it is really important to you, look at the research critically as not all research is of the same value.
When considering your desired outcomes, look way down the road. I love anthropology and sometimes read anthropology text books just for fun (I realize that would not be fun for most). Years ago I read a book on time, how cultures deal with and view time. The text would be about 50 years old and much has changed in the past 50 years but at the time it was written it was pretty accurate. At that time, for some cultures, setting long term goals and looking at long term consequences had them looking down the road 100 plus years. For other cultures long term planning would mean perhaps 5 years from now and for others tomorrow or even this afternoon. We all know people who have a hard time considering the long term consequences. There is an old adage I like that says: ‘when you’re up to your neck in alligators it’s hard to remember your initial intention was to drain the swamp.” I like this adage because while the alligator may be the more urgent problem, it may not be the gravest problem and draining the swamp will take care of all the problems. For example, if you have a swamp on your property filled with alligators and malaria and/or cholera, the alligators may be the most obvious and urgent issue, but probably not the most deadly.
Take a step back and consider what you want for you and/or your family 100 years down the road, 50 years, 10 years, and shorter term. Write down those outcomes and align goals and behavior (writing them down with specificity as has already been mentioned) in ways that are most likely to bring about those outcomes. If you can’t figure out which behaviors will create the results you want, consult research and experts. Get the help you need and do what you need to do.
Remember the old saying, “if you do what you have always done you are likely to get what you have always gotten.” And, “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
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