======================

“We waste so many days waiting for weekend.

So many nights wanting morning.  Our lust for future comfort is the biggest thief of life. “

=

Joshua Glenn Clark

So. I almost called this ‘thief of life.’

This began as I sat listening to a business discussion the other day when I realized that I was just hearing one reason after another being vocalized on why something shouldn’t be done. Ah. Please note. I said “shouldn’t” not “couldn’t.” It was a litany borne of either laziness or fear.

Regardless. Here is the scary part <at least to me>. It became a numbers game. Numbers, as in, even if the one reason ‘to do’ was the right thing to do or, at minimum, at least doing something was better than nothing, the logic seemed to come down to this:

‘well, if we have all these <100> reasons to not do it … it seems like a bad idea.’

knowing when to stopStop.

Stop right there.

Doing the right thing is not a numbers game. I can always … let me repeat … ALWAYS find reasons to not do something. I will note that the main reason to not do somethings comes down to “wishing.” What I amen by that is people sit around wishing for something to change that will make the 100 reasons vanish in the blink of an eye and the “one right thing” stands alone in the spotlight of what to do.

“The world is not a wish-granting factory.”

Gus <Fault in our Stars>

——————-

But it doesn’t work that way. While I don’t have research on my side <because I am fairly sure no research has ever been done on this> doing the right thing, or the 1 thing which everyone really knows should be done, almost always seems to have to fight a battle of attrition. One in which you can either get pecked to death by ducks, slowly bleed to death through little slices from sharp simple minded ignorant fearful knives, or simply by being bludgeoned over and over again with some blunt dull cumbersome object.

The 1 often seems to need what Lincoln called ‘the full measure of devotion’ to put things into motion for the forces of good

Anyway. The 100 reasons are simply 100 thieves.

They steal life.

They steal honor & integrity.

They steal opportunity.

They steal truth & reason & logic.

They steal it one coin at a time. In the end your pockets are empty.

Look. In most cases and situations doing something embodies infinite potential, and scarily, infinite possibilities or, in pragmatic terms – infinite consequences and unintended consequences. While we don’t like to admit it in this business world of ‘setting objectives to measure against’ is more often a choice, or a decision, which can, and will, have multiple outcomes & consequences.

Yes.

You surely try and herd the choice into the direction and path you desire. That’s kind of what managing a decision is all about. But that is managing movement. Conversely, the ‘100 reasons to not do’ are managing stagnancy. Or ‘non decisions. Both, I may add, have consequences and, whether we like it or not, accountability resides in both decisions and non decisions.

—————

“Every moment has infinite potential.

Every new moment contains for you possibilities that you can’t possibly imagine.

Every day is a blank page that you could fill with the most beautiful drawings. “

John C. Parkin

————

That said. I find this whole ‘let’s come up with 100 reasons so we do not have to do the one thing we should do’ slightly puzzling for several reasons.

Puzzling in that possibilities are exciting and, in general, people like the concept of possibilities. Possibilities represent  hope. And, yes, they are scary <because they are … well … possibilities … not guarantees or promises>.

But. I imagine I am puzzled because if I put ‘possibility’ on a scale, I am fairly sure it weighs more than ‘not a promise’ <not all uncertainties are created equal is my point>. And I understand that a sliver of fear carries a disproportionate weight to its size, but I still sense that in most people’s minds possibility is a joyful burden.

Next.

Puzzling in that society has embraced ‘simplicity’ like it is a long lost child. Well. Let me say it has embraced simplicity & efficiency <to the detriment of all other children society may have>. I say that because the 100 reasons takes a lot of work to come up with and they are complex <when the list is complete> and time consuming to think up and list. Its puzzling we invest so much energy in the 100 when the 1 most likely represents the simplest & more efficient.

It gets even more puzzling especially when examining the fact that “1”, which even if debatable, almost always carries a thread of ‘I want to do this’ feeling within everyone. And that implies organizational or ‘crowd’ alignment in some form or fashion and that ultimately begets <or translates into> some variation of efficiency. Its puzzling because on the other hand, the 100, the doubts, vary from individual to individual.

Anyway.

Suffice it to say. In order to do something, to get shit done, do get shit doneyou cannot let the 100 beat the 1. Doing something, or making a decision to do something, is not a numbers game. Just because you can come up with a 100 reasons on why to not do something, if the 1 is right, that is enough.

The 1 outweighs the 100.

Maybe that is the issue. In the measurement world we live in this math doesn’t make sense. I mean, c’mon, how could 1 outweigh 100?

Well.

Doing the 1 thing that should be done always makes sense and I venture to say it will carry much greater weight as an impact.

======================

Originally published June 2014

 

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Written by Bruce