“… be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress.”

Booker Washington

Ok.

I am going to take this awesome quote and talk about two things: business and personal.

Business.

Whenever anyone asks me about “integration” this is the quote I use.

We talk so often of “staying on strategy” or “meeting objectives”.

Why? Because there is so much everyday other shit going on you worry about losing control. So you have one of two choices. Leverage off of something (strategy) or aim for something (objective).

That’s it. Let’s call it vectoring for success. Okay. Let’s not.

And you have to choose because today everyone is “integrating.” What I mean is everybody is seeking to implement a shitload of tactics in a shitload of different vehicles and it can all go to shit really really fast.

Ok. So you are on your ‘vector.’

You have one of two choices (in general).

Create chemistry through conflict management (think dictator insuring all the fingers stay on one hand or get chopped off if they start flipping you off). This hand can punch a bunch of people along the way but just as a boxer ages over time your career as a conflict hand organization will wear out in a relatively short time.

And then there are hands that face conflict with chemistry. Create a culture that thrives on that vector. (whenever I type that word I want to ask “what’s your vector? Victor” … anyway …) this one is a little scary because it contains that evil word “decentralization.”

Uh oh.

Great organizational chemistry almost always has a thread of some autonomy. But great organizational chemistry embodies the quote also. So. Choose your path. But if you like the quote you know which way to go now.

Personal.

Whenever someone asks me about what makes a great relationship this is the quote I use.

I believe being one while remaining two is the greatest thing that can ever happen in any relationship.

‘To be one yet remain two’ is the way I believe I have heard it said before. But Booker says it better.

I would imagine this means a balance between independence and dependence.

Uhm.

Yes. Dependence.

Being dependent isn’t a bad thing on occasion. In individual moments we all need someone. If we don’t … well… I would argue you aren’t human.

But having some independence keeps the partnership healthy and growing. And actually keeps the “ones” stronger as ‘ones’ so when they become ‘two’ they actually have strength far beyond the numbers. (I think Pythagoras proved this in his third marriage).