Ideas
In a recent Dilbert, the boss asks "Does anyone have any strategic ideas for global domination?" Ignoring the boss' stated objective, the meeting immediately breaks down into arguments over coffee filters. In addition to the usual chuckle Dilbert brings me, it set me thinking about priorities, focus, outlines, and the like.
The most important (and, sometimes, the most difficult) issue in all situations is what objective we should pursue. In situations, like a meeting with the boss, where someone else determines the objective to pursue, it's easier. We may get to participate in the decision but it's ultimately the responsibility of another. When we have to determine our own objectives, we sometimes get confused or become indecisive or inarticulate. We don't have to have a single objective but if we have multiple objectives, we must establish priorities among objectives. The one thing we should not do is ignore our objectives in favor of arguing about coffee filters or popcorn or the color of our neighbor's stockings.
In setting our objectives, we need to think about what's important to us. We don't have to go to meetings with bosses to concern ourselves with looking for the important questions. In every situation, there's an opportunity to focus on the important issues and to avoid worrying about inconsequential things. We all know people who become so distracted by things that don't matter that they can't accomplish any of their goals. The co-worker who worries about popcorn rather than the success of the business is guilty of letting himself become distracted from the important thing..
Once we have established our objectives, we need to focus on, and try to achieve, them. In order to do the things I want to do, I find myself falling back on old habits from school. When I had a paper or an essay to write, I first wrote an outline. If I did a good job with the outline, the paper wrote itself. It's the same thing for most objectives: If you outline the steps necessary to achieve your objectives, the steps are easier to complete and, obviously, the objectives are more easily achieved. For example, if the task is to improve our athletic skills, it's not enough simply to state the objective. We need an outline of the steps necessary to achieve the objective. Once stated, the steps will be easier.
Set objectives, outline the steps necessary to get there and don't be distracted by inconsequential, peripheral issues, no matter how much fun it is let yourself be distracted. As Dilbert recognizes, the success of the enterprise is important, coffee filters are not.
1-19-04
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