Views from the Hills by R. E. Stevens, GENESIS II (The Second Beginning) E-Mail views@aol.com

Analogies -- A Creative Way to Understand & Learn

Recently when talking to a friend about creative learning and understanding techniques, she asked which technique do I prefer, Focus Groups or One-on-Ones?  The question actually surprised me.  I have always looked at the two protocols as environments and not necessarily techniques, especially in the realm of creative techniques.  I look at techniques as being the protocols within the environments.  For example, the protocols could deal with game playing, acting, analogies, story telling, metaphors, etc.

I don't know if I really have a favorite, but I do enjoy using analogies or forced relationships.  According to Webster an analogy is "a correspondence in some respect between otherwise dissimilar things."  For instance we may make analogies between a desk and an automobile.  and then move the session deeper into the association.  Think of the things you have in or on your desk and how they might be useful in a car.  We already have the obvious like a telephone, computer, road maps, reading lights, faxes, stereos, VCRs, etc.  could we have things like file drawers, a writing area, calendars and coffee warmers?  The New York Auto Show today featured cars with cameras replacing the side view mirrors, built in computers, fingerprint pads for the starter and voice-command modules.  They also showed pickup trucks with built in removable picnic tables and chairs.  could it be that refrigerators, washers and microwaves are not far behind?  Can you think of things that a car has that would work on a desk.  Things like lights in desk drawers, fuzz busters (boss alerts), reclining chairs, a peddle to control the speed of work, automatic washers for the screen on your computer, defoggers (for the mind) and rear view mirrors.  Try it, you may find it fun.

Analogies can be great fun and wonderful exercise for the mind.  About three years ago I did an exercise on "Computers must be male and computers must be female because . . . . "  As a result of my wife's encouragement, there was a very limited distribution.  She thought some of the associations were not in good taste.  But I must admit it was a lot of fun doing the exercise.  Taking away the barrier of publication really lets the mind explode with associations.

One exercise that I have written about happened 20 years ago.  I did a comparison of  a highly effective company and an individual.  The work led to a presentation for new hires at P&G.  About three years ago I mentioned the work in one of my Views.  At the time, I was giving the presentation to members of a local company.  The basic idea of the talk was to break down the operations of a successful company and see how these operational categories could be incorporated into a person's daily life to make the person more effective and valuable to the company.  This exercise is actually looking at the employee as a company within themselves, managed and developed by the individual.

Following are some of the broad categories covered in the presentation aimed at helping the person develop a game plan for success using the elements of a successful company as a model.
 
 

Component
Company
Self
Product/service Solves a need/has value/appreciated What is your value?
Do you solve a problem?
What do you bring to the company?
Production Producing the product How much do you do?
How well is your production line working?  Is it "A fair day's work for a fair day's pay?"
Quality Control Insures a quality product How good of a job do you do?  What is the quality of your work?  What should be improved?
Process Development
          (improving the task)
How can we do the production better, faster and cheaper? How can you do the work better, faster and cheaper?
Products Research (R&D)
          (improving the end result)
          (new opportunities)
How can we make the product better?
What else can we make of value?
How can you improve your results?  What else can you do to improve your value?
What talents can you develop?
Packaging How does it fit:  appeal, efficacy, communication and protection? How well does your packaging fit the image you want to convey?
Advertising awareness Letting people know why they should buy your product. How can you improve the awareness of your talents?
Public Relations Creating the corporate image How do you improve your image?
Sales Selling and Distributing the product How can you convince others to use your talents?
Marketing Planning and managing the promotion and image of the product How do you improve your career management?  What is your image?  How do you build demand for your services?
Accounting Measuring investment vs. return Assessing your options.
Corporate management Managing and planning the process Implementing a career plan

Don't just become a highly effective employee, become a highly effective company.  Write your own Mission Statement.  Outline your goals, Objectives, Strategies and Measures.

A fitting thought for your consideration:

"You can't go back and make a brand new start, but you can start now to make a brand new ending."





A timely thought:  The only time a child is as good as gold is on April 15.


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