Should We Be Challenging Some Of Our Old Habits?
August 17,2004 - by
Robert E. Stevens, GENESIS II
(The
Second Beginning) E-Mail: views@aol.com
The Views titled "But we have always done it that way" 5/24/04, has
stimulated
a lot of conversation. Most of the conversation was about how to get
management
to change. I don't know the answer. I do know a lot od people are
trying.
I am reminded of a book titled "Innovation" by Thomas Kuczmarski who
lays
the blame of a lack of progress in many companies on their management.
On
the other hand, Kriegel & Brandt in their book "Sacred Cows Make
the
Best Burgers", one of my favorite books, places the blame on the nature
of
change. That is, change is uncomfortable, unpredictable, and often
times
unsafe. All we need to do is to look at the changes occurring around us
to
see regardless of whether we want change or not it is here. Now we need
to
decide if we want to be in front of the curve, on the curve or behind
it.
Do we want to lead or be led?
One of the Views readers sent me an Albert Einstein saying, "The
problems
we face today can not be solved on the same level of thinking we were
when
we created them."
Another Views reader sent the following puzzle.
Who am I?
"I am your constant companion, I am your greatest helper or heaviest
burden.
I will push you onward or drag you down to failure. I am completely at
your
command. Half of the things you do might just as well turn over to me
and
I will be able to do them quickly and correctly. I am easily managed -
you
must merely be firm with me. Show me exactly how you want something
done
and after a few lessons I will do it automatically.
I am the servant of all great men; and alas, of all failures as well.
Those
who are great, I have made great. Those who are failures, I have made
failures.
I am not a machine though i work with all the precision of a machine
plus
the intelligence of a man. You may run me for profit or run me for ruin
-
it makes no difference to me. Take me, train me, be firm with me, and I
will
place the world at your feet. Be easy with me and I will destroy you.
Who am I? I am habit."
Should we make a habit of reviewing our habits? Should
standardization
be looked at as a form of habit? For those who design research, are
standard
designs based of "a prerequisite", "a habit", or just laziness?
Sponsor: Sorensen Associate Inc
Portland, OR: 800.542.0123
Minneapolis, MN: 888.616.0123
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in-store research company™ -- Dedicated to the
relentless pursuit of WHY?
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