I was reflecting on a lunch I had with a good friend this past weekend where she lamented how 'busy' life had become, and the importance of saying 'no'. It was part of a broader - more philosophical discussion - about how we "get to where we are" in life. A colleague and I were talking about this same topic today (at the very same luncheon spot, coincidentally) and he made the rather sage point that it isn't the big decisions that get us into trouble - or rather that map out our direction in life. He made a compelling argument that it is a hundred, or a thousand small decisions that carefully focus what subsequent decision making will need to be done. This resonated with me a great deal, especially reflecting on Advent and a long obedience in the same direction. The same is true in public policy - our options are more often than not constrained by previous decisions, such that we often complain TINA (there is no alternative). But - of course - there is always an alternative. The trick is recognizing the path we're choosing before it's too late - because I do, nonetheless, think there are times when it is "too late".
When my colleague reads this I'm sure he'll grace us with a link to the article he read that spurred our conversation :)
Later the article in question is about marketing and the "art of being 15 minutes ahead". Quote:
The great Ken Burnett talks about the notion of being 15 minutes ahead. Don’t waste your time searching for the one big idea that will transform your fundraising like a magic bullet. Instead, concentrate on just being that little bit better, quicker, smarter, more personal, more evocative, more attentive… You get the idea.
0 comments:
Post a Comment