1. A Thank You Thread for Scott Adams (@ScottAdamsSays)
Scott, you mentioned this morning about hearing from people you have influenced. Count me among those. While you have influenced me on a number of contemporary topics, there is one particular thing I am most thankful for.
Scott, you mentioned this morning about hearing from people you have influenced. Count me among those. While you have influenced me on a number of contemporary topics, there is one particular thing I am most thankful for.
@ScottAdamsSays 2. And it is just one word that made me have an epiphany, which I want to thank you for from the bottom of my heart. Bear with me.
You see, I had had deep cognitive dissonance over a concept for a very long time.
You see, I had had deep cognitive dissonance over a concept for a very long time.
@ScottAdamsSays 3. In my corporate days, I loved achieving goals and was often frustrated by teams whose role was 'process monitoring' so to speak. Frankly, people who couldn't hack it in doing things were often transferred to those teams, with metaphorical clip-boards to annoy the doers.
@ScottAdamsSays 4. Consequently, I developed an aversion to 'process' even while knowing fully well in my rational mind that good process was essential for high quality outcomes.
@ScottAdamsSays 5. When confronted with large and complex organizational issues, I have always sought guidance from our Constitution and the federalist papers, because in my mind, they solved some of the most complex organizational issues for one of the largest and most complex organizations.
@ScottAdamsSays 6. And what did I inevitably find? Not so much of goals but a whole lot of 'process' to achieve the goals of individual liberty and national well-being. Very frustrating. Here are the documents I revered and all they give me is 'process', and I don't like process-pushing.
@ScottAdamsSays 7. You can imagine my cognitive dissonance. I knew there was something missing in my thinking and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Until ... one day I am listening to you and you mention the magic word.
@ScottAdamsSays 8. You know you have got it when you kick yourself hard for not having thought of it yourself. And how could I have not? Damn it, I even have a degree in the damn subject. I have studied it scientifically, and I still overlooked it in a very important context.
@ScottAdamsSays 9. The word of course is 'systems.' It is not 'goals vs process,' it is 'goals vs systems.' I love systems. Epiphany! Problem solved! Cognitive dissonance dissolved!
That is the word I couldn't put my finger on. You did it for me. Thank you!
That is the word I couldn't put my finger on. You did it for me. Thank you!
@ScottAdamsSays 10. The Constitution and the federalist papers are not talking about a process, they are talking about a system. I realized I was thinking in two words when there are three words needed to complete what I was struggling with. A system transcends goals and process.
@ScottAdamsSays 11. Process is the means by which a system realizes its goals. Process can change, should change as needed. Processes need to be good and efficient, otherwise they will hamper rather than facilitate goal achievement, but bad processes are not to be confused with bad systems.
@ScottAdamsSays 12. Relieved of the cognitive dissonance, I could go on and on about this, but I won't. I just want to say again, thank you!
You are a treasure, Scott! Keep up the great work, keep the ideas flowing, and keep helping people. I know you will, because you are cursed! :-)
The End.
You are a treasure, Scott! Keep up the great work, keep the ideas flowing, and keep helping people. I know you will, because you are cursed! :-)
The End.
