Strategic oversight
I have a strategic mind-- always angling for the best combination of factors so that the Flow proceeds smoothly. I derive enormous satisfaction from a good plan well executed.
There is nothing wrong with this, but it behooves us strategists to remember that we never have all the information. We need that reminder to keep us humble, and to keep us from wasting too much time planning in an unpredictable world.
I had a perfect taste of this recently.
It is possible for me to be stumped by a situation of overchoice. On Saturday, I stood before the salad dressing section of the grocery store, surveying the possibilities. Quickly my mind assessed all the relevant variables: I wanted something without 17 g of fat per tablespoon, but also not fat-free (they tend to taste awful). I wanted something more like a vinaigrette than a creamy flavor, probably not containing tomato. I wanted something where the ingredient list didn't start with either water or soybean oil, and didn't have sugar or corn syrup listed as higher up than some kind of real flavor. Finally, I was unwilling to pay $6.99 for a bottle, but neither did I want the $1.99 special.
There was no perfect choice among the 30 or so offerings. And I'm embarrassed to say that my mind whirled around, stuck in neutral, for about 10 full minutes. I wanted to choose, but just couldn't. Finally I selected one, convinced that I had optimized all the variables to the degree possible.
Seeds of Change organic basil vinaigrette for $4.59.
Pleased, I went home. But when I unloaded the groceries....... I saw that the bottle was stamped with "Best Before 07/2005."
Aaaaaaaaaagh. I stood in the kitchen laughing my ass off! It was exactly what I deserved.
There is nothing wrong with this, but it behooves us strategists to remember that we never have all the information. We need that reminder to keep us humble, and to keep us from wasting too much time planning in an unpredictable world.
I had a perfect taste of this recently.
It is possible for me to be stumped by a situation of overchoice. On Saturday, I stood before the salad dressing section of the grocery store, surveying the possibilities. Quickly my mind assessed all the relevant variables: I wanted something without 17 g of fat per tablespoon, but also not fat-free (they tend to taste awful). I wanted something more like a vinaigrette than a creamy flavor, probably not containing tomato. I wanted something where the ingredient list didn't start with either water or soybean oil, and didn't have sugar or corn syrup listed as higher up than some kind of real flavor. Finally, I was unwilling to pay $6.99 for a bottle, but neither did I want the $1.99 special.
There was no perfect choice among the 30 or so offerings. And I'm embarrassed to say that my mind whirled around, stuck in neutral, for about 10 full minutes. I wanted to choose, but just couldn't. Finally I selected one, convinced that I had optimized all the variables to the degree possible.
Seeds of Change organic basil vinaigrette for $4.59.
Pleased, I went home. But when I unloaded the groceries....... I saw that the bottle was stamped with "Best Before 07/2005."
Aaaaaaaaaagh. I stood in the kitchen laughing my ass off! It was exactly what I deserved.
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