Over the summer holidays between grade one and two, my teacher Ms. Rasmussen sold my parents a set of World Book Encyclopedias! I suppose the World Book sales managers figured out that teachers had a pretty good built in contact network. Back then class sizes were 40+ students, which meant about 40+ families who could buy a set of Encyclopedias.
Red, simulated leather grain covers, coated paper, black and white but with special full color sections for pictures! Each book weighed about five pounds. There were 28 volumes and I read, thumbed, paged, studied every one of them cover to cover on the front porch when the weather was nice. I loved those books. I don't know how they were delivered to our home and I certainly don't know how my parents paid for them since we didn't have any money. And the world ran just fine.
Do I think iPhones, iPads and social media are important? Not really. What happens when everyone is connected to everyone else? Not much. If you want to start a revolution on facebook, the governments just shut down the internet. If you want feedback on your dumb idea only those trying to sell you something and the obnoxious bullies will respond.
If you're left turning lane is not moving because the idiot at the front is busy texting, you're witnessing the real life impact of technology.
My point here is, worry a little less about what you think and a little more about where your thinking gets you. Does any of this stuff have real results? Big studio movie promotion budgets don't include social media, - that ought to tell you something.
Here's where listening to other people gets you. We used to think the Russians were a serious world power. All that got us was some good James Bond movies. Until about 1895, we used to think Ketchup was medicine. Madonna is better at teaching our children in class sizes of 20,000 than our teachers are with class sizes of 18. Steve Jobs ran a secretive, top down controlling empire and built great products. Apple is a need to know dictatorship. Our governments showed us that paying employees 20% over market reduces productivity. Global warming is brought to us by people who can't tell you whether it's going to rain tomorrow.
Stop listening to other people. The next person trying to convince you of something is probably taking ketchup as medicine. Listen to the voice inside of you. Look around at the results. You're a manager. If it works, do it. If it doesn't work, stop doing it. Do what's right, do what's next.
April 18th, be there! My workshop is about resolving conflict. You won't believe your ears, your children may not recognize you when you get home, - but you will be a fiercely better manager!
See you for breakfast,
Wolfgang
p.s. I think managers are limited by all the theories they're bombarded with. With so much nonsense around I encourage you to follow your own path. The best answer is probably your answer.
p.s. I like my iPhone, I don't need an iPad, I do think email changed how we live our lives. Big ideas, clear thinking, useful thinking, results, all are not dependant on interconnectivity. Greece had the internet. The 2008 financial meltdown had the benefit of the internet. Blackberry / RIM had the internet. Christy Clarke has the internet. How's that working out? (BTW / Penicillin happened without the internet. Unbelievable.)
Dumb is dumb, smart is smart. A stand alone concept. And ketchup is not medicine. And, it's ok to begin a sentence with 'and.'
No comments:
Post a Comment