Methods vs. Principles - Part 2

Once you have recognized that your methods need to change if you are going to stay relevant, here are a couple things to remember:
1. Don't loose sight of your principles (i.e. your vision, mission, goals).
2. Don't design your methods to address today's problems. Design them to address tomorrows. If you design your methods for today's problems, by the time you implement them you will risk already being irrelevant.

Methods vs. Principles

Methods are many, principles are few. Methods change, principles never do. The problem is, too many leaders and organizations get the two confused. Organizations become irrelevant when they forget the difference and begin treating their methods as if they were principles.

Two Sentences

Too many projects fail because of a lack of focus. You should not start any project until you can describe what you want it to accomplish (i.e. the goal or purpose) in two sentences.

If you are a leader, don't approve any project that cannot be explained to you in two sentences.

Projects that cannot be explained in two sentences will result in some combination of: scope creep, delays, unnecessary features, unmet expectations or abandonment.

Once you have the type of focus that writing something in two sentences requires everything else flows easily. The amount of time and resources you will save by demanding this type of focus from yourself and your organization is unbelievable.

The Week in Review

• The tenth week of training for the Ocean Drive 10 Miler and the Long Branch Half Marathon has passed but I did not exactly finish it. I injured my lower leg and completed less than half of the planned running. I am currently hobbling around and trying to figure out what my plan is going to be. A week ago I was feeling really confident about both races. This week I'm not even sure if I will run in them. Amazing what can change in seven short days.
  
• Finished The Tipping Point and Freakonomics. I sort of cheated with the Tipping Point and listened to the last 2 sections on audio book during a trip to Philadelphia. They are both worth the read (or listen). If nothing else the last chapter in Freakonomics on names makes the entire book worthwhile.
  
• I think the music industry is struggling to figure out exactly what their product is anymore. As mentioned last week I bought tickets to a concert for a friend who lives overseas. The band was No Doubt and for each ticket purchased you get a free download of the bands entire studio library (7 albums) plus a few unreleased songs. This fascinates me.
• I think humans have a tendency to over complicate things. This past week I have witnessed way to many unnecessarily complicated processes get implemented.
  
• I greatly dislike hidden agendas and I like it even less when people try to involve me in theirs.
• I tend to be fairly forthright when asked for my opinion on something. It amazes me how often people really aren't looking for an honest answer and would rather you just agree with them.
  

Happy Birthday Uncle Al

In high school one of my science teachers had a poster of Albert Einstein on the wall and each day she would tell us to say thank you to Uncle Al for everything he did to advance our understanding of the world around us. So once more, in honor of his birthday..Thank You Uncle Al.

Quotes from Albert Einstein

Imagination is more important than knowledge.

Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts. (from a sign in his office at Princeton)

I am convinced that He (God) does not play dice.

Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind.

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.

Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school.

We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.

The aim (of education) must be the training of independently acting and thinking individuals who, however, can see in the service to the community their highest life achievement.

Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.

Hinder the right things

If you want to motivate your team, board, sponsors, customers, etc (and keep them from becoming disenfranchised). Don't ever hinder their ideas. Hinder their expectations.

You will make mistakes

It is OK to make a mistake but it is not OK to be sloppy.