By giving my brain a chance to make associations, draw connections, take me by surprise. And often even that idea doesn’t turn out to be very good. I need time to think about it, too, to make mistakes and recognize them, to make false starts and correct them, to outlast my impulses, to defeat my desire to declare the job done and move on to the next thing.(full)
The quotes are out of order, but it semmed fitting to start of with the idea that fits a sort of theme here lately, how do we match inspiration, exploration and development? What is it that triggers those great ideas at times, but leaves us staring blankly into space at others?
Sometimes the very act of getting started triggers more ideas, in a stream of consciousness kind of way, rambling along on slight tangents in the vicinity of the issue or the solution. This is actually one of the main points in Art of War (yes, finished it, will re-read in a month or so, it was that good, quick and inspirational) - the muse comes when you actually do work, not when you sit around thinking about it or complaining about all that has to be done.
We have a crisis of leadership in America because our overwhelming power and wealth, earned under earlier generations of leaders, made us complacent, and for too long we have been training leaders who only know how to keep the routine going. Who can answer questions, but don’t know how to ask them. Who can fulfill goals, but don’t know how to set them(full)
And the second points brings us right into the world and ideas of Linchpin - and also one of my personal regular quotes; "life is to good in Norway, we don'thave to make tough choices". The main point being that it is adversity that shows us our true limits, that expands the horizons and makes us thinking the really new thoughts. And most of all, it is the same list for something more that makes a few of us go the extra mile, put in the effort and push forwards.
One of the most rewarding learning experiences from basic officers training was (in hindsight, then and there it really sucked) the all night patrol, in the winter, with set snow, snowshoes, a heavy Pulk to be pulled up and over a ridge. Going in there was no way I would have belived we could get it done.half way up there was no way I could see that we would make it to the top, never mind carrying on along and back down. But we did it, because when you really have to, there is so much more energy and determination driving you onwards than when you are sitting quite comfortably on the couch considering headong out for a walk. Yes we can, as someone said a short while ago.
If you never face true challenges, you go a bit soft, and if you are constantly rewarded for staying within the lines you forget how to explore. Does it mean the end of the world? Probably not, but it might mean the end of the improvements we are acustomed to, and most certainly it will mean a shift in where ideas come to life (which might over time also change the economic powerbase)
- ...and the sun wants to come out after a rainy night...
