Thursday, September 11, 2008

How, Kimosabi?

"Success is more often attained by asking 'how?' than by saying 'no.'" -- John Wooden

Recently I was asked to evaluate a proposal which suggested trying to accomplish something in what seemed to me to be an overly aggressive timeline. In a past life, I might have weighed in with all the authority I could muster, thick with phrases like "doubt" and "shouldn't." But these phrases rarely carry long-run value for me, so I've mostly stopped using them. First and foremost, my view is never the only right one (and often is not the right one!). I offered a counter proposal, but with openness to other ideas. And now other ideas are being considered. Ideas flow better from others when I don't clog the lines with self-righteousness.

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