Is an elephant like a snake? A wall? A fan? In the fable of the blind men and the elephant each man gives one of these opinions, and others besides, depending on what part of the beast they touched. They argue, each convinced that they are right, none comprehending that they know only part of the whole. Sometimes, I feel like one of those blind men, only capturing a glimpse of what I should be seeing.
In 2008 I will focus on improving the way I think so that I can:
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ask the right questions and evaluate the answers
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apply general theory to specific practice
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combine disparate ideas into something new
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increase my awareness of additional options and influences
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collaborate and communicate more effectively
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and simply be more effective at whatever I undertake
This goal spans all of my endeavors, from my current job as a product formulator to making the most of my MBA classes and then to my artistic growth and personal concerns. I have learned pieces and bits from personal experience, reading, and my engineering background. But I have never focused on true improvement, just going along with what was going on at the time.
I want to put the pieces together and see the elephant. But it’s not only about understanding the elephant that someone else knows is there. Ultimately, the idea is about taking parts and concepts and realizing that they are, or can be, parts of a greater, yet unrealized, whole. In a sense, I want to be inventing elephants.
The posts in this blog will be tied together by my goal of improving the way I think, but they might range widely in topic. Many will be about thinking itself, often in the context of the business skills I am learning, but others will be efforts to develop and express my thoughts instead of letting them flow unexamined.
Beth, at first glance, I am taken by your way of thinking. It seems rather tough to take an approach of the sort, but when it is realized that others have a similar idea of what the future may hold in regard to business processes and the like, things can happen. You are very brave and courageous for taking the approach you have, and I commend you for taking the effort and divulging the thoughts of your mind. Keep up the tremendous work, and keep trucking on. You will do well with your attitude and way of thinking. Thanks for throwing your thoughts out there, and hopefully with the power of a multiple thinking approach, many great things will emerge which may recreate the world thinks….Retain…
Thank you. I am finding it difficult to wrap my head around all that I want to say, but that’s part of why I’m blogging, to work it out bit by bit. I hope to publish something clear and helpful before the end of the year.