Package & map & improvement

Found an old map of some thoughts about packages. It really jump-started my brain again. Making me think about different perspectives about packages and why they are useful. And why they are harmful.

Re-thinking some of the "good" and "bad" sides could lead to interesting improvements and innovations.

Making a "map" of a product or situation makes it easy to start improving. Start anywhere in the map and re-think. Play with the map and find ways to remove and reduce the red (harmful) and add and increase the green (useful).

Enjoy!

"Why models?"

I love the book "Orbiting the Giant Hairball" by Gordon MacKenzie. In fact, I asked the publisher for permission to publish a small section of the book. I was allowed to publish the section for a few months for a fee. But, I didn't. Seemed silly to pay to be able to quote Gordon for a limited time.

Anyway - here you can find one great text from the book: "Why models?"

Path Perspective

When you are at A and you look forward you will see multiple paths. One way leading to B and the other way to another destiny. The future contains multiple choices and opportunities.

But when you are at B and look back you do not see multiple paths. You only see one rather straight path that connects B with A. And maybe you do not even reflect on the selection of path that actually made it possible to get to B.

Look forward and you see lots of opportunities and choices. Lots of decisions to make. Lots of paths! Magic!

Look back and it just seems very natural and obvious that you are where you are. A straight line. And it almost seems inevitable that you ended up where you right now are.

Words matters

Language creates images and patterns and influences our thinking and behaviour.

Here are some simples transformations that could make your life more fun & interesting.

Replace "but" with "and"

Replace "or" with "and"

Replace "is" with "be" and "become"

Replace "no" with "yes"

Try it. If you don't give up immediately there is a great chance that your thinking and problem solving will change. You will most likely start to see new opportunities and get a new perspective on things.

Consider that strange device you have in the garage. Why worry what it IS. Why not think about what it can BECOME.

And how about being rich AND healthy. Why only one of them?

Second time

Today was second time I cut my hair myself. And this time the back of my head felt more familiar. Next time I expect it to be pure routine.

Amazing how fast we learn! Even I!

Sheep and lambs and patterns

Took a long walk. And halfway to nowhere I found a large herd of sheep. I sat down and watched...

First I thought it was all chaos. Sheep walking in circles, eating grass, lambs jumping and playing. No order at all. No structure. No patterns.

But after a while I could see patterns. Sheep joined, ate some grass. Lambs played and repeated the "games". Other lambs joined their mothers for a few minutes - and then returned to game.

Not all sheep mixed. There seemed to be three or four groups of adult sheep. But only one group of lambs.

Occasionally a mama-sheep would say "Bah" and her kids would run to her for some food.

I sat down for at least thirty minutes and studied the herd. What first looked like chaos was instead more like multiple organized dances. Not strictly linear order - but creatures moving around with respect for each other and all belonging to the herd. And I was almost (but only almost) able to predict how the individual were moving around.

Next time you see chaos. Sit down and see what patterns you can find. Be patient and give it some time!

Superheroes are bad

Well, Superheroes do solve problems for us. Which seems to be good. But:

• The superhero solves the problem using his superpowers. So, we need that superhero with superpower around. Every time! And what happens when superhero is on vacation?

• Since the superhero solves the problem we (=people) do not learn how to deal with problem using our own capacity and resources. We get dependent on the superhero. We get a meal - but we don't learn how to fish.

• The superhero is fast and efficient and thus not giving anyone else a chance. Having a superhero around will make it harder for others to become heroes.

So, while superheroes first might seem like a good idea they:

- Stops us from learning (to deal with problems)

- Makes us dependent (that hero is around)

- Blocking the path for others (to develop themselves)

Next time a superhero comes around - send him away. You will be better off in the long run without superheroes.

Oh, and another reason to send superhero away is that their presence often attract a lot of bad guys with superpowers too...

[For Swedish readers - Kolla den fantastiska "översättningen" av denna lilla text på http://ifrihet.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/regeringen-ar-dalig/ ]