Monday, June 24, 2013

Constraints: Shackles vs. Jumper Cables

Constraints: Shackles vs. Jumper Cables

Constraints aren't there to hold you back, they are there to get you started...

Usually everyone gets at least one: the deadline.  Everyone understands it too..  

If I don't get this done by Tuesday, my ass is grass.  The closer it gets, the more my options narrow.   My  floundering about what tools to use, what palettes, what possibilities, what standards, frantically crescendos till I can take it no more and I've gotta start.  All my creative energy dissipates and with what little I have left I finish the job.  But what if...

What if i didn't have to decide on how much to spend,  which camera,  which colors, which medium?   What if I knew all that stuff in advance and then got the deadline?  Hmmmm.   I'd have a lot of energy left wouldn't I?  I'd probably get started earlier, and the result would be better.

Give your people and yourself limits, just few, and see what happens.

#21.12

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Get Out Of The Weeds And Stay Out

If you ask your people for high-level bullet points, don't nit pick the details.  When you give them a high level "commander's intent", don't worry that they'll do something wrong... know that they will, and that it is ok.  Give them the chance to make mistakes.  They'll grow from them and so will you.

Much like pimpin', it ain't easy but it is necessary...

#21.12

Friday, June 21, 2013