Progress Trumps Problems and Perfection

The goal is not to be perfect by the end. The goal is to be better today.                                – Simon Sinek

In a provocative presentation, Bill Bellows explains how and why we should focus on progress or improvement instead of perfection or even problems.  The issue with focusing on problems is that they end or are fixed.  It is like putting out a fire.  Once the fire is out, we are not better but back to how things were.  Improvement on the other hand can create progress, fixing problems cannot.

Perfection can be problematic because it is never attained. Perfection is something to strive toward, however what perfection is changes as it becomes closer. As you near goals, adjustments are often necessary.  These adaptations cannot be compromises, where we give up something, but  improvements. As Stephen Covey explained in the 3rd Alternative, not my way or your way, but a better way (see Honoring Justice Scalia – Dare to Disagree) We adapt because we gain a clearer picture of what will help us achieve a desired aim.

Progress can lead to perfection, however the concept of perfection continually evolves. This means we should engage in constant and never ending improvement.  To maintain inspiration and motivation, it is therefore vital we note progress and feel good for any and all gains.  Not only does progress document movement toward a desired state, it puts us in a positive state and is what I refer to as wellness, see Experiencing Wellness = Progress Toward Desired.

I look forward to hearing about the progress you make in generating comprehensive improvements by creating pervasive, reciprocal, selfish, selfless, synergistic interactions so everyone and everything benefits.

Help make it a Great Week for everyone and everything!

—

Be Well’r,
Craig Becker

Be selfish, selfless, & synergistic so everyone and everything benefits!

Contact me at:
Email: BeWellr@gmail.com

 

Cause Good: Complex Often Has a Simple Explanation

Sometimes things are made to appear complex when there is a simple  explanation. The appearance of complexity could be to justify the need for a professional or because it has not been studied enough.  More study often helps us understand.  As Einstein suggested:

Everything should be as simple as possible, but not simpler. – Albert Einstein

As I explain, we should keep things simple with health and focus on how to cause good health (see Create More Good, Not Just Less Bad).  Why focus on anything else?  If we create better health, prevention happens and when something does happen that is distressing, which it will, often also out of our control, we can recover faster if needed.  Focusing on disease and its many possible causes (See How Tolstoy’s Insight Relates to Health), even if discovered, does not cause health, at most it could bring us back to where we were, not improved health.  As Dr. W. Edwards Deming discussed,

 Putting out fires is not improvement of the process. Neither is discovery and removal of a special cause detected by a point out of control. This only puts the process back to where it should have been in the first place. – Dr. Deming indicated this was an insight of Dr. Joseph M. Juran

I was reminded of the idea of simplicity when I heard the 2 brain twisters below.  Can you untwist these?

1. A group of people go to the apple orchard and each pick 5 apples. In the group there were 2 fathers and 2 sons.  The group brought back 15 apples.  How can this be? (answer at bottom of post)
2. This one is spiritual.  Can you tell me what comes at the beginning of eternity and at end of time? (answer at bottom of post)

Examples  of Simple Research Explanations
In research, simple explanations enlighten unexpected outcomes.  Below Dr. Michael Greger explains 2 of these paradox’s. One is, “What Explains the French Paradox“. In this paradox it was thought wine people drink in France protected their poor food choices, does it? (see video below).

In another example, surprising work seem to suggest butter may not be bad, despite all the previous research indicating it was.  Dr. Michael Greger explains this supposedly complex question with a simple explanation in his video, “The Saturated Fat Studies: Set Up to Fail“.

Information in this post illustrates how marketers use doubt to unknowingly persuade people.  You can learn more about how marketers use doubt from “Merchants of Doubt” and at this post: Do Not Let Deniers Doubt Dissuade.

To me this suggests we should think of simple ways to take action that will generate comprehensive improvements by creating pervasive, reciprocal, selfish, selfless, synergistic interactions so everyone and everything benefits.   For instance, right now if you thank someone for something they did, that interaction benefits them, you, and those benefits can ripple through society to cause even more good.

Keep it simple, focus more on how to cause good than how to prevent or avoid bad.  By focusing on and taking action on how to cause good, you are likely to generate a positive ripple of beneficial interactions.  These actions can help you make it a Great Week for everyone and everything!

—

Be Well’r,
Craig Becker

Be selfish, selfless, & synergistic so everyone and everything benefits!

Contact me at:
Email: BeWellr@gmail.com

Brain Teaser 1: Grandfather, Father, and Son

Brain Teaser 2: Letter E