Posts Tagged Socrates

The wise man knows he doesn’t know.  The fool doesn’t know he doesn’t know. - Lao Tzu

One of the TV shows that I like to watch is Jeopardy! Sure, I like to show off how smart I am for my wife, which counteracts my failure to remember to take out the garbage. But I also use it as a barometer of how much I don’t know.  And that’s today lesson, grasshopper.

The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.
-William Shakespeare

I think it’s in our nature to want to learn new things.  The problem is, many corporations develop procedures that force everyone to do things the same exact way.  While this does create a consistency, it can also stifle any positive development.  I’ve talked about this in the past in this post:

Throw Out the Cookbook

The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing. -Socrates

Procedures serve their purpose.  You need some consistency in the day-to-day operations of your company.  But procedures should be written that allow a little “wiggle room”, in order to let you deviate a bit.  Otherwise, they should be changed when necessary.  The business world is constantly evolving, and companies must be flexible enough to be able to change on the fly.

Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomfort. - Arnold Bennett

Procedures keep us in our comfort zones.  They are the Golden Handcuffs, the leash that keeps us in line.  They’re the excuse of last resort.  If your strategy doesn’t work, you can always blame it on the procedure that you followed.  But why blindly follow a procedure that’s forcing your company to weaken itself?  Take a hard look at your procedures, and change the ones that do more harm than good.  Break out of that cage right now!

• Keep it Simple, Stupid Photo by ThrasherDave Simplicity is an acquired taste. Mankind, left free, instinctively complicates life. - Katharine Fullerton Gerould One of my coworkers was seeking authorization to spend funds in advance of the receipt of a contract.  In other words, he wanted the company to foot the bill for some......
• The Conspiracy Guy Photo by Marko MiloÅ¡eviÄ� One of my coworkers is a little paranoid.  Well, maybe more than a little.  He's always looking for hidden meanings in the most pedestrian announcements that are issued by our company.  To him, black is white, up is down, right is left, etc.  He thinks......
• Self-Reliance Series #5A: Prepping Your Home for an Emergency: Shelter, Water, and Fire Photo by howieluvzus This is Part 5A of my self-reliance series.  I hope that you've enjoyed the first 4 parts.  If you haven't read them, you can do so by clicking on the following links: Self-Reliance Series #1: A Personal Survival Kit (PSK) Self-Reliance Series #2: An Office Survival......

• Trolling & Advanced Trolling for Saltwater Fish User Reviews Send this to a friend Trolling & Advanced Trolling for Saltwater Fish Manufacturer: Bennett Marine Video Customer Rating: List Price: $40.95 Sale Price: $24.95 Availibility: Usually ships in 1 to 2 months Free Shipping Available Buy Now Product Description An excellent program for those desiring to learn......
• Life ain't always beautiful Gary Allan This is a beautiful song, with beautiful lyrics. I hope it touches you as it touches me. It fit in with the larger discussion of happiness. Karin Life ain't always beautiful Sometimes it's just plain hard Life can knock you down, it can break your heart Life ain't always beautiful......
• Is it a Sales Letter or a Corporate Blog Post? One of the most common mistakes that corporate blog owners make is turning their blog into a glorified sales letter. While there is a place for sales copy on a blog, it should only be used when absolutely necessary, and never as the main form of communication. No one really......