So many blog posts follow a template or a formula and they’re easy to spot. I’m not knocking the approach… It’s fine to do that. But does it sometimes feel like you’ve been there before?
Been there. Read that.
Tools are a good thing, right? We’re taught in school to always follow an outline. Then we might short-cut that to a list of bullet points. Here’s the thing… ideas don’t like to follow a linear path. They naturally resist following a roadmap. Even a good framework.
This post was born of several ideas that I thought I could mesh into a meaningful story. Many of them start that way. I’m not so sure I accomplished the meshing this time. Maybe some weaving in and out. (Big trouble if I were driving).
Fortunately, I started early this week… enough to let it simmer, but not early enough to begin again. Deadline rapidly approaching, I reluctantly clicked that “Publish” button.
I wouldn’t hold it against you if you made an abrupt about face right here and looked for one of those “fifteen meals in fifteen minutes” posts. But, aren’t you at least a tiny bit curious?
Here goes… fairly warned is well, fairly warned.
To begin with, can we agree that the world we live in is a confusing place? I proved that in the intro alone. I’ll even go a step further, it’s always been confusing. Today is nothing special in that regard.
Different issues. Different arguments. It’s just moving faster. And it’s easier for anyone and everyone to prattle on about anything and everything. With virtual amplification.
Have you ever read anything by Malcolm Gladwell? He’s a journalist and author of The Tipping Point: How Little Things Make a Big Difference, Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, and a number of others.
Malcom is what I would call a big ideas guy. He plays in the “not always obvious to the casual observer” arena. His works are in the areas of psychology, social psychology and sociology.
I love this quote from an interview with him in the September issue of Entrepreneur…
I contradict myself a lot… I’m constantly changing my mind.” That’s a brave statement. Most of us strive to never contradict ourselves. We’ll insist we didn’t, even when we did. But he owns it and he owns it honestly.
Full disclosure–I dropped about two full lines where those “…s” are. But, I promise you I didn’t change the context. Much.
No, really… not at all. I promise. You can trust me.
… he counsels creatives to think of themselves as ever-adaptable—open to opportunities wherever they come.” – from the article in Entrepreneur
But what does that mean, ever-adaptable? Maybe it’s so he, and we (if we follow his advice) can contradict ourselves… a lot.
After all, we’re getting a “‘UGE” amount of exposure to contradiction most every day. Aren’t we?
Does all this contradiction require us to be more adaptable?
Adaptability may be the new skill du jour for our times.
Remember what Darwin said?
It is not the strongest of the species that survives, not the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” – Charles Darwin
Well, I’m sorry to admit that a quick fact-check revealed that it wasn’t Darwin who said that all. It is a quote that’s commonly misattributed to him, however. Apparently, that quote is from a textbook written by Leon C. Megginson, Professor of Management and Marketing at Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge.
He was paraphrasing Darwin. So, the attribution isn’t a complete air ball.
However, assuming the statement is correct, we’re still good. “Close” count’s in horseshoes and with attributions. Right?
The thing is, at least in Malcolm’s case, the contradiction comes from new understanding. The mind-changing is out of learning.
Where am I going with this?
Well, my friends… “You can’t get there from here.”
(I always thought this was a Yogi Berra quote, but it’s not. Sounds like Yogi though, doesn’t it?)
Cartographer Andy Woodruff explains…
Apparently in Maine they have a saying, “you can’t get there from here” (spoken in a Maine accent), said when giving directions as an observation of the impossibility of traveling a direct route between certain places. It seems to have something to do with lakes and the organization of roads in the vast rural areas of the state. To some extent it also holds true in other parts of New England.” — Andy Woodruff
They just don’t know who said it first… so you and I can’t get there either. One is well advised to exercise due caution whilst traveling in New England.
I’m going out on a limb here, but I’m going to say “you can’t get there from here” also applies to a lot of contemporary thinking that’s being expressed in all corners of the circle. Huh?
Exactly. You can’t get there from here.
Yes, this world is a confusing place. I think I’m allowed to be as well. Fair enough?
But, would you prefer a more direct route?
Are you a local kind of guy or more of an express kind of gal? or do you just jump on the first train that comes into your station?
There are lots of trains in New England, so this sort of fits.
(By the way, each of those gender references are interchangeable. There’s no hidden metaphor, only equal opportunity to get there one way or another).
Do you prefer to get where you’re going as fast as you can or do like to enjoy the ride and take in the sights?
The local seems way too slow and what’s with all those stops on the way? There’s nothing there for me. Hmm, or is there? I would have missed that on the express.” – a random person on the inter webs
See… I told you! This world is a confusing place.
Sure, but why even try to make sense of everything? It’s simply not necessary… or possible. That’s where the stress enters the equation. Don’t let it in…
Everything is moving faster. Everyone is talking. Louder.
Contradiction becomes inevitable. Changing one’s mind is not.
That requires thinking… and adapting. Or standing your ground. It’s your choice. Contradict yourself bravely. Own your contradictions.
Embrace adaptability. Be open to opportunities, they may even sneak up on you… or pass you by.
Allow for serendipity. Learning. New understanding. Mind-changing.
Yes, it’s a confusing place. That’s not likely to change. Other things will. You can count on it.
If you’re on the express, you’re likely to miss some things. Is getting there faster more important? It may be sometimes.
Maybe you can get there from here.
Whatever you decide… Enjoy the ride!
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