Think Fast, Act Faster
It is an unfortunate reality, that there are lots of things in the military world which are not applicable to the civil world. That being said, there are a few universal things. In last week's post, I spoke about how to dress for the cold and this week I will discuss how the military has refined my problem-solving mindset.
There is a great saying we have been told from the very first weeks in the army: "A good solution at the right time is better than a perfect solution too late." After a little research, it might be a rephrasing of George Patton's quote:
“A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week”. George Patton
I have very much realised the importance of this concept, especially when in action. It is indeed easier to steer a moving ship. I have already made the mistake of staying static and freezing when faced with a problem. It is the absolute worst reaction since it does not move us closer to or further from the solution. I have another quote to illustrate.
"The world will ask you who you are, and if you don't know, the world will tell you." Carl Jung
The way we are taught here is exposure therapy. We make a thorough plan of action. We spend hours thinking through all the whys and hows. Then our superiors will throw a curveball by making our plan unusable and we have to react to it as appropriately as possible. There is no wrong answer, if there is reasoning behind it then it is an appropriate answer. Actually, there is one wrong answer – no answer at all.
I just realised this weekend how much it has genuinely affected my problem-solving. Firstly, in my planning, I already try to think through as many alternative scenarios and my reactions to them. As soon as a problem arises my brain starts to search for alternatives. In a way, it sounds like we are just taught to overthink. Yet I would argue that overthinking is simply coming up with the challenging scenarios without per se coming up with a solution for each one.
So next time when faced with a problem, take a breather and think how you can act. Do not overcomplicate it. After a little reflection simply act. It is a fool-proof way to check how good and/or bad the solution is and gives an idea of what to do next.
This Week's Suggestions:
Some French rap with a cosy old-school beat to it. I have been listening to it for a solid week and I am not even close to getting tired of it. Have a listen!
Thank you for your time!
Comments ()