Author: whatifconcepts

Empowering those that inspire so they can excel at the work that matters.

One More Interval?

If you have energy for one more interval (high intensity, shorter duration effort) during endurance training, should you do the interval, or is it more beneficial to finish the workout before reaching empty? Sports physiologists suggest that the body is like an iPhone battery. It performs best between 80-20% of charge. Draining the battery (body) too much causes the battery to lose functionality, and maintaining a constant 100% charge decreases total battery life. We can take steps to expand our functionality in that sweet spot, but ultimately, there is a threshold for return on investment.

How might we understand that the attributes of ‘grit,’ ‘fortitude,’ and ‘never say quit’ are noble but potentially misguided if not utilized in the right circumstances? Leaving one more interval (effort) in our capacity may be more impactful than finishing the workout (project) in total exhaustion. What is your ideal performance bandwidth if you selected a percentage of effective output (like a mobile phone battery)?

Chekhov’s Gun

Chekhov’s Gun is a narrative principle where an element introduced into a story first seems unimportant but will later take on great significance. The principle postulates that any seemingly unimportant element introduced into a story—an object, a character trait, a backstory, an allergy—should later have relevance. https://www.torontofilmschool.ca/blog/chekhovs-gun-definition-examples-and-tips/

What do you include in your organization’s plan that nods to future activity, and what is identified as a safety device? For example, an organization might title its expansion ‘Phase One’ to reference bigger plans in the future. Circus SR series of planes places a handle to activate a parachute to avoid catastrophic emergencies. Placing a ‘loaded gun’ on the stage can drive the narrative, or it might be a safety measure, with no intention of being deployed.

How might we monitor the intention of the devices highlighted in our plans? Without proper orientation, our team members might be waiting for us to activate the safety mechanism and be disappointed when we launch a future initiative.

Wave for Less Resources

A brick wall built in the shape of a wave (arch) can support itself with a single layer of bricks. A straight wall needs two or more layers of bricks to remain structurally sound. The wave technique was superior for employing fewer bricks to build a wall that connected the same points as a straight-line brick wall.

How might we deploy our resources to maximize our intended impact? A straight line is easy to visualize but may not be our best use of resources.

Rebuild vs New Build

When do you rebuild, and when do you build new? If you are Scenic Hudson, committed to making a transformative investment in Poughkeepsie, NY, you rehabilitate an old Standard Gauge factory into your new headquarters. Building new would have been less expensive, but this project is the most significant undertaking beyond the expansion of a prison complex next door. The location is uniquely positioned at the junction of old railway lines and on the eastern terminus of the Walkway over the Hudson. The site is under construction and led by local contractors and the Mass Design Group.

How might we invest in our mission even when it costs us more resources in the initial phase? How might the long-term impact of our work resonate for our enterprise and the community while preserving a part of the community’s history?

Taking Profits

When do you take a profit from an appreciated investment, and when do you hold your with a growth strategy. Reading some cryptocurrency forums, there is a robust debate between those who have sold their holdings and those who see a much more enriched future. Several people were underwater a year ago as their purchase price was higher than the crypto currencies’ current value. Many stated they would cash out immediately if they could return to par. Many who held their positions are on the profitable side of the ledger, their mindset revised to maximize returns.

How do we balance real-time evaluation with long-term objectives? When we encounter an open lane of travel and make remarkable progress, it is easy to forget that traffic jams and significant barriers can manifest almost spontaneously. The obstacles may significantly alter our estimated time of arrival. What is your strategy for taking profits and when do you hold in hopes of a long-term appreciation in value?

Do Not Tap the Glass

‘Tapping the glass’ is a poker term for commenting on another player’s play, especially when they feel the tactics are substandard. Players at the table who feel the comments are unnecessary will suggest the vocalizing player ‘not tap the glass.’ The analogy is that tapping the glass makes the fish in the tank aware of your presence and disrupts the environment.

How do you handle ‘glass tappers’ in your enterprise? What if the glass tapper is a donor or member who is commenting on your staff’s performance for excessive reasons? What if it is a peer organization vocalizing their thoughts about your organization’s perceived lack of impact? What are the conditions when tapping the glass is necessary and when it is disruptive to the culture of your cause?

Strategic Planning Declines (in gamers)

Quantic Foundry released a study that showed a decade-long drop in strategy as a key characteristic of gamers.

https://quanticfoundry.com/2024/05/21/strategy-decline/#post/0

“In this light, the decline in Strategy is likely not an idiosyncratic phenomenon among digital gamers, but parallels the general reduction in attention spans observed by researchers in different fields.“

How high of a priority is strategy and strategic thinking within your enterprise? Do you see more or less time and resources dedicated to this mindset? In what direction do you believe strategic thinking is headed? If you anticipate the demise of strategy, what attribute will fill the liminal space between action and dreams?

Smoking on Planes

At what point did aviators decide to adopt radar technology into planes to allow them to avoid terrain and fly in mixed conditions? When did airline companies decide to ban smoking in-flight on most commercial flights? Which happened quicker, the implementation of a new technology or the ceasing of a practice that was known to cause health issues for passengers?

How might we be equally committed to adopting new opportunities while removing those that harm our work?

Local Ordinance

What rules are specific to your team? How were these rules drafted, and what was their intention? Which ones offer clarity and amplify your team’s impact? Which are vestiges of a former era that have not been amended? How do you orient new members to these local ordinances? Are they consistent with your enterprise’s values?

Daily vs Random

Posting a daily blog is a ritual, but the content is not always of the highest quality. Some days, a personal photo drives the content; other days, the content is the foundational element. The frequency of posting is less certain if I only post when the ideas achieve a higher threshold. I toggle between two approaches, balancing the work that matters with what is observable now.

For some readers of the blog, the reliability of new content is important. Another segment desires ideas and resources that impact their specific work. Some visitors only find the blog through a keyword search. Occasionally, I generate traffic when I present at a conference and put materials on the resource page, allowing attendees to return to the most helpful documents. The metrics of engagement for the blog are inconsistent and rarely correlate to the post of the day. When I look at the totality of impact over the past ten years, there are larger numbers that feel rewarding. When I review the statistics on a slow day, it can feel lonely. But I continue to post because it provides me a bridge to reach out and hopefully set others up for success.