It’s amazing how spending time thinking about all your options to solve problems is a worthwhile strategy. Too often we rush in and go with the first idea we have.
For example, Alan Bond taught me that if you don’t have 2 solutions to a problem, you don’t have a solution. Another approach I believe strongly is that the enemy of a great idea is a good idea… how often do you grab the first idea that comes along rather than pondering whether there is a better one?
This story is probably apocryphal but serves to illustrate my point that really smart thinking is worth cultivating because when you really think things through you get a great result. (I don’t know where I got the story from but may I acknowledge the original author?).
A wise old gentleman retired and purchased a modest home near a primary school. He spent the first few weeks of his retirement in peace and contentment. Then a new school year began. The very next afternoon three young boys, full of youthful, after-school enthusiasm, came down his street, beating merrily on every garbage can they encountered. The crashing percussion continued day after day, until finally the wise old man decided it was time to take some action.
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The next afternoon, he walked out to meet the young percussionists as they banged their way down the street. Stopping them, he said, “You kids are a lot of fun. I like to see you express your exuberance like that. In fact, I used to do the same thing when I was your age. Will you do me a favour? I’ll give you each a dollar if you’ll promise to come around every day and do your thing.” The kids were elated and continued to do a bang-up job on the garbage cans.
After a few days, the old-timer greeted the kids again, but this time he had a sad smile on his face. “This recession’s really putting a big dent in my income,” he told them. “From now on, I’ll only be able to pay you 50 cents to beat on the cans.”
The noisemakers were obviously displeased, but they did accept his offer and continued their afternoon ruckus. A few days later, the wily retiree approached them again as they drummed their way down the street.
“Look,” he said, “I haven’t received my pension cheque yet, so I’m not going to be able to give you more than 20 cents. Will that be okay?”
“A lousy twenty cents?” the drum leader exclaimed. “If you think we’re going to waste our time, beating these cans around for that, you’re nuts! No way, mister, we quit!” And the old man enjoyed peace and serenity for the rest of his days.
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