If you only have a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail. Abraham Maslow 1908 – 1970 When we’re faced with a problem, the first thing we need to do is get totally clear about the issue we’re trying to solve. But at times, this task isn’t as straightforward as it sounds. Consider the interesting example of the mathematician Abraham Wald and the British Air Ministry. During World War II, the British Air Ministry engaged Mr. Wald to study the damage suffered by airplanes engaged in combat missions and use those results to recommend appropriate places for …
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Tag Archives: possibilities
Editor’s Note: While this lesson was originally published in December 2008, we feel it is still both relevant and appropriate today. People only see what they are prepared to see. Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803 – 1852 The recent presidential election in the United States was the most sharply divided on ideology that I can remember. It was relatively easy to find supporters and opponents who witnessed the same message from a candidate, yet came to totally different conclusions about the meaning and future impact of the message. Both saw only validation of the beliefs they had already formed. Now, this behavior …
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What we think or what we know or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence is what we do. John Ruskin 1819 – 1900 In my family, one of the joys of summer is a day trip to the Alabama Gulf Coast. One place we always stop is a busy fruit stand with a dessert cafe in the rear. I particularly enjoy their locally grown peaches, and I’ve come to treasure this large, sweet fruit. But when we stopped one year, I was disappointed when I looked over the fresh peaches; they were about …
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