by Marty Coleman | Apr 20, 2016 | Benjamin Franklin, Business - 2016 |
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Innovation
I just finished reading a book called ‘The Innovators’ by Walter Isaacson. I highly recommend it. It’s the history of the computer and digital revolution. It’s an amazing story of people trying something that people before them said couldn’t be done. It’s the story of people fiddling around in their garages and workbenches; experimenting, failing, experimenting again and again, sometimes not even really knowing specifically what it is they are reaching for. They knew it had never existed before and that is exciting. It’s the story of collaboration, trusting others on a team to be both rigorous in their work and open minded in their willingness to attempt things that have never been attempted. It’s the story of people respecting and understanding ideas and inventions already in existence but not being limited by those same ideas and inventions.
This Is How It’s Done
One of the hardest things for a person who has been at the same company a long time to do is let the new people make their own discoveries about what works and doesn’t work in the business. This is also true of parents with kids and of coaches with athletes. In these cases we think we can see the best way to do something, whether it’s how to close a sale, cook a roast or do an exercise. We know because we have done it so many times, right? It’s good to have training in place so new workers can know how something is done properly. It’s good to have your child in the kitchen with you so you can show them how to prepare the roast properly. It’s good to show the athlete how to lift the weights properly.
This Is the New Way It’s Done
But there comes a time when they have ideas of their own. Maybe they see a flaw in your method. Maybe they have figured out a shortcut. Maybe something about the process just doesn’t make sense to them. Or maybe they are bored and just want to try something new. What do you do then? You let them try the new ideas. Of course, we aren’t talking about allowing something dangerous. But something new and untried? Why not?
It’s what makes the world progress.
Drawing and commentary © 2016 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
Quote by Benjamin Franklin
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by Marty Coleman | May 14, 2012 | Benjamin Franklin, How To Persuade - 2012 |
I hope I don’t have to persuade you to read my ‘Persuasion Series’ this week at the NDD.
I am not a licensed counselor but I have counseled my family, friends, students, and strangers about all sorts of things for many years. There is one recurring concept I try to persuade them to grab on to when they want something to happen and they have to persuade someone else in order for that to happen. I say this: “Explain to them why it is in THEIR best interest to help you.”
Have you ever watched those reality TV shows where the participant is asked at some point, “Why do you think you deserve to remain in the competition?” The participants will unfailingly say something like, “I really want this.” or “I really need this.” What I don’t hear nearly enough is “Because I know I can help you better than any of the other participants and I want to do that.”
The host and producers of that reality TV don’t care if you need it or want it. They care if you are who THEY need and want. You actually have to convince them of that, not anything else. You have to help them see why it is in their best interest to keep you, not in your best interest.
It’s exactly the same in business, in relationships and in a million other areas. If your reasons don’t meet up with their interests, your reasons really don’t matter.
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Drawing by Marty Coleman, who has talked his way in and talked his way out.
Quote by Benjamin Franklin, who did the same.
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by Marty Coleman | Jan 30, 2012 | Benjamin Franklin, David H. Comins, Quote Authors, Quotes on Quotes - 2012 |
It’s day 1 of Quotes on Quotes week. Do you have any great quotes about quotes? Let me know about them!
Have you ever known something was completely, absolutely true but no one would believe you because you are just a schmuck friend or family member? Then a month or two goes by and that same person who didn’t believe you comes back and says, “Hey, did you know that XXX is true? I read it in the Times this weekend. Isn’t that amazing?” You, of course, want to kick them in the head and say, “I ALREADY TOLD YOU THAT AND YOU DIDN”T BELIEVE ME, YOU KNUCKLEHEAD!”
That is where being an authority comes in handy. I think the best way to be an authority is to give credit for everything you know to Ben or George or maybe Einstein or Edison, even if it’s your idea. A little less ego but more recognition isn’t all that bad a way to go.
Drawing by Pable Picasso
Commentary by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Quote by Aristotle
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by Marty Coleman | Jul 29, 2011 | Benjamin Franklin |
It’s a PLUS that today is day #5 of Bad Habits Week at the NDD!
Which is the larger amount in your case, the good or the bad?
Quote by Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790, American Inventor, Printer, Satirist, Businessman, Scientist, Publisher, Writer, Revolutionary, Politician, Statesman and community organizer.
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by Marty Coleman | Jul 6, 2011 | Benjamin Franklin |
This only being #2, I am not finished with Change Week!
I read a blog post today from a man who is dead. It was written before he died and posted by his family when he passed. He talked about something that you don’t often hear discussed. He said he was making the great transition from human organism to corpse.
My thinking about what it means to be at an end of something changed a bit after reading that. Even when we are finished, what we really are is finished being conscious of ourselves as we once were. We still continue to change into something else. Maybe it’s spiritual, maybe it’s not. But we change no matter what our beliefs are.
But in the context of being alive and conscious I think the quote is true. Even if every part of you has been chopped down, you still need to work to grow again. You might not be the mighty oak anymore. You might not be the mother of young children who are dependent on you. Maybe they have grown and moved away. Then what? Are you going to just sit down and die?
No, you are going to eventually realize and accept a change has taken place and adapt to it. Keep growing, keep moving forward. It’s not only good for you, but it’s good for those watching you, especially your children!
Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily
Quote by Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790, American Printer, Inventor, Scientist, Signer of the American Declaration of Independence.
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by Marty Coleman | Jun 25, 2010 | Benjamin Franklin |
I was midway through drawing this napkin this morning when I realized I have a problem. No, not my ‘have to run to the bathroom problem’, another problem. This one revolves around this quote. Within a well-balanced person this quote can take hold and be of value. You try to find the best in others, but because you want to be improving as you move forward in life, you know it’s a good idea to be aware of and figure out how to cope with, your vices. You already know your virtues, you don’t really need to go searching for them.
But I don’t live in a world of well-balanced people. I live in a world of terribly imbalanced people. How so you ask? Because so many of the people I know are already obsessed with their vices and ‘flaws’. That is all they see in themselves. They see the speck of dust in the corner of the room, not the entire beautiful home they live in. They see the pinch of fat on their tush, not the great shape they are in. They are obsessed with guilt about what they did or didn’t do, how they don’t match up, why they haven’t accomplished what they want, how they let someone down, how they look.
They don’t see their value, their contribution, their beauty (inner and outer), their humor, their impact, their wisdom, their sexiness, their progress. The reflection in their mirror is not the flower they are.
Can I, or you, do anything about this? I sometimes think I can, and other times I think whatever I do will be minimal at best. But we really only have 3 choices, right? 1) we can ignore it, just let it be. 2) we can agree with them, backing up their skewed version of reality. 3) We can do our best to help them see what they can’t see themselves, yet.
I choose #3. I will always choose #3. If I am successful in helping them, cool. If I am not, I know I have tried and perhaps my effort might still help out further down the road, the way lessons to a child often are understood many years later in life.
Drawing and commentary © Marty Coleman
“Search others for their virtues, thy self for thy vices.” – Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790, American printer, publisher, writer, politician, scientist, inventor, statesman, soldier, and diplomat.
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