The DAILY SPARK Blog

99 vs 0

Mud pie at Chart House

If you get a 99% quality haircut or a 99% close-to-perfect meal, it’s better than good.  On the other hand, if the scrub nurse only does a 99% job of disinfecting the tools in the operating room, you’re still going to die of an infection.  Some projects respond very well to ordinary effort and 99% perfect.  In fact, the last 1% isn’t worth the time, the effort or the focus.  Others fail if they’re not fully and completely to spec.  Knowing the difference between the two saves everyone a lot of stress and avoids needless cost and avoidable disasters.  We come out ahead when we put our energy into the projects that reward our effort and choose to meet spec with the others.

FROM:  Seth Godin’s Daily Blog

REFLECTION:

  • Are you able to discern which projects need the last 1%?
  • Are there projects that would be good enough with 99%?
  • Look at your list of projects which require the extra effort and focus and which ones could just meet spec.
  • Implement accordingly.

SEE RIGHTLY

Here is my secret.  It is very simple:  it is only with the heart that one can see rightly.  What is essential is invisible to the eye.

Quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.  He was a French writer including author of The Little Prince.

REFLECTION:

  • Do  you believe you have to show someone love with things?
  • It is only with the heart that one can see rightly… Do you see with your heart?  Do you see the heart of another?
  • If what is essential is invisible through what lens are you seeing self and others?

CAST A STONE

Stone skipping pond in Bearsville, NY

I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.

Quote by Mother Teresa

REFLECTION:

  • Have you cast a stone that has created ripples?
  • What was your stone (mentored someone, organized an event, listened to a friend in need, held the hand of someone who was afraid…)?
  • Is there another stone you can cast that can create a ripple?