Comments on: Keeping Perspective When You’ve Bitten Off More Than You Can Chew

By: Jenny and Erin — a tongue-in-cheek quest for understanding…

Jenny and Erin — a tongue-in-cheek quest for understanding… — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:26:19 +0000

[…] Posts: How to Live a Miserable, Failure Ridden Life Keeping Perspective When You’ve Bitten Off More Than You Can Chew Share this article with others: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can […]

By: Illusions or Reality?

Illusions or Reality? — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 12:42:37 +0000

[…] Posts: Keeping Perspective When You’ve Bitten Off More Than You Can Chew Understanding Religion and Spirituality Picking Sides: Science or Spirituality What is a Myth? […]

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:16:34 +0000

Mark - I know what you mean about planning for others. It can drive me nuts when I have to write a plan to the smallest detail because otherwise the people working with me get lost. Any time I am choosing who to hire, their ability to work independently (ie I point them in the direction I want them to go, give them targets, and let them do their thing) is one of the highest priorities.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 02:40:01 +0000

PS. And this is problematic because I’m often planning for many others in addition to myself and that makes their lives unnecessarily frustrating. I do try really hard to get input when setting up timelines and such, just can be a bit of a bulldozer when I’m excited about something.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 02:30:44 +0000

Erin, Jason & Mark,
Yeah, I re-read what I said regarding worst case planning and you all are right. I guess I was really writing to myself there as my worst case planning (even when I’m trying to plan for worst case) is others best case.

Thanks for sending me back for another look.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:52:53 +0000

I agree with Erin and Jason. Worst case scenario planning is highly demotivational. Being aware of the worst case is important, and having contingencies in place to deal with them is advised, but planning with it in mind, if it’s not the most likely scenario, is not all that effective.

My general planning is like Jason’s, fairly open. But when I was leading a team of software developers at my last job I had to be far more structured. I hated it but it did teach me a bit, which I have used at other times when it was necessary to plan things involving other people (my last overseas holiday with friends, for example).

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:55:39 +0000

I have to agree with Erin on this one… basing all of your planning around the worst case scenario leads to achieving less than you can, because you’re always concentrated on the worst possible case, instead of always looking for the best opportunities.

Then again, my planning is generally just open infrastructure… I don’t generally go into details, because I like to be open to choose a new and better path to where I’m going.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 23:36:14 +0000

Jason,
I absolutely agree with your thoughts regarding the importance of flexibility.

I don’t tend to get invested in things unless I really care or think they’ll be tranformative in some manner so I haven’t really experienced losing interest in a goal that I can think of offhand. Even when I’ve found them uncomfortable or think they suck I’m intrigued by how they are changing me so remain invested for that reason. That said I have quit goals despite my ongoing interest but it’s pretty rare, more often I have to adjust the parameters (particularly timelines!).

Yes, Erin. I think we’re going to have to agree to disagree on planning.

By: Erin

Erin — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 12:54:42 +0000

Great point Jason. The difficult part of reviewing goals is making sure you are evaluating them when you are calm and can think clearly, rather than in a state of panic. But yes, determining if they are worth continuing to go after is key.

Jenny, I don’t agree that planning should be based on worse case scenarios. Then everything turns into doom and gloom. What if you are just aware that the worse case scenarios can happen and being prepared and flexible if they do, but not basing all of your planning around them?

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:20:39 +0000

I think the flexibility part you mentioned in your last item is actually one of the most important. If you can’t adapt your plans to circumstances, you’ll have a hard time reaching your goals, as circumstances always change.

Also, don’t forget that hitting that limit can be a chance to pause, gather your focus, and review to see if you still really want that goal, or whether you’re just heading toward it out of inertia. Many people keep goals that they don’t even want any more because they don’t take the time to review them, or because they don’t want to be “quitters”. That’s silly… it’s much more practical to review your goals regularly and see if, after all the changes you’ve made, those are still the goals you want to head toward. If they are, go for it. If not, choose new goals, and turn your path toward them instead. Just because you set a goal at some point doesn’t mean that you have to struggle on toward it after it has lost relevance.