Saying of the week

Alice at Equisport · #1 24th March 2008, 13:37

Well, here is the one I think might be helpful for this week.

Apparently General Patton once said:

'I would rather have a good plan today than wait for a perfect plan two weeks from now'

But I guess it depends what type of business you are in!

Cheers,
Alice

**temi** · #2 29th March 2008, 19:16

I suppose its another way of saying 'a bird in hand, is worth ten on the tree'. Since you have 'good plan today' today, you can start working rather than waiting for 2 weeks to have a perfect plan, which may not even be perfect.

Alice at Equisport · #3 30th March 2008, 21:06

Thanks Temi, that's really good.

Where I come from they say 'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush' - clearly they have a slightly different view of the value of the forward plan! (Two versus ten...)

I know you are an expert in technology, I think you might like this next saying:

'It is only when they go wrong that machines remind you how powerful they are'

(apparently said by Clive James).

But, given that machines are invented and programmed by us, does it perhaps show just how powerless we are?

Cheers!

Alice

**Simon Donnelly** · #4 31st March 2008, 14:36

Hi Alice,

Patton also said, "Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity."

It's the people that fix the machines too, suggesting how much more powerful they are than the machines. 8-)

Alice at Equisport · #5 2nd April 2008, 18:24

I really like that one Simon, and I think it is so true.

Although it can go a bit wrong sometimes. I remember a member of staff once telling me 'and don't ask me what I would do about it!' in very aggrieved tones once, while I was trying to develop him.

But perhaps that was taking it a bit far (asking him what he would do rather than telling him what to do and letting him work out how)

What do you think?

Cheers,
Alice

**Simon Donnelly** · #6 6th April 2008, 15:41

"Some people are born to lead and others are born to follow." I can't remember who said it but it's so true. I had the pleasure of working for a huge corporate body which employed the whole gamut of working types. There were always people around in each department it seemed who just wanted to be told what to do and be very happy. There were also those who wanted to be told what to do and then complain about never being asked their opinion, but if youasked, they'd respond with something like, "That's a manager's job! I don't get paid enough for making decisions..." Then, of course, there are those who loved to be asked - real go-getters.

One thing's for sure - you were guaranteed never having a dull moment interacting with other people. 8-)