DAILY CHOICE: Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Observe vs. Ignore

REFLECTION:

The basis of most learning, most decisions, and most growth is observation. The brightest stars see beyond the obvious to the signals that precede the obvious. They observe with equal attention what works and what does not work. They are careful to remember failures for their special power to instruct. Mistakes after all are acceptable. Repetition is not. To observe is an active state, the ability to see beneath the surface calm and detect the turbulence below. The small observation neglected translates into matters of greater consequence. It’s the little things, the little things. The difference between good and great is attention to detail.

MUSES:

Certain signs precede certain events.
Cicero

Results! Why, man, I have gotten a lot of results. I know several thousand things that won’t work.
Thomas A. Edison

In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts; they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

There is nothing wrong with making mistakes. Just don’t respond with encores.
Anon.

You can observe a lot just by watching.
Yogi Berra

Don’t think there are no crocodiles because the water is calm.
Malayan proverb

A little neglect may breed great mischief… For want of a nail, the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe, the horse was lost; for want of a horse, the battle was lost; for want of the battle, the war was lost.
Benjamin Franklin