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Thought Tweet #479

by Rick Baker
On May 17, 2012

Thought Tweet #479 Planning is not a cookie-cutter process; planning must blend strategic thinking with strategic intuition.

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

In his 2007 book 'Strategic Intuition', William Duggan says his pilot course on strategic intuition begins with asking people to select the one statement, A or B, which best reflects how you think:

A: You achieve anything you want if you believe in yourself, set clear goals, and work hard.

B: You can achieve many things if you prepare for opportunity, see it, and act on it.

Tags:

Business Plan: Writing Plans | Entrepreneur Thinking | Thought Tweets

Power of Will - Fact or Fiction?

by Rick Baker
On May 17, 2012

Do human beings possess power of will?

Are we destined to a fate? or

Are we masters of our own destiny?

Destined Fate:

Very intelligent people have said things like:

  • All things are subject to decay and when fate summons, monarchs must obey.” [John Dryden]
  • But blind to former as to future fate, what mortal knows his pre-existent state?” [Alexander Pope], and 
  • Fate determines many things, no matter how we struggle.” [Otto Weininger]

Some people accept ‘their fate’ without really thinking much about it. Others think deeply on the matter and say it as their well-thought-out conclusions. Many people believe, at least to some degree, believe they have little influence over their future.

Self-Determination:

Very intelligent people have said things like:

  • Our life is what our thoughts make it.” [Marcus Aurelius], 
  • Whatever you create in your life you must first create in your imagination.” [Tycho Photiou], and 
  • Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice.” [William Jennings Bryan].  

Some people believe what you can conceive and believe you can achieve1. Under the 'Law of Attraction', achievement in life is yours to be had...it is a matter of your power of will. This sort of thinking is a key facet of major religions. It is also the backbone of most leaders’ philosophies and approach to life.

What applies to life must apply to business, a subset of life.

And, in business we spend a lot of time trying to be the cause of future effects. We plan, set goals, set priorities, take predetermined actions, measure results, etc.

So...which is it...A or B?

A: Our destinies are pre-determined by Fate?

B: We possess power of will and we can use it to determine our destinies?

or is it...

C: Both A and B are correct [in which case wouldn't it be nice to understand which one applies when, where, how, etc]


Footnote:

  1. Napoleon Hill, 'Think and Grow Rich', (1937)

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Beyond Business

Copyright © 2012. W.F.C (Rick) Baker. All Rights Reserved.