Have you noticed technology is a double-edged sword?

Technology makes our lives easier by automating tasks, which reduces our manual processes and workload. Yet, technology is presenting a whole new set of workplace complications.

To function properly, computer technology [including off-the-shelf software] demands very specific actions. Put another way, technology is rather unforgiving. We learned this in the early days of card punching…one small typo ruined the software program. We called that problem something like garbage in, garbage out. Garbage out today appears in the form of error messages or (worse) unannounced problems, for example, problems hidden in the logic of Excel file cells.

Unannounced Garbage Out - have you seen that at your workplace? Do you see your off-the-shelf software spitting out little and big errors that surprise you because they strike you as violations of common sense? When you see this sort of garbage out do you think to yourself, "How could our people make errors like that?”

As the sophistication of off-the-shelf software continues to expand [exponentially], have you noticed your people making far more errors while doing relatively-simple tasks?

…like an error epidemic has attacked the basic processes at your workplace.

Have these computer garbage out errors become the norm at your workplace?

Do your people seem resigned, accepting garbage out as if it is a necessary evil of the workday?

Have you noticed that?

Have you noticed your production sputtering and grinding to an unproductive, unprofitable, painful crawl?

Have your clients noticed your production is flawed and pitted with errors?

Have you noticed your people getting carried away with and by technology?

If so – what steps are you taking to fix that problem?

Many people talk about doing the right thing.

Many people talk about doing the right thing at the right time…that’s even better.

There seems to be a consensus: when we do the right things at the right times we gain advantage…we grow…we meet goals…we succeed.

So – we understand WHY there is value in doing the right things at the right times.

And – much time and effort has been spent exchanging ideas about WHAT are those right things, WHO should do those right things, and WHEN are those right times.

However – one major piece is missing…the HOW.

For example – has anyone ever presented to you the opinion, “Before you can do the right thing at the right time you must think the right thing.”

And, in reaction to that statement you may have thought, “That’s a bit of a confusing thing to say.” And, you may have asked, “Can you explain that comment?”

And following more discussion you understood…

Most of the time we think without thinking about thinking. Our minds are bombarded by unplanned, haphazard thoughts. And, haphazard thoughts frequently are the causes behind our actions.

Considering the extent of unplanned thoughts, it is no wonder we often fail to do the right things at the right times.

That is the first part of the problem.

The second part of the problem: When we have not done the right things we think about how to justify our flawed actions. We know, at least subconsciously, we are ‘making excuses’ for our haphazard thoughts/actions. And, we know we are ‘making excuses’ for not doing the right things at the right times. And – everyone around us knows this too.

When personal growth [of any form] is desired, it is important to embrace the power contained in, “Before you can do the right thing at the right time you must think the right thing.”

When change is personal growth [of any form] is desired, it is important to embrace the power contained in, “Before you can do the right thing at the right time you must think the right thing.”

Willpower: that's when the brain, through conscious thought, forces/guides the body to behave in ways that lead toward [are consistent with] long-term goals.

Willpower requires two things:

1. will & 
2. power 

Science tells us power is the rate of doing work. And, we all know work takes effort, consumes energy, is hard to do relative to other things.

The human brain cannot perform negative thoughts and exercise willpower at the same time. Since willpower is tough to do and negative thinking is easy to do the brain favours negative thinking. So - the slightest amount of negative thought energy has the ability to totally displace willpower. This is how your negative thoughts kill your willpower.

They key to exercising willpower is learning how to nip negative thoughts in the bud.

In order to nip negative thoughts in the bud, you need a plan & a process. I suppose there are many ways to go about nipping negative thoughts in the bud. However, I have only found one that works for me. I find two things must be done before I can nip negative thoughts in the bud:

1. Stillness: I must stop moving and remain as still as possible for, at least, a short period of time.
2. Silence: I must be silent and, to the extent possible, be in a quiet environment.