Here's something I recently produced in a fit of inspiration. I've edited
it a bit since, but it's still rough and incomplete. I thought it'd be
worth putting on the list for some reactions, though, before trying to
take it further myself.
(Rick I've pasted this in from an outliner; there are 3 levels. If they get
messed up, I can resend it to you, maybe in HTML to maintain the structure.)
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Principles for Action (A collection of my current thoughts on the basis
for effective action)
Time awareness:
Every action has its appropriate time frame. Trying to do
it faster, or dragging it out too long, will increase the cost and
diminish the effectiveness. If could even lead to outcomes directly
opposite to the intended ones.
Similarly, every action takes place in some situation.
In each situation, some times are better for beginning the action than
others; be watchful and sensitive to this.
Programs (groups of interdependent actions) may require
working in multiple time frames
Large goals will usually take a commitment to long-term
action. You may be called to commit yourself to a life-long program, of
which you may well not live to see the end. Truly ambitious goals will
require no less commitment.
Start from where you are
Effective action must be based on a realistic
comprehension of the resources at hand, and the obstacles facing you. In
particular, be aware of your own biases and limitations, and those of your
colleagues; don't assume that you can execute to a grand plan that
requires personal perfection. Your first action may have to be a program
of learning and personal/group improvement.
Consider more than just the intended results of an action
Every action has a variety of outcomes. One way to look
at it: there are benefits (expected and unexpected) and costs (expected
and unexpected). At least, put in a reasonable amount of effort to
increase what is "expected", and to weigh the expected benefits and costs
in considering whether to undertake the action.
"It ain't over until it's over"
As the recent episode in Iraq shows, you're not really
done with an action or program until you've paid all the costs; trying to
slough off the costs is likely to make things worse than if you hadn't
acted in the first place.
The role of failure in actoin
"If you don't fail in at least 10% of the things you try,
you aren't trying enough things" -- Jack Cohen, coauthor of "The Collapse
of Chaos"
A failure in a given action is only a failure in the
larger context if you don't learn from it. (Or, if you haven't considered
the possibility of failure.)
Second loop learning
Always be reviewing outcomes of actions; look for
opportunites to learn, even from success.
Expect despair and discouragement (The chapter "Despair Work" in
Joanna Macy's "World as Lover, World as Self" addresses this in the
context of environmental activism)
Don't do it alone unless you have to
You may be pleasantly surprised if you look for folks who
are already doing it, or who are looking for folks who are...
But don't get stuck in the search; "ever be doing"
[Host's Note: I _think_ this might work in plain email. I added some white
space. ..Rick]
--Don Dwiggins d.l.dwiggins@computer.org "We trained very hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams, we would be reorganised. I was to learn later in life that we tended to react to any new situation by reorganising, and a wonder- ful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress, while producing confusion, inefficiency and demoralisation". -- From Petronii Arbitri Satyricon, AD 66, attributed to Gaius Petronus, a Roman General who later committed suicide
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