George Patton & Olivia de Haviland -DOTM017

General George Patton

 

“If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking.”

 

The best decisions are made when people who disagree come to a 

consensus of what is best. Notice I didn’t say compromise. Compromise 

means that you don’t fully agree with the solution, but you are 

willing to give up some elements of your idea under pressure. 

Consensus means after the pressure cooker session is finished, ALL 

agree that THIS is the absolute BEST idea.

 

The interchange and challenge of ideas has been always been the best

caldron for THE IDEA, the ultimate best idea for the situation at 

hand.

 

Most people can’t work with others well enough, (checking their ego 

at the door) to admit that an element of thought from a coworker is 

better than yours and should be incorporated in the final plan.

 

Everyone you meet has many different experiences and knows things you 

don’t. This is also true of yourself in relation to them. The 

buzzword today is Diversity. I have heard that a lot, but all that 

was said was to embrace how different we all are. Sound good, but it 

sounds more like just tolerating others, than any real way to 

accomplish something.

 

Hey, why not take it to the next level. Being diverse is quite 

obvious. How about talking about how different gears mesh into one 

another and make the larger machine go? The actual STRENGTH is that 

the opposites can work together to make the best possible outcome 

when we are willing to listen with a common goal and work toward it.

 

Driven by media, our society is focused on competition and conquering 

the next person who looks you in the eye. Voting you off the island, 

kicking you to the curb, and all the other slang invented is about 

the domination of every person you meet.

 

The company or organization who does the best is the one who yes, has 

a leader, but has a leader who is willing to attract and promote 

teams of people who can work together in this fashion.

 

Adolf Hitler was a great example of a man who did the opposite. He 

surrounded himself only with those who worshiped and feared him. The 

vast majority were less intelligent than himself so he could dominate 

them and his ego could be satisfied. When push came to shove, and his 

decisions got more erratic, no one was in a position to advise or 

even discuss the future of the state, and everybody knows what 

horrible crimes against humanity were committed. He eventually ran 

the entire enterprise into the ground with tremendous loss of life on 

both sides. He was the ultimate micro manager.

 

Let’s work more for consensus. Everyone, even those you know disagree 

with you, have a valuable contribution to the ultimate goal. If you 

want to be tough, if you want to succeed, stand strong and be willing 

to look at competing ideas square in the face, and give them fair 

consideration. Don’t be a wimp!

 

Offical Site

http://www.generalpatton.com/

 

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/446863/George-Smith-Patton

 

 

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Olivia de Haviland

 

“Famous people feel that they must perpetually be on the crest of the 

wave, not realising that it is against all the rules of life. You 

can't be on top all the time; it isn't natural.”

 

How many surfers do you know that have a never-ending ride? Every 

wave has a beginning and an end. Most waves are caught close to shore 

and only last for a short time. Then, every dedicated surfer goes in 

search of the next one. After a few years however, even the best 

surfers have to realize they are no longer physically able to keep up 

with the sport, and are forced to move on, looking for “waves” in 

other areas of life.

 

The ride at the top of any profession is exhilarating, but you can’t 

stay there forever. Working your way up to that crest is a process 

that builds the character to stay on top longer, but the inevitable 

result is that there is nowhere to go but down after that. 

 

Where is your life in this cycle? Have you reached your full 

potential? Some peak during the work years, earning enormous amounts 

of money and building monuments to themselves to last through the 

ages. Others have a quiet life working and raising a family, or 

deciding to go through life in other arrangements, and then when they 

retire, a whole new life opens for that seasoned and experienced 

individual who then has major accomplishments in the later stages of 

life.

 

The preparation phase at the beginning is very important. Never pass 

up an opportunity to learn something new. As an example, I went to 

the doctor today to consult on the dislocated shoulder I managed to 

obtain last week. On the way out, I asked to see the xrays that were 

taken before and after it was reduced in the emergency room. He put 

the before and after shots side by side so I could get a feel for the 

difference. That was really cool. While I have no definitive idea 

when that knowledge may come in handy, whether in my writing or if I 

am present when someone else has the same misfortune, I have that 

knowledge now, and I can pull it out as needed.

 

At the crest, you will need all those things you learned at odd times 

to stay up there as long as you possibly can, for maximum benefit to 

yourself and others.

 

As you start down the other side, give some others a shove upward to 

help them realize their goals. Be a teacher. Make a difference in 

someone else’s life. Freely you have received, freely give. 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivia_de_Havilland

 

Olivia de Haviland on International Movie Database

 

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