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What do we do now?
When we are stuck in a fog and don’t know what we’re supposed to do, how do we see our way out of it? What will actually help us?
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When have you needed a truck?
The easy question we ask ourselves is “Is it possible that I will want it?” when we should be asking “how often will I actually use it?
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Why being the Devil’s Advocate is a bankrupt profession
We love the idea. And the phrase is so common. Offer a different perspective. Doesn’t matter if its useful. Make sure we talk anyway.
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Is doing something always right?
People are always looking for the right action. Saying “we must do something.” But what is really behind the suggestion?
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The Right Decision
We agonize about getting our decisions “right.” When we do this, we show anxiety about the future. If we’re in the middle of deciding, then it isn’t in the future. It’s something happening right now. But once it’s decided, it is no longer present. It immediately becomes the past. The problem is that usually the…
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The devil doesn’t need another advocate
We don’t need another devil’s advocate offering “the other side.” What we need are more people looking for the good we can do together. The Devil’s Advocate In the 16th Century, the Vatican established a position called advocatus diaboli, the devil’s advocate. The job would be to advocate on the devil’s behalf. Wait. Why would…
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How Not To Solve a Problem
I find that the easiest part of a problem is testing to see if it’s a real problem. The hard part comes in knowing what to do about it. But I know two truths about problem solving: It doesn’t help to pretend that there is no problem. Or to confuse discussion for decision. If you…
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Dualism
I am often the victim of analysis paralysis. Some situations seem too complex to be decisive. Other times, I get lost in the concern for others: how they feel about a situation, or what they might want to make of it. One way to deal with complexity is to simplify the problem through dualities. I…