Skip to main content

Change - Issac Azimov - Even the smallest amount can make a difference

"The point is that any change greater than the minimal is chaotic."
from: Dors the Robot,   Issac Azimov,  Forward the Foundation 


Disruptors.  Change Agents.  Change Makers.  Those are some of the (dated) buzz words of business right now to describe things that profoundly affect society.  They can be people, organizations, companies, or ideas that make a difference.

We think, many people think, that a big difference has to come from a big change.  This is not the case.  There is the reference to the 'butterfly effect' which is explained as a single wing beat of a single butterfly in China can cause catastrophic weather conditions on the other side of the world.

Not only is only small change necessary to make a big difference, there needs to be "luck."  From the Scientific American article "The Role of Luck in Success is Far Greater Than We Realized":
  • "People with easy to pronounce names are judged more positively than those with difficult-to-pronounce names[.]"
This is not fair, but that is the game we have to play. 

One thing is certain.  Doing the same thing, meeting the same people, playing the same games, or consuming the same media will probably not make a change.  

Get out there.  Learn something new.  Try something different.  Succeed or fail.  If you want a change in your circumstances, make a change.  It doesn't have to be big, but it has to happen.


Gratitudes:  Convenience stores, bank accounts, and cheap watches.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

We shape our buildings - Winston Churchill - Be in action

We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us. from:  Winston Churchill, Painter , Political Survivor, Orator , and Nobel Prize for Literature Winner So much negativity in the world and in my thoughts.  Originally, I was looking for a quote about the benefits of having positive thoughts.  Sigh.  There are many quotes like that out there, but the ones I found where either by celebrities or self-help gurus.  Not that what they are saying is not useful, it is just I wanted elegant, powerful bon mots from a profound source. So, Churchill. I'd written down in my notes about this quote.  It was made in a speech to rebuild the House of Commons after a bombing raid.  I noted the quote because it agrees with my belief that architecture influences those who encounter it, whether for good or bad.  But in this case, I am presenting it to my gentle readers as a metaphor.  Like:  "You reap what you sow," or "You've made your ...

Never Lose Enthusiasm - Aldous Huxley - Secret of Genius

The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of the child into old age, which means never losing your enthusiasm. attributed to:  Aldous Huxley First, I am a little uncomfortable with using this quote.  Normally, I research the origin of a quote for assurances of correctness.  However, after ten minutes of weeding through google results of pinterest, twitter, and the huge quotation cites, I could not find the context of this quote nor conformation that it was Huxley.  Sigh.   If any of my gentle readers have the citation and context of this quote, it would be greatly appreciated.   Second, I decided just to get on with the blog.  What is important?  Spending time verifying a quote (which is not the main purpose of the blog) or crystallizing my idea in writing.  And then to get on living life.   Enthusiasm.  This is what attracted me to this quote.  When things were dark for me, I didn't even have the en...

Keep at it - JK Rowlings - Listen to your teachers

You've got to work. It's about structure. It's about discipline, It's about these deadly things that your teacher told you you needed. JK Rowlings:  Author  , Teacher , and Scribe Fighting Evil . So today I have a choice.  It is my one day off during the week from my day job.  Do I work on my book ideas or do I relax.  I've printed out my schedule for the week and I do see at the day job I have massive amounts of time during the day as I don't work until 3pm.   Or do I read . Argh.  Some people say that being being is hard - long hours, stress, crazy parents and students.  But then, anyone who deals with the public has learned most people are reasonable and nice.  Sales clerks, apartment supers, restaurant workers, hotel staff, and health-care providers can tell you tales.  There are always a few who are bonkers or have agendas that include diminishing, demeaning, or degrading someone else or the establishment to get som...