“The dark side of smart is that whenever we do good works, and cooperate, we draw from our manipulative past. The even darker side of smart is that competition doesn’t just select an ability to manipulate but also an adaptive ability to be unpredictable. And one of the best ways to be unpredictable is to not know yourself. So we have evolution to thank for shielding us from complete self-knowledge. As a result, most of our own minds are shrouded in darkness. Perhaps that’s for the best. We might not like what we’d see.” – Diana Fleischman
Day: October 11, 2020
#EndSARS
Those who will hurt you again, violently demand that you quickly move on from previous hurt, because your staying there will help you build a shield.
Young brewers
When I started my career as a brewer, there was a recurring song among older brewers – “The younger brewers do not have the required capacity or capability to move this organization forward.” “They do not have the required backbone of steel.” “They are too soft.” “They are too entitled.” “They want to challenge everything.” “They think book knowledge can match Shopfloor knowledge.” “They respect nothing.” “Their trainer is not even smart enough.” “Professional certifications do not equate to Shopfloor leadership.” “I wonder how they will be able to fill the leadership pipeline.” “I am worried for this business.”
I recently met a friend who started the career journey with me 13 years ago, and he was complaining about younger brewers, surprisingly using the same words that were used to describe us when we started. I initially found myself nodding to his comments, then something flipped within me. These young brewers were me many years ago, and I came through. What has so significantly changed that will make it impossible for these young brewers to move the needle? Nothing. I had to stop him and help him see a different side of the story. First of all, the productivity of these younger brewers is at least 100% above what it was when we started. They are actually delivering more output with less input.
“Nothing so dates a man as to decry the younger generation.” – Adlai E. Stevenson
We always undermine younger generations, but society has only moved forward because of them. When it matters most, they pour their blood into the foundation of being and use their energy to build a more agile present.
No institution has long remained without a conscious renewal by youth.
– Osasu Oviawe
A passage that reminds me of a poem I love
Philippians 4:12-13
I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want. I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
Homily:
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!
– If by Ridyard Kipling