Just Because You Can, Doesn’t Mean You Should

Yes, the ultimate “could” versus “should” is the central theme of that classic movie Jurassic Park.

Movie magic in 1993 brought us a pack (or is it a flock?) of Brontosaurus frolicking in a meadow and one nasty T-Rex.   But, the true lesson of the story is a very valuable one – just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. 

Along with this life lesson, the movie features one of my favorite spoken logic sequences:

“God creates dinosaurs.

God destroys dinosaurs.

God creates man.

Man destroys God.

Man creates dinosaurs.

Dinosaurs eat man.

Woman inherits the earth.”

Could versus Should

Ahhh what a dilemma.  I think most ambitious people can do whatever they set their minds too.  But, the questions is should they?  Look what happened at Jurassic Park. Just because scientists found a way to recreate the mesmerizing prehistoric creatures doesn’t mean they should have created them. You do not want your unit/department/organization to be eaten up by velociraptors because you didn’t wonder about the “should”.  I don’t. I always ask myself “should I?”  What are the consequences?  What is the risk? I know I/we can do it… but should we?  These examinations of could vs. should can prevent your extinction.

Don’t Overreact

It’s natural to want to panic in dire situations. When a huge Tyrannosaurus Rex is staring straight at you, you’re gonna be scared.  But that might end up smashing you… or at least crashing your confidence. Simply put, overreacting and panicking doesn’t just get in the way of progress, it ends you. It’s that simple. Staying calm is the best way to survive. Remember the panicked lawyer? He didn’t know how to stay calm, and because of that, he got eaten. On a toilet.

I say this in every blog I write (that is how important that I think it is): “Surround yourself with the right people.”

Plan. Prepare. Practice. At what point during the planning process, while discussing having a theme park filled with reptilian killing machines, do you think the team at Jurassic Park, forgot to discuss who would handle things when the power goes out? Because the power DOES go out.  OH I love critical thinkers. What if? How will we? If that doesn’t work what next? What is the contingency plan? What is a different way of doing it?

Control is an illusion

One of my favorite scenes is when Dr. Ellie Sattler is calmly speaking to Dr. Hammond about the mess he has created. Hammond isn’t giving up and tries to explain to Ellie how he thinks he can proceed and get control. Ellie corrects him by saying, “you never had control –that’s the illusion.”

You cannot control other people. You can only control your own reaction to them.  People are like dinosaurs. Some are passive and eat plants. Some hunt as packs. Some eat you alive. Some roar real loud. Focus on self-control not the control of others. That, my friend, is an illusion.

Sometimes you have to reach into a big pile of crap to discover the answer

Another favorite scene is when Ellie reaches into a massive pile of dino-droppings to uncover the source of an illness. What a great life lesson. There will be times, many times, when doing something unpleasant will lead to a solution, a new idea, or a new path. Yes, it’s not nice. It can be downright awful. But focus on the ultimate result.  And, wash your hands!

As you do your job and work with your patients, colleagues, boss, peers, and employees, stop long enough to plan, prepare and practice. This will ensure that you don’t get caught hanging on an electrical fence when the power comes back on. Critically think. Ask the important questions especially “should we?” Don’t be afraid to tackle the not so pleasant stuff. The answer is in there.   And, you need the right people in your life -- like those who can stop dinosaurs from eating you.

 

And for your viewing pleasure, here is my favorite logic sequence:
 

 

 

Be Recognizable in the Shark Tank of Life

I was 16 years old when the original Jaws movie hit the big screen with a splash. I live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and did not face the fear of sharks in the three rivers. But, the movie made an impact and still does today.  There are many memorable quotes and scenes in Jaws. However, most memorable is that oh-so-recognizable, two-note repetitious music. 

I have always been a tad jealous of those people who are so recognizable they only need one name: Cher, Elvis, Oprah, Houdini, Beyonce, Bono, Liberace, and Prince.

But nothing beats “…Der-duh, Der-duh, Der-duh, Der-duh”

Be recognizable.

 

It is arguably one of the most famous scores of music in modern film. When you hear it, you immediately recognize that menacing low, two-note repetition as a warning that the great white shark is about to appear. It is undeniably recognizable. That is what we should all strive for in our business.  What is our undeniable recognizable sound, look, value, service? What are the top products and services in your business that spark people to thrash about, scream and shout – positively, of course?  Simple. Concise. Impactful. Like a two-note repetition. How simple. How memorable. How recognizable.

Don't settle for the cheap option.

Early in the movie, a young boy is taken by the shark and the mother offers a $3,000 reward to kill the monster of the deep.  The only man who actually has the ability to do this asks for $10,000. Turned down, the townspeople go off to catch the shark for $3,000. People die and nobody catches the shark. Quality costs money – but it is worth every penny. If you choose the cheaper option, you’re probably going to have to pay a lot more money later down the line when it fails you.

Be fiscally prudent but not cheap.

Get help or get eaten.

No matter how smart you are, how big your budget, how great your products, how loyal your team—no one can do it all alone.  Ask for help when you need it. It is not a weakness. There is no shame in asking for help. Others may have skills or resources you don’t. They may have tools and shark cages that you need in order to take a risk and try something new. Seek help from others who have an expertise that you lack. And remember, book smart is great. But so is experience, ambition and skill.

Be prepared for the unexpected

Matt Hooper, our young, book-smart shark expert, succumbs to unexpected surprise not once, but twice in this movie.  The first time, he is underwater, at night, investigating a boat that has been attacked. He first find’s a giant shark’s tooth, and then a dead head pops up and Hooper freaks out and drops the tooth. The second time, Hooper, in an act of great bravery, descends into the water in a shark cage, armed with a spear filled with some kind of medicinal poison that will kill the shark, if he can jam it into his mouth. Sadly, it appears that no one ever explained three (or even two) dimensional space to Hooper, because as he is looking one way, the giant shark rams the cage from behind. Startled, Hooper drops the spear and is now defenseless as he swims to the ocean floor.

Now, these are pretty scary situations. But, great lessons to remind us to prepare for the unexpected. I don’t think many of us will be in a shark cage anytime soon, but there are different kinds of sharks other than those that swim. Prepare for that unexpected question from a customer by knowing your product and practicing your delivery. Prepare for lost revenue by having a plan to fill the gaps. And, visualize different approaches to difficult conversations. 

BTW: In the book, Hooper dies in the cage attack scene. 

“You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” Assess and Re-Assess your Tools

Quint hunts sharks for a living, so his standard boat and tools seem sufficient. However, in the ultimate best movie scene of the 1970’s, when Brody, and the rest of us, first sees the entire shark he immediately looks straight into the camera and says, “you’re gonna need a bigger boat.” We all realize this is one big fish.

Quint, in his pride, will have none of it. He refuses to give up the hunt and go back for a bigger boat, better tools, or some help, such as the US Navy, Army, Marine Corp, Air Force, and any Super Hero flyin’ on by.  Brody proves to be right. Near the end of the movie, the giant shark leaps onto the boat and his mass tips the boat up to such an angle that Quint slips and slides down into the beast’s mouth. Bet that wouldn’t have happened with a bigger boat.

Now… the proverbial bigger boat doesn’t necessarily mean a bigger team or more FTEs.  It means assess your tools and find innovative solutions to tackle these giant obstacles that leap in front of us every day.  Technology can be your bigger boat. 

Your daily job is probably “not like going down the pond chasing blue gills or tommy cats” but more like a shark tank so:

• Find your undeniable recognizable cadence. It will resonate for years.
• Be fiscally prudent but not cheap. Quality costs money.
• Ask for help when you need it. It is not a weakness.
• Never get caught in a shark cage looking the wrong way. Plan. Prepare. Practice.
• When you need a bigger boat, look to technology for innovation solutions.

Der-duh, Der-duh, Der-duh, Der-duh.