December 26, 2008

“I don’t know which is more entertaining, listening to your impractical theories or watching later when they meet the facts.”

This quote rests on its own merits.  Standing alone it carries significant meaning. Each one of us can identify with at least one experience of listening to someone who may have the noblest intention that cannot be validated by any process whereby it may be attained.  Sometimes, it seems, there is the belief that the mere grandeur of the goal is sufficient to carry the day.

In this particular instance, we were doing some long range planning.  One individual had built a reputation internal to our organization of sharing preposterous ideas and then convincing himself they could be pulled off.  With his marketing, anything could be realized.  We just merely needed to have faith.

He spoke of a business area that was in decline, losing money, and that provided services in an area that industry was not interested in buying.  The words were delivered with passion, yet his passion was no match for reality.  Out came the proclamation from one side of the table, “I don’t know which is more entertaining, listening to your impractical theories or watching later when they meet the facts.” 

The older I get, hearing impractical theories carries much more entertainment value than trying to execute them.  Facts known and ignored are painful teachers.