Simple, Complicated, or Complex
As a Force Recon Marine team leader, I worked with the other team leaders to plan a mission.
We were arguing over the best way to approach the target.
Our Platoon Sergeant poked his head in to ask what we were arguing about.
One of the other team leaders said, “We’re having problems because this is a complicated target.”
The Platoon Sergeant replied, “It’s not complicated.”
We stared at him.
“It’s complex.”
He went on to explain:
Simple is cooking a steak
Complicated is sending a man to the moon
Complex is assaulting an enemy position
If you set the conditions and follow the directions exactly, every steak will come out the same.
But don't confuse simple with easy. There are still a thousand ways to screw up a steak.
Sending a man to the moon is hard, but once you do it, it’s like cooking a steak. Follow the same plan, and you will be able to repeat it.
Assaulting an enemy position is complex because although you can plan for many variables and execute solid tactics every time, each time is different.
And the enemy gets a vote.
Neither the steak nor the moon is trying to kill you.
The enemy is.
So, he told us to plan for everything and prepare for every contingency, but ultimately, to know that a good plan, well-rehearsed and violently executed, offers the best chance for success.
And know that your plan will go out the window when the first shot is fired.
Be cool with that.
You will have to improvise and adapt. And that is easier to do when you have a plan to improvise and adapt from.
The same applies to the problems we face every day.
Decide whether your problem is simple, complicated, or complex, develop a plan, and then attack.
Until next week,
Keep Walking Point
John
If you have any questions or feedback about today's newsletter or if you'd just like to reach out, email me at john@walkingpoint.org. I’ll do my best to respond as quickly as possible.
