OBLIQUITY

          ‘Trying to be happy is a recipe for misery’. When you think you have to be happy and think about all the necessary things you need to be happy, it may seem a lot or unreachable. But like a mountain climber if you aim small, difficult but manageable targets, you may reach midterm targets more easily because successful small targets keep you happy and motivated to reach bigger ones. Take language learning; If you think the whole language or even all the skills, it may seem impossible. But you take only reading for a good start, after some time you will realize that not only have you improved your reading skills but you have also developed some grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary and improved your speaking skills indirectly. If you think about all of them one by one you may give up even without managing one of them.

            Another sample on the topic might be speaking on a topic or giving a speech. Before speaking we usually have a plan at least in our mind. But while talking because of a word, a phrase, a story you use or a question you are asked, you often leave your path and start talking about something else. Even this secondary topic may inspire you or your listeners more and some new ideas that have never come to your mind before may dawn on you.  In organizations also, you may have a main target and a plan to succeed in it but sometimes on the way we have to change our plans because of the new situations and you may succeed in something else while reaching the main target.

            Another important idea of the book is that when you give everybody in a organization or team the same big target, people may get lost. However, small but well-achieved targets can gradually build the big picture.

by Ibrahim Can Korkut