There’s an old joke for students of ‘The Toyota Way’ — Americans believe in ‘Ready, Fire, Aim’ while we at Toyota believe in ‘Ready, Aim, Aim, Aim, Aim again, Aim again….Fire.’
In the world of business, you’re bound to run into conflicting maxims.
In this case, I’m talking about the difference between ‘Ready, Aim, Fire’ vs. ‘Ready, Fire, Aim.’
Yeah, the first bit of advice makes the most logical sense. Akin to George Washington’s famous declaration, ‘Don’t shoot until you see the white’s of their eyes.’ It encourages us to set our sites on a goal before committing to action.
Toyota Way can’t emphasize this enough. This theory encourages deliberation, analysis, and consensus to the point where there is no question on the next action.
On the flip side there’s a huge contingent of VERY successful entrepreneurs out there that say ‘Ready, Fire, Aim’ has been a proven tactic for their success. It’s meant to be contrarian and it works.
This group understands the human dynamic of procrastination and our tendency to overanalyze. They know that in many cases, it’s best to just get your ideas out there.
Theory is one thing, real world experience is another. Until you get your products in the market place, you’re not going to have any idea of what works and what doesn’t.
So which one is correct?
Well, here’s my theory: BOTH
Is that a cop out?
I don’t think so.
The truth is — one size does NOT fit all.
It’s the challenge of the small business owner to find the right tool for the job.
Sometimes you need a hammer. Sometimes, you need a flux capacitor.
Our job is to assess the situation and apply the right solution.
My point
A goal without action is useless.
Action without a goal is a waste of time.
YOU have to decide where you’re at and what advice you need to heed.
Are you the type of person who’s always sitting on the fence, waiting to make a decision?
-OR-
Are you prone to cutting checks your butt can’t cash (yet)?
If you feel there’s a lack of balance there…if you believe you lean towards one end of the spectrum.
Well, my advice is to take one step to the other side.
If, in you assessment, you believe you over analyze situations — make a rash decision once in awhile.
If you find your more impulsive than most, try delaying a decision for a week longer than you normally would. See if you feel better about the decisions you make.
Where do you stand? I’d love to hear your comments.
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