Friday, April 06, 2007

Stages of Activity

  1. Working actively to harm.
  2. Doing nothing.
  3. Doing nothing and pretending that something has been done.
  4. Doing nothing but acknowledging that something needs to be done.
  5. Doing nothing but committed to doing something when inspiration strikes.
  6. Planning on doing something but actually doing nothing.
  7. Forming committees to study the subject but then doing nothing.
  8. Knowing what should be done but doing nothing until conditions are ripe.
  9. Doing some small thing and then stopping.
  10. Doing a small thing, then doing another small thing.
  11. Doing a bunch of small things but not the right things.
  12. Doing the right things and advancing toward the goal.
  13. Doing all - or most - of the right things and achieving the goal.
  14. Having the motivation and skill to move one's self and others to do the right things and achieve the goal.

Why is it so many people are stuck at the third stage?

4 comments:

Eclecticity said...

There you go again! DF

Michael Wade said...

Thanks! The process involves Gregorian chants, RC Cola, and a couple of moon pies.

Hoots said...

I'm reminded of the stages of food decline...
*Perfect. That's gonna sell and make someone very happy.
*Oops. The spatula sliped when I was getting it out of the pan. Cosmetically challenged but whotever gets it will love it.
*Big oops. The thing got hurt. I'll have it for lunch.
*Later. It's not fresh but there's nothing the matter with it.
*End of the day. It's gonna be leftover tomorrow. You can take it home to the kids if you want.
*Next day. Somebody might want it.
*Later that day. This is for the scraps. I'll eat it and not charge myself. Otherwise it's just a waste.
*Much later. I don't want it but you can have it. There's really nothing wrong with it.
*Even more later. It doesn't smell right but you can eat it if you want to.
*The end. You better not eat it. It will make you sick.

Michael Wade said...

Hoots,

I've heard some of those comments in cafeterias! Thanks much. It's a great list.