02: Opposites

Trying too hard to achieve something will often end in disaster. I have seen project managers who have driven themselves and their project team into the dust by trying to achieve the impossible. I once received some excellent advice from a ski coach “why not try softer rather than trying harder. Imagine that the handles of the ski poles are little canaries in your hands”. Several dead canaries later I finally stopped trying and it worked! Of course I immediately got very excited at my success, crossed my skis and crashed!

Project managers that drive themselves and their team think that they will be admired for their efforts. In fact they are often laughed at. People who tell you how good they are by telling you how hard they work are likely to be very insecure. People who try and impress you with the complexities of their job are probably confused by it themselves.

The Way

Now consider the opposites. People who don’t try too hard will usually achieve what they are working for because they are working within the limit of their competence. People who admit that they are always learning from what they do are the ones with the real knowledge. People who make things seem simple and easy to understand are the ones who really know what they are talking about.

The wise project manager allows things to happen and unfold at their own pace. I know this for this is the way of the project manager.

The Tao

Lao Tsu tells us:

Under heaven all can see beauty as beauty only because there is ugliness.

All can know good as good only because there is evil.

Therefore having and not having arise together.

Difficult and easy complement each other.

Long and short contrast each other;

High and low rest upon each other;

Voice and sound harmonise each other;

Front and back follow one another.

Therefore the sage goes about doing nothing, teaching no-talking.

The ten thousand things rise and fall without cease,

Creating, yet not possessing,

Working, yet not taking credit.

Work is done, then forgotten.

Therefore it lasts forever.