53: Materialism and The Way

The wise project manager leads a quiet and meditative life. He does not seek to take more from the world than he needs. He takes the simplest path and his projects will be successful.

Lao Tzu tells us:

If I have even just a little sense,
I will walk on the main road and my only fear will be of straying from it.
Keeping to the main road is easy,
But people love to be sidetracked.

When the court is arrayed in splendour,
The fields are full of weeds,
And the granaries are bare.
Some wear gorgeous clothes,
Carry sharp swords,
And indulge themselves with food and drink;
They have more possessions than they can use.
They are robber barons.
This is certainly not the way of the Tao.

52: Learning Constancy

The wise project manager remains flexible and will therefore endure. He is not afraid of losing for he has nothing to lose. This is learning constancy and this is the way of the project manager.

The Tao
Lao Tzu tells us:

The beginning of the universe
Is the mother of all things.
Knowing the mother, one also knows the sons.
Knowing the sons, yet remaining in touch with the mother,
Brings freedom from the fear of death.

Keep your mouth shut.
Guard the senses,
And life is ever full.
Open your mouth,
Always be busy,
And life is beyond hope.

Seeing the small is insight;
Yielding to force is strength.
Using the outer light, return to insight,
And in this way be saved from harm.
This is learning constancy.

51: Principle and Process

For those who follow the Way everything is a process, including a project. A process emerges, it develops and eventually it decays and dies. This process is known as the single principle.

The Tao
Lao Tzu tells us:

All things arise from the Tao.
They are nourished by virtue.
They are formed from matter.
They are shaped by the environment.
Thus the ten thousand things all respect Tao and honour virtue.
Respect of Tao and honour of virtue are not demanded,
But they are in the nature of things.
Therefore all things arise from Tao.
By virtue they are nourished,
Developed, cared for,
Sheltered, comforted,
Grown and protected.
Creating without claiming,
Doing without taking credit,
Guiding without interfering,
This is primal virtue.

50: A Matter of Life and Death

The wise project manager knows that everything comes and goes so there is no point in grasping for or clinging to things. Why worry about what might or might not happen?

The Tao
Lao Tsu tells us:

Between birth and death,
Three in ten are followers of life,
Three in ten are followers of death,
And men just passing from birth to death also number three in ten.
Why is this so?
Because they live their lives on the gross level.

He who knows how to live can walk abroad
Without fear of rhinoceros or tiger.
He will not be wounded in battle.
For in him rhinoceroses can find no place to thrust their horn,
Tigers no place to use their claws,
And weapon no place to pierce.
Why is this so?
Because he has no place for death to enter.

49: Being Open

The wise project manager expects the best of people and they live up to it. People naturally tend to be good and truthful when they are being received in a good and truthful manner. 

The Tao

Lao Tzu tells us:

The sage has no mind of his own.

He is aware of the needs of others.

I am good to people who are good.

I am also good to people who are not good.

Because virtue is a goodness.

I have faith in people who are faithful.

I also have faith in people who are not faithful.

Because virtue is a faithfulness.

The sage is shy and humble; to the world he seems confusing.

Men look to him and listen.

He behaves like a little child.

48: Unclutter Your Mind

The wise project manager unclutters his mind and simplifies his work. By giving up trying to do the right thing, the project manager and the team will become far more fruitful.

The Tao

Lao Tzu tells us:

In the pursuit of learning, every day something is acquired.

In the pursuit of the Tao, every day something is dropped.

Less and less is done

Until non-action is achieved.

When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.

The world is ruled by letting things take their course.

It cannot be ruled by interfering.

47: Right Here, Right Now

The wise project manager is aware of what is happening on the project in the here and now. By staying in the present and being aware of what is happening, the wise project manager can do less yet still achieve more.

The Tao
Lao Tsu tells us:

Without going outside, you may know the whole world.
Without looking through the window, you may see the ways of heaven.
The further you go, the less you know.

Thus the sage knows without travelling;
He sees without looking;
He works without doing.

46: No Win/No Lose

There should be no personal wins and no personal losses in project team work. The wise project manager knows that the only thing that matters is the team. If the project manager nurtures the team they will be successful.

The Tao

Lao Tsu tells us:

When the Tao is in the universe,

The horses haul manure.

When the Tao is absent from the universe,

War horses are bred outside the city.

There is no greater sin than desire,

No greater curse than discontent,

No greater misfortune than wanting something for oneself.

Therefore he who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.

45: Appearing Foolish

When the wise project manager speaks it is often to say something obvious and it can sound simple. The project manager’s stillness may even appear to be foolishness, but it overcomes the team’s agitation. The project manager’s consciousness is what gets things done.

The Tao

Lao Tsu tells us:

Great accomplishment seems imperfect,

Yet it does not outlive its usefulness.

Great fullness seems empty,

Yet it cannot be exhausted.

Great straightness seems twisted.

Great intelligence seems stupid.

Great eloquence seems awkward.

Movement overcomes cold.

Stillness overcomes heat.

Stillness and tranquillity set things in order in the universe.

44: Owning or Owned

The wise project manager gives up things for that will make him truly richer. Be still and discover your inner security. If you have that, you will have what you want anyway.

The Tao

Lao Tzu tells us:

Fame or self: Which matters more?

Self or wealth: Which is more precious?

Gain or loss: Which is more painful?

He who is attached to things will suffer much.

He who saves will suffer heavy loss.

A contented man is never disappointed.

He who knows when to stop does not find himself in trouble.

He will stay forever safe.