Continuing from where I left off last week, let me briefly summarize what I was saying, so that new readers have some understanding of the discussion. Basically, an apparent, Basic Law of Nature is for things, left alone in the environment, to move toward a state of disorder and lower energy. (This is the concept of entropy, which is found in the laws of thermodynamics.) Examples given were a cup of hot coffee cooling off and a tank of compressed air losing pressure when the valve is opened. Of course you can make these processes go the other way, by putting in a great deal of energy to heat the water or compress the air respectively.
Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that this is a bad thing. In fact, in some cases it is really good that this law exists. Do you know that there exists a finite probability that all of the air molecules in the room you’re sitting in right now will move into one corner of the room, resulting in you suffocating? That is, unless you “buy the farm” first, due to explosive decompression! Please, don’t worry though. It really won’t happen. Why? Mother Nature’s law of entropy will simply not allow it to happen.
Now, how does this concept apply to you and your business? Answer: When I work for you, whether to design a new product or machine, or redesign an existing one, I am bringing order into your environment. I am “pushing against” Nature and Nature pushes back, honest! How is this phenomenon manifested? It can manifest in many ways.
Your pen stops writing. You get a flat tire. A deal you were working on falls through. A machine that has always worked well, all of a sudden, starts giving you problems. Your child comes down with a cold. You come down with the flu. On and on and on. Anything can happen. You are being fought, simply, and only, because you are bringing order into your environment. So, what is the answer to this situation? How do I handle it? Good questions. There are only two answers; quit what you started to do or push through to completion, come hell or high water.
The first choice leaves you where you were, but now with either a pen that doesn’t write, or a flat tire, or a lost deal, or a broken machine, etc, etc. The second choice, although at first glance seemingly not a good one, is actually the only choice you have if you want to succeed and grow, personally or business-wise.
Now, here is the real kicker! After pushing back against Nature for some period of time, Nature “realizes” that you are standing firm and SHE WILL LEAVE YOU ALONE! Yup! The pen “magically” will start to write and the machine will run just as smoothly as it ever did. Do the things I mentioned two paragraphs above happen to me? Of course! However, I am at the point now where Nature pretty much leaves me alone. She has more luck with those who are uninformed about how this all works. Please be advised that I am in no way smug about this, because the moment I say to myself that I am “immune” to this process, I really get slammed!
So, do you want to get some new products designed and put into production? I am available. Do you have the guts to go out and kick Nature’s butt? Call me. We’ll go for it!