Navigating a Whackadoodle World: Guidepost Seven, or the Power of Process and Growth
Past and present links to our episodes on Guidepost Seven: The Power of Process and Growth
She looked up from her book and asked, “What would you rather have, one million dollars, or a penny that doubles every day for a month?”
“Oh, I know this one,” I clapped my hands. “What month is it?”
“Does it make a difference?”
“Not in my choice between your options. I’ll take that exponentially doubling penny over the million every day, but it sure makes a difference in my fortune. I once did the math with my class. In a regular non-leap year February, I would get a little over one-million, three-hundred and thirty-thousand. However, with a nice thirty-one day month, I would get a little over five-million and thirty-thousand.”
“You really are a nerd aren’t you?”
“Was there ever any doubt?”
“Not really,” she stuck her chin on her fists. “I knew you were weird from the first day I met you.”
I stuck my tongue out at her, then said, “Now, I’ve got a riddle for you. Imagine a lily pond with a single leaf. Each day the number of leaves on the lily will double: two leave on the second day; four leaves on the third day; eight leaves on fourth day; and so forth. If the lilies fill the pond on the 30th day, on what day is the pond half full?”
Her brows came together as she thought. “If it doubles every day,” she answered slowly. “And it’s full on the 30th day, wouldn’t it have to be half full the day before?”
“Excellent, you have mastered the concept of exponential growth.”
She smiled at my compliment before asking. “You talk about exponential growth in Guidepost Seven, don’t you?”
“More or less,” I admitted.
“I like how you described it. I think you said something like, “Exponential growth says you’re always nearer to success than you thought, and always nearer to failure than you should allow.”
“I kind of like that bit myself,” I admitted.
“Should we quote that part before posting the other articles?”
“Why not?”
Most things grow exponentially.
Wildfires grow exponentially. Populations grow exponentially. Frustrations, fears, problems, gossip, anger, suspicion, propaganda, laughter, enthusiasm, wealth, technology, intelligence, joy, understanding, success, compassion, and human energy all grow exponentially. Even the ideas in this paragraph grow exponentially.
I’ve seen a motivated and dedicated workforce turn into a mutiny waiting to happen so fast that my head spins, all because of exponential growth. One frustrated person talks to another frustrated person, and soon frustration is the central topic of conversation at every break, and mutiny is in the hearts of the workers.
I have also seen one person’s vision, hope, and energy fuel the enthusiasm of a thousand.
So the next time you feel like you’re getting nowhere, remember the power of exponential growth, which says that you’re always nearer to success than you thought, and always nearer to failure than you should allow. Little things matter, so don’t take little things for granted.
Source: A River Worth Riding: Fourteen Rules for Navigating Life
Navigating a Whackadoodle World: Episode Seven
"This is one of those lessons that has too much in it," she informed me, sitting down and pulling out a copy of my book. "I was reading rule seven last night. You include a process for raising self-esteem, a process for overcoming procrastination, a process for decision making...You have to admit that it's all a bit overwhelming."
Navigating a Whackadoodle World: Episode 21, or the Judicial Process sure is confusing.
I have to admit that I started my lesson with her in a tirade. She had simply asked, “How do people get indicted?” To which I answered, “I know of a lot of men, and women, who have been indicted, pleaded not guilty, but not been able afford bail. I even know some of them personally...
For those of you who have already read the above episodes, here is a link to our newest episode on the Power of Process and Growth.
Navigating a Whackadoodle World: Episode 36, or What haven't you been noticing?
“I just finished rereading our last two articles about Process and Growth,” she mentioned in passing. “And I noticed that we spent a great deal of time talking about how important consequences are in a process.”
“Links done,” she said. “Now we remind people that if they know someone who could use the guideposts, they can share this post with a friend.”
“What do you want to do for our quick fun post?” I asked.
“How about that one where you tricked your students.”
“I never tricked my students,” I retorted. “I had a good reason for doing what I did.”
“So post it and see if your subscribers agree.”
“Fine,” I said, and did.
