This document was inspired by Adam Grant’s Think Again.
Why does this guide exist?
I’m tired of attacking symptoms instead of resolving problems.
This guide presents reliable and consistent methods that will save you time, reduce errors, and offer the audience a consistent excellent performance.
If your method is unreliable and it causes you anxiety, you are the only one to blame for your suffering.
Do not blame SL.
Do not blame the choreographers.
Do not blame the venue.
Do not blame the stage managers.
You are to blame for any suffering or extra effort others endure to assist you in resolving your issues. Incidents will become patterns, which threatens the working and personal relationship.
If your method of doing things has unreliable or incorrect results, be responsible. Fix your method.
The Right Way?
I feel that the right way to do something is what works and is reliable and consistent.
In Microsoft Word, you can use the following methods to bold highlighted text:
- Control-B to bold highlighted text.
- Right-click then Format and then Bold.
- Click the B in the toolbar.
- Click the Menu Bar, then Format, then Bold.
- Say “Hey Cortana, bold the text.”
- Drop a cat on your keyboard and pray it lands on the right keys to bold your text.
- … and many more options too obscure for me to remember
Which one is right?
Whatever works, is reliable, and is consistent.
And, I suppose, whatever method you can remember to use.
Because if you don’t remember it, how can you use it?
Is there a wrong way?
Yes. If it doesn’t work, isn’t reliable, and isn’t consistent.
Also add if it’s inefficient. Something that takes 1 step to set up but 10 steps to use might seem easier than something that takes 10 steps to set up and 1 step to use. But when you do it 10 times…
First method: 1 + 10 x 10 steps = 101 steps.
Second method: 10 + 1 x 10 steps = 20 steps.
Third method: 1 step, but it only works 10% of the time.
The second method is more efficient in the long run. And quicker to use during a show.
The third method is unreliable and should never be used. Plus, it wastes everybody’s time and requires others to spot your errors.
The good thing about the wrong way is that when you learn a better way to do things, you are learning.
Learning that you were wrong is good thing. It’s your path to growth.
Reasons and excuses
There are all kinds of reasons, excuses, and habits that come into play with the method you choose:
- This is the way you’ve always done it, and it works for you. (If it doesn’t always work, though, then it doesn’t work for you.)
- Your left hand might be damaged, so hitting Control and B at the same time might be physically difficult (This is me in RL, BTW).
- Your right hand might be damaged, so using the mouse or trackpad might be physically difficult.
- You might have a motor control disability, so you prefer to use speech commands.
- You might have a speech impediment, so asking Cortana might be physically difficult. Besides Cortana and Windows Accessibility features often totally sucking.
- You might have visual problems, so you don’t show the menu bar to make more space on the screen.
- You have a cat that walks across the keyboard a lot. I’m not sure what this matters, really.
Choose a way based on your individual preferences, circumstances, ability, or limitations.
Which method do I use? (Does it really matter?)
Why do I teach only one method?
Okay, so now I explain why I focus on one method of doing something in these tutorials:
- After trying every method, I’ve settled on one to teach that I feel is generally easy to learn, easy to use, and reliable.
- I’m experienced with that method and can troubleshoot it if it does not work.
- I know others also use it and can help if I am busy or unavailable.
- When I’ve taught it, someone has said OH MY GOD THAT IS SO MUCH BETTER!
- If I taught every method, your head would fill up and explode.
- I know how to teach it properly, unlike all the methods I don’t use and test and know how to use properly.
Let’s not blow each others heads up, okay?
What if there’s a better way?
Then teach it to me, and I will evaluate it.
I’ve changed my procedures and methods and teaching a lot of times based on the new ways of doing things that people show me.
If it gives you a cheap thrill that you’ve outdone me, well, revel in it. Enjoy the moment. It also gives me a deep thrill that I’m learning to do things a better way. And that I can teach it to others.
To be flexible in your ways is a good thing, as long as it’s a progression to getting better at what you do and others being able to rely on you.
Why are you such an asshole?
Because I am. And I’m good at it.
Being an asshole and being right are not mutually exclusive. And being an asshole doesn’t automatically make someone wrong.
But being wrong and clinging to it because it’s your way and others have to deal with it over and over again makes you an asshole.
I’d rather deal with an asshole who’s right than an asshole who insists on being wrong. At least the one who’s right has their shit straight.