29. This advice means fundamentally that if we focus our attention on the details of a
" s; Q" u& Z _/ G. Gproject rather than on the end product, the result will be better than if we proceed the 4 `) w. x' A& b% s3 a1 n
other way around. Admittedly, this advice has some merit; by focusing on the details at $ t4 i* e; p% S* A& x, Y, G4 M$ d
hand one is less likely to become discouraged by the daunting or overwhelming tasks
' V- p* N4 ^. P1 W( ~ahead in an ambitious project. Otherwise, however, I think this advice is poor,' G- Z6 J" u0 b
The central problem with this advice is that focusing attention completely on the 0 A5 N, a6 ?0 R0 j
task at hand without reference to how that task is related to the end product would be
0 f2 A# G8 i3 e5 q6 y+ L! a0 I- lvirtually impossible to do. The reason for this is simple. Without some reference to a ) N& z6 F# m) w
goal or a result we would have no idea of what task to perform in the first place. As a . |6 l/ ?5 }6 Q; }* B3 j
result, the various tasks we engage in would be somewhat random and, in turn, no 0 V, Z4 Y0 j1 p7 f3 X; z w3 `3 c2 E
matter how diligent and careful we were in performing them the likelihood of producing 7 C9 w3 I" g1 u! P& N) O9 `0 ?
worthwhile or successful end products would be minimal.
7 ^* P( t1 x3 ?2 l/ j3 p) V' \' y$ L+ { To ensure good results, one should instead take a balanced approach to the task at * v8 B" E9 a% J# l
hand. By a balanced approach I mean paying attention to both the desired result and the 5 w# v) z( g1 ], v
specific tasks that are required to achieve it. House building provides a good example of
3 j) \1 I+ S% c$ Y e( z5 }this approach. The house plan not only contains a rendering of the finished product but 1 b0 ?3 t; Q \ H- y- p( T( U+ N
also contains detailed drawings and descriptions of each of the specific components . E' G* j6 y3 o; O
required to ensure a successful result. Moreover, the order of the tasks is determined 4 e: }* c; G1 R1 N0 I
with reference to this result. In my estimation, virtually all successful projects proceed ' {: p0 H0 |4 [0 I D
in the fashion illustrated in this example.
6 P7 a9 r% @0 X1 w1 L" [ In sum, I don't think that the advice offered in the statement is worth following. In " p( }9 [2 H, K' s+ X1 G. s4 G
my view, following this advice is more likely to produce unsuccessful results than 0 q& w' p( X. v* h; ^3 E x/ t
successful ones. |