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200 words, courage, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, goal, measure twice and cut once, mission, policies, Purpose, risk, Samuel Johnson, walk the talk
“Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome.” – Samuel Johnson
We’ve all heard that saying, “Measure twice, cut once.” It’s good advice meant to make you focus on the end goal. It results in getting exactly what you need to accomplish the end goal.
When used as it is meant to be used it is good. When used as an excuse not to proceed it is self-defeating.
In the context of an organization, it is good and advisable to have policies. Policies equip an organization to fulfill their mission.
The problem comes when policies are used to hide and protect ourselves from actually doing the work that the organization is mandated to do.
Yes it is good to measure twice, figure out what the end goal is, cut once and then go and do it – remain true to your vision!
At work and in life, there comes a time when risk is exactly what’s needed.
The stakes may be high.
In the end however
wouldn’t you rather WALK the TALK?
Why start something if you’re not willing to take some risks?
~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~
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I tend to use the term “measure twice and cut once” when I’m doing a project that actually requires cutting–sewing, cutting a piece of wood or paper, etc. I never thought about using the phrase in the context of goals. It add entire new layers of meaning when looked at in this way.
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Well let’s just say it’s been thrown at me a few times under this context! 🙂
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Well, you should go back and tell them to “cut” it out…. 😀
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…with my hands on my hips and a stern facial expression, right?
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Right!!
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What a perfect post for me to find on my reader today, thank you! 🙂
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Glad to hear it!
xo
Diana
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Food for thought seeing as I am risk averse
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Thanks Roxy!
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Oh Boy, guilty as charged, Diana. I often procrastinate, talk a thing to death, plan, plan, plan, so WHY DON’T i DO IT ALREADY? Fear of failure, or just plain laziness? A bit of both I think. Thanks for the advice I need to heed.
Love the boots. 🙂
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I need to heed it too! I think that I’m more of an idea person and I really need a team to help implement!
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I hear you Diana. We make detailed plans, postpone, perfect ourselves, learn more, but we’ll never know how our dream would turn out unless we really commit, jump in and then adapt. Great post! 🙂
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Yes, and I need to be applying that to myself! Thanks Kristi!
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Hmm… I wonder if this is leading up to that decision of yours you were talking about a few blog posts ago?
Good advice though. I generally do lots of planning and tons of procrastinating. Sometimes, you just have to start.
By the way, whose feet?
(You said all the photos in your posts were yours, so I am curious as to who owns the feet 🙂 )
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To be honest, I’m doing a little procrastinating myself right now. (or maybe I’m just enjoying some free time?) I started using only my own photos recently and those are my feet, my cowboy boots! Masculine looking isn’t it! 🙂
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Confidant and self-assured is more how I was thinking. 🙂
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Aww thanks Elizabeth! I may be developing a ‘girl crush’ on you!
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Yes yes yes I agree my husband is one who will not only measure twice he will measure a dozen times…………………lol
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haha! Does he do carpentry work?
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I find in work life that insecurities can cause an organization to measure and measure and measure – never getting around to cutting and missing opportunity – a lot of wisdom in this enormous quote 🙂
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So true Lorri, I have experienced this as well.
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It is a wonderful quote!!!
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Thank you Tersia!
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Cool take on this!! I’ve never thought about it as being about the goal (or as an excuse to not act… how silly!).
Having done some carpentering, I’ve seen it as a caution to take care before (always!) proceeding to an action that is difficult or impossible to undo. If you measure short and then cut short, your wood is useless. (OTOH, if you error long, you at least can try again.)
New spin on an old saw! 😀
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Yes in carpentry this makes sense! Then again I did say measure twice! 🙂
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I’d always just assumed the saying came from carpentry, but now that you’ve got me thinking about it, I actually have no basis for that assumption. Could have come from tailors, for instance. Hmmm… that could be a fun game… what other trades both measure and cut. Butchers, maybe?
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Tailored steak cuts? Heck, why not!
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I’d like to see something in an Extra-Long Tenderloin, please!
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What you meant to say is cut to roughly the size of your palm, right? 😉
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Oh, no, absolutely not! I have small hands. Maybe to the size of my head. You know the old advice: Never eat anything bigger than your head. (And I have a fat head!)
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Actually I’ve never heard that old adage regarding eating within the size of your head! Are you pioneering the birth of a new saying??? C’mon be honest now! 😉
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(I was vamping a bit on the “old saying” bit.) It’s the title of a comic collection and a specific comic by the bizarre and delightful B. Kliban.
http://www.gocomics.com/kliban/2012/11/12
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Ahh I see, so you didn’t just pull it out of thin air then! Makes sense to me. 🙂
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What you said makes sense to me, Diana. Thank you for the reminder.
Russ
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I think I’m trying to remind myself!
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Love it! I once worked at an airline where the matching expression was “sometimes you just have to fly planes”!
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(smiling) Love that!
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How I agree with this… wish I could follow it though.. normally measure once and then cut… but the risk often pays off and saves time…
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I hear you that one bulldog!
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