If It Isn't Broken....Leave It Alone
To contrast yesterday’s blog linked below:
There is this thought that if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it. You very well might subscribe to that. However, if you do, that thinking is flawed. You cannot turn your eyes away from something or someone just because it’s running fine. It very well might look in good shape. It very well may not give you any problems. But, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay attention.
You cannot and should not think you can go through life and not have an active contribution to the things and people around you. Your car works fine. But it will need an oil change. Your marriage might appear good to you, however, it doesn’t mean you sit back and stop trying with your spouse. What does your spouse think and feel?
In business, the product or department might be performing fine. But you have a lot of waste or your’re losing money. Perhaps you can improve the product or department to better service your customer. And as a result you end up making more money or building a loyal customer base. You may think you are doing a fine job as a manager. However, by being active in the improvement of your team you build retention. People like working for you, with you.
We’ve always done it this way, as the expression goes. That is an example of if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it.
Things may not be broken. Yet, they will need maintenance. Reorganization. Cleaning out. Hiring an extra person. Therapy. An inspection. An alteration. A change. It may not be broken. But it may get better. More efficient.
Maybe it’s laziness. Or the oblivious approach to life that things will just take care of themselves. Don’t be naive. It could be fear. It could be you have no clue how to manage what’s in front of you. It could be that you just don’t want to do the work to maintain it.
If it ain't broke don't fix it means don't try to adjust or improve something that is already working reasonably well. Are these the standards you want to live by? You want to accept reasonably well? In life? Marriage? Business? Career? With yourself.
Colin Powell summed it up beautifully by saying:
If it ain't broke, don't fix it' is the slogan of the complacent, the arrogant or the scared. It's an excuse for inaction, a call to non-arms.
Thought Provoking Questions : What are you ignoring because it’s working reasonably well?
Dan Roman is a writer that releases a daily meditation. A quick read. Sharing wisdom and asking thought-provoking questions. Influenced by the obstacles, success and failures in life and of others. Using history, books, current events, philosophy, and ancient wisdom. These writings are actionable, thought-provoking, designed to make your life better.
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