good morning we’re still morning today I want to remind you all that each one of
want to remind you all that each one of
want to remind you all that each one of us makes dozens and even hundreds of
us makes dozens and even hundreds of
us makes dozens and even hundreds of decisions every day we really act as if
decisions every day we really act as if
decisions every day we really act as if that’s almost inconsequential today I’d
that’s almost inconsequential today I’d
that’s almost inconsequential today I’d like you to consider that not only are
like you to consider that not only are
like you to consider that not only are your decisions important but that you
your decisions important but that you
your decisions important but that you can use better processes to think about
can use better processes to think about
can use better processes to think about how you make those decisions
how you make those decisions
how you make those decisions I think Ike has reminded us all how
I think Ike has reminded us all how
I think Ike has reminded us all how important our decisions are when you
important our decisions are when you
important our decisions are when you were preparing for Ike and trying to
were preparing for Ike and trying to
were preparing for Ike and trying to make sure that your children were safe
make sure that your children were safe
make sure that your children were safe during all the tornado warnings did you
during all the tornado warnings did you
during all the tornado warnings did you throw them in the closet and say stay
throw them in the closet and say stay
throw them in the closet and say stay there because it’s dangerous out of here
there because it’s dangerous out of here
there because it’s dangerous out of here or did you like a friend of mine get
or did you like a friend of mine get
or did you like a friend of mine get creative and create a mini movie theater
creative and create a mini movie theater
creative and create a mini movie theater in your powder room every day we make
in your powder room every day we make
in your powder room every day we make these small decisions but occasionally
these small decisions but occasionally
these small decisions but occasionally we have to make big decisions we decide
we have to make big decisions we decide
we have to make big decisions we decide where to live and we decide whether
where to live and we decide whether
where to live and we decide whether we’re gonna have children where we
we’re gonna have children where we
we’re gonna have children where we consider all the options and we try to
consider all the options and we try to
consider all the options and we try to think about the pros and cons but how
think about the pros and cons but how
think about the pros and cons but how many of you looked at the flood plain
many of you looked at the flood plain
many of you looked at the flood plain Maps before you picked where to live I
Maps before you picked where to live I
Maps before you picked where to live I can see who the engineers in the room
can see who the engineers in the room
can see who the engineers in the room are deciding on where to live is one of
are deciding on where to live is one of
are deciding on where to live is one of the most important decisions you can
the most important decisions you can
the most important decisions you can make it’s a big financial commitment and
make it’s a big financial commitment and
make it’s a big financial commitment and it has other qualities too but it’s
it has other qualities too but it’s
it has other qualities too but it’s really a big decision and what did you
really a big decision and what did you
really a big decision and what did you think about what did you think was
think about what did you think was
think about what did you think was important even big decisions like this
important even big decisions like this
important even big decisions like this rarely get the attention they deserve
rarely get the attention they deserve
rarely get the attention they deserve usually we think about what’s in front
usually we think about what’s in front
usually we think about what’s in front of us and we go with that we make a
of us and we go with that we make a
of us and we go with that we make a decision and move on quick decisions
decision and move on quick decisions
decision and move on quick decisions help us move through our daily life on a
help us move through our daily life on a
help us move through our daily life on a regular basis it works for us most of
regular basis it works for us most of
regular basis it works for us most of the time I’d like to ask you how would
the time I’d like to ask you how would
the time I’d like to ask you how would your life be different if when faced
your life be different if when faced
your life be different if when faced with the decision you stopped fought for
with the decision you stopped fought for
with the decision you stopped fought for a minute evaluated what the real
a minute evaluated what the real
a minute evaluated what the real question is and what the possible
question is and what the possible
question is and what the possible consequences might be before you came up
consequences might be before you came up
consequences might be before you came up with your choice by thinking of lots of
with your choice by thinking of lots of
with your choice by thinking of lots of options occasionally we get stuck in
options occasionally we get stuck in
options occasionally we get stuck in what society wants us to do our society
what society wants us to do our society
what society wants us to do our society encourages us
encourages us
encourages us to think short-term to think literally
to think short-term to think literally
to think short-term to think literally to to go forward to think quickly we
to to go forward to think quickly we
to to go forward to think quickly we start that in elementary school with
start that in elementary school with
start that in elementary school with multiple-choice tests followed by the
multiple-choice tests followed by the
multiple-choice tests followed by the fact that our whole corporate corporate
fact that our whole corporate corporate
fact that our whole corporate corporate system and our political world focuses
system and our political world focuses
system and our political world focuses on the very short-term and not on the
on the very short-term and not on the
on the very short-term and not on the long-term and not how things work so but
long-term and not how things work so but
long-term and not how things work so but while each one of us stays focused on
while each one of us stays focused on
while each one of us stays focused on the small problem in front of us we miss
the small problem in front of us we miss
the small problem in front of us we miss an infinite number of opportunities to
an infinite number of opportunities to
an infinite number of opportunities to make the better future to make better
make the better future to make better
make the better future to make better decisions each of us is capable of
decisions each of us is capable of
decisions each of us is capable of looking beyond the current moment of
looking beyond the current moment of
looking beyond the current moment of identifying the bigger picture of taking
identifying the bigger picture of taking
identifying the bigger picture of taking a different path and when we use our
a different path and when we use our
a different path and when we use our time and our skills to think outside the
time and our skills to think outside the
time and our skills to think outside the box to look holistically at the at the
box to look holistically at the at the
box to look holistically at the at the wait situation we begin to see new
wait situation we begin to see new
wait situation we begin to see new possibilities we see new choices and
possibilities we see new choices and
possibilities we see new choices and when we pay attention to those choices
when we pay attention to those choices
when we pay attention to those choices not only can we make a better decision
not only can we make a better decision
not only can we make a better decision today for the small item that we’re
today for the small item that we’re
today for the small item that we’re thinking about but we can also make a
thinking about but we can also make a
thinking about but we can also make a better decision for the future our
better decision for the future our
better decision for the future our inability to see the big picture is
inability to see the big picture is
inability to see the big picture is pretty obvious when we go through our
pretty obvious when we go through our
pretty obvious when we go through our daily life think about a trip to the
daily life think about a trip to the
daily life think about a trip to the mall where when you leave you tend to
mall where when you leave you tend to
mall where when you leave you tend to end up in a exit with 10 or 12 or 15
end up in a exit with 10 or 12 or 15
end up in a exit with 10 or 12 or 15 other cars all trying to turn left why
other cars all trying to turn left why
other cars all trying to turn left why are we all there I don’t know but I
are we all there I don’t know but I
are we all there I don’t know but I think it’s probably because we looked at
think it’s probably because we looked at
think it’s probably because we looked at the closest exit and headed that way
the closest exit and headed that way
the closest exit and headed that way we didn’t take three seconds to consider
we didn’t take three seconds to consider
we didn’t take three seconds to consider what our options were now but quick
what our options were now but quick
what our options were now but quick quick straight-line to the quick answer
quick straight-line to the quick answer
quick straight-line to the quick answer is sometimes the right way to go if
is sometimes the right way to go if
is sometimes the right way to go if there’s a drowning person or someone
there’s a drowning person or someone
there’s a drowning person or someone trapped in a house with the water rising
trapped in a house with the water rising
trapped in a house with the water rising the only question is how to get them out
the only question is how to get them out
the only question is how to get them out of the house as quickly as possible
of the house as quickly as possible
of the house as quickly as possible without putting yourself or anyone else
without putting yourself or anyone else
without putting yourself or anyone else in danger on the other hand many of us
in danger on the other hand many of us
in danger on the other hand many of us at work actually use processes to help
at work actually use processes to help
at work actually use processes to help us make better decisions with some of us
us make better decisions with some of us
us make better decisions with some of us use Design Thinking where we try to get
use Design Thinking where we try to get
use Design Thinking where we try to get rid of our assumptions and analyze
rid of our assumptions and analyze
rid of our assumptions and analyze what’s going on and figure out what the
what’s going on and figure out what the
what’s going on and figure out what the real question is before we use that
real question is before we use that
real question is before we use that information to brainstorm lots of
information to brainstorm lots of
information to brainstorm lots of possible options companies like Apple
possible options companies like Apple
possible options companies like Apple IKEA and Samsung used that kind of
IKEA and Samsung used that kind of
IKEA and Samsung used that kind of process every day in order to make the
process every day in order to make the
process every day in order to make the products we use all the time
products we use all the time
products we use all the time some companies or some organizations
some companies or some organizations
some companies or some organizations that we don’t think of as very creative
that we don’t think of as very creative
that we don’t think of as very creative are using these processes to try and do
are using these processes to try and do
are using these processes to try and do better
better
better so think about text dot who’s trying to
so think about text dot who’s trying to
so think about text dot who’s trying to improve the traffic through downtown
improve the traffic through downtown
improve the traffic through downtown they’re actually thinking outside their
they’re actually thinking outside their
they’re actually thinking outside their typical box they’re looking at changing
typical box they’re looking at changing
typical box they’re looking at changing the traffic flow to increase the number
the traffic flow to increase the number
the traffic flow to increase the number of cars that can get through without
of cars that can get through without
of cars that can get through without increasing the area too much then
increasing the area too much then
increasing the area too much then there’s communities that are using this
there’s communities that are using this
there’s communities that are using this kind of process to reinvent themselves
kind of process to reinvent themselves
kind of process to reinvent themselves think Detroit or Greensburg Kansas where
think Detroit or Greensburg Kansas where
think Detroit or Greensburg Kansas where in 2007 the tornado came through and
in 2007 the tornado came through and
in 2007 the tornado came through and destroyed 95% of all their buildings the
destroyed 95% of all their buildings the
destroyed 95% of all their buildings the big question that the day was would they
big question that the day was would they
big question that the day was would they rebuild but the townspeople held weekly
rebuild but the townspeople held weekly
rebuild but the townspeople held weekly tent meetings to consider their options
tent meetings to consider their options
tent meetings to consider their options they looked at the possibilities
they looked at the possibilities
they looked at the possibilities Greensburg has rebuilt as a green town
Greensburg has rebuilt as a green town
Greensburg has rebuilt as a green town it’s considered the greenest in America
it’s considered the greenest in America
it’s considered the greenest in America they have a sustainable comprehensive
they have a sustainable comprehensive
they have a sustainable comprehensive plan a mostly built most leads certified
plan a mostly built most leads certified
plan a mostly built most leads certified buildings per capita of anywhere in the
buildings per capita of anywhere in the
buildings per capita of anywhere in the world and a continuing recovery plan
world and a continuing recovery plan
world and a continuing recovery plan should Houston be using a similar
should Houston be using a similar
should Houston be using a similar process to figure out what we should do
process to figure out what we should do
process to figure out what we should do post Ike should we be advocating for a
post Ike should we be advocating for a
post Ike should we be advocating for a process where each one of us is part of
process where each one of us is part of
process where each one of us is part of the solution I’m sure you’ve all seen
the solution I’m sure you’ve all seen
the solution I’m sure you’ve all seen It’s a Wonderful Life with George Bailey
It’s a Wonderful Life with George Bailey
It’s a Wonderful Life with George Bailey where he thinks that he’s not an
where he thinks that he’s not an
where he thinks that he’s not an important person but he gets to see what
important person but he gets to see what
important person but he gets to see what life would be like without his fight
life would be like without his fight
life would be like without his fight without his operation in it he discovers
without his operation in it he discovers
without his operation in it he discovers that his actions have made a difference
that his actions have made a difference
that his actions have made a difference in in his town like George each of our
in in his town like George each of our
in in his town like George each of our decisions bounced around in the universe
decisions bounced around in the universe
decisions bounced around in the universe and they impact not only ourselves but
and they impact not only ourselves but
and they impact not only ourselves but also everyone else and like corporations
also everyone else and like corporations
also everyone else and like corporations we can use processes to help us think to
we can use processes to help us think to
we can use processes to help us think to help us do better in order to do that we
help us do better in order to do that we
help us do better in order to do that we need to create an environment where we
need to create an environment where we
need to create an environment where we can access all the information that’s
can access all the information that’s
can access all the information that’s around us good ideas are rarely like
around us good ideas are rarely like
around us good ideas are rarely like light bulbs it go in our head what we
light bulbs it go in our head what we
light bulbs it go in our head what we need to do is is pay attention to what’s
need to do is is pay attention to what’s
need to do is is pay attention to what’s going on around us our reliance on the
going on around us our reliance on the
going on around us our reliance on the Internet tends to reinforce our
Internet tends to reinforce our
Internet tends to reinforce our viewpoints and usually our friends are
viewpoints and usually our friends are
viewpoints and usually our friends are like-minded also when we hang around
like-minded also when we hang around
like-minded also when we hang around with like-minded people we don’t have a
with like-minded people we don’t have a
with like-minded people we don’t have a reason to question our assumptions
reason to question our assumptions
reason to question our assumptions question
question
question choices so in order to make sure that
choices so in order to make sure that
choices so in order to make sure that you don’t create an echo chamber in your
you don’t create an echo chamber in your
you don’t create an echo chamber in your head attend events like today where
head attend events like today where
head attend events like today where we’re all learning about new things and
we’re all learning about new things and
we’re all learning about new things and having things to think about read widely
having things to think about read widely
having things to think about read widely divergent views talk to people with
divergent views talk to people with
divergent views talk to people with different opinions watch educational
different opinions watch educational
different opinions watch educational television take classes attend cultural
television take classes attend cultural
television take classes attend cultural events all of these ideas and many more
events all of these ideas and many more
events all of these ideas and many more help to create the library of ideas in
help to create the library of ideas in
help to create the library of ideas in your head where you can see new
your head where you can see new
your head where you can see new consequences and new options and new
consequences and new options and new
consequences and new options and new choices I personally take a reading
choices I personally take a reading
choices I personally take a reading vacation every year where I read 10 or
vacation every year where I read 10 or
vacation every year where I read 10 or 15 books non-fiction take notes all at
15 books non-fiction take notes all at
15 books non-fiction take notes all at once in five to seven days and I just am
once in five to seven days and I just am
once in five to seven days and I just am amazed at the new connections and the
amazed at the new connections and the
amazed at the new connections and the new things I see good decision-making
new things I see good decision-making
new things I see good decision-making doesn’t have to take a long time next
doesn’t have to take a long time next
doesn’t have to take a long time next time you come across a question take a
time you come across a question take a
time you come across a question take a second and decide should you think more
second and decide should you think more
second and decide should you think more clearly about it
clearly about it
clearly about it don’t waste your time on everything
don’t waste your time on everything
don’t waste your time on everything focus on the things that can use some
focus on the things that can use some
focus on the things that can use some creativity if it’s an untied shoelace
creativity if it’s an untied shoelace
creativity if it’s an untied shoelace tie your shoe and get on with your run
tie your shoe and get on with your run
tie your shoe and get on with your run if it’s a quick trip to the mall look
if it’s a quick trip to the mall look
if it’s a quick trip to the mall look around and see what’s the best exit to
around and see what’s the best exit to
around and see what’s the best exit to take but if it’s a little more
take but if it’s a little more
take but if it’s a little more complicated take a few seconds or a few
complicated take a few seconds or a few
complicated take a few seconds or a few minutes to analyze it ask yourself a
minutes to analyze it ask yourself a
minutes to analyze it ask yourself a couple of quick questions what’s the
couple of quick questions what’s the
couple of quick questions what’s the real question what’s the actual
real question what’s the actual
real question what’s the actual situation who are the stakeholder and
situation who are the stakeholder and
situation who are the stakeholder and what are the resources then consider
what are the resources then consider
what are the resources then consider time how does time play into this will
time how does time play into this will
time how does time play into this will my question will my decision play out
my question will my decision play out
my question will my decision play out now how about in five minutes
now how about in five minutes
now how about in five minutes what about six months and then in ten
what about six months and then in ten
what about six months and then in ten years when you change your focus from
years when you change your focus from
years when you change your focus from the short-term to the bigger picture you
the short-term to the bigger picture you
the short-term to the bigger picture you begin to see new choices new options
begin to see new choices new options
begin to see new choices new options these options are important as you move
these options are important as you move
these options are important as you move forward they allow you to make better
forward they allow you to make better
forward they allow you to make better decisions our ability to impact the
decisions our ability to impact the
decisions our ability to impact the world is obvious and it happens every
world is obvious and it happens every
world is obvious and it happens every single day the next time you’re headed
single day the next time you’re headed
single day the next time you’re headed out to pick up your fourth grader at the
out to pick up your fourth grader at the
out to pick up your fourth grader at the local school consider a recent study for
local school consider a recent study for
local school consider a recent study for a local elementary school here in
a local elementary school here in
a local elementary school here in Houston the carpool line takes 30
Houston the carpool line takes 30
Houston the carpool line takes 30 minutes to clear but there are parents
minutes to clear but there are parents
minutes to clear but there are parents that arrive an hour and a half early
that arrive an hour and a half early
that arrive an hour and a half early in order to avoid sitting in the line
in order to avoid sitting in the line
in order to avoid sitting in the line they sit in their cars for 90 minutes
they sit in their cars for 90 minutes
they sit in their cars for 90 minutes with the engine running
with the engine running
with the engine running think about all the options they had
think about all the options they had
think about all the options they had they could have come and waited 30
they could have come and waited 30
they could have come and waited 30 minutes in line or showing up late and
minutes in line or showing up late and
minutes in line or showing up late and only waited 10 minutes they could have
only waited 10 minutes they could have
only waited 10 minutes they could have ridden their bikes with their kid to
ridden their bikes with their kid to
ridden their bikes with their kid to school or they could have walked or last
school or they could have walked or last
school or they could have walked or last of all they could have gone around the
of all they could have gone around the
of all they could have gone around the corner and met them where there isn’t a
corner and met them where there isn’t a
corner and met them where there isn’t a line at all I’m sure there’s even other
line at all I’m sure there’s even other
line at all I’m sure there’s even other options that I didn’t think of however
options that I didn’t think of however
options that I didn’t think of however each one of these options has an effect
each one of these options has an effect
each one of these options has an effect not only on your time your money but
not only on your time your money but
not only on your time your money but everyone’s health and air quality and
everyone’s health and air quality and
everyone’s health and air quality and has an impact on each person you your
has an impact on each person you your
has an impact on each person you your children their friends and your
children their friends and your
children their friends and your community at home now I know you’re all
community at home now I know you’re all
community at home now I know you’re all sitting there going oh yes she’s come up
sitting there going oh yes she’s come up
sitting there going oh yes she’s come up with that one one little everyday thing
with that one one little everyday thing
with that one one little everyday thing that makes a big difference or makes a
that makes a big difference or makes a
that makes a big difference or makes a small difference but in my life I don’t
small difference but in my life I don’t
small difference but in my life I don’t have time and the things I do don’t
have time and the things I do don’t
have time and the things I do don’t really make a difference I’d like you to
really make a difference I’d like you to
really make a difference I’d like you to suspend your skepticism and go with the
suspend your skepticism and go with the
suspend your skepticism and go with the ideas that’s in front of you
ideas that’s in front of you
ideas that’s in front of you you can create a process for yourself
you can create a process for yourself
you can create a process for yourself that will help you make better decisions
that will help you make better decisions
that will help you make better decisions they can help you be more think more
they can help you be more think more
they can help you be more think more globally and more creatively and your
globally and more creatively and your
globally and more creatively and your decisions matter if a small thing like
decisions matter if a small thing like
decisions matter if a small thing like like picking up your child at school can
like picking up your child at school can
like picking up your child at school can make a small difference in so many
make a small difference in so many
make a small difference in so many people’s lives and each of us makes
people’s lives and each of us makes
people’s lives and each of us makes dozens if not hundreds of decisions
dozens if not hundreds of decisions
dozens if not hundreds of decisions every day how would the world be
every day how would the world be
every day how would the world be different if you create a process for
different if you create a process for
different if you create a process for yourself where you stop think for a
yourself where you stop think for a
yourself where you stop think for a minute identify what the real question
minute identify what the real question
minute identify what the real question is and what the possible consequences
is and what the possible consequences
is and what the possible consequences are before you come up with lots of
are before you come up with lots of
are before you come up with lots of possible options and pick your path try
possible options and pick your path try
possible options and pick your path try it for six months I believe you will see
it for six months I believe you will see
it for six months I believe you will see both small and large changes in the
both small and large changes in the
both small and large changes in the world around you and I believe that you
world around you and I believe that you
world around you and I believe that you will make a bigger impact thank you
”
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