The last mile...
The last mile...Volume 4 Issue 6 News & Resources | June 2011
At the end of the day, the outcome will be the measure of success. In some aspect of life, the outcome acts as a feedback to improve the ongoing process. The outcome becomes the positive feedback to align all efforts to the fulfilment of targets. In some process, you need the negative feedback, as to reduce the errors, but ultimately achieving the desired future state. Yes, the finishing is the utmost important. What else is there? We put plans in place because the strategies will help us to align our daily efforts. A floppy and lop-sided plans will certainly entails a similar outcome. We can only harvest what we have sown. This has been the rule, and will stay that way. To harvest well must be preceded with proper seeding, fertilising and nurturing. The rules must be followed and abide by. Those who understand the rule of the game and be wise enough to adapt to the elements, will certainly meet with a bountiful harvest. What else is there? The renowned strategist, Peter F.Drucker, once said, “There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all”. Alas, this is the bad habit that we still repeat day in day out. We love to feel that we have done things, and what more doing them efficiently. But, doing things efficiently do not indemnify the failure of not doing the right thing. It is much better to do the right thing rather that just focusing on doing things right. Check; are we climbing the right wall? Or are we solving the right problem? Or are we addressing the pertinent issues? Some thinking is seriously needed here. What else is there? The last mile is the most important phase in any research project. Of course, this is the penultimate phase where the probable outcome will start to take shape. All the constraints are merging, and we need to be more creative that before. The mind-set must be of constructive and optimist, as this is the only mental setting to ensure success. Doubts and pessimist attitudes will not help us here sir. The key is to open to suggestion and probable solution. What matters is the fulfilment of our dreamed outcome. To survive under pressure is not a joking matter. I know, because I am a diver! “It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” (From a speech given in Paris at the Sorbonne in 1910 - Theodore Roosevelt) In the oceans, organisms are classified in various ways. One of the approaches is to classify based on the way the organism moves. There are plankton, nekton and benthos-type organisms. Plankton refers to wandering organism (e.g. zooplankton, bacterioplankton and phytoplankton) – i.e. organisms with very weak or limited abilities of movement. Nekton is the swimming organism especially various species of fish. Nekton feed on plankton, including young fish. Hence, nekton are lest restricted form of life in the sea. Lastly, we have benthos, which are bottom dwellers, and tend to stay there for the remainder of their lives. So, we can choose to be a plankton, nekton or benthos-type of people. Researchers cannot be plankton-type or benthos-type. We are NEKTON! Hence, we will move and create motion. The last mile can be the most frustrating or rewarding times. It can be frustrating because of the seemingly crushing failure around the corner, after all the struggles and pains. It can also be rewarding, when thinking of the sweetness of success and glory (probably world fame – you wish!), waiting for us. The last mile is the turning point. We can only do so much. And, it is certainly useful to remember that, “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly” (Robert F. Kennedy) Go NEKTON! |
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