This should be the top comment overall. The mods should sym-link it into the root thread or something.
From a leadership perspective, understanding that seemingly minor decisions have can horrible consequences, and how often that happens, is what makes good leaders.
Here's one: Bancroft Hall at the US Naval Academy lacked air conditioning until 2004. Even after plans were made, the funding was cancelled because alumni complained that "it would make the students weak".
One admiral had the temerity to re-fund the work and got A/C installed. In reality, not only did performance improve, 25% fewer midshipmen got sick throughout the summer months. A total of over 500 fewer diagnoses. Multiply that by the last 10 years, and you're quite possibly saving a life in that 5000 illnesses.
The medical director's assessment at the time: the students were probably enjoying improved immune function due to better sleep.
When you're in charge and trying to save money for your Ferrari, don't forget that life sucks at the bottom. Maybe you should spend that money on bigger monitors for your help desk people instead.
Because, in truth, you're not successful only because of your hard work and personal risk and sacrifice early on. Plenty of people worked hard, took risk, and made sacrifices to make the organization what it is. You just won the CEO lottery.
"A total of over 500 fewer diagnoses. Multiply that by the last 10 years, and you're quite possibly saving a life in that 5000 illnesses."
Not to mention the delays in people taking time to get diagnosed, extra costs in diagnosing, delay in treating more serious complaints, and the cumulative effect of all of that over years.
From a leadership perspective, understanding that seemingly minor decisions have can horrible consequences, and how often that happens, is what makes good leaders.
Here's one: Bancroft Hall at the US Naval Academy lacked air conditioning until 2004. Even after plans were made, the funding was cancelled because alumni complained that "it would make the students weak".
One admiral had the temerity to re-fund the work and got A/C installed. In reality, not only did performance improve, 25% fewer midshipmen got sick throughout the summer months. A total of over 500 fewer diagnoses. Multiply that by the last 10 years, and you're quite possibly saving a life in that 5000 illnesses.
The medical director's assessment at the time: the students were probably enjoying improved immune function due to better sleep.
When you're in charge and trying to save money for your Ferrari, don't forget that life sucks at the bottom. Maybe you should spend that money on bigger monitors for your help desk people instead.
Because, in truth, you're not successful only because of your hard work and personal risk and sacrifice early on. Plenty of people worked hard, took risk, and made sacrifices to make the organization what it is. You just won the CEO lottery.