Sunday Musings: Exploring the Psychology of the Planning and Doing we Engage in!

Are you a "planner" or a "doer?"

Actually, it's not as straightforward a question as it might seem, because we pretty much all engage in some planning and some doing.

My dad, for example, was the consummate "doer."

He'd get a box with something that required "assembly and installation" and he would just launch directly into it with no regard whatsoever for the instruction manual or directions... and often he'd reach some point and have to dis-assemble partially in order to move forward again and eventually finish.

Sometimes his approach resulted in things getting done in record time, and sometimes it would be done in record long time, accompanied by much cussing, groaning and deep sighs.

Myself? I am definitely a planner.

I will extensively study something, read about it, work through it in my head, work through it on paper and what have you... before even unpacking the box.

Then I will finally get to unpacking the box and then end up doing the doing in about ten minutes, even with something very complex.

Now, the "box and assembly" example is just that... an illustration of different approaches to problem solving.

Not saying one approach is "better" than the other... except maybe if it involves handling hazardous materials.

Besides, there's always more to life's little questions than immediately meets the eye!

In this case, learning styles.

I not only have a very long learning curve, I tend to be a "book learner." In contrast, my dad had a very short learning curve, and was a hands-on learner.

Digging a bit deeper, few things actually make sense to me unless I understand the underlying mechanics, purpose and function of them. My dad would see a pile of stuff and create the function as he went along, without needing to know the "purpose."

In the end, this entire little exploration is really an exercise in looking at our strengths, weaknesses and "highest and best" use in life.

My dad was pretty much the "crazy inventor guy" who could turn a broken down lawnmower, a barn door, some old pipes and a couple of lawn chairs into a working snowplow.

My talent is looking at what he did and figuring out how to most effectively and quickly source better parts and assemble a more durable version for the least amount of money without sacrificing quality.

Of course, we can dig one level deeper and talk about "micro" vs. "macro" level thinking.

My dad's primary orientation was to look at and deal with what was right in front of him and needed to be solved, in that moment. He rarely looked at the broader application of things.

For example, he invented a device because he needed to be able to accurately count 3,000+ bottle caps a minute at the family factory... more accurately than "weighing and guessing." The cogwheel centrifuge and electronic eye device he came up with ended up being at the heart of high-speed coin counting machines at banks and casinos around the world for the next 30-odd years... but he could care less. He just needed to count those bottle caps.

I spend a lot more time pondering questions like "What can this be USED for, on a broader scale, to make OVERALL life easier in the world."

Again, simply different approaches.

I've occasionally been asked whether I am "afraid of making mistakes." It's a worthy question, but the answer is no. I hate making mistakes, but I am not afraid of making mistakes. I hate making mistakes because they feel like a waste of time I could be spending with something more enjoyable. And — to add another level — If I'd done my homework I wouldn't be MAKING mistakes! Which brings the entire discussion full circle back to the fact that I generally enjoy planning far more than I enjoy doing... with a few exceptions, of course.

Like cooking. Or going on random daytrips. Or writing blog posts and "just seeing what comes out."

This post has also been partly inspired by some recent thinking on the topic of "generalization" vs. "specialization." Where and when are we best served by which approach?

Thanks for reading, and have a great remainder of your Sunday!

How about YOU? Doer or planner? Generalist or specialist? Micro or macro thinker? Comments, feedback and other interaction is invited and welcomed! Because — after all — SOCIAL content is about interacting, right? Leave a comment — share your experiences — be part of the conversation!

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Created at 20210328 14:12 PDT
0226/1469