Big Picture People
Although I am genetically mandated to deconstruct concepts in order to understand them, I am a "big picture" kind of gal. I think it's important to see the whole in order to make good decisions about the parts.
That said, I think "big picture" thinking has a fatal flaw, and it's critical that us BPs be closely monitored by detailed types. You know - accountants, attorneys, and others who review such minutia as footnotes and whether the electrical outlets are in the right place. To rebel against the monitoring, or to scare the voice of their findings is to periodically look like an idiot.
Our little coastal town used to have a creepy little Safeway that sold perishables perilously close to their expiration date. The interior was shabby and ill conceived, but employees overpowered that with their terminally sunny dispositions. "How ARE you today?" they'd shriek just as the automatic door creaked open. "Are you FINDING everything okay?" you'd hear, as you pulled your mangled card from its rusty union.
It was a great place to go in a hateful mood, because of the myriad of smart-ass retorts that danced gleefully in your head. My personal favorite discourse was asking where incense was, when inevitably asked if I needed help. "Insects? Why would we carry insects?" Why, indeed.
Better yet, you are always asked if you need help with your merchandise. Yeah, ask that 80 year old woman if she'll help me lug my dental floss to the car. I don't think I can make it.
Well, all good things come to an end. They tore down the dingy little Safeway and built a great, big, huge Safeway down the street. This bad boy was gigantic. We walked by on the river walk watching it rise from the ground, wondering how far past the opening date on the banner it would finally open.
When the shell was complete, little by little the store took shape. Aisle after aisle, we peeked in anticipation.
Then, the fatal flaw. Those bigwigs in Safewayland, driving up in their rented luxury cars, were either all big picture people, or beat their detail oriented minions into submission.
Aisle 11 - Greeting Cards and Incontinence.
God bless them, every one.
That said, I think "big picture" thinking has a fatal flaw, and it's critical that us BPs be closely monitored by detailed types. You know - accountants, attorneys, and others who review such minutia as footnotes and whether the electrical outlets are in the right place. To rebel against the monitoring, or to scare the voice of their findings is to periodically look like an idiot.
Our little coastal town used to have a creepy little Safeway that sold perishables perilously close to their expiration date. The interior was shabby and ill conceived, but employees overpowered that with their terminally sunny dispositions. "How ARE you today?" they'd shriek just as the automatic door creaked open. "Are you FINDING everything okay?" you'd hear, as you pulled your mangled card from its rusty union.
It was a great place to go in a hateful mood, because of the myriad of smart-ass retorts that danced gleefully in your head. My personal favorite discourse was asking where incense was, when inevitably asked if I needed help. "Insects? Why would we carry insects?" Why, indeed.
Better yet, you are always asked if you need help with your merchandise. Yeah, ask that 80 year old woman if she'll help me lug my dental floss to the car. I don't think I can make it.
Well, all good things come to an end. They tore down the dingy little Safeway and built a great, big, huge Safeway down the street. This bad boy was gigantic. We walked by on the river walk watching it rise from the ground, wondering how far past the opening date on the banner it would finally open.
When the shell was complete, little by little the store took shape. Aisle after aisle, we peeked in anticipation.
Then, the fatal flaw. Those bigwigs in Safewayland, driving up in their rented luxury cars, were either all big picture people, or beat their detail oriented minions into submission.
Aisle 11 - Greeting Cards and Incontinence.
God bless them, every one.
posted by Kitty O'Keefe at 9:35 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home