“in any organization there ought to be the possibility of discussion… fence sitting is an art, and it’s difficult, and it’s important to do, rather than to go headlong in one direction or the other. It’s just better to have action, isn’t it, than to sit on the fence? Not if you’re not sure which way to go, it isn’t.” (p. 100)

This is from a wonderful book called “The Meaning of It All; Thoughts of a Citizen Scientist“.  He is a hero of mine, and a brilliant, engaging, multi-faceted man that I miss.  I have many of these people that I miss.. Carl Sagan is another.

This quote is so important right now…

Whether it’s your dissatisfaction of current tech and desire to switch to something new, or it is one’s eagerness to participate in and exploit new, cutting edge, communication tools – you need to get all the information before acting in a knee jerk manner.

I see this so often…. a brimming excitement to participate erases skepticism or the patience needed to compile the right information with the right data and take the time to analyze it.  We all want simple answers, but sometimes it takes time to arrive at the correct ones.  In our effort to engage our brand with consumers, we may be damaging it.

I am afraid a lot of modern tech and social communication doesn’t include this maxim. It is my opinion that we will look back on this time and regret there weren’t more fencesitters and skeptics.

About Michael

5 Responses to “The Importance of Fence Sitting, with Dr. Richard P. Feynman; Our “Thought of the Day” in Hospitality & Business”

  1. Dwayne

    I think this quote is very applicable to today’s world in which technology changes so fast. Everyone wants the “newest and fastest” technology without fully considering the consequences of switching.

  2. Michael Hraba

    Thanks so much. It precisely why I put it out there…. people are panicked for new, without thinking of tested, tried, and proven. There’s a metaphor I have used a lot in this business… you don’t want to pioneer new tech because the pioneers get shot in the back with arrows. It sucks when you are digging out HVAC or buying new computer systems opening day of a hotel. I am much happier letting a hospital test a new type of wi-fi, then borrowing with the added advantage of learning from their mistakes.

  3. Steve Hurst

    This goes with many of the comments about today’s society. We must slow a bit, gather our thoughts, consider outcomes and take calculated steps. Our society is filled with latest and greatest when many times the product from four generations ago is equally as useful as the newest (notebook and netbook computers….please!)

    It is a challenging time to be a fence sitter, or play the role of devil’s advocate as you are rapidly labeled as challenging or not willing to “get on board”. I often find myself arguing the counterpoint merely to see how strong the presenter is in their opinion. Most often to find that they themselves have not yet formulated their own opinions fully; but still have presented them as a complete thought. Then once the person feels they are exposed they either continue to repeat the same thought over and over again until they have convinced themselves of their right or conversely roll over and give up their thought completely; rarely a middle ground.

    I just want us all to challenge each other to greater heights, trust each other enough to let go of right and wrong, and respect that the guy in the corner who has one opinion every three weeks can very well be the best idea of the decade (in other words, we don’t all need to contribute every day as long as our contributions are valuable).

    or, maybe that’s all bs…I need some time to think more about it…

  4. Matthew Phelps

    I love this quote, Michael. Thanks for sharing it.

    General George S. Patton said, “A good solution applied with vigor now is better than a perfect solution applied ten minutes later.” There are countless military adages: “Any action is better than inaction,” “Indecision is itself a decision,” etc. These are great rules of thumb, but hardly apply to every situation–even in the military.

    The leadership principle I try to impart on my Marines is to be ready, willing, and able to make a decision, but only when one actually needs to be made.

  5. Michael Hraba

    I imagine that quote can really apply to the military, except in this sense it’s not the highway of data, but a razor edge that Kurtz was talking about in Apocalypse Now. The amount of time you have to fence-sit is likely measured in seconds. Reading Lone Survivor, I can imagine what you need to be prepared for, prepared to do… and prepared to decide within split-seconds.

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