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In the Viable System Model[0], "doing the thing" is System 1. Yes of course you need System 1 or the thing won't get done. But in any viable system, you also
by saulpw 11mo ago
In the Viable System Model[0], "doing the thing" is System 1. Yes of course you need System 1 or the thing won't get done.
But in any viable system, you also have the "meta-systems", Systems 2-5:
- System 2: coordination between multiple Systems 1 (which includes prioritization, communication, and exceptional conditions)
- System 3: resource allocation and process development
- System 4: strategy and risk management
- System 5: values and holistic organizational design
As a human, you are also striving to be a viable system. You can't only just "do the thing", you have to:
- prioritize which thing to do
- take notes and keep records to communicate between past and future versions of yourself
- make sure you have the requisite resources for doing the thing
- construct your environment and processes for long-term success (habits not motivation)
- consider what happens when the thing is done and how it fits into your larger strategy
- keep your head and heart connected to make sure you're doing the right thing
None of these things are doing the thing! But they're also rather essential for getting the right things done well.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viable_system_model https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viable_system_model
- chairmansteve 11mo agoThing is, you have to start doing the thing to figure out what things you need to do the thing.
- satisfice 11mo agoYes. Also, attempting to do the thing and failing is indeed doing the thing. (although you may only know in retrospect)
- atoav 11mo agoWell, to really know how things would pan out, you have to indeed do the thing. And it happens that people will procrastinate with preparation. But as someone who does not and is fast at doing things I can tell you that if I want something done really fast preparation will be a good chunk of a projects time. If I want to toy around and the project doesn't matter that much, just doing the thing may do the trick. Now the advice on that site aims to get people started with the actual work part and tries to do so by telling you preparation doesn't matter. That is not true. But it is true that people prepare forever because they are afraid to cross the threshold where they start translating grand ideas into concrete, protentially flawed reality. That means actually good advice would deal with the question where this fear comes from, how to address it and how to notice you have been preparing too long. If you want to build a house, drawing the plans and finding the right location where to put said house is part of building a house. Or you could just mash bricks on top of each other in your backyard and then realize you forgot the foundation.
- jstummbillig 11mo agoCertainly, but don't get confused: You are not doing the thing, until you do the thing. There are many ways to do the thing. There are many more ways to not do the thing.
- saulpw 11mo agoThat's right, you're not producing paperclips unless one minute you have metal wire and the next minute you have a paperclip.
- jstummbillig 11mo agoThe ways in which you can do things around, but never actually producing a single paperclip are infinite.
- mlyle 11mo agoThat's true, but the number of paperclips you'll produce if you only devote effort to things that directly produce paperclips is also very low. It can be really difficult to strike that productive balance.
- jstummbillig 11mo agoSomebody once said in light of this dilemma: Do things that don't scale. This never meant: "It's fantastic if things don't scale". It means: "Trying to start by doing things that scale is probably bad". I mostly believe that.
- saulpw 11mo agoI also believe that in order to bootstrap a viable system, start with system 1. The OP is partially sniping at people who creating all kinds of elaborate structures for systems 2-5, without attending to the first order of business, which is system 1. I've been guilty of this myself. But it's easy to find dysfunctional organizations that focus almost exclusively on System 1, and it looks like grinding, hustle, "doing the thing", being stuck at CMM Level 1, and in my experience, it leads to burnout. So there has to be a balance.
- mhdi_kr99 11mo agowriting this reply on hackernews is not "doing the thing" bro.
- saulpw 11mo agoYou have no idea what my thing is and whether or not I'm doing it via this post on HN.
- renewiltord 11mo agoIn his case, his domain shows up on HN periodically. Like simonw or tptacek, interacting with the audience is doing the thing in his case. Haha. But probably not for the audience!
- wnc3141 11mo agoThis would have been neat in business school
- chairmansteve 11mo agoBusiness school is a great way to postpone doing the thing...
- cyost 11mo agopeople have to keep rediscovering/reinventing cybernetics because society keeps forgetting it lol
- p_v_doom 11mo agoNever thought Id see Beer references on HN