Charles Handy
This book was written by British management guru Charles Handy at the age of 80, especially for the younger generation.
Everything can't escape the S-shaped curve, and the only variable is the length of the curve.
The Roman Empire lasted for 400 years and finally died. The life curve of human beings has been extended to 90 years or even longer, while the life curve of enterprises is shorter. At present, the average life expectancy of enterprises is only 14 years.
"While history and tradition are regarded as treasures, they have also become cages."
In view of how to change the pattern of "material strength leads to old age", the author puts forward the definition of the second curve. You can search for the second curve before the first curve reaches the peak. At this time, you can have enough resources to bear the decline of the investment period of the second curve, and then your life can rise and develop.
Everything with "life" should follow "iteration" to realize the continuation of life, and each iteration is to develop the "second curve".
Every curve is closely connected, endless and endless, so that society and organizations can develop continuously and the value of innovation will be more obvious.
In the form of 16 short stories, the author explores the world from many dimensions, such as company organization, corporate governance, market changes, personal career development, social interpersonal relationships and future education and social values. It is necessary to rethink the problem from different angles and not always stay in the "first curve" world.
The most important idea conveyed by this book is that in order to advance in life, radical changes are sometimes necessary, which means opening up a completely different road from the present, which usually requires people to have a new perspective on familiar problems.
The second curve is not so much a method as a way of thinking.
Therefore, this is not so much a book on management as a book on divergent thinking.
Sigmoid curve is a mathematical concept and the law of "prosperity first and then decline", which can be used to explain the course of life, history and even the course of enterprises and governments. To break the fate, only creating the second curve is the way to "protect prosperity and Thailand".
When expounding his "second curve theory", the author said: "When you know where you should go, you often have no chance to go." Handy called the growth line from the inflection point "the second curve".
Professor Christensen divides the decline of the first curve into five stages, which I will share with you: arrogance after success, unrestrained ecstasy at the peak, denial of the existence of risks afterwards, futility of seeking medical treatment, and willingness to sink or die at last.
When the first curve continues, the change must begin.
Any growth curve will slide over the vertex of parabola (the limit of growth). The secret of continuous growth is to start a new S curve before the first curve disappears. At this time, time, resources and motivation are enough for the new curve to pass its initial exploration and struggle.
Once the decline really begins to appear, we will always save ourselves in various ways, but we have to pay a high price, which we are unwilling to bear, and it will also make us too busy to think about new things.
The thinking of the second curve is hard-won. Its appearance depends on rational analysis, imagination, intuition and instinct, and its practice requires the courage to push people aside and step into unknown areas.
Many outstanding and outstanding figures are masters of the second curve. For example, before Apple succeeded, Jobs planned to use the iPod to enter the music market. After the iPod dominated the market, he began to design the iPhone and later introduced the iPad. Every new curve is brewing before the last curve has reached its peak.
Be prepared for danger in times of peace, pay attention to the future and predict the future. When the first curve is still in the rising stage, we should start the second curve to find new growth points and make the organization develop continuously.
The second curve is still philosophical thinking. What are you thinking about?
This book actually gives a good answer: why 35 years old has become a midlife crisis for most people.
In fact, the key is that in good times, there is no reserve.
Most people around them, at the age of 40, have not found the best way to the future. Instead of making themselves better, they shrink back and even cling to the past.
Excessive narcissism, consuming resources, makes people confused and at a loss at the beginning of the second stage of life.
In the book, the author lists a class exercise for an adult student to write an obituary.
"Imagine that you died at the age of 80 and many people attended your funeral. Your best friend prepared a eulogy in advance, but you asked him to be concise and write down what you want him to say, no more than 300 words. "
People at the peak of their careers are generally in their forties, so let them stand at the end of their lives. Looking back, their resumes have long been shelved or thrown into the trash can, and they need to explore other things. What do they want to be remembered? What is their most important contribution to life? What will they leave behind when they leave?
This is really a thought-provoking exercise, but it also gives us the right to dream, that is, to look at our current work and life correctly and focus on the unrealized potential.
How should we arrange our priorities in life, how to live and why to live?
The author also tells another story in the book. He met a 93-year-old man at a party. He thinks that the old man's life must be wonderful. The old man finished his life in just a few words: 19 years old, when war broke out, he wanted to join the army but was told that he had lung problems. Finally, he chose to work in a factory on the north bank of the Thames, which became the place where he worked for the next 40 years, during which he was promoted several times. Then the old man added: Sometimes I really think I can do a lot of things in my life.
Yes, I thought I could do many things, but when I looked back, I found that I didn't seem to do anything. I walked the path that others walked and did what others did. At the same time, the road I have traveled is being walked by others, and everything is so strange and similar. Life is a cycle.
"If we can't say' enough' to ourselves, we will never be free to explore other possibilities."
We live in this information age, which means that the paradigm and logic of success are completely different from the past. "Self-responsibility" will become the most important feature of the future society. We should abandon the past experience, keep the ability of continuous learning, the consciousness of being prepared for danger in times of peace and the courage to jump out of the "comfort zone" and open the second curve of life in time.
In this self-responsible DIY society, in this winner-takes-all society, in this society where entertainment dies, in this society where mobile phones become opium, in this society where the life span of enterprises may be less than 20 years, in this society where "owning" is already too expensive, in this society with Ponzi thinking, and in this society where the average marriage age is 15 years, life expectancy is greatly prolonged.
Looking back at the end of your life, where do you want to stand? What do you want? What do you want to write in the eulogy?
Panic is hard to contain, but now I still haven't fully thought about these problems.
Work and a better life, one is a method and the other is an end, and money is not an end. Restrain our selfishness and cultivate our goodwill. Moderately selfish, invest in yourself and be willing to share. Pay attention to the financial situation, enough is enough, don't overdraw in advance, and don't be greedy. Better, not more perfect, not bigger. Moderate freedom and flexibility ... keep a contract with yourself. Sometimes life really needs a little chicken soup.
We are all artists and creators of our own lives.
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