09-01-2011, 10:36 PM
I think everyone has their own way of working. To me, it has always been about meeting clearly defined goals. You speak about long-term goals, but who is setting them? If they are clear, then it seems whether they are being met or not should be determining the success of a project. If they are ill-defined, success is elusive. If someone is getting in your way, try to work around them. It took me a very long time, and I still sometimes feel like I'm throwing in the towel with this idea, but ultimately I concluded that I won't ever live in a perfect world and I will have to compromise with others to create a workable group dynamic.
I don't know if this is a good analogy, but when I worked in film, a hot topic of discussion was pandering to the audience. People would, and still do, put down certain directors and producers for pandering. In many cases I agreed, but you also find this element in the most talented and successful people. I always thought that if you strive to maintain your purity and don't accommodate the audience, you are basically sitting in a corner self-pleasuring; an audience is part of the dynamic. They are an essential factor in your success. The point I think I'm trying to make is, that it is good to maintain your vision, but if you adhere to it so strictly that you are unable to accomplish tasks that require the work and cooperation of others, you have to accept a certain measure of what you perceive to be their shortcomings to find success. Operationally, I would be looking at where the goals come from and their clarity and odds of success. Good luck.
I don't know if this is a good analogy, but when I worked in film, a hot topic of discussion was pandering to the audience. People would, and still do, put down certain directors and producers for pandering. In many cases I agreed, but you also find this element in the most talented and successful people. I always thought that if you strive to maintain your purity and don't accommodate the audience, you are basically sitting in a corner self-pleasuring; an audience is part of the dynamic. They are an essential factor in your success. The point I think I'm trying to make is, that it is good to maintain your vision, but if you adhere to it so strictly that you are unable to accomplish tasks that require the work and cooperation of others, you have to accept a certain measure of what you perceive to be their shortcomings to find success. Operationally, I would be looking at where the goals come from and their clarity and odds of success. Good luck.