What Next People: A James Rant

Sometimes I just need to rant to my friends. I consider all of you my friends so pull up a chair. Today’s rant is about what I call the What Next People. They are the bane of my existence. They top my short pet peeve list. What next People waste so much of my time at work. They resist any attempt on my part to put an end to that behavior. So what is a what next person you ask. Oh you know them. They are everywhere. You might be one yourself. If you are read this and answer what is next.

What Next

So what is a What Next Person? Let me tell you a story about work. I could pick any of hundreds. I asked a lady at work to fill up some things. Easy right. That endcap is empty, fill it. Personally I like vague directions. I’ll do it my own damn way. Minutes later I’m called back by her. She tell’s me that we don’t have the ones it’s missing. She can’t fill it up. What Next. I tell her to put something else there. Was that not the obvious solution. Did she think I would change my mind and let it stay empty? No I gave you a mission now finish it. Geez.

What Next People will never make a decision. To them they either do it exactly right or they do nothing. Usually the second. Like they are looking for an excuse for not do it. I’ve tried and tried to teach them to think. It must scare them. I scream take initiative and figure it out. I have always lived with the It’s better to ask forgiveness than permission philosophy. I prefer doing over about anything. Planing is not a strong point of mine. What Next is what I ask myself.

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“In the words of the ancients, one should make his decisions within the space of seven breaths. Lord Takandobu said, “If discrimination is long, it will spoil.” Lord Naoshige said, “When matters are done leisurely, seven out of ten will turn out badly. A warrior is a person who does things quickly.

When your mind is going hither and thither, discrimination will never be brought to a conclusion. With an intense, fresh and undelaying spirit, one will make his judgments within the space of seven breaths. It is a matter of being determined and having the spirit to break right through to the other side.”

I read that quote years ago in the Hagakure. The book of the samurai has many good lessons in it. When I think about What next people this comes to mind. I often think this when I have a decision to make. Make a quick decision and move on with life. The What next people will die when TSHTF. Don’t live your life looking for a leader. Be a leader.