Why I Failed Math- Calculating

November 5, 2007 · Comments

Sometimes, I get an inkling of the realization that some folks around me are calculating. They’re considering when to promote something or when to say nothing. They’re thinking about how X makes them look in the eyes of Y.

I’m either too stupid or too lazy to do this.

For whatever reason, I try hard to just live my life the best that I can. And sometimes, by overextending myself, I make mistakes. Other times, I bite off more than I can chew. But I’m rarely going to be accused of doing something underhanded or sneaky or mean or calculating.

Why? Because it’s just too much work.

For those of you who DO calculate and plot and try to find the angles, good luck with that. I’m sure it’s giving you success, and you’re probably moving up some food chain that I’m not even aware exists. That’s cool, too.

I’ll just be over here doing my thing, and hopefully being a good guy.

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  • Great post Chris.

    This is so true. It takes so much work to calculate every move to ensure that in your mind, you've "looked good" in front of so and so...

    It's truly a personal trait. It comes back to how one defines self worth, and where they look for fulfillment and validation.

    Looking for your worth/fulfillment/validation in the praises of other people is a sad mistake that far too many people make.

    Thanks for being real Chris, it's refreshing.
  • Yeah Nik - get the MacBookPro - I got mine and crashed it 4 days later - coming from the PC world, you'll feel right at home!

    Chris,

    I deal with this thing everyday, I'm not good at self-promotion or manipulation, and as a result I often feel that I am coming in last place.

    All in all, I sleep well at night, never needing to remember what I've said or what tales I'm spinning.

    I tell it like I see it, which may not work in the marketing world, but in my little slice of this earth, it works well. I've known many lonely millionaires.
  • Nik- get the macbook- you'll never regret it. I got mine in march and I am a new woman because of it!

    This makes me think about the balance between looking for the next step and going with the flow- it's always a dance between the two. Everything that's happened in the past year makes me think that the military has it right- no plan survives contact with the enemy- meaning that all plans are at best jumping off points for the on the spot improvising we all have to do.

    In law school, I took a course in Bankruptcy law, and it was all about creative problem solving, including pre-bankruptcy planning. Likewise, many people plan for their eventual divorce long before the other party even has a clue. While not always "nice", if you do know the other shoe is going to drop, sometimes, planning in advance can have its advantages. Similarly, if you were looking for a new job or new career, you might want to have something "in pocket" before telling your boss you quit, so you can still pay the rent in the meantime.

    So in the end, I think you have to balance when to calculate and plan and when to go with the flow- and the wisdom is knowing the difference between the two.
  • The thing about the Calculating type of person is they are not very good at spur of the moment or intuitive leaps of thought.

    Sure they can plan and move and manoeuvre their way around life . In general they dont like, and usually plan to avoid, anything which smacks of thinking on their feet or making a decision quickly.

    I tend to be the non calculator I like to leave it to my subconscious to do the planning and tactical and leave it to my concious mind to handle experience and understanding.

    There is nothing ( other than the self marketing of the planner people ) to say that being a planner and a calculator is the best approach all the time.

    Thanks for posting Chris.

    It adds to my noodling over how to get a Macbook Pro for Christmas.
  • Fuzzy Monkey Launcher? Reminds me of Happy Fun Ball:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXG8RNTp5EM
  • My favorite trick to pull on people in person when they pull the "not really listening to Chris" bit is to start talking about something completely crazy in the same tone of voice.

    "...because the social network isn't just another ad platform, and it's..." [realizes they're not paying attention] "...better for monkeys, who have a high tolerance for pain. Fuzzy Monkey Launcher has been kid-tested, mother-approved for centuries."

    Like that. : )
  • I've been subscrUbed to your feed for a couple of weeks now, Chris. And like Ben above, wish you had an edit my comment feature on your site ;)

    (for those of you calculating whether or not I am taking a calculated shot at BA, I'm not. Ben probably types very fast, as I do, and like myself doesn't type with 100% accuracy. It's all in fun!)

    You know my biggest peeve, that I believe is a precursor to what you are talking about here, Chris? When you talk to folks (in person, gasp!) and you can clearly see that while they may "hear" you, they are not "listening" to you. Instead, they are listening to their own thoughts. And while those thoughts may not fall into the negative, calculating category, it is my belief they are in fact related!

    "Oh, I'm sorry, were you commenting on my blog", says Chris Brogan ;)
  • Too true, Chris; life is far too short to not live it as it comes and waste time calculating. While you obviously need to think things through, if people are genuine with each other then the world would be a beter place. Expecially for those that are already so.

    Just subscrubed to your blog via RSS, it's good so far - keep up the great work! :)

    Ben
  • Love Triumphs!
  • OK, so who tried to screw you over today?
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