P2 The Blog

We live in a world where business, economics, and politics collide in ways that are frustrating and painful. Some scholars characterize our existence as living on a nonstop treadmill . The typical executive’s workday is full of meetings, e-mails, phone calls, travel, reports, crisis management, problem-solving , and decision-making. The Boston Consulting Group ’s “ index of complicatedness ” has been increasing 7% per year for 50 years now. When was the last time you read a book in one sitting? Or in a day? Or in a week? When was the last time you wrote down important points from your reading in a journal? When was the last time you tried one of those “new ideas” in your work? A Harvard Business School study of top leaders provides some startling figures: They spend 60% of their time in meetings . They spend 25% of their time on the phone or at public events . That leaves 15% for everything else . This busyness as if the world may end tomo

In 1997, Bowen McCoy wrote an article in HBR titled " The Parable of the Sadhu ." Here is the abstract: A group of executives (among them the author) from different countries is on a Himalayan trek . As they prepare to reach their destination, an 18,000 foot pass over a crest, some memories about the problems that one faces at high altitudes swirl through their minds. Having reached 15,500 feet, they don't want to give up. They wake up at 3.30 AM and start climbing. Barely a few minutes into the climb, they spot an almost naked sadhu (Indian ascetic) struggling on the way down. No one knows what to do . One team member is so excited about the crest that is only a few hours away that he walks ahead. The others manage to cover the sadhu with some clothes. The sadhu is alive. The team spots another team coming up and leaves.  On reaching the crest and congratulating each other on their "success", the author remembers the sadhu. An argument fo