The What / The How

It matters how we do the things

Norman Borlaug’s wildly successful efforts to increase crop yields to fight famine in Mexico, India and Pakistan came to be known as the “Green Revolution” and earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970. But his methods, which relied on water-polluting fertilizers and pesticides, had far-reaching and profoundly negative impacts on rural farmers and the environment.

It matters
how we do the things
we do

Not just what we do
but how.

How might be
more vital than when
and would

Even likely tie
with why.

You may say
“The what is the same.”
Yes and no.

Many whats come from
any how.

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What is an action you/your business is taking that’s intended to have positive impact?

How thoughtful is your approach to this action? How are you anticipating all potential outcomes? (Hint: The more urgency we feel, the less we tend to focus on the how.)

What’s a well-intentioned action you’ve taken in the past that had unintended consequences? Looking back, how would you have adjusted your approach?

How can you apply those insights to the action you’re taking today?

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