I was never very interested in psychology or even neurology. Rather, my interest in the subjects within The Elephant Book arose in a practical way. I am naturally curious about what is around me and I love exploring. Through the years of my life I discovered a wilderness within me, right here, wherever I am.
It’s possible I like the mystery of our Selves and our Nature. I am convinced some mystery will always remain.
I also love connections and I love discovering connections and patterns. Why is a potential bit of elephant discovery in itsel, but it is not a very important one. It’s fun.
In playing golf and skiing, I discovered the joy of just doing it with grace and fun. Letting the skis flow down the mountainside and enjoying the journey. Enjoying the smooth graceful arc of the club, the crisp thwack of impact, the long arcing flight of the ball, and the dull thump of its reunion with the ground.
It is like this with people and conversations and ultimately with my life itself. That brought surprises. Things I had barely considered turned out to be dams in the flow. I suppose some of it was evoked by my limited education about business and business strategy.
The great mystery is how mediocre we are. Most organizations just suck. Most leaders don’t lead much. And formal management and leadership education is even worse than the practice of those arts.
As we understand something it becomes simpler and more clear. This is not a thinking process. Maybe it is intuitive – I am not expert enough at thinking vs. intuition to know.
Over time all of the discoveries and connections formed themselves into an order, maybe a framework. Then new discoveries suddenly connected in multiple places at once.
And at some point, there was something, a shape with detail and color and texture. A story or a picture. Or something like a musical movement. Something that wanted to be uncovered and told.
Elephants and Economics 