03 BPO 38 582
BPO 38-582
COMMENTS ON THE UPPER ALTITUDES di Dean Acheson
2008. www.davidallengtd.com Riprodotto da The European House-Ambrosetti, per gentile concessione di David Allen, esclusivamente per la sessione sul tema: “Fatto e Bene! Come mantenere il controllo e allontanare lo stress sul lavoro e nella vita” - Milano, 29 settembre 2011.
Comments on the Upper Altitudes – by Dean Acheson You’ve no doubt heard about the various altitudes of focus: the 50,000’ level, the 40,000’ level, the 30,000’ level, and so forth. This commentary is intended to shed some light onto the upper altitude levels where many people run into confusion, sometimes without even being aware of the confusion. These broader overviews contain the broader attributes of time and space: that is, the higher the higher the altitude the larger the time spans that are encompassed and the broader are the areas of focus. You may have heard it said that the 50,000’ level is composed of such things as purpose and broader views of ethics, and contains the contemplation of broad, longer-range survival. Some can even contemplate the idea that this level can go beyond the confines of one’s own lifetime and can encompass the betterment of entities outside one’s own family or company or country, or even the grouping known as homo-sapiens. Where we run into trouble and confusion is attempting to set goals in this area of broad purpose. Why? Because it is difficult or impossible for one to assume full responsibility for the attainment of the major goals in an area that extends beyond one’s lifetime, or that extends beyond the boundaries of one entity across and into the boundaries of another entity. More on this in a minute . . . It is important in this discussion to understand the concept of an “entity”. Webster defines “entity” as “1: ...independent, separate, or self-contained existence...” or “3: ...an organization...that has an identity separate from those of its members”. And, I might expand that concept to an organization as separate from other organizations, or an individual as separate from other individuals or organizations. For purposes of this discussion, any individual or unit or group or part of a group that considers itself to be a self-contained unit or team or organization would fit the definition of “entity”. A church, a choir, a corporation, an employee, a division, a city, an association, you, me – all are entities. The biggest, longest-ranged, most meaningful goal of an entity does not belong at the 50,000’ level. The most all-encompassing goal for an entity belongs at the 40,000’ level. The entity must be responsible for the accomplishment of its largest, most meaningful goal. That major goal must be in concert with the 50,000’ level and the larger purpose(s) that the entity intends to support. A “goal” is defined by Webster as: “...the end toward which effort is directed”. The most major goal of an individual or an organization will be found at the 40,000’ level. For the entity, the most major goal is senior to the purpose residing at the higher 50,000’ level, even though the purpose is larger! The organization called Feed the Children supports eliminating hunger, but does not take that mantle on as its goal. There are many goals that organization will accomplish in a year.
www.davidallengtd.com
©2008 Dean Acheson Used by the David Allen Company with permission.
page 1
Most people will agree that eliminating hunger in the world would be a wonderful accomplishment. It is doubtful that any one organization could accomplish that if that were chosen as its major goal. The Feed The Children organization certainly contributes to that purpose. Their website says: “A key goal is to help families in need move past needing help and into becoming self-sufficient members of their community.” My guess is that at one time the organization’s goal was to be: “ ...one of the world’s largest private organizations dedicated to helping hungry and hurting people.” According to them they have achieved that goal. I don’t know if they have created another equivalent major goal now. There are several goals mentioned on their site but none as well defined or as large as that one. The organization certainly continues to contribute to the goal shared by many other organizations and individuals who support the broader purpose of eliminating hunger on the planet. Eliminating hunger is a higher, broader, more all encompassing goal that has not been assumed by any organization that I know of. It has continued as a mission over many lifetimes, carried on by many organizations and individuals throughout the years. In other words, the 50,000’ level contains intentions that lie beyond the responsibility the entity can assume. That level crosses the boundaries of a lifetime and/or the boundaries of the entity itself. The entity can contribute to the intentions residing at the 50,000’ level, but the major goals the entity sets at the 40,000’ level for itself are senior.
For more David Allen Company tools and educational content, check out our GTD Products section at davidco.com. For our online learning center, visit GTD Connect at gtdconnect.com.
www.davidallengtd.com
©2008 Dean Acheson Used by the David Allen Company with permission.
page 2
COMMENTS ON THE UPPER ALTITUDES di Dean Acheson
2008. www.davidallengtd.com Riprodotto da The European House-Ambrosetti, per gentile concessione di David Allen, esclusivamente per la sessione sul tema: “Fatto e Bene! Come mantenere il controllo e allontanare lo stress sul lavoro e nella vita” - Milano, 29 settembre 2011.
Comments on the Upper Altitudes – by Dean Acheson You’ve no doubt heard about the various altitudes of focus: the 50,000’ level, the 40,000’ level, the 30,000’ level, and so forth. This commentary is intended to shed some light onto the upper altitude levels where many people run into confusion, sometimes without even being aware of the confusion. These broader overviews contain the broader attributes of time and space: that is, the higher the higher the altitude the larger the time spans that are encompassed and the broader are the areas of focus. You may have heard it said that the 50,000’ level is composed of such things as purpose and broader views of ethics, and contains the contemplation of broad, longer-range survival. Some can even contemplate the idea that this level can go beyond the confines of one’s own lifetime and can encompass the betterment of entities outside one’s own family or company or country, or even the grouping known as homo-sapiens. Where we run into trouble and confusion is attempting to set goals in this area of broad purpose. Why? Because it is difficult or impossible for one to assume full responsibility for the attainment of the major goals in an area that extends beyond one’s lifetime, or that extends beyond the boundaries of one entity across and into the boundaries of another entity. More on this in a minute . . . It is important in this discussion to understand the concept of an “entity”. Webster defines “entity” as “1: ...independent, separate, or self-contained existence...” or “3: ...an organization...that has an identity separate from those of its members”. And, I might expand that concept to an organization as separate from other organizations, or an individual as separate from other individuals or organizations. For purposes of this discussion, any individual or unit or group or part of a group that considers itself to be a self-contained unit or team or organization would fit the definition of “entity”. A church, a choir, a corporation, an employee, a division, a city, an association, you, me – all are entities. The biggest, longest-ranged, most meaningful goal of an entity does not belong at the 50,000’ level. The most all-encompassing goal for an entity belongs at the 40,000’ level. The entity must be responsible for the accomplishment of its largest, most meaningful goal. That major goal must be in concert with the 50,000’ level and the larger purpose(s) that the entity intends to support. A “goal” is defined by Webster as: “...the end toward which effort is directed”. The most major goal of an individual or an organization will be found at the 40,000’ level. For the entity, the most major goal is senior to the purpose residing at the higher 50,000’ level, even though the purpose is larger! The organization called Feed the Children supports eliminating hunger, but does not take that mantle on as its goal. There are many goals that organization will accomplish in a year.
www.davidallengtd.com
©2008 Dean Acheson Used by the David Allen Company with permission.
page 1
Most people will agree that eliminating hunger in the world would be a wonderful accomplishment. It is doubtful that any one organization could accomplish that if that were chosen as its major goal. The Feed The Children organization certainly contributes to that purpose. Their website says: “A key goal is to help families in need move past needing help and into becoming self-sufficient members of their community.” My guess is that at one time the organization’s goal was to be: “ ...one of the world’s largest private organizations dedicated to helping hungry and hurting people.” According to them they have achieved that goal. I don’t know if they have created another equivalent major goal now. There are several goals mentioned on their site but none as well defined or as large as that one. The organization certainly continues to contribute to the goal shared by many other organizations and individuals who support the broader purpose of eliminating hunger on the planet. Eliminating hunger is a higher, broader, more all encompassing goal that has not been assumed by any organization that I know of. It has continued as a mission over many lifetimes, carried on by many organizations and individuals throughout the years. In other words, the 50,000’ level contains intentions that lie beyond the responsibility the entity can assume. That level crosses the boundaries of a lifetime and/or the boundaries of the entity itself. The entity can contribute to the intentions residing at the 50,000’ level, but the major goals the entity sets at the 40,000’ level for itself are senior.
For more David Allen Company tools and educational content, check out our GTD Products section at davidco.com. For our online learning center, visit GTD Connect at gtdconnect.com.
www.davidallengtd.com
©2008 Dean Acheson Used by the David Allen Company with permission.
page 2
