Not What But How?

Not What But How?

Notice at both conventions that the politicians will talk specifically about “what” (provide quicker virus testing, provide health care for all, protect social security, attack climate change, attain social justice) but only generalize about “how” (reduce waste, create new taxes, reallocate funds, get the best minds working on it). It’s hard for me to imagine a coach or a consultant getting paid much for simply telling a client what to do, which is usually pretty obvious, and not how to do it, which is usually not and often painful.

Imagine a doctor: Take better care of your health.

Accountant: Keep better records.

Attorney: Get divorced.

Designer: Get more light.

My wife doesn’t say “clean up.” She says, “Take those newspapers and put them into the recycling bin, then put your clothes that are on the chair on hangers in your closet, then take your empty glass and put it in the dishwasher.” This actually get things done, though I generally put the glass in the microwave which I constantly confuse with the dishwasher.