A Class with Drucker - Headway | Work on yourself

232 ■ A CLASS WITH DRUCKER
“So do I,” he said. “I, too, have a few books that have been on my list
for years. Unfortunately, something more immediate always seems to
come up and I write about this other subject instead. Strategy is certainly
an important topic. I hope you get to complete the work this
time.”
“Actually, it’s going well and nothing has interrupted me as yet,” I told
him. “Also, since I retired from the Air Force, I have much more time. I
have high hopes that I’ll be able to complete the work this year.” 1
Then I asked him, “What about you?”
“I always have a number of projects in progress,” Peter replied. “It is
surprising to me, though, how many people think this is easy. It is not. It
requires a great deal of energy and discipline, as I am certain you know.
But this is true <strong>with</strong> everything in life.
“I am sometimes both surprised and perturbed by managers who
think that simply being infused <strong>with</strong> natural abilities will carry them
through,” Peter continued. “Or they see advancement in their careers as
a matter of practicing the correct office politics. As they see it, managers
get ahead, are promoted, or achieve whatever it is that they want <strong>with</strong> little
effort. It’s all due primarily to luck or influence.
“Where do they get these ideas?” <strong>Drucker</strong> asked. “It is true that
everyone has abilities and liabilities to a different extent. However, it is
up to every individual to develop his abilities in order to achieve his
goals, but more importantly, to make a contribution. Of course, I assume
that the manager we are speaking of is astute enough to establish goals.
All of this involves self-development, which is necessary for everyone.
One cannot plan success, but one can and must be prepared for it.
“For many years,” Peter continued, “almost since the beginning of my
work, I have followed a disciplined program of reading books on many different
topics. Of course, I enjoy it, but it certainly requires effort and discipline.
Such a program has many advantages. I have been successful in
acquiring general knowledge in a number of different areas, which is useful
in applying to supplement basic ignorance about any specific situation.
There are, of course, those who have great depth of knowledge, but only
in one narrow discipline. They know a great deal, but about very little.
They are at a disadvantage.”
“Yes,” I responded. “I’ve heard it said that such individuals know more
and more about less and less until finally they know absolutely everything
about nothing at all.”