Everyone is a part of a system

and is a system,

at least one of each.

The question then is,

which is the focus?

The human condition loves to focus on the parts.

It’s easy. It’s why we obsess

over making to-do lists, cutting carbs,

and counting likes on social media posts.

We think if we get the parts right,

the system will magically work.

Spoiler alert: It doesn’t.

Parts are only as good

as the way they interact with each other.

Efficiency asks us to think of parts

independently of each other, whereas effectiveness

asks us to think of the parts in terms

of how they interact with each other

AND how they interact in relation to

the entire system they are a part of.

Imagine a car with all its parts

perfectly laid out on the ground.

Everything is there.

The engine, the wheels, the transmission.

But you’re not going anywhere.

It’s the connections,

the way those parts fit and move together

that turn it from a pile of metal

into a vehicle.

Same goes for life.

Skills, intentions, and goals are the parts.

It’s the way they interact that determines

whether there is forward movement,

if wheels are spinning, or there is a stall out.

Competency isn’t about having all the best parts.

It’s about knowing how to make them work

together.

Are you focusing on collecting shiny parts,

or are you building the interactions that get you somewhere?