Invisible Ledger... A Story About Systems
Is the whole system one ledger full of subledgers?
I want to take a step back for a minute.
I have been yapping about this ledger stuff for over a year (yes, I know I took a huge break).
How do all the topics I talk about fit together?
I have seen many different metaphors about how we perceive life.
Marriage points, trust batteries, and jars of marbles to name a few.
All great and I wanted to consolidate them into one framework and I thought of ledgers. It’s probably too math and accounting-focused for many.
I am the author so… take it or leave it!
The ledgers are little accounts to keep tabs on how to understand why your life is where it is and how you can get it to where you want it to be. There are likely thousands you can keep track of. This is probably the reason we are all so tired!
Your file cabinet of ledgers is your system.
For younger people, it’s a Google Drive of ledgers.
Everything around us is a system.
Your ledgers are documents on how you show up in the world.
Many people don’t think about systems as a whole and try to deal with the parts in isolation. This is where trouble arises.
We use duct tape as a metaphor for our problems.
“Oh, just duct tape it for now.”
We don’t care to know what the real issue is, we solve the problem right in front of us. Solving that problem has collateral damage.
Think about plumbing. If there is a leak we may try to fix the part that is leaking. What if there is a pressure problem. Once you fix the leak, will another show up?
Zooming in you see systems.
Zooming out… systems.
I was watching a documentary about the human gut. People were shocked to learn how closely the gut and brain worked together.
Your body is a system.
Keep zooming out, you are not alone in your household. You could have a family or roommates who are affected by the things you do.
Keep zooming out, your company is a system.
A new metaphor!
Don’t like ledgers? Go with Rube Goldberg Machines.
You cannot solve problems unless you understand the system you are working with.
If you decide you want to get healthier, that’s great! Do what you need to accomplish that goal.
The next question is how will this impact your family system.
Will your kids eat healthier?
Do you now have to use more restraint since you have to keep snacks your kids love and you can’t have?
Will your extra gym time come at the expense of spending time with your family in a detrimental way?
Let’s try another one.
As a company, you correct your books by laying off 1/3 of your employees.
Great! your operation expenses will go down.
Now what about productivity and extra turnover?
Last one!
As a governmental body, you fund a program to help some groups.
Awesome!
What happens if you have to defund some other more net-beneficial programs?
What could be the collateral damage?
I like to think of that horror short story “The Monkey’s Paw”.
It’s a story about how this magical monkey’s paw can grant wishes. However, those wishes always take some sneaky turn. For example, someone wishes for a sum of money. The paw grants it not by dropping cash but by killing a family member and the insurance payout is for the exact amount.
We can bring up my favorite story: Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see. (side note, this was recently displayed wonderfully in a Bluey episode. It seems to be catching on!)
There are ALWAYS connections.
If you understand the systems, you make far better decisions because you know the tradeoffs.
You will be able to make better bets against the collateral damage.
We are all part of groups whether it’s school, company, town, or religious organizations.
It’s depressing to think of yourself as just a small cog in the bigger machine.
So let’s reframe!
You are the marble that moves from a tumbled domino to hit a trigger to keep the machine going. If you stray and miss, the machine fails.
You play an important role in this world. It may not always be as clear as the example above. Sometimes it will feel like you don’t matter and can disappear. That’s all in the perception not necessarily the reality.
When you take responsibility for your part in the systems of your communities, you can have a greater impact. This is where the community feeling from Adler comes in.
You are a part of the system and can control how you show up and make an impact.
There it is.
I just boiled down life into an infinite inception of Rube Goldberg Machines.
You’re welcome.
Until next time:
