What Six Year Old Children Taught Microsoft and IBM About Goal Setting

One of my favorite exercises with school children, and one of my favorite examples to use with executives at organizations like Microsoft and IBM, involves a simple jigsaw puzzle.

To start the exercise with children, I first divide them up into three groups. I give each group an identical jigsaw puzzle and the same instruction: “This is a timing test. I want you guys to work on this and put it together.” I said, “You can talk, laugh, have a good time. Just you can’t look at the other tables.”

Since I'm teaching a lesson, however, I do one thing differently. The first group gets the puzzle with the right cover (which has the photo of the completed puzzle on it). The second group gets the exact same puzzle, but I take away the top. They had no idea what this thing looked like. I give the third group the same puzzle, but with a zinger. I give them a puzzle top to a different puzzle. The picture doesn't match the puzzle.

How important is it to have a clear vision? You are about to find out.

The kids will typically say something like “No problem.” and get to work.

The first group gets the puzzle done done in about three minutes… done… over with. By this time, group two is usually struggling, but making some progress. About 60% there.

The third group typically has made no progress whatsoever by this point. They are absolutely, completely confused. And they are the most stressed out. I can see that they are really starting to get really agitated.

To the first group, I give a congratulatory remark and ask “How did you put that puzzle together so quickly?” The kids respond with something like, “Well, we just kind of looked at the picture in front of us and sort of put it together.”

By the time I'm finished talking with the first group, the second group is usually getting close to done. I'll ask the second group, "How did you guys do it?"

"Well, we were just going for the corners and that was the best strategy we could come up with. We try to slowly put the…try to figure out what piece would go in there.” It obviously took them a lot longer.

The third group is typically making little progress by this point, and usually the kids are talking about something else or have entirely given up. Then I point out to them that their cover picture looks nothing like the finished puzzle of the other groups.

I will then bring them the correct puzzle top, and they will finish the puzzle very quickly and receive my congratulations. I go on to explain to the kids the lesson they just learned.

How clear is your Vision?

Are you like the kids who had no Vision? Feeling your way tentatively?

Are you like the kids with the wrong Vision? Wondering why you are getting nowhere fast?

Would life be easier if you had a crystal clear Vision like the first group of kids? They are often TWICE as fast as the group with NO Vision.

What is scary is what happened to the group with the wrong Vision... Hopeless, frustrated, agitated, angry...

Good Planning Doesn't Cost You Time . . . It Saves You Time!

These same questions are what I ask executives at places like IBM and Microsoft. Are they giving their employees the right puzzle cover, no puzzle cover, or worse, the WRONG puzzle cover...

And I am now asking you:

Is your life like a jumble of puzzle pieces scattered all over the place, while you're holding the wrong cover?

Life Will Not Go According to Plan . . .If You Do Not Have a Plan