Transformation Continuous

[PHILHOOVER@aol.com]

Roger Key wrote, "Mr "In your face" speaking: Phil Monroe wrote:  "A 
transformation is not continuous!!!!"  No, so what is it then?"

I think this was in response to my DEN input that some author's wanted to 
meet people where they are, and then slowly convince them that there is a 
better way, a step at a time.  I had indicated that such thinking did not 
mirror what Dr. Deming called for.  I had heard him say many times that he 
wanted a, "Transformation of thinking, and that transformation is not 
continuous."

It was a good night for me to read Roger's response, I had just spent the day 
in Yosemite Valley here in California, and spent time looking at Yosemite 
Falls, the third highest falls in the world with a 3,000 foot drop.  I 
imagined a drop of water, at the upper level, heading towards the brink, then 
over, and then down.  Now, I will give Roger that the drop remains the same 
drop, but if one were to chart the lateral movement versus altitude as it 
moves to the Merced River, one would chart a water drop at 6,000 ft. and then 
the next space chart the water drop at 3,000'.  In at least this layman's 
language, the change I witnessed was a discontinuous event in the lateral 
movement of the drop downstream.

In my own experience, one day I was a Navy Captain, believed in setting goals 
for my people, merit pay, and annual ratings.  The next day I knew goals were 
distructive, merit pay was unjust, and annual ratings did more harm than 
good.  I quit asking, "Who did it?" and started asking, "What in the process 
happened to allow that event to occur?"  I am really fortunate because I have 
my transformation moment on tape; Dr. Deming looking down at me and saying, 
"If that is what you are doing Captain, you are breaking the law!"  Now 
Roger's question was, "Does the time space continium suddenly stop for a 
moment and then start again somewhere else?"  No it doesn't, but my mind, my 
theory of management and leadership, and the way I thought about life did 
change abruptly, in what I refer to as a discontinuous way.

Then there is Saul on the Road to Damascus who in an instant became Paul, and 
gave full meaning to the Christian Church.  What I read about what Paul 
experienced, in my writings I will label  a "discontunious event."

I have written these three paragraphs hoping that Roger might read them, and 
slowly move a step on his journey of changing theory.

Phil Monroe
PhilHoover@aol.com
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