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Alan's Rules

Knowing Too Much

"Of all miseries, the worst is knowing so much and having control over nothing.” Herodotus

Here are some additional lessons to keep in mind while you're thinking of getting in touch with us - illustrated by Alan’s own photos.

Improvisation

A Focus on Improvisation - thinking outside the box which can often save the day in organizations, and many other situations as well.

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Kids are famous for using objects for purposes other than those for which they are intended; we can sometimes learn from them for using this skill.
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A wolf spider finds refuge on a floating leaf after some unexpected and unwelcome time in my swimming pool. Spiders can be resourceful creatures. Note - I saved him right after the photo.
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Someone found an unusual approach for dealing with the shortage of sufficient parking in Downtown Miami.
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A young girl uses her ingenuity for transporting her younger sister in a small town in the Dominican Republic.

Trust

A High Level of Trust - the key to most of the good works and relationships that occur in organizations, and in the world at large.

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A young child sleeps peacefully in the midst of a large crowd in San Pedro Atitlan, Guatemala.
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Two Galapagos seals help create a sense of security and trust for each other.
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A elder monk mentors a young acolyte on the Mekong River in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
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A young child steals a glance at the photographer (me) as he gets a ride from an older brother.

Communication

Effective Communication - a valuable result of expressing needs and opinions directly and openly, and hearing them in the way intended.

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A young bird lets her parents know she’s hungry, and perhaps her take on other aspects of her situation.
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This Guatemalan shoe-shine boy lets his views be known, at least about me taking his photo in Antigua's Plaza.
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A young chimp expresses his opinion on some aspect of his current situation, in an animal rescue center in Moin, Costa Rica (near Limón).
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These Coney island ticket sellers react clearly to having their photo taken. The place is not known for graciousness.

Mastery

A Spirit of Mastery - encouraging and supporting mastery in all areas, no matter how apparently small, is the key to real quality.

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A Kuna woman skillfully practices her tribal Mola art in the San Blas Islands, off the coast of Panama.
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The proprietor of a new coffee shop develops his temporary art form in the market of Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala.
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A young violinist plays her part in the New World Symphony of Miami Beach.
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A weaver of Guatemalan tapestries practices her art in Antigua. Weaving tapestries is one of Guatemala's foremost art forms, most often practiced without plans or guides.

Systems

Thinking as a  “System” - working toward having all the pieces fit together; the only perspective that can ensure success for the "whole".

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Objects are delicately balanced to create an iunusual sculpture in the entrance to a restaurant in San Pedro Atitlan, Guatemala.
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A fried chicken restaurant proprietor has created an unusual way of displaying his wares in a small town on Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.
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Two sloths fit snugly together, as if they were made to fit. Systems thinking also applies to living beings.
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Gears can be a good metaphor for effective systems. Hopefully they will move in careful synchronization.

Youth and Innovation

Keeping a Child’s Curiosity and Openness to New Ideas - often the key to new discoveries, even those that seem impossible at first.

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A young girl explores her mother’s cell phone in the Main market of San Pedro Atitlan, Guatemala.
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Young boys find a way to express themselves during an evening of Holy Week Processions in San Pedro Atitlan.
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A young artist innovates on the spot, as part of a special drawing class in San Pedro Atitlan, Guatemala.
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A young superman fulfills a longstanding ambition, despite many adult naysayers.

Plan Ahead!

Last but not least, Plan Ahead - to avoid unexpected and avoidable problems! 

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Someone forgot to compare heights of their truck with that of a low bridge on the way to the town of Los Patos in the southern Dominican Republic.