Introduction to the book “System life”
Perhaps the world is a trash can into which a burning lighter is thrown…
A. Nikonov
After 2014, two thoughts became ingrained in me. The first is that the world is unstable, and anything can happen. The second — tomorrow may not come. I automatically accepted that there is no safe place anywhere, there are no guarantees, and no one knows what will happen next.
How can this be described? In the 1990s, Stefan Garros, a doctor of behavioral sciences, described an unstable, constantly changing model of combat operations with the concept of VUCA. This acronym combines four concepts: “volatility”, “uncertainty”, “complexity” and “ambiguity”. In the 2000s, this concept gradually moved into the business sphere, and over the last decade we have seen that these four words are a description of our world. People began to understand and accept the VUCA world. Even books and approaches for survival in it began to appear. But the pandemic has made its own adjustments to the level of instability. Today we are dealing with an even more complex world than VUCA. The writer and futurist James Cascio described our world with the abbreviation BANI: “brittle”, “anxious”, “nonlinear” and “incomprehensible”. As soon as we began to get used to the fact that everything was changing quickly, life switched to a new level of complexity. Impermanence has become fragile. Any system can break down, even if it looks reliable at first glance. Uncertainty has given rise to anxiety. The endless stream of changes, information and discoveries drives us into chronic anxiety. No one is sure of the correctness of their decisions and there are no guarantees. Complexity has been enriched by non-linearity. Cause-and-effect relationships stop working. There is no point in predicting the future. Look at what is happening with forecasts in the economy and in politics. The ambiguous became incomprehensible. More and more discoveries are being made that refute many years of knowledge. We’re learning more and more that we actually don’t know anything. The most interesting thing is that you can’t get off our planet. All that’s left for us to do is only to accept that there is no stable world anymore. Outside the window is a stressful and constantly changing world, which tomorrow may be called a new abbreviation. The only way to live is to adapt! Learn to live in a new dynamic system, rebuild the management of life and accept this uncertainty. Such a peace gradually came for everyone. And each person must adapt to their current situation. Everyone should learn how to plan their movement, react to changes and change plans along the way. We all took off on a rocket that is being completed during the flight. Therefore, today it is very important what and how you will do. Today, you can’t forget everything and lie on the couch looking for your destiny for half your life. You can’t go with the flow and think you’re going to be lucky. This approach will throw you overboard very quickly today. Everyone decides for himself: take responsibility for his life or play Russian roulette with uncertainty.
In the current reality, just time management no longer works. A more comprehensive approach is needed. Structural, flexible, selective and conscious.
“The world is not so sunny and friendly. This is a very dangerous, tough place. And if you just give up, it will knock you over with such force that you will not get up anymore. Neither you nor I, no one in the world beats as hard as life. It doesn’t matter at all how you hit, but it matters what kind of punch you hold, how you move forward…”
Rocky Balboa
This book is about such an approach. When you do the right things in an organized way, and do not hold punches that can be avoided. It is written to help you take control of your life as much as possible. It consists of six chapters. Each chapter is devoted to one of the processes that are going into a cycle and help ensure system life. The book is primarily about thinking, not about tools. At first it will seem that there is too much information. But as you read, the design will add up to a single picture. In the end, when you can look at the whole approach, everything will fall into place, systematize and become simple. Each person can set up this way of thinking and follow an understandable path to the result. If you know how to drive, then remember yourself in the first lessons with an instructor. If you don’t know how, then imagine that you are studying. Remember or imagine the same feeling and fear when you don’t know what to grab and where to look, threats seem to be everywhere, and stress turns off your brain. The purpose of this book is to make sure that behind the wheel of your life there is a confident driver who does everything automatically, confidently drives a car and guarantees the safety of himself and passengers on any new route.
Review of the book “System life”
Chapter 1. Analysis
Before you start moving, you need to analyze the current situation. In this chapter, we will figure out how to do this, what resources, barriers and opportunities you have. What goals seem important, and how to understand which ones are really important. Let’s analyze self-realization, values, skills, root causes of problems, and what you lack to achieve your goals. When we analyze the current situation, it is important to treat it correctly and tune in to the start. To do this, let’s figure out how motivation works, how to properly prepare and strengthen confidence.
Chapter 2. Planning
When it becomes clear what we have in the current situation, and there is the right attitude, you need to plan your route. This chapter will be about how to set goals correctly and plan their step-by-step achievement. How to prioritize, set tasks and assess risks. Let’s analyze what to do in conditions of uncertainty and how to apply Agile approaches in life.
Chapter 3. Management
When the movement along the route has begun, it is important to manage yourself correctly and use time effectively. In this chapter, we will set up our digital self-organization system. We will analyze the most effective tools and techniques of time management, learn how to make decisions, relax properly and make useful habits.
Chapter 4. Optimization
There will be obstacles, mistakes and time wasters along the way. In this chapter we will talk about how to optimize processes, automate routine, configure tools and space for rational usage of resources. I will share my experience and approaches that allow you to optimize anything.
Chapter 5. Reflection
After each iteration, you need to consciously stop and summarize everything. In this chapter we will talk about the benefits of retrospective reflection. How to properly reflect and draw the right conclusions to improve your path and yourself in the future.
Chapter 6. Training
When you get to this chapter, you will already know what you should learn and in which direction to develop. Here you will learn why learning is just beginning, how to study properly and what skills to develop in order to always be flexible and in demand.
