Bugs Bunny gives a lesson on Fanaticism

It’s one of the enduring questions…
And it can often decide whether you’re SMART as Hell.

How do I know if I’ve given too little?
How do I know if I’ve given enough?
How do I know if I’ve gone too far?

Well, one way you can know is to consider how your efforts align with your goals.

Angie and I have been watching the Looney Tunes box set for the past week.
You don’t need me to tell you it’s brilliant. You don’t need me to tell you to buy it.
You don’t need me to tell you that it’s SMART as Hell.

It is. You should. It most definitely is…

Last night, we were watching an interview with legendary Warner Brothers animation director Chuck Jones. I took notes when he said:

A fanatic redoubles his efforts when he’s forgotten his aim.

Reread that. Twice. I’ll wait.

That quote captures perfectly the type of behavior that leads to spectacular disasters.
It also captures perfectly the lack of thinking that goes into the type of behavior that leads to spectacular disasters.

• Attempting to convince your customer to buy your product by doing twice as much of what convinced them they didn’t want to buy your product probably won’t work.
• Attempting to convince someone you love them by doing twice as much of what convinced them you don’t love them probably won’t work.
• Attempting to be smart by doing twice as much of what didn’t make you smart to begin with probably won’t work.

What will work?
Going back to your original goal.

Ask yourself, “Why am I doing this? What do I hope to achieve? Is this getting me closer or farther?”

Reflection is SMART as Hell.

SMART as Hell Exercise

1. Ask: Is there any area of your life where you’ve doubled your effort without results?
2. Reflect: What was your aim?
3. List: Alternative ways you could achieve your aim.
4. Choose: An alternative path.
5. Act: on that path.

 Share your thoughts, questions, comments and results below.

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