In my Moleskine. With sketches and lists. Doesn't matter what it is. Churches. Businesses. Conferences. Marketing plans. I can't help but see the world through systems.
It's like the Sixth Sense for me all the time.
I see "dead structures."
Nobody asks me to do it. And I don't offer it. But inefficient systems bother me. It's a stewardship thing, really. They're like sails on a race car. You can get where you need to go, but just not as fast.
That's a great idea.
Posted by: Chris Chowdhury | November 14, 2008 at 09:19 AM
Well Ben, if you would like a vacation to Destin, I have a couple of vacation houses I can let you stay in for free. Check them out @ www.vrbo.com/42931.
Then you can come down and review our systems for our church for fun.
No, seriously...
Posted by: Eric Partin | November 14, 2008 at 09:34 AM
I wonder if that's an NT thing? I tend to do the same thing - rearrange hierarchy and processes mentally, at church, at conferences, at Dunkin' Donuts.
Effectiveness and Efficiency aren't tied together. I can mow my yard with a weed eater, or with a riding lawn mower. I get the same results, but one is much more efficient.
Posted by: Travis Thompson | November 14, 2008 at 09:50 AM
Then our church would either drive you nuts or get your creative organizational blood pumping!
I covet (I know it's a sin) this ability.
Posted by: Kris Sorensen | November 14, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Ever see yourself moving into an executive pastor role?
Posted by: Bill Streger | November 14, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Bill, I would set the structure and then get bored....
Posted by: Ben Arment | November 14, 2008 at 10:59 AM
Wow, you're talking my language. I recently redid the Myers-Briggs test and came out as an INTJ, the 'system builder' type.
Posted by: Josh Wilcox | November 14, 2008 at 11:03 AM
I see "dead-ends"
...as well as bottlenecks, broken links, silos, and processes that are missionally out of alignment...
Speaking my language here, bro.
I'm fond of napkins, however -- cheaper than moleskins :-)
Posted by: Steve Bradley | November 14, 2008 at 11:32 AM
I so totally do the same thing .. just not on paper, so no one will ever find it and think that I'm weird!
I do it more for churches than anything else though.
Glad to know that this is ok, or that at least we're both weird together.
Posted by: Danny Eiler | November 14, 2008 at 02:56 PM
Ben,
What are some recommended reads on systems development?
Posted by: paul peterson | November 15, 2008 at 12:16 PM
i do this too! mostly when i'm standing in line at the pancake stand at eastern market. so inefficient it kills me but the pancakes are worth it.
Posted by: gail | November 16, 2008 at 05:38 PM
paul, for churches, i recommend simple church. but in general, i highly recommend the e-myth revisited
Posted by: Ben Arment | November 16, 2008 at 07:46 PM