Managing Leadership^®

An astronomer concluded a discussion of the likelihood of life elsewhere in the universe by enthusing about how fulfilling it would be to find it, because it would help us learn more about who we are.

But the quantum physicists argue that the question is, at bottom, irrelevant because, not to put too fine a point on it, so are we. We – and any other life there may be out there – are merely the entirely coincidental consequences of incalculably innumerable – and perfectly pointless – interactions of mass and energy.

There is no meaning. There is trajectory, but there is no aim.

It is from this dross, this inexpressibly valueless detritus from which we rise, that we struggle to identify a precious meaning to our lives – an end toward which we ascend purposefully – rather than a blunt extinction to which we hurtle heedfully but helplessly, bereft of reference points, with no traction, no leverage, no starting point, no ending point. No control over our fate. Indeed, with no fate, really.

This, we are told, is it. The inexpressibly elegant equations of quantum physics, describing a brilliantly blind reality, frothy with exquisite design, undesigned, expressing no moral or even existential substance, existing for no reason, ultimately to expire to no purpose.

This is the common metal we work – the foundation, but the roof and crown too, of our lives. It is no wonder we seek to transform it into something more grand.

So the alchemists turn to their work. In our daily lives, and in the various endeavors into which we divide them, including management. How are they getting along?

We will continue looking at that next, in our seemingly unending efforts to conclude the current discussion of the “new” sciences and modern management. See you soon!

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Today’s Tips: Please pay a visit to Online MBA, a business education blog aiming to make intelligible order of the chaotic flow of information that might otherwise overwhelm and discourage us. Good alchemy.

You’ve always suspected this, and now the BBC reports on a study suggesting that “creativity is akin to insanity.” Watch out for this and other items on those lists of leadership characteristics you are encouraged to develop. Scary alchemy.

As long as the subject has turned in that general direction, please do also see The Onion‘s report on the recent closing of America’s national parks for their annual “remajestification.” Lot’s of metaphor in this, actually; as the report mourns, “many Americans take their country’s natural beauty for granted and imagine that it is somehow self-maintaining.” But if you’ve no time for that, there’s lots of fun, too. Whimsical alchemy.

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