Choosing KAOS over CHAOS... a perspective.
The following is the original and the rewrite can be found by clicking here.
Up front, a little context for illustration purposes.
Imagine having the idea to downsize your current living arrangements and move to a much smaller space in the city... all for the experience and the adventure. Let us colour this tale with a short closing, frantic packing, multiple storage sites and refurnishing some of your father's home. Since you are refurnishing, why not spend a couple of weeks bonding with your 85 year old father before you move to the city; while there, you decide to buy 36 acres of land in the country for the future. Ultimately your new place needs to be painted, cleaned, and furnished with what you have stored; add on closing your "new land", new clients, as well as your current ones, you are now redefining "dynamic".
And guess what, your printer doesn't work, you have internet problems, can't find your flatware, the coat you need is at your fathers, you have more clothes than drawers, still need a parking pass, and when you went to tour the new property, you got bit in the neck by a tick. And that pen that was in your pocket ten minutes earlier, is now gone. Complete disorder and confusion - Total CHAOS!
Coming through this "transition" I can say that it has gone according to plan, but two weeks ago I was frustrated, tired, and constantly looking for things that once had a place... I was on the verge of becoming overwhelmed emotionally and was questioning the wisdom of this adventure. And then, cosmic salvation... I was remind of KAOS; in that moment I laughed and knew everything would be just fine.
KAOS, for those of you who may not know, is an "international organization of evil" and the nemesis of the secret spy agency named CONTROL. Depicted on the TV comedy series Get Smart*, KAOS shared in the exploits of the bumbling secret agent Maxwell Smart each week. KAOS, as it turns out, was formed in Bucharest, Romania, in 1904 and for tax reasons, is a "Delaware Corporation". How could you not laugh out loud?
Looking at KAOS, rather than CHAOS, reminded me that I had taken on change, and although I may not be in CONTROL all the time, I did have a plan which was working. More importantly, KAOS was part of the adventure to be enjoyed; taking you to places you don't expect, surprising you and sometimes even making you laugh. It is something to embrace and work through... not let overwhelm.
Make no mistake, it is important to have a plan, established milestones, and support to meet your goals - After that though, it becomes a choice as to whether you want to have fun with KAOS or let CHAOS overwhelm you.
gpe
* Get Smart was an American comedy television series that satirized the secret agent genre. Created by Mel Brooks with Buck Henry, the show starred Don Adams (as Maxwell Smart, Agent 86), Barbara Feldon (as Agent 99), and Edward Platt (as Chief). Henry said they created the show by request of Daniel Melnick, who was a partner, along with Leonard Stern and David Susskind, of the show's production company, Talent Associates, to capitalize on "the two biggest things in the entertainment world today"—James Bond and Inspector Clouseau. Brooks said: "It's an insane combination of James Bond and Mel Brooks comedy." (Wikipedia)
