Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

Don’t do anything that you can’t explain to the paramedics.

I learned this rule at a workshop held by author and consultant Jerry Weinberg. We were learning how to do simulations or exercises in seminars. You didn’t want to do anything that would accidentally break any bones or cause other things that would need attention from paramedics. You would have to try to explain to the paramedics what you were doing that warranted a call to them and…well, you know.

We can lessen the reach of this rule to something like:

Don’t do anything that you can’t explain to fill-in-the-blank-with-someone-who-you-would-be-embarrassed-to-explain-your-actions-to.

I suppose this means that we shouldn’t take unnecessary risks. Of course the word “unnecessary” is subjective and can mean just about anything to just about anyone.

Still, keep the thought in mind.