'A few months ago they [the Duffers] were all for washing up the plates and knives before dinner: they said it saved time afterwards. I've caught them planting boiled potatoes to save cooking them when they were dug up. One day the cat got into the dairy and twenty of them were at work moving all the milk out; no one thought of moving the cat.' (ch. 11)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Efficiency efforts often lead to absurd behaviors where people solve the wrong problem instead of the real issue.
- In plain terms
- People try to save time in silly ways instead of solving the real problem.
- What can you take from it?
- Avoid solving the wrong problem efficiently.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Are you solving the right problem?
- Where do you cut corners unnecessarily?
Another view
Sometimes small efficiencies save enough time to be worth it.
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