In 'The Red Queen', Matt Ridley compares evolution to the Red Queen who runs really fast but stays in the same place. When Alice says that in her world, when you run, you normally get somewhere, the Queen replies 'Oh, you live in a slow sort of world, in this one you have to run as fast as you can just to stay in the same place. If you want to get anywhere else, you have to run twice as fast'. (not actual quote, but the gist)
Evolution he argues, is not about constant improvement, but about struggling to improve certain problems. Sometimes, an old solution to an old problem that stopped working becomes relevant again at a later stage.
I was thinking of that when I listened to this fantastic talk by John Wooden. This wisdom of the old. With all this technology around, we need to use the best of it, but take a good look back and learn from the past.
Maybe the world doesn't always move forward as I have suggested, maybe we keep running... and the challenges just change.
If your barometer for success is to constantly improve... you never reach your goal, but you enjoy the journey.
Great talk to start the day.
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