Wash first dish...

3.4 Procedures

I used to hate washing dishes. I would delay as long as possible. Eyeing the daunting pile of dishes, I would say to myself, "I'll be here forever at this dumb task." The enormity of the task deterred me from starting. I still dislike washing dishes, but I now get the dishes done promptly because I learned a simple procedure for doing the job from my wife's uncle. The procedure starts out "Wash first dish..." I have a similar procedure for starting travel vouchers, it goes "Record first expense..."

Each of my little procedures embodies two different aids to getting started. By invoking a familiar procedure I reduce my need for courage. By breaking the task into smaller tasks through emphasizing that only the first dish need be washed or the first expense need be recorded, I reduce my estimate of risk. Both mechanisms work. These sources of courage are sometimes called "discipline," especially when being taught to the young. Discipline relies on a practiced use of routine subgoals to avoid defeat by fear. Its highest form comes when the Lieutenant, charging up a heavily defended hill, says, "Follow me men!" - and they do.

3.5 Courage to Go On

"When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping," is the caption to a cartoon mocking all inveterate shoppers. Its humor comes from our certainty that when the going gets tough, it takes courage to go on rather than to go shopping.

- Ivan Sutherland, [pdf] Technology and Courage