Moving
Earth
By Lana
Walker-Helmuth, Managing Editor
Wall painting by Giulio Parigi in the years 1599-1600.
I can always rely on my wall calendar to provide a theme for this column. February quotes Archimedes, the great Greek mathematician, inventor, and astronomer: "Give me a place to stand on and I will move the earth." He had discovered that a very small force is capable of moving a very large weight with the help of levers.
This issue's
feature article by Suzanne Hardy illustrates
this principle. How much easier it is to create or manage a large project
by leveraging simple, time-saving devices. Matt Sullivan's Tech
Issues column also demonstrates this truth. It is well worth our time
to invest in learning all we can about the tools of our trade.
Archimedes
astonished people when he pulled a ship single-handedly with a system
of compound pulleys. Have you ever astonished your boss by doing something
in one hour that would have taken someone else one day (or longer)? Isn't
it a great feeling?
The tools
of our trade, of course, include more than software or hardware. Humor
columnist Karen Field, for example, shows the power of leveraging "negotiating
skills" in the face of unreasonable demands rather than grinning
and bearing the load.
Because I'm now on a roll with this principle, I see it at work in Walter Hanig's article as well. He's talking about leveraging the skills, talents, and experience of our members. Don't miss a great opportunity to use a small amount of your time to yield a large result.
