Do we need 7 tons of extra stress?

Colleagues,

MVP: Less is more – decrease the number of change initiatives you are implementing.
 
I mentioned Monday that Pam and I will be doing a 260-mile hike this summer. 
 
This means that we need to carry everything that we will need (minus food) for 20-days on our backs!
 
Every pound of pack weight adds eight pounds of force to the knees on each step.
 
At about 2,000 steps per mile, each pound of pack weight creates over 7 tons of extra stress on our knees and feet!
 
The challenge is that it is very easy to bring along items that may not be essential, but which are convenient. Furthermore, the line between convenient and essential can be difficult to distinguish. How many pairs of underwear do we need for a 20-day trip? 🤣
 
One strategy we have employed to help us be militant about keeping our pack wight low is to carry smaller packs.
 
Smaller packs are lighter, and they make it more difficult to add in extra items.
 
In considering change initiatives, we sometimes act like people have backpacks of unlimited size, so we engage in multiple initiatives at the same time. The result is a lot of extra stress.
 
What if we took the smaller pack approach, and asked people to make fewer changes at one time?
 
Today’s intention: What are some things you or your organization is asking people to do that is adding weight to their already full packs? Not sure? Ask them. 😉

Cheers!

Frederick