What Does One Step Towards Progress Look Like?

Colleagues,
 
Last month I planted out my garden. Twice in the first week something dug it up. I wasn’t sure what critter was responsible, but I spent several hours looking at fence designs to protect my raised beds. I went to my local farm supply and lumber stores and came home with $100 worth of materials. 
 
The fence would take a couple days to build, but the next morning my garden was torn up again! Frustrated, I threw some cheap bird netting over the beds until I could build the fence. The digging stopped. Let’s review:
 
Fence: 
4 hrs of research + $100 materials + 8 hrs construction + 2 hrs installation = no digging

Netting:
5 minutes scrounging in garden shed + 10 minutes arranging = no digging
 
By initially turning to my fence as a solution, I was focused on going from point A (garden getting torn up) to point Z (nice looking, effective, convenient fence). However, there was a lot that needed to happen to get from A-Z, and in the meantime my garden continued to be attacked.
 
My first response should have been to deploy the netting. That would be A-B. Not as nice looking, not convenient, but effective in the short term. After getting to point B, I could then focus on the next step towards a more elegant solution.
 
Strategic leaders focus on going from A-B in order to get immediate results. A-B works with the other elements of leverage in that:

1. It can be dealt with immediately before things get worse (0>1).
2. It is simpler, allowing for a minimally viable solution (MVP).
3. Is easier, which leads to high motivation (M=V/E).

 
Are you wrestling with an issue? What is the first step towards improving it? That’s A-B.

Do good and be well,

​Frederick