The debate on climate destabilization has heated up briskly.

Global warming and environmental damage is a issue I feel strongly about. But like most of us, I am an indifferent activist. My only contribution has been to ghost write a book on global warming. I spoke with all the passion I am capable of- but that is all.

The reason for my sharing this video, therefore, is not to spark off a debate on environment protection. Those who care, don’t need me to goad them into action. Those who don’t, well… DON’T.

Environment protection is not the reason I am sharing this video here. It is, as they say, merely gravy- though delectable. The main body of this dish is method of creating clarity when faced with complex choices which are confusing enough to not let you get a handle on them- so to speak.

This video demonstrates a method by which choices have been narrowed down and a decision arrived at. As an aid to decision making, as a tool for simplifying a complex jumble of overlapping scenarios and choices, I found this video illuminating.

There is nothing new about creating a 2×2 grid. Management texts are stuffed to their bushy eyebrows with them. From Johari windows to prioritization (and all stops in between), the 2×2 grid has been much used- and abused. Especially when dealing with non- quantifiable options, these grids have proved their efficacy many times.

For me, the appeal of this video was in its concept of row v/s column thinking. I have seen the grid used in this manner for the first time- though you may have been weaned on it for all I know.

Once I had been re-oriented with that slight shift in paradigm, the contrast between the two choices was easier to see. Our conditioning is such that the possibility of losing something is a lot more powerful than a possibility of gaining something. We may not always demand to gain, but we surely don’t want to lose.

Thus was the argument concluded.

How many of our complex decisions can be simplified in like manner? Just as Greg Craven- this video’s creator- has employed a row v/s column thinking to help crystallize confusing and overlapping options, perhaps you and I too can use the grid in innovative ways.

In fact, as he suggests, why do we need to have a 2X2 grid? Why can’t we have a 3×3 or 4×2 grid? I employed a 4×2 grid to simplify something that had been bothering me for a while and I am happy to report resounding success with the method. It seems to work.

I would love to know how it worked (or not) for you. Do try it and let me know if you were happy with the clarity it gave you on something which was too confusing for you to figure out.

Do share with me whether the method worked for you or not. 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zORv8wwiadQ&w=500&h=415]

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Note: If you’ve watched the video, you will possibly have read all the comments.  There are further videos to watch on the same channel which have addressed the issues raised in a few of the comments. Too many of the comments, unfortunately, make me wonder where the commentator has reposed (or shoved) his head.

I have no gender bias here. The ‘his’ was generically meant- as always. I firmly believe that neither of the sexes have an exclusive on cluelessness- or rank, obnoxious stupidity.

Here is a follow up video on the same issue just in case you were too lazy to look for it. You’re welcome.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF_anaVcCXg&w=420&h=315]