What's going to happen to you?

"When the student is ready, the teacher appears." Your being on this site is an indication that you've been searching, that you are open minded, and that you're looking for fulfillment and purpose for your life.
The perspective you're going to find on these pages has changed my life completely. So there's a good chance it will change yours, too. In the following are the five phases of change you most likely will go through, which will put you on the path to live the life you were meant to live:


Imagine yourself walking a path similar to the graphic above. The first circle of the spiral will take you the longest to complete. The closer you get to the center, the shorter the distance to complete the round. Once you reach the center, you're on the path towards being the YOU you were meant to be.
The five circles that make up the spiral symbolize the five phases you'll go through before you're able to head straight towards your life's real goal.

1st Round: Learning and understanding
Theoretically, this first phase would require only 1/2 hour. Unfortunately, however, most won't be able to take that shortcut, because what we have been told all our lives is preventing us from understanding the idea. We fight it intellectually, think there should be more to it. It can't be so simple, there has to be a catch.
But, it is that simple. There is no catch. It is logical and obvious.
The first phase is about you understanding what's explained about the system. You don't believe it yet, you just "get" what is meant.
2nd Round: Accepting the possibility
Due to our life long conditioning it is difficult to accept that what is suggested is possible. You're still not believing it, you're getting to the point where you're not discarding the idea as impossible. Depending on how strongly vested you are in the traditional believe, this phase can take quite a while. Some might be able to take the shortcut and get through this phase in also just 1/2 an hour.
3rd Round: Investigation and verification
You know you're in the third phase, when you catch yourself looking for proofs for this idea in your every day life's experiences and observations. During this phase, you look at what's going on with and around you, and when contemplate what it means, how it all fits together, what its purpose is, you try the Universe's perspective .
4th Round: Active trial
After a while, you'll start trying it out yourself. Every now and then, you'll apply the new perspective while contemplating what to do. You'll act differently than you would have before. You'll actively apply what you learned and check whether the results are supporting what is explained here about how the system works.
5th Round: Subscribing
The more you try, the more positive re-affirmations you'll experience. Soon, you'll be convinced that this idea is really how it works. Even though you're not yet able, willing and in the position to always implement it, you do "know" it makes sense, and you subscribe to it.

This is when your life is really going to change! Your changed believe has helped you to completely adjust your values in a very positive way. Your values sort your priorities, which are now totally rearranged from how they were when you started the process. And, of course, your actions and goals are very different, too - as they are motivated and determined by the new set of priorities.

Whoa! That sounds like brainwashing by a cult!
Well, in a way it is a cleansing process. You wash away old, un-helpful believes, values and priorities. And you make room for something that works better.
However, it is not a brainwashing, as it is not performed by anybody else, but by yourself. You are in control! You choose whether you want to start, and how long you want to remain in each phase. Plus, you can choose to stop at any point. I am sure you won't stop, though - as it just makes a lot of sense, and you'll see proofs everywhere you look... But, you could, if you wanted to...

Enjoy being a pioneer, exploring uncharted spiritual territory, leading towards a new humanity!

Jehovah's Witnesses - or - The Truth

I found a letter in my mailbox, addressed to a person I don't know, but at my address - "or current resident" it said. It was an invitation to a bible study at the local Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall...


I often get asked why I started searching myself, why I don't belong to any of the christian churches, nor follow any other religion. The short answer is, that none of the teachings I learned about offer satisfactory answers.


The flyer enclosed with the letter is entitled "Would you like to know the truth?"

Among the questions listed are: Does God really care about us? Will war and suffering ever end? How can I find happiness in life?

Hm. All very important questions.


When trying to understand, to find out what to believe, I came to conclude, that nobody can "know" anything about what is beyond this physical world that we live in, that we can observe, measure and experience. No theory can be proven correct or incorrect. Some may appear a little more likely, others a little less. With all the searching and reasoning and pondering, all we can do is to choose to believe one idea or another.


The flyer goes on to declare that the bible is god's word and true. Unfortunately, all the citations intended to provide the "true" answer to each of the questions, are interpreted and explained from a particular world-view's perspective. The only "proof" for the statements are more bible verses, interpreted in the same way.


I was searching for a spirituality that helps me make better decisions on all the topics that come up in my daily life. But I never liked the notion of blind faith. Of course, what I don't know, I have to augment with a believe. And faith is nothing but a believe. So, I tried to apply all I do know and used logic to rule out unlikely scenarios. The result is the realization that we humans are not here for our own sake, but that we are here to support the development of this creation. This purpose of the world and everybody else around you is not so that you can grow, but you are motivated, guided, and allowed to grow so you can better support the development of this world. And following this completely changed basis there's a belief-system, which is described on this site.

I can not prove that this is true, and that I do not claim it is. I do state, though, that it makes sense to me and that it provides answers for otherwise difficult to answer questions.

And, interestingly, I found that much of what is described in the bible, when seen from this "we are the tools of the Universe" perspective, actually does make sense. However, it is interpreted very differently.


The bible quotations in the flyer mean something totally different than explained there, once the underlying framework is different. And the conclusions and resulting actions are very different, then, too.


With that in mind, I encourage you again, not to simply believe anything I (or somebody else) says about these topics (or any other topic, for that matter), but instead to listen carefully and try to understand what is meant and what it would mean to you, then reflect and ponder with an open mind and curiosity, and find your own answer.

This site is intended to help you with this task.

The "Free Tibet" Question - A New Approach

In the previous article, I suggested that the Chinese atrocity inflicted upon the Tibetans over the last more than 50 years, is helping the development of the rest of the world. Due to the Tibetan diaspora the Dalai Lama is known everywhere, and invited to speak across the globe. Tibetan Buddhism, today, is no longer found only in the remote areas around the Himalayas, but in every country. And although Buddhism is not the final answer, some aspects of it appears to be one step further than the Abrahamic religions - especially, when looking at the behaviors that result from their core-messages. So it now being available to much of the world is clearly a better state than before.

While the Christians still ask how God can allow these bad things happening to these good people, and while Buddhists just accept that it is happening, the Tool of the Universe idea provides a simple, plausible explanation, an important purpose: it was an effective way of spreading the light!



In this article, I would like to look at the response to the Tibet crisis from these three core perspectives:

The Christians don't find an answer to their question, and assume it was a mistake of God, which they now try to fix. Interestingly, they try to fix it by applying pressure to and fighting with China. That doesn't sound to be an expression of love - which Jesus always recommended. And - as quite common with forceful approaches - it hasn't work at all.

The Buddhists just accept the situation and do nothing but continue their life. (Well, some of them follow the Christian approach, too - abandoning their own core recommendation). That seems a better approach than to fight, as it doesn't create additional pain and suffering. However, it doesn't alleviate the ongoing pain and suffering of the Tibetans still stuck in the situation either.

When it rains it doesn't make sense to fight the fact that it is raining, nor is it necessary to just stand there. Walking to a shelter until it stops might work better.

In alignment with that analogy, the Tool of the Universe idea, does not encourage to fight, nor just to leave it as is. Instead, it asks to look for the purpose of the situation and for a shelter for those impacted. When there is a purpose for a situation, we can determine a direction for our course of action: Enlightenment is needed in the world, and was brought closer to everybody through the Tibetan diaspora.

The Tool of the Universe approach suggests to make the next step in this apparent direction: Let's make sure we maximize the positive benefits of the situation!



One action in alignment with this idea would be to work towards establishing Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in every country of the world. These monasteries could also function as cultural centers for both the population of the host country and the displaced Tibetans, who could resettle in the vicinities of these monasteries. That way, Tibetans are not left cutoff from their roots, and at the same time, it would be possible for them to live a fulfilled and dignified life. Also, it would take a lot of pressure off the Nepalese community, who is currently carrying the heaviest load, by hosting a disproportionately large number of refugees.

So instead of trying to fight the Chinese to retreat from Tibet, it might make more sense to try to work with them to allow those Tibetans who want to leave, to leave in peace. At the same time, supporters of the Tibetan cause in every country around the world could work with their government and fellow citizens to find a way to enable a Tibetan community in their midst.

The lessons that we all could learn from this are very, very important and relevant for today's political landscape:
* Cooperation works better than fighting.
* Foreign culture is not a threat to our own existence.
* While mono-culture causes stagnation, mixing cultures stirs up discussion, and facilitates new insights, development and growth.
* People from the other side of the world are the same as us: kind, loving, and with the same needs and wants: to survive, to be loved and appreciated, to live a fulfilled life.



Going by what every documentary about Tibet states, that area is quite inhospitable to human existence. So, hey, let the Chinese deal with it, trying to live there. Let the lucky Tibetans go to other places in the world, were surviving is much easier and where they are welcome and appreciated.

And who knows, without all the pressure, maybe China will open up their firm grip a little over time, and Tibetan monasteries will be allowed again in Tibet sometime...



Disclaimer and clarification: What the Chinese have done to the Tibetans - and continue to do - is disgusting and deplorable! However, we are not innocent either: If we were not so stuck in our spiritual development, such major crisis would not be necessary. Secondly, Buddhism is not the end of the spiritual journey, but just a first step.

Looking Back from the Future

I just listened to Terry Gross' interview with Eric Foner about his new book The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery. They were discussing the development of Abraham Lincoln's attitude towards slavery. It is nearly incomprehensible to me how people 150 years ago were thinking about their fellow human beings. It is as incomprehensible to me as the catholic church's inquisition in the dark ages, or the roman idea and Jewish support of crucifying Jesus, or the European idea of colonization, and so many other crazy action, attitudes and traditions people adhered to in times gone by.
Then it dawned on me. It is easy for me to understand better than the people at these times. I grew up being taught that these things were grave mistakes. I grew up in a culture that did not depend on these things to be in place.
So I made another step. What would somebody 150 years from today think about us? What would they see as incomprehensible atrocities?
Maybe the modern day slavery resulting from the US approach to immigration? Maybe the thoughtless, selfish waste of resources – inventing and supporting SUVs, building appliances without an off button so they continue to use energy even when they are asleep (to a degree, where the US' biggest water power plant – the Hoover dam – can't produce enough energy to satisfy only the sleeping TVs, chargers, DVD players, Computers...)? Maybe our judicial system – that is based on revenge and sensationalism, rather than teaching; where your financial situation determines the outcome more than your actual guilt or innocence? Maybe our school system, our approach to teaching our children? Maybe our careless, selfishly using atomic energy – for power-plants and weapons? I could go on for pages with topics I today can already see. Imagine how many topic the people 150 years from now will be able to see – and question our sanity, our ability to use our brain, to listen to our conscience, our soul!
Well, that raises the question whether it will even still be possible for people to live 150 years from now... But that is a whole other conversation...
Come what may, we have a chance today to change our priorities, to change our attitude, to learn and grow. THAT is the goal purpose and reason of existence of the Change Agent Movement. Some of us have a mind open enough to realize what needs to be improved, an energy inside of them to do something about it. Differently from previous “change” attempts, we are not so much looking at other people, other countries, other cultures and telling them how to change. We are looking at our own selves – at my own self. How can I change? How am I supporting questionable traditions and habits? And how can I facilitate improvements?
The first – and most important – step is to reevaluate my spiritual framework. My belief-system is the basis of my values, which arrange my priorities, which determine my actions.
The one insight, that lets the old belief-system come tumbling down, and recreates a fundamentally different system – like the Phoenix rises from the ashes – is the realization that “it is not about me,but I am about it!” I am not the crown of the creation to rule it – No! No! No! I am the crown, as I am the only part of the creation that can change it!
Armed with this new approach to my own existence, I can now stop focusing on what I want to get from this world, and start thinking about what I can contribute to this creation. This changed self-purpose automatically leads to my questioning the status quo, my trying to find aspects that I could help change.
Once enough of the folks that lived in the area that today is the US got tired of the Brits, they kicked them out - change happened.
Once enough of the people will change their attitude from being a leech to being a contributor – change will happen.
And 150 years from now, people might look back and rejoice: Thank God there were these people who understood and did something about it!
If you want to be part of something great – join the Change-Agent Movement...

Separating the Wheat from the Chaff

At the Decatur Book Fair there was a booth of the "Muslims for Peace". Of course, I had to check them out! Well, a quite interesting conversation ensued. I learned some more about Islam. And, I hope, the man who talked with me, took away some seeds for thought as well.

The most interesting bit of new information to me was that "Islam" means "Peace". He explained, that at the core the prophet's message is about Love.

It seems to me, though, that there's a contradiction: How can a teaching of love demand a death sentence? How can a group that is treating women as second class humans expect to find peace?

Now, throwing out everything, just because there is some nonsense among it, holds the risk of missing real wisdom and insights contained as well.

Why do we tend to swing from one extreme to the other?

Either we follow something to the letter - without reflection, consideration, logical and rational thinking - or we discard everything - without seeing what we can learn from it.



I find, we havee been created with a brain, that can think logically and rationally. I take it as our responsibility to use it. It is our choice, though. If we choose not to use it we find ourselves (even in the 21st century) in the dark-ages, where a lot of people are suffering and where, instead of peace and happiness, there is war and mayhem.



Here's another example:

In the movie "Rabbithole" a couple, who had lost a child, was trying to cope with the loss by saying: "Maybe God needed another little angel. That's why he took our baby." "Why didn't he just make one?" the other woman blurted out. "He's God! Why couldn't he just make one?"

Exactly! It just doesn't make sense!

"My life's purpose is to praise the Lord!" Is another one of these illogical ideas.

Would you create a device, whose sole purpose is to utter "You are the greatest!", and if it doesn't, destroy it in anger? Of course not! And you are just a fallible little human, and not the almighty, all-knowing God!

It just doesn't make sense!

To me these are typical examples of people just reciting what they've heard, without using their brain.

Does that mean all of the teachings about God are to be discarded. I don't think so. That, again, would be to go from one extreme to the other.



I am suggesting to use our brain to think through our spiritual believes. To retain and build upon content that is congruent and fits reality as we can observe. To identify and discard content that makes no sense, and to try to replace it with something that - at least - is not impossible. And each one of us can and should do this her/himself.

Again, you can choose. Do you want to get ahead, to grow, to find peace and happiness in your life? If you stay as and where you are, you stay as and where you are. It's that simple!

I do not suggest you quit being a Muslim, a Christian, Jew, Atheist, or whatever spiritual direction you like to follow. I do recommend, though, to think things through, to question and double-check; and to dare to discard parts that do not jive.

If we want to get ahead we have to continuously work on separating the wheat from the chaff!



This blog and the website www.toolOfTheUniverse.org are all about helping you in this process, and about providing seeds for different, new strains of thought. I hope it fulfills this purpose. Please, do drop me a line and let me know what you think... Thank you! And much success in your spiritual growth...

Time Travel

Yesterday a friend was musing about time-travel into the future. If you were to return to earth after traveling for some time at close to speed of light, you might have aged only a few months or years, on Earth however hundreds of years would have passed. In essence, you'd have traveled into the future. "How about that?" he asked...

I was pondering this idea for a while and came to the conclusion, that even if it was possible, I wouldn't want to do it!

I find this is an amazing time right now. There is a fundamental change about to happen and I want to be part of it.



Up until the 1200s the prevalent word-view was that the earth is flat and the sun revolves around the earth. Then a few people realized that this word-view does not meet their observations. It just didn't fit. They slowly realized, that it was the earth that is rotating around the sun. This change in perception caused the creation of the sciences. It was the first step towards the world of knowledge that we have available to us today, and that allows us to live as comfortably and secure as we do.

Right now, there is a similar change in perception about to happen. I think, its consequences will be even greater than those of the one 800 years ago! I love to live in this time, and be part of this change, contribute to it!



Up until today our spiritual world-view revolves around the individual. We pray for God to do stuff for us, to make things happen for us. In the Judeo-Christian and Islamic world-view I try to do good so that "I" get to heaven. Hinduism teaches us, that "I" am reincarnating until "I" reach the point to enter nirvana. Everything is centered around the "I". The creation is there to support me in my quest to reach something or the other. "I" am the reason, the purpose, the center. Everything is revolving around the "I".

However, this does not meet my observations. It seems more likely and more logical that "I" am there to support the creation on its quest to reach some state or another. It is not about me - I am about it!



This is the time now, where this awareness is starting to reach the consciousness of us humans. This is a most exciting time. I don't want to travel into the future, thereby ridding myself of the once in a millennium opportunity to contribute to such an important change. No Way!



We won in the jackpot! Of all the times available, we were born right now, right here - at the eve of a new era, at the beginning of the age of enlightenment! Hey, time traveling away from the now would be like throwing away the winning lottery ticket... You an go on that trip, if you like. I just hang around here, and be part of the greatest development in history!

The Kids Are All Right

We watched "The Kids Are All Right" yesterday. A wonderful movie! I added it to the toolOfTheUniverse site at: http://www.tooloftheuniverse.org/movieTkaAllRight.shtml

It's hard to fill a cup that's already full

In one of the many very thought-provoking scenes of the movie AVATAR, Jake Sully is presented to the native Omatikay tribe's spiritual leader, the Tsahik. He tells her he came to learn. She says: "It's hard to fill a cup that's already full."
Is your cup also full? Or do you have room for new ideas, new perspectives? Or are you clinging to your old approaches, trying hard to ignore all the hints and signals pointing you in a new direction?

I've seen it so many times - both in the lives of others as well as in my own: We try to make our observations fit our believes, rather than use them to help us grow and develop our belief-system. All too often we need a big crisis to make us spill some of the content of our cup. And some really rotten stuff we might never be able to remove; it takes a new generation, some rebelious youngsters to get rid of it.


What answers are in your cup to the question "What is your life all about?" Are you happy with what you find in your cup? Does it help you find fulfillment and peace? Do your life experiences and observations really support your believes? Or does your belief-system leave questions unanswered?
Are you ready to empty your cup and fill it with something more helpful? Then, maybe, you are ready to consciously accept your function in this world.
In the words of the Tsahik: "Learn well, and we'll see if your insanity can be cured." In this context: "Open your mind, and we'll see if your unhappiness can be cured."

This website provides ideas for different view-points on many topics. For serious searchers, the book "You Are The Change" contains an easy to follow, logical, non-esoteric explanation of the spiritual foundation underlying these articles.

I hope these texts and the book would help you turn you life around - from being like an autumn leaf tossed around in the wind, to becoming a joyful traveler on the river of your destiny.

You Are The Change - Almost Ready

I just approved the back cover of my book - looks great! I'm so excited...

For a few weeks, the book "You Are The Change" can already be pre-ordered at bookstores, and amazon.com. Several of my friends also ordered it directly from me - a sure way to get a signed copy. :)

There's only one sour drop in the tea: The original title of the book was "You are the tool of the Universe". Apparently, some fools have started misappropriating the word "tool" for when they really wanted to say "fool". Also, some SPAM is trying to avoid spam-filters by using this word instead of the scientific term for the male organ. So, the publisher basically threatened to drop the release, if we don't change the name.

To me, this is a big shame!

First of all, it is another instance where a word gets used in a negative way, and, instead of fixing our attitudes, we ban the word. Many of the words, that are today seen as politically incorrect, fall into this category.
It's also another instance where the meaning of the word changes completely. Another example for this practice is our use of "committed" in connection to relationships, when we really mean "exclusive".

Also, I find, that somebody who is ready for the message of the book would much more likely respond to the original title. The new title reminds probably more of Obama and his attempt to facilitate change, which seems to be run aground. Well, no wonder! We the people in the US didn't change one bit. We thought: "Great! There's somebody who's doing the changing for us! So we can stay as we are!" We still buy and drive the same silly gas-gozzlers, we still turn on air-conditioning, lights, hot-water, and anything else that can be used to increase our negative ecological foot-print, even when it doesn't improve our comfort one bit. We still don't boycott TV, greedy corporations, unhealthy food, tele-evangelists and religious hate-propaganda. Most are just too lazy to think about what impact they're having, and too busy worrying about their own personal comfort, status, and wealth. Well, I am sorry to have to tell you: Obama can't change anything – if we don't change ourselves!
Well, in that way, maybe the title is very appropriate for today's time: Not Obama is the change! You are the Change!

Well, if you are tired of how your life is turning out and what is going on in this world, or if you want to teach your children a spirituality that is helping and supporting them, rather then hindering and threatening them, "You Are The Change" might be a good inspiration, and guide...

My hope for the book is, that anybody who is ready for it may find it, and that it may help them become the change they want to see in their life and their world!

(To order the book, send me an email, go to the You Are The Change page, ask for it in your favorite book store, or look for it on Amazon)

George Carlin Says: "Religion is Bullshit!"

I stumbled across a YouTube clip of George Carlin talking about religion. He's pointing out in a fun and a bit rude way a few of the many logical contradictions and inconsistencies in how Judeo-Christian religions describe the concepts of God, praying and more. I included the clip below. He's quite entertaining and makes a lot of sense.

I have to leave him behind, though, when, after realizing the explanations are flawed, he stops at the conclusion that there is no God.

500 years ago clergy told us that the earth is flat. Well, just because their description was wrong, it doesn't mean that there is no earth.

I don't know what dope the people were smoking when they came up with the idea that the stork brings the babies. However, I do know, that although that "explanation" is also total nonsense, both babies and storks do exist.

Now, if George finds his purpose, fulfillment and relieve in the believe that there is nothing beyond what we can see and understand, that is his right. I, for one, choose to go further. I, too, do not believe in that illogical, contradictory "explanation" of God as preached by Christian, Jewish, Hindu, and Muslim doctrines. However, I like to believe that there is something beyond of what we can see and know. This website is full of suggestions about what this could be and how we could fit into it.

The book "You Are The Change", in its attempt to help the reader understand her/his role in this world, also touches upon this topic.

I hope that you are able to make the first step with George Carlin. And I hope that you are also able to go beyond where he stops, and make the second step: finding your own spirituality in alignment with a grander scheme of the Universe.

Here's the video-clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSSwKffj9o

Improving Your Department's “Gas-Mileage”

In “Built To Last” the authors dedicate a chapter to the topic “The Tyranny of the OR”. They describe several examples, where we traditionally see two involved aspects as competing with each other. Make money OR fulfill a purpose, do well in the short term OR focus on long term objectives.
They observed, that “visionary companies” do not succumb to this view-point, but find a way to “embrace the genius of the AND”. For example, such companies do not try to find a balance between “purpose beyond profit” on the one hand, and “pragmatic pursuit of profit” on the other; they do both. As another example they mention that visionary companies strive to do well in the short term AND do well in the long term.

I think Honda accomplished this goal – to embrace the genius of the AND – too, with their V6 engine, which they use in the Accord-V6 and the Odyssey: They improved the gas-mileage AND increased the power of these cars!
The principle is quite interesting: During regular cruising only three of the six cylinders fire. When there's a little more power needed, a fourth cylinder gets added, and only when full power is required, all six cylinders are active. The switching between the modes is virtually unnoticeable by the driver.

Well, here's an idea for team-leaders, managers, and executives: you can rig your department in a similar fashion as Honda's V6 engine!

You have three types of staff:

• The traditional employee type. That is the equivalent of the three cylinders that keep the department at cruising speed.

The “fourth cylinder” type, who you can quickly engage and disengage, to meet typical workload fluctuations. This would be part-time employees, who are helping with month-end, year-end, busy-season, and at other semi-regular high-demand times. 
The idea here is, that the person would be part-time per year, not per day. That means, during crunch-time such an employee might work 60 hours in a week. And at slow season the person might be completely off for days or weeks. But overall she/he would be employed for, say 1000 hours per year, instead of the typical 1760 hours.

Finally, the “fifth and sixth cylinder” type, who would provide the power to tackle bigger projects – implementing a project that's outside or in addition to the regular work, system conversions, modernizations, and so on. 
Usually, these are contractors. A contractor in the traditional sense, however, is like a secondary engine, and not part of the regular engine. However, just like the cylinders are a normal part of the single engine, such a contributor should be a normal part of the single team.

In essence I am suggesting to look at the folks who help accomplish your goals, from a different perspective. All those who are contributing to achieve your goals are part of the team!

• It is irrelevant how somebody is compensated. That is a minor side-issue that pay-roll has to worry about. What matters is how much the person costs. Also, cost per hour is irrelevant. What matters is cost per production-point. Similar as with electricity: voltage by itself doesn't mean much; neither does amperage by itself. A generator's capacity is measured in Watts (i.e. voltage times amperage per time). In terms of a contributor the formula could be time to get something done times cost per hour.
• It is irrelevant whether somebody works 20, 40, or 60 hours per week, as much as it is irrelevant whether somebody is in the office every day, or only on some days. What matters is how much overall production-points of a person cost. Somebody waiting for work, or artificially prolonging the existing work so it doesn't get too boring, is not adding to the team's productivity, but still produces costs.
• To you, who wants to achieve a goal, the only aspect of importance is: how to get your goal accomplished with the least amount of unnecessary overhead.
• A person who is part of the team knows the environment, the team, the processes, and the goal. Such a person hits the ground running, an does not need as much ramp-up time as a new person would need.

Sure, the V6 is spending some effort carrying the additional cylinders around, even when they are disengaged. And there is some fancy technology needed, to make the transitions smooth and effortless. Similarly, some additional, mostly administrative, costs incur for the non-traditional members on your team, even while they are not engaged. And your department's operation, your leadership style and management methods require some new, non-traditional approaches to maximize the contribution of your additional power-reserves.
However, the benefit is clear: excellent overall gas-mileage AND the strength and fluidity required to deal with fluctuating workload and the constant, fast-paced changes of todays world.

So here's my question to you:

Are you GM or Honda?

Are you stuck in old ways, in denial about the changing world, and hoping for a government bailout when the time comes? Or, are you nimble, innovative and adaptable enough to shape the new times, ready to pioneer new technologies and approaches, and will you emerge from this crisis as a leader?

(J. Collins, J. Porras; Built To Last – Successful Habits of Visionary Companies; HarperBusiness; 1 edition (November 2, 2004); ISBN-13: 978-0060566104)