How do you eat an elephant?
Wait….who would want to eat an elephant? The historical analogy is in relation to tackling a large, daunting task. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
Essentially, what it is saying is that the best way to tackle a problematic inevitable would be to break it down into manageable parts, and measure the effectiveness of each segment. So, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
Design Thinking
What is Design Thinking?
Design Thinking is a human-focused process of conceptualizing, exploring, then actualizing a problem to implement the solution in stage-tested progressions. Sounds complicated? Not at all. In fact, it is the most organized approach in that 1) It gathers the information and ideas collectively from a pool of individuals directly related to the field, and 2) It creates products or ideas through empathy, so the end result is to solve someone’s problem
M25-35.org faced a seemingly impossible task in developing their first fundraiser. The 1st Annual Charity Dinner was born out of the need to raise funds and awareness to support a noble mission; providing food and resources to the critical homeless community of Dallas Texas. Sounded like the best idea ever and it was a proven strategy tried and tested by other organizations, but we had never attempted it. We needed all the help we could get. Implementing the Design Thinking Strategy made it all possible.
As we explained earlier, the task has to be broken into bite-sized, manageable pieces. 5 pieces as a matter of fact. 5 pieces known as the 5 stages of Design Thinking.
5 Stages of Desing Thinking
1. EMPATHIZE
Before a problem can be addressed, the problem solver must understand the degree to which that problem affects the ones suffering. They must learn how fungus develops on the feet of the poor and their feet swell to the point shoes irritate them, so they walk around barefoot. They must learn how sleeping on the hardness of the concrete, subject to the stiff temperatures of pavement racks and riddles their bodies, subsequently distorting their minds. Empathy hears the cry of the homeless beggar crying at the window and empathy will not let the problem solver rest.
2. DEFINE THE PROBLEM
Putting together all the information gathered during the empathy stage, a problem statement is designed. A specific problem statement captured in human-centered terminology. A problem statement accompanied by the counting of the cost asking, “What can we do?”
3. IDEATE
This stage bombards the innovative circle with ideas. In the case of the fundraiser, the ideas were dinners, plate sales, online campaigns, and soliciting funds from sponsors. All the ideas must examine the capability of whether it can be done. How do we do it? How much will it cost? How long do we need to plan it? Collectively, all the ideas were launched at the team.
4. PROTOTYPE
In planning a dinner, it is hardly possible to produce a tangible prototype, but it is possible to draw the plan on the wall in such detail that it is almost impossible for it not to unfold. Calculate expenditures, assign individual tasks down to the last clean-up of the venue. Draw it out down the last detail.
5. TEST
Putting it to the test is the true test. The first or second attempt is not to measure success and failure, the first, second, and maybe even the third attempt will only bulletproof the system. It helps us learn what works and teaches us where we can do better. This is the purpose of all our life. Examining ourselves to learn where we can do better. Next time, we will indeed do better.
The things we face will always seem like more than we can handle, but we are not made to back away from what seems difficult. Instead, we run to the battle, dive head-first into the challenge without fear or doubt, knowing that if the cost is counted sufficiently, we may be prepared in the mind to accomplish what is set before us. Do not be detached from the needs that stare at us daily because it appears too much for any one person to do.
Take that opportunity to use design thinking to create ideas and incorporate strategies.
How do you eat an elephant? Don’t start that again 😂😂😂 …. just do it!