Butterfly Wing Things
Edward Lorenz was an expert in the field of meteorology. Awarded with the 1991 Kyoto Prize for basic sciences, he’s known more as the father of the famed “chaos theory”. He came up with the concept that small effects lead to big changes (the Butterfly Effect). His theory explained how something as miniscule as a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil changes the constantly moving atmosphere in ways that could trigger tornados half way around the world.
As he ran calculations, he noticed that a slight decimal point change (less than 0.0001) wound up leading to a significant error. That error led to his theory of the butterfly effect. So, what does this mean to us here at The Experience Group? Small things make a difference!
The concept of small changes turning into big effects influences many scientific projects, but is readily applied to relationships, sports and your professional life. The wink of an eye can acknowledge inside information or be seen as flirtatious. A raised eyebrow can show surprise or disbelief. Crossed arms can be seen as defensive posturing or a means to keep warm.
Small things make a difference in sports. How the pitcher holds the seams of the ball on his fingers will affect the delivery, movement and speed of the ball differently than if he doesn’t hold the seam. He can throw a two-seam fastball, a slider, or a splitter depending upon slight adjustments. The tiny difference in how the ball is held will directly affect the batter’s behavior as the ball nears the plate. If the batter connects, the behavior of the outfielder changes. Fans in the stands scream, cheer or cry. All set in motion when the pitcher gripped the seams of the ball. Small things – big changes.
Small things - Infinitesimal things - Butterfly wing things. One leads to another, then another, and another. Small things lead to big results.
As seasoned and wise professionals, we are much like baseball pitchers continuing to search for our grip. It feels like a small thing, but knowing how to do the small things at the right time in the right situations can change your trajectory. At The Experience Group we are here to help you ignite new possibilities to share your wisdom, experience and knowledge.