Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Sternin's strategy [to address malnutrition in Vietnam] was to search the community for bright spots. If some kids were healthy despite their disadvantages, then that meant something important: Malnourishment was not inevitable. The mere Existence of healthy kids provided hope for a practical, short-term solution....
Sternin refused to make a formal announcement. He knew that telling the mothers about nutrition wouldn't change their behavior... "Knowledge does not change behavior...We have all encountered crazy shrinks and obese doctors and divorced marriage counselors." The mothers would have to practice it. They'd have to act differently until the different started to feel normal.
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In tough times, we'll see problems everywhere, and "analysis paralysis" will often kick in. That's why, to make progress on a change, we need to provide crystal-clear direction -- show people where to go, how to act, what destination to pursue. And that's why bright spots are so essential: They provide the road map.....anytime you have a bright spot, your mission is to clone it.
Dan & Chip Heath. SWITCH: DON'T SOLVE PROBLEMS--COPY SUCCESS.