A discussion about business ethics, character traits, integrity, and values

Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe.

Of course, this paragraph may be more urban legend than scientific fact – yet another raging Internet controversy – but regardless of its origin and whether the principle applies in other languages and whether it’s a meme, this particular collection of letters makes a valid point. I see four similarities between this jumbled paragraph and our jumbled lives.

First, don’t reject something because it just looks wrong, or new or different. If the goal of this paragraph was to communicate, the author did extremely well, whether part of an Elingsh uinervtisy or not. Follow the rules, sure, but be open to new perspectives.

Second, we can read this because our eyes and our minds recognize patterns. Most behavior is based on some pattern of procedure or logic. Recognize patterns in your behavior so you can reinforce good habits and break bad ones. See patterns in the behavior of others, so you can anticipate their needs. See patterns in your life, like reaping what you sew.

Third, we don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to do everything, and you don’t have to wait until everything is perfect to act. We can read the paragraph because the first and last letters are in place. That is the foundation, and it is enough. There are a similarly few key things that must be in place in our lives and our careers – and you decide those for yourself. Perhaps its family, or money, or diet, or education, or Richard Simmons. If those key things are firm and solidly in place, most of the other things can be pretty fluid and you still will be stable, even successful.

Fourth, we can get better. Obviously, the more stability you have, the better off you are, but instability never goes away, so keep it in perspective, keep it manageable. Make improvements where you can, when you can. Strive to better yourself in every way, but start with just one. Change your mind, change your habits. Of the 68 words in this paragraph, 33 are correct in spelling and context. Of the remaining 35 words, 28 are close enough that the spell checker recognizes them. Those are easy to fix. The remaining seven words require operator intervention. You may even have to get out a dictionary, but those words, too, can be made perfect.

I don’t see that our lives are any different.