The Wright Way: 7 Problem-solving Principles From The Wright Brothers That Can Make Your Business Soar

The WRIGHT WAY This page intentionally left blank The WRIGHT WAY 7 Problem-Solving Principles f r o m t h e Wr i g h t B r o t h e r s T h a t C a n M a k e Yo u r B u s i n e s s S o a r ! MARK EPPLER AMERICAN N E W Y O R K ✸ SAN FRANCISCO A T L A N T A ✸ ✸ SHANGHAI MANAGEMENT B R U S S E L S ✸ TOKYO ✸ ✸ A S S O C I AT I O N C H I C A G O TORONTO ✸ ✸ M E X I C O C I T Y WA S H I N G T O N , D. C. Special discounts on bulk quantities of AMACOM books are available to corporations, professional associations, and other organizations. For details, contact Special Sales Department, AMACOM, a division of American Management Association, 1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. Tel.: 212-903-8316. Fax: 212-903-8083. Web site: www.amacombooks.org This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO Group; Tinkertoys® is a trademark of Hasbro; and Erector Set® is a trademark of Meccano S.N. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Eppler, Mark, 1946– The Wright way : seven problem solving principles from the Wright brothers that can make your business soar! / Mark Eppler. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-8144-0797-8 1. Wright, Orville, 1871–1948—Philosophy. 2. Wright, Wilbur, 1867–1912—Philosophy. 3. Aeronautics—Research—United States— History. 4. Problem solving. 5. Success in business. 6. Aeronautical engineers—United States—Biography. I. Title. TL540.W7E64 2004 658.4'03—dc21 2003011346 © 2004 Mark Eppler. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. This publication may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of AMACOM, a division of American Management Association, 1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. Printing number 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 CONTENTS P R E F A C E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VII INTRODUCTION Intrepid Souls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 T H E E V E N T O F T H E C E N T U R Y . . . . . . . . . . 13 2 M A S T E R S O F T H E P R O B L E M . . . . . . . . . . . 27 3 FORGING The Principle of Constructive Conflict . . . . . . . . 41 4 TA C K L E T H E T Y R A N T The Principle of Worst Things First . . . . . . . . . 61 5 FIDDLING The Principle of Inveterate Tinkering . . . . . . . 77 6 M I N D - WA R P I N G The Principle of Rigid Flexibility . . . . . . . . . 95 7 R E L E N T L E S S P R E P A R AT I O N The Principle of Forever Learning . . . . . . . . 113 8 MEASURE TWICE The Principle of Methodical Meticulousness . . . 133 9 F O R C E M U LT I P L I C AT I O N The Principle of Team Equity . . . . . . . . . . 151 10 S O U L S O N F I R E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 EPILOGUE Lives of Consequence . .