One of the current trends in television is the rise of the superhero program. This has been going on for a number of years and it seems that the appetite for new superheroes by audiences is undiminished.

And why not? The world is complex and superheroes have a clear mission; beat the bad guys. And they go about it with gusto, guts and dedicated right thinking. Action is the response to any problem. If you think too much about consequences or worse, unintended consequences, then you might miss your chance to win…..what?

Clarity is difficult. I have said this before. It is generally completely opposed to swift responses. Teasing out what is real requires focus and dedication. Rushing around and pounding things will relieve your stress but won’t make the issue clearer.

All of us at one time or another has said, “If they’d just kill that guy we’d be better off!” I’m sure that all of us said that about Sadam Hussein from 1990 to 2003. Well, he’s dead now and we aren’t better off. We are relieved that he is dead but the situation left behind is worse.

When we take the action do we ask what our desired outcome is? Over and over when asked what the end game of the Iraq war was we heard phrases about democracy and self rule. As someone I respect once said, “Please make that statement concrete and take it from 50,000 feet down to the ground.” In other words give me the detailed plan.

Action without planned outcome brings about a mess. Violent action without desired outcomes brings about non linear outcomes; things you not only don’t want but have no way to handle.

Clarity is about always asking what I want from this action. Leave the superhero mentality on the television screen.