Changing “Garbage In, Garbage Out”

“Garbage in, garbage out.” I am sure you’ve heard it… experienced it… and perhaps, done it yourself.

In the industrial complex, it makes all the sense. If you don’t put the right stuff in, don’t expect to get good results. Simple. Put a low-quality gasoline in your car and see what kind of ride experience it creates.

We’ve seen it all our lives.

Computer programmers know it.

Chefs know it.

Carpenters know it.

Architects know it.

But here’s by argument…

“garbage in, garbage out” is lazy, convenient, effortless and perhaps inhuman expression.

Why?

Because it puts all the blame on the environment — something that’s out of your control. It lets you off the hook by simply cursing the surroundings.

If your company hired you, chances are that they are paying you for not letting “Garbage in, Garbage out” happen.

How about schools justifying their performance with the same mantra…

How about customer service follows the same framework when dealing with tough customers…

Greatness is in thinking beyond the quality of input and giving your generous self to improve the quality of output. The magic is in looking at the possibility and refusing to blame the inputs.

That’s true professionalism. That’s generosity. That’s remarkable.

So that next time someone tries to hide behind “Garbage in, Garbage out”, help the person replace it with “Garbage in, Generous out”