France is Bacon (You read that correctly! And that’s why you are wrong.)
The following is a post on Redditt by Lard_Baron in response to the question, “What is a word or phrase that you totally misunderstood as a child?”
When I was young my father said to me: “Knowledge is power, Francis Bacon.” I understood it as “Knowledge is power, France is bacon.”
For more than a decade I wondered over the meaning of the second part and what was the surreal linkage between the two. If I said the quote to someone, “Knowledge is power, France is Bacon,” they nodded knowingly. Or someone might say, “Knowledge is power” and I’d finish the quote “France is bacon,” and they wouldn’t look at me like I’d said something very odd, but thoughtfully agree. I did ask a teacher what did “Knowledge is power, France is bacon” mean and got a full 10-minute explanation of the “knowledge is power” bit but nothing on “France is bacon.” When I prompted further explanation by saying “France is bacon?” in a questioning tone, I just got a “yes.” At 12 I didn’t have the confidence to press it further. I just accepted it as something I’d never understand.
It wasn’t until years later I saw it written down that the penny dropped.
Insight and Application
History is replete with stories of miscommunication based on misunderstandings of a concept’s definition. It is a common event that easily extends into our personal and business lives.
Recently, I was sitting as a board member of a corporation reviewing an insurance claim on a series of failed windows in a building. The window manufacturer insisted that the windows had not failed, but it was evident to the board that water condensation was occurring between the glass panes. The window had failed! This debate went back and forth and started to get heated.
Finally, I asked the window manufacturer what he defined as a window. His response included the following components: casement, air latch, aluminum brackets, glass panes, glass sealant, sash, sills, drains, rails, and frame, amongst other things. In the manufacturer’s world, all these combined components formed a window “system.” While the board was only referring to the condensation between the glass panes as evidence of failure, the manufacturer was correct in saying the window “system” was intact for the most part. Only the glass sealant had failed. The conversation could now productively turn to how to fix the seal.
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This is a story in the new book I’m writing, Leadership Parables, which will feature leadership lessons in highly memorable short story form. But I need your help. If you remember an anecdote that influenced the way you think about business and leadership, tell me about it. If your suggestion is selected, you will receive a copy of the book and credit as a contributor. If you would like to know when the book is released, please add your name here. And, if you have an idea to share, please contact me at kurian@strategypeak.com.
Also, check out my first book, The 7 Essential Stories Charismatic Leaders Tell, click here: https://amzn.to/2PSHgmB
