Between visits to some of Silicon V

Between visits to some of Silicon Valley's hottest companies, I found myself puzzling over a question: What is it that makes the high-tech world feel so alive and bursting with energy at a time when the culture of official Washington seems so dead?

The best answer I can offer is something I heard during a stop at Cisco Systems, a wildly successful company that is literally building the Internet with its fast routers and switches. The comment had to do with the tech world's tolerance for risk, and for the failure that sometimes comes with it.

"If you hit five out of five, you won't do well here," explained Dan Scheinman, a Cisco vice president. "People like that aren't taking enough chances. If you hit eight out of 10, that's the Cisco way."

Now, contrast that insistence on risk-taking with our own environment. We have created a zero-defect culture in Washington. This is a city of five-out-of-five people, driven by an ingrained intolerance of failure. In our world, any screw-up, misjudgment, misstatement or inconsistency makes you instantly subject to second-guessing from members of Congress, consumer watchdogs, independent counsels -- and yes, from the 20-20 hindsight brigade in the press.

We all know that this kind of atmosphere is destructive of creativity and initiative.

But often we don't extend the tolerance of "freedom to fail" to public officials. From them, we want zero-defect work.

Inevitably, we have produced a culture that reflects our values. Washington is a compulsive, risk-averse, excuse-making, blame-shifting kind of town. Our politicians are that way, obviously. No wonder they don't pass laws any more. It's too risky: They might make a mistake; someone might object.

Kết quả (Anh) 1:

Between visits to some of the hottest Valley's Silicon companies, I found myself puzzling over a question: What is it that makes the high-tech world feel so alive and bursting with energy at a time when the culture of official Washington seems so dead?The best answer I can offer is something I heard during a stop at Cisco Systems, a wildly successful company that is literally building the Internet with its fast routers and switches. The comment had to do with the tech world's tolerance for risk, and for the failure that sometimes comes with it."If you hit five out of five, you won't do well here," explained Dan Scheinman, Cisco vice president. "People like that aren't taking enough chances. If you hit eight out of 10, that's the Cisco way. "Now, contrast that insistence on risk-taking with our own environment. We have created a zero-defect culture in Washington. This is a city of five-out-of-five people, driven by an ingrained intolerance of failure. In our world, any screw-up, misjudgment, misstatement or inconsistency makes you instantly subject to second-guessing from members of Congress, consumer watchdogs, independent counsels--and yes, from the 20-20 hindsight brigade in the press.We all know that this kind of atmosphere is destructive of their creativity and initiative.But often we don't extend the tolerance of "freedom to fail" to public officials. From them, we want zero-defect work.Inevitably, we have produced a culture that reflects our values. Washington is a compulsive, risk-averse, excuse-making, blame-shifting kind of town. Our politicians are that way, obviously. No wonder they don't pass any more laws. It's too risky: They might make a mistake; someone might object.

Kết quả (Anh) 2:

Between visits to some of Silicon Valley's hottest companies, I found myself puzzling over a question: What is it That Makes the high-tech world feel than alive and bursting with energy at a time khi culture of official Washington seems? Than dead? The best answer I can offer is something I Heard khi a stop at Cisco Systems, a wildly successful company building the Internet nằm Literally routers and switches with its fast. The comment Had to due with the tech world's tolerance for risk, and for the failure có sometimes Comes with it. "If you hit five out of five, not so well here bạn," Dan Scheinman Explained, a Cisco vice president. "People like that are not taking enough Chances. If you hit eight out of 10, that's the Cisco way." Now, contrast insistence on risk-taking có with our own environment. We have created a zero-defect culture in Washington. This is a city of five-out-of-five people, driven by an ingrained Intolerance of failure. In our world, any screw-ups, misjudgment, misstatement or inconsistency Makes you second-guessing Instantly from the subject to members of Congress, consumer watchdogs, independent Counsels - and yes, from the 20-20 hindsight brigade in the press. We all know this kind of atmosphere is có destructive of creativity and initiative. But often Do We Do not extend the tolerance of "freedom to fail" to public officials,. From added, zero-defect We Want work. Inevitably, WE HAVE có Produced a culture reflects our values. Washington is a compulsive, risk-averse, excuse-making, blame-shifting kind of town. Our politicians are có way, Obviously. No wonder chúng Laws do not pass any more. It's too risky: They might, make a mistake; someone might, object.