Nothing is Impossible!

September 13 2015
By: Terry L. Mathis

When will the "Zero Accidents" craziness end? I completely understand the sentiment that we don't want ANYONE to get hurt, but zero is not a strategy and maybe not even a realistic goal for some organizations. I am not arguing against perfection. But zero does not connote "perfection"; it connotes "nothing". This reminds me of an organization that stated their tax strategy is to pay "zero taxes". See the parallel? You need a plan of how to pay zero taxes, just as you need a plan of how to avoid all accidents. It is the plan that has the potential of being perfect, not the goal. The goal is the byproduct of the plan, not vice versa. In this case, maybe the old saying, "Nothing is impossible," is ironically and literally true.


Terry L. Mathis

Terry Mathis, Founder and retired CEO of ProAct Safety, has served as a consultant and advisor for top organizations the world over. A respected strategist and thought leader, Terry has authored five books, numerous articles, videos and blogs, and is known for his dynamic and engaging presentations. EHS Today has named him one of the '50 People Who Most Influenced EHS' four consecutive times. Business leaders and safety professionals seek Terry's practical insight and unique ability to introduce new perspectives that lead to real change.





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