In the School of Hard Knocks, we learn there are some boats in the sea that are much like our playthings in the bathtub. Our dominion is easily extended. On the same coin we learn that there are many other boats for which no manner of blowing will boost a sail. The distinction between these types of boats is hardly subtle.

But why does being able to tell the difference between something you can control and something you cannot matter?

The short answer is, if you’re applying the extent of your energy to engage in some enterprise, only to realize that your methods have little influence, you can then refocus your approach as to maximize your leverage.

Atomic Principle #1 : (these occur in no specific order)

[ The Axiom of Real Control : The amount of work required to control something, is inversely proportional to the amount of real control you have over it. ]

Just to illustrate this point imagine some hulky guy blocking the way to your future. Getting him to move out of you way by asking him politely seems a lot easier than trying to force him out the way.

So you ask him, and he says: Yes.

Did you have control over the situation? Yes.

Did you have real control over the situation? No.

In terms of real control it is not as simple as stumbling upon a working solution, but rather, knowing the most effective one.

If you knew ahead of time which method was going to get Mr Muscles out of the way, and you thereby executed that method then you had .. DUH DUH DUH ..real control.

Here’s a nice way to look at it:

Amount of work:

D = Difficulty of Task on a scale of 1-10
(1=Point-and-Click, 10=Pyramids of Giza)

P = Predictability of the Outcome on a scale of 1-10
(1=Don’t Know What Hit Me, 10=Saw That One A Mile Away)
W = D / P

Amount of real control:

R = Real Control on on a scale of 1-10
(1=Pigeons Nest in My Hair, 10=When I Say Jump..)
R = 1/W

Never looked at it like that before have you?

Knowing what, how, who, when, why makes all the difference in the world, but you knew that already didn’t you.

The idea behind the Axiom of Real Control is simple, –it’s all about what you can control and to what extent you can control it.
Applying the Axiom of Real Control.

And the best part is, you have influence over the equation.

You my friend can make an outcome more predictable through the simple attainment of knowledge and experience.

You my friend, can make tasks easier through networking and delegation (in the 1500’s they used slavery — shame on them).

Can you already see the equation working in your favor?