As we learned in The OODA Loop Part 1, 2 and 3, the first step in the process we enact every waking moment of our lives is to Observe; the second is to Orient ourselves to our intent, resources, and continuous improvement; and the third is to decide what’s appropriate for our own personal biz.

Once we have found the path with value to us, the fourth step in our process is to take action.  Here’s where we do what it takes to bring about our selected path or action.  The first key here is to have a bias towards action.  If we see something that needs to be done then do it.  Do it for the sake of doing, not for any one who may see us do it.  Master Moy Lin-Shin spoke of this when he taught his Taoist Tai Chi.  He called it the “eye see, hand do” connection.  This is the intention of just getting things done because its needed.  From Viktor Frankl’s perspective this is asking what life needs from us. The second key is to act without attachment to the outcome.  This is a hell of a lot easier to say than do as it takes years and even decades for us to figure out how to let go of what we want in order to assist it emerging in our lives.  To do this we have to arrive at the realization through our experience that we have no control over our environment.  We have to realize that our action or inaction may or may not affect the situation.  As Morpheous said in the movie Matrix Reloaded, “What happened, happened and could not have happened any other way.”  As all actions have consequences, we have to allow our interactions to unfold within the operational environment which returns us to the uncertainty that was inherent in our observations that started our process.  In this sense the OODA loop is without end.

If you’re interested in Hamlet’s “to be or not to be” soliloquy by Shakespeare adapted to the business of getting things done, check out my martial arts blog, TheBubblingSpring.com and the recent post, “Eye see, hand do.”

To be, or to do that is the question. . . .