journal features

on failed persons

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Toronto, 2016.09.27

The Basel definition of operational risk is this:

"Operational risk is defined as the risk of loss resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes, people and systems or from external events."

The grammar of this has always left me wondering what a failed person is, and what to do about them.

Or perhaps they mean "failed people", as in a tribe or nation that failed. An even bigger challenge!

rand()m quote

One day you will take a fork in the road, and you're going to have to make a decision about which direction you want to go. If you go one way, you can be somebody. You will have to make compromises and you will have to turn your back on your friends. But you will be a member of the club and you will get promoted and get good assignments. Or you can go the other way and you can do something [...] for yourself. If you decide to do something, you may not get promoted and get good assignments and you certainly will not be a favorite of your superiors. But you won't have to compromise yourself. To be somebody or to do something. In life there is often a roll call. That's when you have to make a decision. To be or to do.

—John Boyd, US Air Force