Meaningful Returns

Sometimes in school, in conjunction with a project being assigned, you’re given a piece of paper with a wordy chart. And the chart lists some of the teacher’s expectations that you must meet in the execution of the project in order for you to get the grade you desire.

This is potentially a useful piece of paper, but of course only to a point (if the teacher is worth his or her salt). Why only to a point?

Because a rubric is designed only to provide basic guidelines. The rubric is not a muse; it doesn’t pull anything out of you that is unique to you. It simply says, “make sure you don’t miss these turns, because if you do, you’ll never get to the place I want to bring you.”*

A budget is nothing more than a rubric. It can be a helpful tool, when used correctly, but the big question is, where are you going? And a budget can’t answer that.

Don’t hide behind the rubric, because you may not miss any turns, but you will miss out on all the scenery in between.

*[Of course, there may be more than one way to get there, which is why a rubric is only potentially helpful in the first place].