Reflections after reading "The Puritan's Gift"

This book describes the five basic characteristics of the Puritans that promoted American industrialization: thrift, hands-on work, collectivism, organizational ability and technological innovation.

Chapter 1, the Puritan origins of American management culture. This chapter is a bit messy, it is an overview, and there are many unfamiliar names.

Chapter 2, the Puritan immigration wave in the 1630s.

Describes in detail the large-scale immigration of Puritans to New England.

One of the reasons for the mistakes of the Settlement of Jamestown: 1. Wrong decision-making, choosing an easy and long route. After arriving, it was too late to sow seeds and the grain reserves were exhausted. 2. The quality of immigrants is low. Adventurers lead homeless people on the streets. These people have never worked before. On the way, precious supplies were used up luxuriously. His license was revoked in 1642.

One group was the Expedition of the Pilgrim Fathers: the organizers lacked transportation technology.

Another group was led by Winthrop. This group was very successful because 1. they had strong beliefs, and 2. the people who led this operation were middle-class people with property and education. They had some political training, were cool-headed and stubborn. 3. The boat is equipped with all necessities. This time there were no fewer than 16 ships bound for New England. In 1630, more than 1,000 people were transported in small boats as an advance party. From 1630 to 1640, no fewer than 14,000 people were transported on approximately 200 ships. And make sure that all the skills are met by enough people.

Summary: Only when the plan is well done will the execution be fast, and it is so fast that it is still amazing.

The spirit of staying: 1. "Diligence and hard work are inferior to noble birth". Puritan society in England in the 17th century was based on meritocracy regardless of origin. Especially in the Navy and Army. 2. Complementarity and governance. Everyone contributes their own unique things to achieve overall success. No one knows all the skills, and no one has all the answers. It is possible for a group of capable, knowledgeable, and dedicated people to engage in in-depth discussions around relevant issues to produce good policies. 3. "Integrated decision-making", planners and executors include the same group of people. Make planning and execution consistent, carefully learn from other people's experiences (regardless of failure or success), minimize the possibility of making mistakes, conduct pilot projects whenever conditions permit, and be prepared second-hand.

Bacon mentioned in his 1625 essay "Lun Seeks Speed", "I know a wise man. If he sees someone rushing to make a decision, he will advise those people to 'make a decision slowly, make a decision slowly. On the contrary, it will be completed earlier'.

"