Written on 06/12/2011 at 9:31 am by

Eli Goldratt at Rest

Filed under Community {3 comments}

Eli Goldratt
March 31, 1948 – June 11, 2011
Rest In Peace

To know Eli was to respect him and his beautiful mind. I met him first in print in 1992 when IndustryWeek magazine reviewed the 2nd Edition of The Goal. I met him in person for the first time in November, 2000 as he rolled out his then latest book, Necessary But Not Sufficient.

It was then I experienced a level of thought that I did not know existed. During one of the exercises, he challenged us [the participants] to solve a problem. One that he had solved some time ago. As he headed out the meeting room for a brief session with his ever present tobacco pipe, he turned and said something like, “Before you conclude that you have solved this exercise, know that it took me several years of thought to do so.”

I had never met anyone that dedicated to solving a challenge.

Today, I am quick to suggest that I need to devote a little more time to each challenge before jumping to any conclusions. Yes, like thousands around the world, Eli forever changed my vantage point.

For that, I owe a debt that I cannot ever repay.

Enjoy your rest Eli, you deserve it.

Peace,

P.S. The efforts that became Main Street Stark and Main Street Startups are a very direct result of the inspiration imparted by my association with Eli. I am also pleased we have helped create three new Jonahs this year… more to come. Honest.

—

  • Anonymous

    The unexpected demise of Eli Goldratt makes us feel the loss. His legacy will live on among a few of the Jonahs who can work together and make a difference. I find it apt to quote Yougme Moon, author of Different: Escaping the Competitive Herd:
    “What liberates me, [...], is that I don’t worry about being absolutely, 100 percent right all the time. If my goal were to be unassilable, I’d have very little to offer the world. What I try to do instead is look for the interesting 2 percent I can find, and then provide a perspective on it that people aren’t going to get anywhere else.  The trick [..] is to always gravitate toward the cool stuff that nobody is paying attention to.”

    This mindset has synergy with Goldratt’s profound thinking process that he has shared with the next generation.

  • K Srinivasamurthy

    Very touching indeed.  Another important thing he taught me was  “Check the reality”

    Cheenu

  • K Srinivasamurthy

    Another important thing ge taught me  , “Check the reality”.

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