The World Needs More Leeroy Jenkinses The Musings of Scott

The World Needs More Leeroy Jenkinses

by Scott on Mar.08, 2011, under Geekhood, Show & Tell, Social Media

By some miraculous feat I managed to have not have caught this video during the past 5 years. Being a geek, gamer, and internet addict I have 0 excuses for missing this. Needless to say, I only recently stumbled upon this but it made a lasting impression on me:

I now find myself wanting to cry “LEEROY JENKINS!” during slow moving conference calls. Leeroy’s character appealed to me with his raw enthusiasm and energy (and for bringing chaos to bureaucrats). Leeroy’s cry of rebellious anarchy against the over-complication of what is supposed to be a fun game. Some have questioned if the video was staged (if they did it was well executed), and a UK journalist questioned if the video was a statement against such nerd bureaucracy (their detailed plan was apparently garbage).

i tend to agree with the latter, as Leeroy’s battle cry made a mark on me. Let’s say the world was oversimplified into two stereotypes: those that Do well and those that Plan well. Leeroy is a Doer, and so am I. (not to be confused with a Winner)

There are two types of people: those that talk the talk and those that walk the walk. People who walk the walk sometimes talk the talk, but most times they don’t talk at all, ’cause they walkin’. Now, people who talk the talk, when it comes time for them to walk the walk, you know what they do? They talk people like me into walkin’ for them. -Hustle & Flow (2005)

People who rely on plans, end up grasping for control when things don’t go as they planned (which unruly “things” are apt to do). What follows is a nightmare scenario: the people who always avoid thinking on their feet end up navigating a landscape they couldn’t predict. I see it with people, businesses, and in politics. Those that discuss & plan and those that get things done. And while strict planning is a conservative bet, and a tangible security blanket for some, it’s those that operate in chaos that actually change the world.

Which brings me back to Leeroy. Fraud or not, he made a lasting impression upon the gaming community. He literally changed the game: getting in-game references, South Park villiany, a stumping Final Jeopardy T-Shirts, Figurines, and Trading Cards. They don’t give you trading cards for being awesome at making action lists.

Chaos is inherent in all compounded things. Strive on with diligence. – Buddha

This is a quote I truly live by, when you learn to expect chaos you find yourself a lot more prepared. But then again, you may also find yourself debating if a quality battle cry can get things moving during a stagnant meeting. But then again, it might.

Popularity: 18% [?]

Be Sociable, Share!

:groups, leaders, social behaviour, Video Games, work

http://twitter.com/addy_dren Andreana Drencheva

Scott,

Hmm… struggling to find the right words here, but I do believe you can plan for chaos and be prepared for it. I am not a fan of following a strict plan that does not allow for flexibility because context changes so quickly. We need to be able to react quickly. But you should also know where you want to be and have a few different routes to get there. IMHO, thinking on your feet and planning go hand in hand. For me, though, planning is not about having one document/deck with strict strategies and tactics. It is the ability to foresee every possible scenario and plan for how to solve each problem or take advantage of each opportunity.
http://www.scotttempleman.com/ Scott Templeman

My strategies generally follow going in with reasonable sets of expectations (knowing what to expect should and could happen), and adjusting strategy on the fly to adapt. I drive long term planners nuts because I don’t see long term plans as much more than vague goals which are easy to not achieve. Focusing on series of Short term goals is simply more efficient and is a better process for correcting negative processes & factors. For me it’s an ideology of trying to control a situation versus one that emphasizes rapidly adapting. The sequence of my own experiences has taught me long term plans and forecasts are made to be broken, and those that can most efficiently overcome uncertainty are best off in the long term
http://twitter.com/erob1 Evan E. Roberts

I think there should be a balance between being a planner and a doer dude. If you notice, everyone was pretty much wiped out in your example video. Embracing chaos doesn’t do you much good if it results in your demise.

I would say I’m more “conscientious” than a strict planner. I take the rules into account. I see the world as a spectrum dude, and learning from what’s been done before me is the only way not to repeat other’s costly mistakes. So if someone figured out a way to run orderly meetings and get stuff done, why not follow them? If I were a WOW player, I would see this video as a lesson, not to play with Leroy Jenkins (unless I was as gangster as he was lol). You’re right, you can’t plan for somethings, but in any given situation, it’s likely that someone has done it or gone through it before. Taking that into account of whatever you’re trying to do is simply smart.

I agree with Addy, thinking on your feet and planning do go hand in hand. Even ya boi Leroy planned well – He had chicken
http://www.scotttempleman.com/ Scott Templeman

Haha I knew that argument would arise (and openly invited it). But did Leeroy fail is the true section. In real life, such an aimless charge would be very costly indeed, there are no respawns. Either by design or by fluke, someone recording his enthusiastic folly. The result was that he was immortalized within the game he loved, and this fame spread beyond the boundries of the World of Warcraft. Anothe rpoint was that those versed in WoW strategy have pointed out that the drawn out nerd huddle going on was not going to get them different results. His lack of planning yielded that “same” result (utter failure) but it did so much more quickly. When one is more efficient at failing, they are much more efficient from learning from failure. At the cost of a replaceable digital life, he gained immortality (” they don’t give trading cards for awesome action list making”). He needed to remind his “chums” about the true cost of their potential failure to point out the ridiculousness of having Bureaucratic strategy sessions before trivial tasks. In a game this means if you aren’t having fun what is the point (no one on earth yells such a battle cry without enjoying themselves), in business this means trying to generate profit (you’re either doing it right now, or you are not). Spending copious time trying to maximize efficiency is the ultimate irony (for most tasks the most efficient process is to do it). It’s people who need to “control” that are addicted to Bureaucratic organization, and a majority of the time in my experience, this doesn’t really help anyone involved.
http://twitter.com/addy_dren Andreana Drencheva

My point is that you should always have long term goals and objectives, but your strategies and tactics should be flexible and adaptable. If you do not know where you want to go, how do you know if/when you get there?
http://www.scotttempleman.com/ Scott Templeman

I would argue that the most successful entrepreneurial endeavors are from those that forgo solid long term plans and focus on a series of short term successes. The two that come to mind are Bill Gates & Mark Zuckerberg. How do you think their respective parents felt to hear them dropping out of a big brand university to chase money that doesn’t exist? Dropping out of college to start a business is a very poor long term plan, but it’s the kind of drive, flexibility, tolerance for failure, and initiative that bureaucrats lack. These were two young men ready to prove their worth to the world, and blaze a trail for others to follow. Pencil pushers and middle men never change the game, they always play in it.