Am I the only one who thinks rhetoric about earning a “black belt” in any sort of business practice is sort of juvenile and silly? I want to get better at GTD, but a “3rd degree Black Belt“? How about a GTD red cape or utility belt? What about D&D?–“become a level 5 druid at GTD!”

Actually, in the last year I’ve been reading on various aspects of the business world and it has made me feel better than I ever have about the Evangelical ghetto. I would go to family counseling conferences dealing with serious issues and see the four personalities (set aside whether there are really four and all that) presented by grown adults to grown adults by hand puppets (lion, otter, beaver, and golden retriever, I think). I’ve seen all sorts of ridiculous training advancement labels being offered as the key to growth and assurance control (how many pastorates have I been told I could only qualify for if I attended that Really Important Seminar[TM]?)

And for many years I have always thought this was a distinctively American Christian form of absurdity. It’s not. Browse the business section of any bookstore.

Oh, and probably in both cultures there is plenty of real value that is being offered. It just has to be made to look stupid in order to gain adherents. I think GTD is great and I would have no prejudice in trying out the program.

I just don’t like the packaging.